They stole a million
| They stole a million | |
|---|---|
| Studio | 39 steps |
| Publisher | Ariolasoft |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1986 |
| platform | C64 , Amstrad CPC , Sinclair ZX Spectrum |
| genre | Computer strategy game |
| Game mode | Single player |
| control | Joystick , keyboard |
| medium | Floppy disk , cassette |
| language | English German |
They Stole a Million (TSAM, alternative spelling They $ tole A Million ) is a computer strategy game that was developed by 39 Steps and published by Ariolasoft in 1986 for the C64 , Amstrad CPC and Sinclair ZX Spectrum . The course of the game describes the planning and simulation of thefts. The title, for example, inspired the development of Der-Clou! Series and is considered a video game classic.
Game description
The player takes on the role of the character "The Boss". The background story describes the protagonist as a “little crook with big ideas”. He had acquired crime software , the so-called SWAG (“Software for Aspiring Gangsters”), from the fictional magazine What Crime . The game is divided into two phases. In the first part, the player uses the SWAG database shown; he chooses a break-in target, buys plans and information about the property, puts together a criminal group and chooses a fence . The game includes five missions of increasing difficulty, 18 selectable team members and five different fences.
In the second section the player plans the break-in and finally looks at the implementation. The planning takes place on the blueprints acquired in the game by assigning different tasks to the team members. These include, for example, lock picking , deactivating an alarm system or bypassing security personnel and cameras. The plan is presented like a script : it contains all the actions of the various characters to the second. During the implementation, the player can either watch the break-in or intervene with the help of the protagonist. After a break-in, the loot is distributed among the members and the sales proceeds can be used for the next mission. The mission process is linear, as only one specific goal can be effectively achieved with the given financial means.
The game music consists of a track composed by Ben Daglish . The music is only played during the implementation phase and the program does not contain any sound effects.
criticism
The trade press rated the game mostly positively. Above all, the innovative game principle was praised. Criticisms were graphics and music. In the Happy Computer Games special edition 3/1986 Heinrich Lenhardt wrote that "graphics and sound [...] are not particularly spectacular", but that the game principle is "all the more convincing". Gregor Neumann considered " They Stole a Million" to be one of the software highlights of the last few months. It shows that "nothing beats a good game idea."
The British magazine CRASH rated TSAM with 85 percentage points and wrote that the “game idea is very original and interesting” (“The whole idea of the game is very original, and extremely interesting to play”). The graphics, however, were described as poor in detail and restrained.
In ASM magazine, editor Bernd Zimmermann gave the rating "Top Hit" and, in contrast to other critics, saw in addition to the "amusing and original idea [...] very good graphics and an excellent overall presentation."
The criticism of the Sinclair user was less benevolent : “Highly original idea spoiled. Monotony at the planning stage turns into tedium at the denoument [sic]. A pity ". (For example: Very original idea messed up. Monotony in the planning phase becomes boredom in the end. A shame) The ratings from Your Sinclair , ZZAP! 64 and Commodore User were nine out of ten points, 90% and seven out of ten points.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Test report from Der Clou! in ASM edition 7/94
- ↑ Telepolis article Hase und Igel ( Memento from February 6, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) by Peter Mühlbauer
- ↑ Tape inlay of the game on gamebox64.com ( memento of the original from September 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Play test in Happy Computer Games special issue 3/86 on kultpower.de
- ↑ Playtest in the Crash Christmas Special 1986 on worldofspectrum.org
- ↑ Play test in ASM 3/1987 on kultpower.de
- ↑ Playtest in Sinclair User January 1987 on worldofspectrum.org
Web links
- They Stole a Million at MobyGames (English)