Videomation is a North America-exclusive art application for the Nintendo Entertainment System that was released in 1991.
| Videomation | |
|---|---|
 Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | FarSight Studios[4] |
| Publisher(s) | Toy Headquarters[4] |
| Programmer(s) | Rand Siegfried[5] |
| Platform(s) | NES[4] |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Productivity[4] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player[6] |
Videomation saw official release outside North America, by BIC, who sold it in Asian cartridge. They give the official license to a well known, regional famiclone distributors like BiT Argentina[2] (known from Bitgame, Super Bitgame and Video Racer), BobMark Int. Poland[3] (known from Pegasus) and others.
Overview edit
This application allows players to create artwork using a mostly freestyle method, with support for full video animation. The game does not support the use of a mouse or any other external component, requiring users to rely on the NES game controller to draw objects. There is a basic grey screen surrounded by graphics stamps. This application utilizes the CHR RAM chip that is also used in a variety of other contemporaneous NES video games. Thirteen different variations of palettes and seven different kinds of tools (including a pen, various geometric shapes, and the eraser) are available for use in creative compositions.[7] Once the user chooses one of the palettes, there are different colors to choose. The colors include these: turquoise, pink, purple, light blue, and colors that have been dithered.
After drawing a stationary picture, the game allows to place one of a few possible animatable objects (these include a man, a child, a car, a plane, etc.) and then choose a path it will follow on the screen. One options allows the object to follow the cursor.
The game's instruction manual has some ideas for drawing including these: geometric designs with intense patches of color,[8] birds flying over untamed jungles,[8] cars on a race track,[8] and dinosaurs in the user's imaginary backyard.[8]
There is no data storage or export medium, so pictures and video can only be saved by recording a playback of the NES's display through a VCR.[6]
Reception edit
According to InstallSoftware.com, the game offers a relatively good short-term replay factor while lacking on the long-term replay factor.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Release information". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ a b "Este es el equipo para tu próxima aventura!". Action Games (3): 4–5.
- ^ a b "Wieści ze świata grania". Top Secret (30): 39.
- ^ a b c d "Additional release information". Gamervision. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
- ^ "Programmer information". Game Developer Research Institute. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
- ^ a b "# of players information/recording information". Gamervision. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
- ^ "Game tools information". DEngel (GameFAQs). Retrieved 2010-05-16.
- ^ a b c d "Instruction manual". NES World. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
- ^ "Retro Video Game Evaluation: Videomation (Nes)". InstallSoftware.com. Retrieved 2013-01-12.