Hangman (video game)

Hangman is a video game based on the pen-and-paper game of the same name released in 1978 by Atari, Inc. for the Atari VCS (renamed to the Atari 2600 in 1982).[1] The game was programmed by Alan Miller, who later cofounded Activision,[2] with cover art by Susan Jaekel.[3] Hangman contains 510 words divided into four difficulty levels.

Hangman
Developer(s)Atari, Inc.
Publisher(s)Atari, Inc.
Designer(s)Alan Miller
Platform(s)Atari 2600
Release
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, two-player

Gameplay

As in the traditional game of Hangman, the player must guess the letter of a hidden word, with each wrong guess resulting in a piece being added to a gallows, with the game ending either when the gallows is completed or when the word has been fully guessed. The player can select from a range of four difficulty levels from first grade to high school. The words have a maximum length of six characters.[1] Instead of the traditional man to be hanged being shown in the picture, a monkey is shown hanging from the gallows by its arm.[2] A timed mode where the player has to guess before a time limit expires is also available.[3]

The game may be played in single-player mode, or in a two-player mode where the players play together.[1] In one-player mode the player has 11 attempts at guessing before the gallows is constructed. In two-player mode, guessing may go on until one player wins.[2]

Reception

Contemporary reviewers were unimpressed with the game. UK-based TV Gamer described it as "poor value for money" as it differed little from the pen-and-paper version of the game.[4]

In a retrospective review in Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide, Brett Weiss described it as "a passable rendition of a classic game.[1]

References
  1. Weiss, Brett (2011). Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland. p. 68. ISBN 978-0786487554. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. Hawken, Kieren (2018). The A-Z of Atari 2600 Games: Volume 2. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 978-1785387630. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. Lapetino, Tim (2016). Art Of Atari. Dynamite Entertainment. p. 84. ISBN 978-1524101060. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. "Hangman" (PDF). TV Gamer: 28. Autumn 1983. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

External list
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