Preppie! (video game)

Preppie!
Cover art by Scott Ross
Developer(s)Star Systems Software
Publisher(s)Adventure International
Americana (UK)
Designer(s)Russ Wetmore[1]
Platform(s)Atari 8-bit
Release
Genre(s)Action

Preppie! is an action video game for Atari 8-bit computers published by Adventure International in 1982. It was programmed by Russ Wetmore of Star Systems Software, whose name is prominently on the box cover.[1] Leaning on the preppy trend of the early 1980s, the game follows prep schooler Wadsworth Overcash as he navigates the hazards of a country club to retrieve golf balls.[2] Preppie! borrows heavily from Konami's Frogger,[3][4] with lanes of traffic in the bottom half of the screen and a river crossing the top portion. Alligators are an element from both Frogger and preppy fashion; an open-mouthed gator is the icon of shirt brand Izod. Reviewers recognized the game as derivative, but called the music and visuals some of the best for Atari 8-bit computers.

Preppie! was followed by a maze game, Preppie! II, from the same author in 1983.[5] A third game in the series was mentioned in a 1983 interview, but never materialized. In 2016, Russ Wetmore released the source code for both games.[6]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mania was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  5. ^ Mozejko, Michael (21 August 2008). "Preppie! II". Retro Gamer.
  6. ^ Savetz, Kevin (January 5, 2016). "Interview 113 - Russ Wetmore". ANTIC: The Atari 8-bit Podcast.