Machine Guides

Game History

Q*bert is a classic arcade game developed and published by Gottlieb in 1982, created during the golden age of arcade gaming. The game was designed by Warren Davis with character design and original concept by Jeff Lee, and was developed under the project name "Cubes" before briefly being called "Snots And Boogers" and "@!#?@!" during development.

Q*bert features innovative isometric graphics that create a pseudo-3D effect, which was a novel approach for arcade games in the early 1980s. The game's distinctive orange, two-legged character with a big nose jumps diagonally around a pyramid, changing the color of the blocks he lands on while avoiding enemies and obstacles. The game was an immediate commercial success for Gottlieb, who were primarily known for their pinball machines, selling approximately 25,000 arcade cabinets.

The game received critical acclaim upon release, with Electronic Games' Roger C. Sharpe considering it "a potential Arcade Award winner for coin-op game of the year" and praising its innovative gameplay and outstanding graphics. Video Games magazine placed Q*bert first in its list of Top Ten Hits, describing it as "the most unusual and exciting game of the show.

Qbert's popularity led to numerous home console ports, merchandise, spin-offs, and even a television show. In 1983, a board game adaptation was released, and Gottlieb also produced a Qbert pinball machine. The game has maintained its cultural significance over the decades, being included in books like "1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die" and making appearances in various media, including the animated film "Wreck-It Ralph."

How to Play

Objectives

The main goal of Qbert is to change the color of all cubes on a pyramid by jumping on them while avoiding enemies and obstacles. You control Qbert, an orange, two-legged character who must complete each pyramid level by touching every cube. The game emphasizes pattern completion and enemy avoidance in an isometric 3D environment.

Controls

• Joystick: Use the four-way joystick to make Q*bert jump diagonally up or down to adjacent cubes

Gameplay

1. Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin Q*bert's pyramid adventure.

2. Pyramid Navigation: Jump diagonally between cubes on the pyramid, moving up or down to reach different levels.

3. Color Changing: Change the color of each cube by landing on it, with most cubes requiring two touches to reach the target color.

4. Enemy Avoidance: Avoid enemies including Coily (the purple snake), Ugg and Wrong-Way (purple creatures), and Slick and Sam (green creatures).

5. Obstacle Dodging: Dodge balls that fall from the top of the pyramid and bounce off cubes.

6. Level Completion: Successfully change all cubes to the target color to advance to the next level with increased difficulty.

7. Bonus Points: Collect bonus items that occasionally appear on the pyramid for additional points.

8. Increasing Difficulty: Progress through levels with faster enemies, more complex pyramid layouts, and additional challenges.

9. Lives System: The game begins with a limited number of lives, with additional lives awarded at certain score thresholds.

10. Game Over: The game ends when you lose all your lives. Your final score is displayed based on cubes changed and levels completed.