Oil's Well
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Oil's Well |
Oil's Well—a play on the phrase "all's well"—is a video game released in 1983 by Sierra On-Line. Created for the Atari 8-bit computers by Thomas J. Mitchell, it transforms the 1982 arcade title Anteater into a maze-based oil drilling challenge. Subsequent versions appeared in 1983 for Apple II and Commodore 64, followed by ports in 1984 for ColecoVision and IBM PC (distributed as a self-booting disk), and later in 1985 for MSX and Sharp X1. A graphically updated MS-DOS edition was launched in 1990, developed without Mitchell’s participation.
Gameplay
In this game, players guide a drill head through labyrinthine tunnels to extract oil, using four directional controls. The drill is connected to the starting point by a pipeline that extends behind it; while the drill head can eliminate underground creatures, the pipeline itself is susceptible to damage. As players progress, the pipeline lengthens but can be swiftly reeled back. The game includes eight distinct stages.
Reception
The Atari 8-bit version received acclaim from ANALOG Computing, which described it as an innovative and demanding maze game featuring strong gameplay mechanics and visuals.
Dave Stone of Computer Gaming World praised its smooth pacing and escalating difficulty, emphasizing that mastering the game requires skillful coordination, precise timing, and strategic planning.
According to Ahoy!, the Commodore 64 iteration offered adequate graphics and sound but stood out due to its distinctive gameplay. InfoWorld regarded the IBM PCjr release as "a clever, straightforward game," while its Essential Guide to Atari Computers referred to the Atari 8-bit version as "Sierra's most challenging."
The U.S. publication Computer Games honored Oil's Well with the 1984 Golden Floppy Award for Excellence in the category of "Maze Game of the Year."
Legacy
The influence of Oil's Well extended into the early 1990s through several derivative titles inspired by its concept, such as Pipeline Run for the Commodore 64 (1990) and Oilmania for the Atari ST (1991).
External links
- Commodore 64 gameplay footage at archive.org
- Review from GAMES magazine