Pipeline (video game)

Pipeline

Publisher(s)| Superior Software
Designer(s)| Ian Holmes
William Reeve
Platform(s)| BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Windows
Release| 1988 BBC, Electron
2004 Windows
Genre(s)| Arcade-adventure
Mode(s)| Single-player

Pipeline is a video game for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron, originally published by Superior Software in 1988. It is an overhead view action role-playing game set on a mining platform. It was remade for Microsoft Windows as Pipeline Plus (2004).

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Development
* 3 Release
* 4 Reception
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Gameplay

The game is a fast four-way scrolling arcade adventure with a look similar to previous Superior hits Repton and Ravenskull, but with a higher frame rate. It is set on a mining platform above Io, the sulfur-rich moon of Jupiter.

Pipeline was bundled with graphics and level design programs, allowing players to design their own game scenarios incorporating keys and doors, patrolling guards, explosions, throwable objects, moving walls, puzzles in the style of Sokoban, pipes, teleports and other simple kinds of puzzle logic.

## Development

In game screenshot (BBC Micro)

The game was written by Ian Holmes and William Reeve of Cambridge, England and published by the leading BBC Micro game company of the time, Superior Software of Leeds.

The original game concept, strongly influenced by the earlier game Ravenskull, was of an action RPG. By collecting treasure and completing quests, the player would progress through medieval guilds in a fantasy setting: the working title was GuildMaster.

A change in direction was suggested by Richard Hanson (managing director and co-founder of Superior Software). Instead of a medieval city, the game took place on a contemporary oil platform with a red-headed protagonist nicknamed Red O'Hare collecting oil drums and putting out fires (a reference to Red Adair). This plotline was, however, quickly transplanted to a science-fictional setting, following the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988.[1]

The name Pipeline arose from the gameplay element of fast transport to distant parts of the map through topologically interwoven pipes (novel to the BBC Micro at the time, but see Super Mario Bros. or Sonic the Hedgehog for well-known examples).

## Release

The game was first released in 1988 by Superior Software/Acornsoft. It was included on the Play It Again Sam 11 compilation in 1989. It was also re-released in 1991 as part of the Superior/Blue Ribbon budget range. Although the inlay made no mention of the game editing programs, they were included on the cassette.

A new expanded version for Microsoft Windows titled Pipeline Plus was released by Superior Interactive in 2004.

## Reception

The game was given a maximum score by Electron User with 10/10 for sound, graphics, playability and value for money (as well as overall) calling it "a masterpiece of brain twisting entertainment".[2]

## See also

* Jupiter's moons in fiction

## References

1. ↑ "Acorn - A World In Pixels" (2020), Idesine, 8 Admirals Gate, London SE10 8JX.
2. ↑ "Io, Io, It's Off To Work We Go", Jon Revis, Electron User, #5.12, September 1988

## External links

* A review of the game from BeebGames.com

* v
* t
* e

Superior Software

Early games (1982-84)|

* Invaders
* Centibug
* Alien Dropout
* Hunchback
* Overdrive
* Stranded
* Mr Wiz
* Percy Penguin
* Smash and Grab
* Space Pilot
* Zany Kong Junior

Games (1985-93)|

| 1985|

* Tempest
* Repton
* Deathstar
* Repton 2
* Citadel

|

1986|

* Karate Combat
* Thrust
* Galaforce
* Stryker's Run
* The Legend of Sinbad
* Ravenskull
* Repton 3
* Elite (enhanced)
* Revs (enhanced)

1987|

* Syncron
* Kix
* Grand Prix Construction Set
* Around the World in 40 Screens
* Codename: Droid
* Crazee Rider
* Palace of Magic
* Zarch
* Elixir
* Bone Cruncher
* Spellbinder
* The Life of Repton

1988|

* Quest
* Spycat
* Conqueror
* Barbarian
* Repton Thru Time
* Pipeline
* Cosmic Camouflage
* By Fair Means or Foul
* Exile
* Imogen
* Repton Infinity
* The Last Ninja
* Galaforce 2

1989|

* A Question of Sport
* Firetrack
* Repton Mania
* Barbarian II
* Camelot
* Qwak
* Predator
* Ballistix
* Superior Soccer
* Ricochet
* Baron
* Last Ninja 2

1990|

* Perplexity
* Hyperball
* Pandemonium
* Hostages
* Superior Golf
* Star Port
* SimCity
* Master Break

1991|

* Air Supremacy
* Cyborg Warriors
* The Network
* Vertigo

1992|

* Repton 4

1993|

* Technodream
* Tactic
* Citadel 2

Educational / utility software|

* Toolkit (1983)
* Assembler (1983)
* World Geography (1983)
* Disassembler (1984)
* Constellation (1984)
* Planetarium (1984)
* UK Geography (1984)
* Speech! (1985)

Compilations|

* The Acornsoft Hits (1987)
* The Superior Collection (1987)
* Play It Again Sam (Electron: 1987-1991, BBC Micro: 1987-1993, Archimedes: 1992-1994)

Platforms|

* BBC Micro
* Oric-1
* Acorn Electron
* Commodore 64
* Amstrad CPC
* Acorn Archimedes
* Amiga
* ZX Spectrum

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