Carnival (video game)
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 |
| Products | Carnival (arcade game) |
Carnival is a fixed shooter arcade game created by Gremlin and launched by Sega in 1980. It stands out as one of the earliest titles to incorporate a bonus round, significantly boosting player involvement.
In 1981, the game was adapted for Atari 8-bit computers by ANALOG Software, the commercial branch of ANALOG Computing magazine. The following year, Coleco expanded its availability with ports for the Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and Intellivision, thereby reaching a wider audience across leading home gaming consoles.
Gameplay
Players are tasked with shooting various targets while conserving a finite supply of ammunition. The controls consist of firing and moving left or right; notably, the cocktail cabinet version replaces buttons with a two-way joystick.
Targets—rabbits, ducks, owls, and extra-ammo icons—move across three rows in alternating directions, with upper rows awarding more points. When ducks descend to the lowest row, they come to life and fly toward the player, depleting bullets if they reach the bottom of the screen. New ducks periodically enter from above. Positioned above the top row is a pop-up target that can either add or deduct bullets or points. Additionally, an eight-pipe spinning wheel is located above; its point value diminishes with each missed shot. A bonus counter increases with every successful hit and can be collected by shooting the letters spelling "BONUS" in order; however, shooting any letter halts further bonus accumulation.
A round concludes once all targets and pipes are eliminated. Players receive bonus points for any remaining ammunition before entering a special bonus stage featuring a large bear target. This bear accelerates and changes direction upon being hit; players have unlimited ammo to shoot it multiple times until it escapes. Each successive bonus round introduces an additional bear, up to a maximum of four.
As levels progress, target values rise along with the number and speed of ducks, while extra-ammo targets become scarcer. The game ends when players run out of bullets either from firing or from ducks consuming them.
Development
Unlike most games that use a single PCB with DIP switches to toggle between modes, Carnival employs two distinct PCBs for its upright and cocktail cabinet versions. Both cabinet designs are available in either woodgrain or painted orange-and-white finishes.
The soundtrack features Juventino Rosas's "Sobre las Olas" (Over the Waves), a melody traditionally linked to carnivals and fairs. Powered by the General Instrument AY-3-8910 sound chip, the game presents an intricate arrangement of this waltz complemented by layered sound effects.
Reception
The ColecoVision adaptation received acclaim from Electronic Games, described as "a letter-perfect recreation of the arcade original that's not to be missed."
Video game historian Andrew commended the arcade edition’s music for its complex texture created using three tone channels—two dedicated to the waltz’s oom-pah-pah rhythm and one for the melody—and lauded its varied sound effects, including duck quacks and a bear’s roar, calling it a "veritable sonic feast."
Legacy
Sega granted Coleco the console rights for Carnival, leading to its adaptation for the Atari VCS, Intellivision, and Colecovision systems.
In 1981, Analog Software introduced a clone called Shooting Gallery for the Atari 8-bit computers, eventually obtaining an official Sega license to release an enhanced version under the original name Carnival.
Acornsoft launched a clone titled Carnival for the BBC Micro in 1983, which was subsequently rebranded as Carousel.