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''Repton'' is a
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
originally developed by Briton Tim Tyler for the
BBC Micro The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, is a family of microcomputers developed and manufactured by Acorn Computers in the early 1980s as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. Launched in December 1981, it was showcased across severa ...
and
Acorn Electron The Acorn Electron (nicknamed the Elk inside Acorn and beyond) was introduced as a lower-cost alternative to the BBC Micro educational/home computer, also developed by Acorn Computers, to provide many of the features of that more expensive mach ...
and released by
Superior Software Superior Interactive (formerly known as Superior Software Ltd) is a video game publisher. It was one of the main publishers for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers in the 1980s and early 1990s, and occasionally published software to the C ...
in 1985. The game spawned a series of follow up games which were released throughout the 1980s. The series sold around 125,000 copies between 1985 and 1990Acornelectron.co.uk
Repton on Acorn Electron World
with ''Repton 2'' selling 35,000 itself. The games have since been remade for several modern systems, including ''iRepton'' for the
iPhone The iPhone is a line of smartphones developed and marketed by Apple that run iOS, the company's own mobile operating system. The first-generation iPhone was announced by then–Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at ...
/
iPod Touch The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and formerly marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a po ...
in 2010, andiRepton website
/ref> ''Android Repton 1'', ''Android Repton 2'' and ''Android Repton 3'' from 2016 to 2018.Superior Interactive website
/ref> The author was inspired by a review of the recently released ''
Boulder Dash Boulder Dash may refer to: * ''Boulder Dash'' (video game), a 1984 video game * Boulder Dash (roller coaster), a wooden roller coaster See also * Balderdash (disambiguation) {{Disambig ...
'', but had never played the game. Compared with ''Boulder Dash'', ''Repton'' is a much more calm and organized playing experience with the emphasis on puzzle-solving as opposed to arcade-style improvisation. This remained true as more types of object were added in the sequels.


Series overview


''Repton''

Repton, the titular protagonist, is moved around an underground maze in a quest to find all the diamonds (some are held in safes, their release being triggered by finding and collecting a key) within a time limit for each of several levels, while avoiding being trapped or killed by falling rocks and monsters hatched from eggs. The original ''Repton'' game was released in the summer of 1985 and has 12 levels, with
passwords A password, sometimes called a passcode, is secret data, typically a string of characters, usually used to confirm a user's identity. Traditionally, passwords were expected to be memorized, but the large number of password-protected services ...
making it possible to jump directly to later levels. If passwords are employed, on completion of the final level the displayed message challenges the player to complete the game without using them. The new versions of ''Repton'' for the PC, iOS and Android introduce additional levels; new ''Repton'' levels are also featured in ''Repton Spectacular'', ''Repton's Mystic Challenge (for Repton 1)'' and ''Repton's Journeys (for Repton 2)''.


''Repton 2''

The sequel to the game, ''Repton 2'', released for Christmas 1985 (release date 14 November 1985 ) is much bigger. It introduces several new features: spirits (that follow walls and objects to their left and must be guided into cages, turning them into diamonds) and skulls, both of which are fatal to Repton on collision. There are also jigsaw puzzle pieces to collect, which eventually spell out the message "Repton 2 is ended". There are no levels as such in ''Repton 2'': instead transporters move Repton between different screens which, subject to some restrictions, can be completed in any order desired. The entire game is in effect one very large level without passwords, meaning that it must be completed in one attempt. Finally, some screens also contain an exposed 'roof', where meteors (predictably fatal to Repton) fall from the sky. Repton's requirements in ''Repton 2'' are challenging: Repton must not only collect all diamonds (including those held in safes and behind cages), but also collect all earth, kill all the monsters, collect all puzzle pieces and use all transporters. Once these substantial tasks have been accomplished, Repton must then negotiate the 'roof' of the entire width of the final screen, avoiding meteors falling from the sky in order to reach the starport and thus complete the game. This part is particularly tricky, since the meteors fall in a random fashion, making it difficult for the gamer to guide Repton to safety. This long list of requirements, coupled with the fact that the game must be completed in one attempt, marks ''Repton 2'' as the hardest ''Repton'' game to successfully complete. The initial release of ''Repton 2'' could not be completed as one diamond was hidden under a transporter and impossible to collect When ''Repton 2'' was re-written for the PC, it introduced a 'save game' feature making it considerably easier to complete. In addition, brand new scenarios were included, effectively new games.


