Peter Packrat

Infobox VG
title = Peter Packrat


publisher = Atari Games Corporation
designer = [http://cruzware.com/peter/index.html Peter Thompson] (designer)
Debbie Hayes (artist)
Mike Fuller (sound)
released = vgrelease|Arcade Game|Arcade|1984
vgrelease|Commodore 64|Commodore 64|1988
vgrelease|ZX Spectrum|ZX Spectrum|1988
vgrelease|Amstrad CPC|Amstrad CPC|1989
genre = Platform
modes = 1 or 2 Player (Alternating)
platforms = Atari System 1
Commodore 64
ZX Spectrum
Amstrad CPC
input = 8-way Joystick
Jump button
Throw button
cabinet = Upright
arcade system = Atari System 1
cpu = 68010 [cite web|url=http://www.mameworld.net/maws/romset/peterpak|title=The MAWS Database|accessdate=2007-12-06]
sound = 6502A (main sound)
YM2151 (FM stereo sound)
display = Raster, 336 x 240, horizontal orientation

Peter Packrat was a platform arcade game created in 1984 for the Atari System 1 by Atari Games Corporation. Only 500 units were produced, either as a standalone cabinet or an upgrade kit to existing cabinets. [cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=1955|title=Peter Packrat at Arcade-History.com|accessdate=2007-12-06] (Atari part 136028). [cite web|url=http://www.sharp-software.com/atariparts.htm|title=Atari Part Numbers|accessdate=2007-12-06]

Gameplay

The player maneuvers a rat named Peter through a junkyard, cavern, and tree, to collect objects and take them back to his nest within a designated time. Enemies, referred to as "The Gang", include cats, dogs, owls, and spiders, and must be avoided or stunned by throwing gems or collected objects.

A simple set of instructions are displayed during the game demonstration:

:"You are the Packrat! You love to gather bright and shiny objects. You want to see all of your objects back on your nest's wall."

:"Meet "The Gang" - they want to stop you. Throw objects to stun them. You can ride some of the stunned animals for a while."

:"Pick up all objects and bring objects back to nest."

:"Throw objects to stun animals. Stunned animals may be ridden and tough rat can't be ridden."

:"Walking on pipes makes you jump."

:"Flashing animals won't kill you."

:"Hit jump to let go of animal."

There are four difficulty modes, which allow the player to begin on wave 1, 5, 9 or 13. Each successive wave becomes more difficult by increasing the number of objects to collect (up to 15), reducing the alloted time to collect them, and adding more enemies. The waves increment until level 58.

Points are awarded based on remaining time when all items are collected, and number of enemies stunned, with a bonus life granted at 20,000 points. Jeff Peters holds the official high-score with 910,875 points achieved at the Camelot Arcade in Anaheim, California on March 20th, 1986. [cite web|url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=23&gi=1752|title=Twin Galaxies Official Electronic Scoreboard|accessdate=2007-12-06]

Trivia

*In 1988 the game was ported to the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum by Atari's subsidiary, Tengen Inc. It was also ported to the Amstrad CPC in 1989 under a license from Tengen by Software Creations, published by Silverbird Software Ltd. [cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=1915|title=Lemon - Commodore 64, C64 Games, Reviews and Music|accessdate=2007-12-06]
*Although the game refers to its levels as waves, the complexity of each level suggests their classification as stages or rounds.
*The background music was made available on the 1991 and 2003 release of "That's Atari Music - G.S.M Atari Games 1" album, Track 5. [cite web|url=http://www.vgmworld.com/catalog/index.php?table=cocoebiz_music&item_num=79|title=Video Game Music World (store)|accessdate=2007-12-06]
*Peter Packrat was the first video game to feature a rat, but was preceded by several titles featuring mice. The game was released a year after the debut of British television icon Roland Rat, who in 1985 had a home video game of his own produced by Ocean Software.
*The high-score initials "PCT" belong to the game's designer and programmer, [http://cruzware.com/peter/index.html Peter Thompson] , while "DAH" belong to its artist, Debbie Hayes.
*The Commodore 64 version contained a small bug. If you completed a level, the timer would continue to countdown while Peter did his little dance. This was corrected in a bugfixed version with a high-score saver. ). [cite web|url=http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=32783
title=Commodore 64 Fixed Version|accessdate=2007-12-13]

References