1 | [[quoteright:249:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0f8d070c8d16d3684af35ab43a635050.png]] |
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3 | Epyx was the name of a computer and VideoGame publisher of TheSeventies and The Eighties. It is best remembered for several classic games for the Platform/Atari8BitComputers and Platform/{{Commodore 64}}, particularly ''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai, VideoGame/{{Jumpman}}, VideoGame/ImpossibleMission, Summer/Winter/California Games,'' and ''VideoGame/ChipsChallenge''. |
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5 | The company was founded in 1977 by Jim Connelley and Jon Freeman under the name Automated Simulations; Connelley had purchased a Platform/CommodorePET to perform bookkeeping for his TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons games, and decided to create a game so he could write it off on his taxes. Connelly and Freeman created ''Starfleet Orion,'' a space-themed wargame for the PET, Platform/TRS80 , and Platform/AppleII. |
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7 | Their third game was an action-adventure RPG called ''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai,'' which became a BreakthroughHit. Since the game was not a simulation, they introduced the brand name Epyx for these titles. Using the same game engine, Epyx quickly released other action-oriented games, including ''VideoGame/CrushCrumbleAndChomp, Rescue at Rigel, Star Warrior,'' and two more sequels to ''Apshai.'' |
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9 | In 1983, as the company consolidated under the Epyx name, it released another blockbuster hit, ''VideoGame/{{Jumpman}}''. The company therefore shifted their output entirely towards action games, with more hits like ''Impossible Mission, Summer Games, Winter Games,'' and ''California Games,'' along with {{Licensed Game}}s based on ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'', ''Franchise/HotWheels'', and ''Franchise/GIJoe''. The British company U.S. Gold published Epyx games for the Commodore 64 and ported them to European platforms such as the Platform/AmstradCPC and Platform/ZXSpectrum. Epyx returned the favor, distributing games from European programmers, along with games from other American developers including [[Creator/LucasArts Lucasfilm Games]] and Microsoft. |
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11 | Epyx was sued by Creator/DataEast in 1987 over the game ''World Karate Championship,'' which Data East accused of being a copy of ''VideoGame/KarateChamp.'' Epyx ultimately won the case on appeal. Unfortunately, the company also tried to diversify in a wide variety of fields, including graphics and animation software, gaming peripherals, and even board games and VCR games. What few successes they had were offset by the failures. |
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13 | The final straw was the company's attempt to get into handheld video gaming. With famed hardware designers Dave Needle and R.J. Mical (of Platform/{{Amiga}} fame), Epyx developed the "Handy," a system ahead of its time with color graphics, hardware scaling, and multiplayer network capabilities. However, Epyx ran out of money before development could be completed; Handy was sold to Creator/{{Atari}}, who eventually released it as the Platform/AtariLynx. Atari was both a creditor and a debtor of Epyx; when Atari failed to pay for their contracted titles, Epyx went bankrupt, which gave Atari the titles for free. |
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15 | Epyx was dissolved and sold to the Bridgestone Group in the early [=1990s=]. The company eventually emerged from bankruptcy, but sold off all of its assets in 1993. |
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17 | ---- |
18 | !!Games developed or published by Epyx include: |
19 | [[index]] |
20 | * ''VideoGame/ArmorAssault'' |
21 | * ''VideoGame/ChipsChallenge'' |
22 | * ''VideoGame/CrushCrumbleAndChomp'' |
23 | * ''[[VideoGame/BarbarianTheUltimateWarrior Death Sword]]'' |
24 | * ''VideoGame/DragonridersOfPern'' |
25 | * ''VideoGame/ImpossibleMission'' |
26 | ** ''Impossible Mission II'' |
27 | * ''VideoGame/{{Jumpman}}'' |
28 | ** ''Jumpman Junior'' |
29 | * ''Videogame/TheMovieMonsterGame'' |
30 | * ''VideoGame/{{Pitstop}}'' |
31 | * ''[[VideoGame/TheSacredArmourOfAntiriad Rad Warrior]]'' |
32 | * ''VideoGame/RescueAtRigel'' |
33 | * ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}'' |
34 | * ''VideoGame/StarfleetOrion'' |
35 | * ''VideoGame/SummerGames'' |
36 | ** ''VideoGame/WinterGames'' |
37 | ** ''VideoGame/CaliforniaGames'' |
38 | ** ''VideoGame/WorldGames'' |
39 | * ''VideoGame/StreetSportsBaseball'' |
40 | * ''VideoGame/StreetSportsBasketball'' |
41 | * ''VideoGame/StreetSportsFootball'' |
42 | * ''VideoGame/StreetSportsSoccer'' |
43 | * ''VideoGame/TempleOfApshai'' |
44 | ** ''Upper Reaches of Apshai'' |
45 | ** ''Curse of Ra'' |
46 | * ''VideoGame/WorldKarateChampionship'' |
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