''Repton 3''

''Repton 3'', released on 5 November 1986, was developed by Matthew Atkinson at Superior's invitation since Tim Tyler was not interested in programming it, although he did design some of the levels for the new game. While the first two games had only taken a month each to program, ''Repton 3'' took eight months. It reverts to the form of a series of time-limited, password-protected levels. A few new features were introduced: fungus (a substance that gradually spreads wherever it finds space and kills Repton on contact), time capsules (resetting the current level's time limit each time one is collected), crowns and a timebomb which must be defused to complete each level. The inclusion of the timebomb means that, as well as collecting all of the diamonds and crowns, the players have to plan their routes so as to finish up at the timebomb at the end of the level. ''Repton 3'' includes a map editor along with the game, so that data files can be created with new maps and graphics for the levels. Three themed sets of such files were released as continuations of ''Repton 3'', with the titles ''Around the World in 40 Screens'' (1987), ''The Life of Repton'' (1987) and ''Repton Thru Time'' (1988). These three titles use a slightly modified game engine, in which the algorithm for deciding on the direction spirits first move at the start of a level is improved. They all come with the same game editor as ''Repton 3''.


''Repton Infinity''

''Repton Infinity'' was released in 1988, by which time the BBC Micro's popularity as a games platform was beginning to wane. It was developed by Dave Acton and Dave Lawrence (who wrote the user-submitted program section *INFO in ''
Acorn User ''Acorn User'' magazine was founded by Acorn Computers in 1982, contract-published by Addison-Wesley, to coincide with the launch of the BBC Micro. It covered the range of Acorn home computers, the BBC Micro and Atom at first and later the Elect ...
'' magazine). It supplements the map editor and graphics editor with a powerful game logic editor which made it possible to alter the way all game objects behaved using a purpose-designed language called ''Reptol''. Four different example games are included to demonstrate its flexibility: * ''Repton 3 - Take 2'', with a couple of small technical differences in gameplay from ''Repton 3''. * ''Repton 4'', with imaginative new objects including photocopiers and moving jewels. * ''Robbo'', "a crazy robot in a strange topsy-turvy world", according to the game inlay. * ''Trakker'', a chaotic game in which a bulldozer-driving protagonist must destroy various monsters by pushing fruit at them, and all scores are multiples of 17. There was a long-running problem, infamous amongst owners of the B+, the updated BBC B with 64k, when the newly released ''Repton Infinity'' ran on the original BBC B but refused to load on the updated B+. A string of unsuccessful replacements were issued before one that was compatible with both was eventually released.


''EGO: Repton 4''

A game marketed as ''EGO: Repton 4'' was released for the
Acorn Archimedes The Acorn Archimedes is a family of personal computers designed by Acorn Computers of Cambridge, England. The systems in this family use Acorn's own ARM architecture processors and initially ran the Arthur operating system, with later models ...
in 1992. It was designed by Richard Hanson and programmed by Gary Partis. This was actually an Archimedes conversion of an earlier
Amiga Amiga is a family of personal computers produced by Commodore International, Commodore from 1985 until the company's bankruptcy in 1994, with production by others afterward. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16-b ...
/
Atari ST Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the company's Atari 8-bit computers, 8-bit computers. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985, and was widely available i ...
game called ''Personality Crisis'' with the character of Repton added in. The game bears little relation to the rest of the Repton series, particularly in that contrary to the spirit of the original it relies on "secret" traps and passages which can only be discovered by walking onto them. The objects and objectives in all the previous ''Repton'' games are visible and there are no hidden secrets to be discovered, although in some advanced episodes - notably "OAP" in ''Life of Repton'', "Oceans" in ''Around the World'' and "Future" in ''Repton Thru Time'' - some objects and enemies are invisible or appear very similar to desirable or innocuous objects.


''Repton: The Lost Realms''

In 1988, teenage programmer Paras Sidapara submitted a game he called ''Repton 4'' to Superior Software. As Superior were already working on ''Repton Infinity'', it was not published, and was forgotten until 2008, when a copy was rediscovered. The game was re-programmed by Sarah Walker and rechristened ''The Lost Realms'', to avoid confusion with the ''Repton 4'' game included in ''Repton Infinity''. It was launched in November 2010 by Retro Software, with Superior's permission. The game is similar in style to ''Repton 3'', retaining the structure of separate, password-protected levels and the map and graphics editors. New features include balloons, "absorbency" doors (which can be opened when an "absorbalene" pill is collected, but each pill only allows a certain number of doors to be opened) and ice crystals (which, when collected, freeze any monsters on the level).


