Macadam Bumper (also released as Pinball Wizard) is a video pinball simulation construction set developed by ERE Informatique in France. It was first released for 8-bit computers in 1985, the Atari ST in 1986 and MS-DOS in 1987. The Atari ST and MS-DOS versions were released in the US as Pinball Wizard in 1988 by Accolade.
Gameplay
Pinball Wizard is a game which includes sound and lights and the ability to tilt, with different obstacles on each of the four pinball simulations. On the Atari ST, the player manipulates the flipper and back-board controls using the mouse, but too much movement from the mouse will activate the tilt sensors. Players can customize the parameters in the game including as point scores, table slope, bumper elasticity, and the number of balls per game. Using a parts menu, the player can assemble a pinball machine, coloring and decorating it from the paint menu.
Widebody tables or more traditional layouts can be created. A parameter can be changed to adjust the weight of the ball, from a lead weight to a ping-pong ball.
The Atari ST version added support for a mouse.
Reception
In 1988, Dragon gave the game 4½ out of 5 stars.
Pinball Player found the Atari ST version a “very playable package” recommended to any pinballer.
See also
- Pinball Construction Set
References
External links
- Macadam Bumper at MobyGames
- Macadam Bumper at Centre for Computing History
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Put under the Gamer24h team's microscope, Macadam Bumper raises the bar considerably with both its storytelling and technical polish. Thanks to ERE Informatique's meticulous craftsmanship and ERE Informatique (France), Personal Software Services (UK), Accolade (US)'s strong presentation, the high production quality is evident in every moment of the game. Masterfully blending Pinball, game creation system mechanics with modern standards, the game's fluid gameplay makes hours fly by unnoticed. All in all, the Gamer24h team stands firmly behind our rating. This is a unique journey you won't want to miss.