The King of Chicago
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Doug Sharp |
| Products | The King of Chicago (video game) |
The King of Chicago is an action-adventure title released in 1986, created by Doug Sharp. Drawing inspiration from classic Hollywood gangster movies, the game is primarily set during the 1930s, with certain scenes occurring in 1986. The Macintosh edition showcases claymation-style animation, whereas other versions utilize traditional hand-drawn visuals.
Description
The gameplay starts with the player controlling a modest mafia outfit in Chicago, with the objective of rising to become the dominant crime boss in the city by growing their criminal organization. Players must accomplish this before a set deadline to secure a place in the establishment of the New York crime syndicate.
Players engage in typical organized crime operations such as drive-by shootings, bomb placements, running illegal gambling operations, and bribing corrupt officials. Success depends on skillfully balancing violent confrontations and strategic negotiations, all while managing law enforcement scrutiny and maintaining alliances to prevent obstacles.
The game offers multiple possible conclusions based on decisions made; failure can lead to arrest or death. Triumph is achieved by eliminating competing gang leaders.
Ports
Initially developed by Doug Sharp for the monochrome Macintosh platform using digitized clay figures, Cinemaware later reimagined the visuals for the Amiga version. The game was then adapted for Apple IIGS, Atari ST, DOS, and X68000 systems. Mindscape published the Macintosh release, while Cinemaware managed U.S. distribution of subsequent ports, with Mirrorsoft handling releases across the UK and Europe.
In July 2012, Cinemaware announced an emulated iOS version of the Amiga edition. This version became accessible on the App Store by early 2014.
Reception
Macworld lauded the Macintosh version of The King of Chicago for pushing forward the fusion of cinematic storytelling and interactive gameplay, describing it as "a real-time movie controlled by the user." The review praised its innovative use of claymation graphics and engaging gameplay that maintained humor through self-referential wit and entertaining character dynamics. On the downside, Macworld criticized the lack of a save function as "appalling," especially given the game's duration, and noted that despite some variation in characters, players would eventually encounter repetitive sequences throughout the experience.
External links
- The King of Chicago at Cinemaware.com
- , a 1989 lecture by Sharp on interactive story engines