Music

The music for ''Repton'' is ''
Black and White Rag The "Black and White Rag" is a 1908 ragtime composition by George Botsford. The song was recorded widely for both the phonograph and player piano, and was the third ragtime composition to sell over one million copies of sheet music. Early recor ...
'', by
George Botsford George Botsford (February 24, 1874 – February 1, 1949) was an American composer of ragtime and other forms of music. Early life and education Botsford was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory. He grew up mostly ...
, which has been well-known in the UK since at least its 1969 popularisation as the theme tune to the long-running television
snooker Snooker (pronounced , ) is a cue sport played on a rectangular Billiard table#Snooker and English billiards tables, billiards table covered with a green cloth called baize, with six Billiard table#Pockets 2, pockets: one at each corner and ...
programme ''
Pot Black ''Pot Black'' was a snooker tournament in the United Kingdom broadcast on the BBC. Each match was contested over a single , where other tournaments were significantly longer. The event carried no ranking points, but played a large part in th ...
''. The
Scott Joplin Scott Joplin (November 24, 1868 – April 1, 1917) was an American composer and pianist. Dubbed the "King of Ragtime", he composed more than 40 ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first and most popular pieces, the ...
piece ''The Chrysanthemum'' is the music for ''Repton 2'', and the music for ''Repton 3'' was composed specifically for the game by Paul Hughes and Peter Clarke. ''Repton Infinity'' features in-game music, on pressing the 'T' key, although it does not play at the same time as the sound effects during the game, and is turned off by default; it was composed especially for the game by David Acton.


''Repton'' ports, clones and derivatives


Ports

The ''Repton'' games were closely associated with the
BBC Micro The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, is a family of microcomputers developed and manufactured by Acorn Computers in the early 1980s as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. Launched in December 1981, it was showcased across severa ...
and
Acorn Electron The Acorn Electron (nicknamed the Elk inside Acorn and beyond) was introduced as a lower-cost alternative to the BBC Micro educational/home computer, also developed by Acorn Computers, to provide many of the features of that more expensive mach ...
but versions were released for other
8-bit In computer architecture, 8-bit integers or other data units are those that are 8 bits wide (1 octet). Also, 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) and arithmetic logic unit (ALU) architectures are those that are based on registers or data bu ...
computers.
Superior Software Superior Interactive (formerly known as Superior Software Ltd) is a video game publisher. It was one of the main publishers for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers in the 1980s and early 1990s, and occasionally published software to the C ...
had planned to launch ''Repton 3'' with ports for the
Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in ...
and
Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC (short for "Colour Personal Computer") is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the ZX Spec ...
(as shown in pre-release press advertisements). The Amstrad version was never released, but the C64 port did arrive in 1987. The first two games were later ported to the
ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...
and released together as ''Repton Mania'' in 1989 using the joint
Superior Superior may refer to: *Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind Places * Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state *Lak ...
/
Alligata Alligata Software Ltd. was a computer games developer and publisher based in Sheffield in the UK in the 1980s. The company was founded by brothers Mike and Tim Mahony and their father J.R. Mahony in 1983. They produced games for a number of home ...
name. In 1989 a version of ''Repton 3'' featuring all expansion packs was also released for the BBC Micro's replacement, the
32-bit In computer architecture, 32-bit computing refers to computer systems with a processor, memory, and other major system components that operate on data in a maximum of 32- bit units. Compared to smaller bit widths, 32-bit computers can perform la ...
Acorn Archimedes The Acorn Archimedes is a family of personal computers designed by Acorn Computers of Cambridge, England. The systems in this family use Acorn's own ARM architecture processors and initially ran the Arthur operating system, with later models ...
. Its programmer, John Wallace, also produced a slightly expanded version of ''Repton 2'' for the Acorn Archimedes which was released on the 1993 ''Play It Again Sam 2'' compilation (which also included ''
Zarch ''Zarch'' (also known under its ported name of ''Virus'') is a computer game developed by David Braben (better known as the co-author of '' Elite'') in 1987, for the release of the Acorn Archimedes computer. ''Zarch'' started off as a demo c ...
'', ''Master Break'' and ''Arcpinball''). None of these ports achieved the sales of the BBC originals. In the late 1990s, Superior sub-licensed the games to ProAction who released a number of
RISC OS RISC OS () is an operating system designed to run on ARM architecture, ARM computers. Originally designed in 1987 by Acorn Computers of England, it was made for use in its new line of ARM-based Acorn Archimedes, Archimedes personal computers an ...
ports for the Acorn Archimedes and RiscPC. John Wallace created new ports of ''Repton'', ''Repton 2'' and ''Repton 3''. ProAction also released ''Desktop Repton'' which includes the 3 games (including the expansion games for ''Repton 3''). These games were built from scratch by Darren Salt, and developed to run in a multi tasking window on the desktop. There have been numerous ports of ''Repton 3'', including a free version for
Linux Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...
. Under the name Superior Interactive, the original publishers re-released versions of ''Repton 1'' (2003), ''Repton 2'' (2004) and ''Repton 3'', including all of the expansion games (2005), for
Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
. They also released a large pack of new levels for all three modern Repton ports named ''Repton Spectacular'' in 2010. Also in 2010, ''iRepton'' was released for the Apple
iPhone The iPhone is a line of smartphones developed and marketed by Apple that run iOS, the company's own mobile operating system. The first-generation iPhone was announced by then–Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at ...
/
iPod Touch The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and formerly marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a po ...
(ESZ Consulting / Superior Interactive). This has retro and enhanced graphics and sounds and new screens. In 2014 ''iRepton 3'' was released for the iPad and iPhone, featuring the same level of graphic enhancements as ''iRepton 1'', which also had an overhaul at the same time.


