''Roland Goes Digging'' (in France, ''Roland fait des Petits Trous'') is a 1984

computer 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, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual feedback from a display device, mo ...

for the

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 ...

series of home computers. It was distributed by Amsoft, on cassette tape for CPC 464 and Amstrad's proprietary 3" disk format, for CPC 664 and CPC 6128 users. The game was developed by regular Amsoft contributors Gem Software and featured Amstrad's CPC mascot Roland, who also appears in other games in the ''

Roland Roland (; ; or ''Rotholandus''; or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. The historical Roland was mil ...

'' series, such as '' Roland in the Caves'', ''Roland in Time'' and ''Roland in Space''. The game is a clone of ''

Space Panic is a 1980 arcade video game developed by Universal. Predating Nintendo's ''Donkey Kong'', and lacking a jump mechanic, ''Space Panic'' was the first game involving climbing ladders between walkable platforms. The genre was initially labeled "c ...

'', with the player guiding Roland along a series of platforms that are reached by ladders, all the while avoiding aliens that prove fatal if he touches them. According to the game's inlay, Roland is employed on a building site that is infested with these aliens and he has been "offered a bonus ... to clear the building of the space squatters". He does this by digging holes in the platforms, into which the aliens will drop, and then dispatching them with his shovel while they are prone. Empty holes are also useful to Roland as a means of accessing lower levels without the use of a ladder.

Reception

A review in ''

Amstrad Computer User ''Amstrad Computer User'' was the official magazine for the Amstrad CPC series of 8-bit home computers. This monthly publication, usually referred to as ''ACU'' by its readers, concentrated more on the hardware and technical side of the Amstrad ...

'' complimented the game as both "absorbing and addictive". ''

Amstrad Action ''Amstrad Action'' is a discontinued monthly magazine, which was published in the United Kingdom. It is about home computers from the Amstrad CPC range and later the GX4000 console. It is the first magazine published by Chris Anderson (TED), Chri ...

'' criticised its lack of originality and variety.

References

External links

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''Roland Goes Digging''
at the CPC Wiki 1984 video games Amsoft games Amstrad CPC games Amstrad CPC-only games Gem Software games Platformers Video game clones Video games developed in the United Kingdom {{platform-videogame-stub