Clones

A deliberate clone called ''Ripton'', extremely faithful apart from different level design and several humorous digs at the original game, was written by Kenton Price and submitted to ''A&B Computing'' but the magazine never dared to publish it. It is, however, now available at BBC software Internet sites. There was also a
Public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...
clone for the
ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...
called ''Riptoff'', which included a level editor. It was developed by Rick O'Neill and Craig Hunter, and was released exclusively on a 1991
Your Sinclair ''Your Sinclair'', originally ''Your Spectrum'' or ''YS'', is a discontinued British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was commercially published between 1984 and 1993. History The magazine was la ...
covertape.


Derivatives

Due to ''Reptons ubiquity on the platform, it is sometimes compared to other scrolling-map games for the BBC/Electron. Later puzzle-based games such as ''
Bonecruncher ''Bone Cruncher'' is a puzzle video game for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, and Commodore 64 first published by Superior Software in 1987. It uses the "rocks and diamonds" mechanics of ''Boulder Dash (video game), Boulder Dash''. An Amiga version ...
'' and ''Clogger'' might be said to be derivatives of ''Repton'', and this perception is also encompassed by
arcade adventure An action-adventure game is a video game hybrid genre that combines core elements from both the action game and adventure game genres. Definition An action adventure game can be defined as a game with a mix of elements from an action gam ...
/
role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...
s presented in four-way-scrolling format – the notable ones being '' Ravenskull'' and ''
Pipeline A pipeline is a system of Pipe (fluid conveyance), pipes for long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas, typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countries ...
'' – despite their different styles involving unique objects, encounters and unexpected traps. A non-scrolling 5-level
type-in Type in may refer to * Type-In, a meeting of typewriter enthusiasts *Type-in program *Type-in traffic Type-in traffic is a term describing visitors landing at a web site by entering a keyword or phrase (with no spaces or in place of a space) in t ...
called ''Pitfall Pete'' written by Jonathan Temple was also described as "'Repton' style" when it was published by
BEEBUG ''BEEBUG'' was a magazine published for users of the BBC Micro between 1982 and 1994. It was the first subscription magazine for computers made by Acorn Computers. History BBC Micro User Group The group was formed in 1982 by Sheridan Williams ...
in 1986 and expanded to 15 levels in 1991. ''Reptons original author has written a
public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...
Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...
rocks-and-diamonds game, Rockz,Rockz
/ref> which features elements in the vein of both ''Repton 2'' and ''Boulder Dash''. A game called ''Mole Miner'' was released for
Android Android most commonly refers to: *Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), a mobile operating system primarily developed by Google * Android TV, a operating system developed ...
devices in 2009 by Little Fluffy Toys Ltd. The game was designed by Kenton Price, who also wrote ''Ripton''. It builds on the rocks-and-diamonds genre typified by ''Repton'', extending it with features such as explosives, sliding ice and wraparound, and includes a community level designer. ''Mole Miner'' contains 60 levels created by Michael S. Repton, the author of many levels in later ''Repton'' series games.


References


External links


Superior Interactive

Repton author's personal website

Repton Resource Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Repton (Video Game) 1985 video games Rocks-and-diamonds games Superior Software games Acorn Archimedes games BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games Commodore 64 games IOS games Video games about reptiles Video games developed in the United Kingdom Windows games ZX Spectrum games Linux games