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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1983 video game)

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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
TTCM Atari 2600 box art
Developer(s)VSS, Inc.
Publisher(s)Wizard Video Games
Designer(s)Ed Salvo[1]
Platform(s)Atari 2600
ReleaseMarch 14, 1983
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a video game for the Atari 2600 based on the slasher film of the same name written by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel. The game was released in March 1983 by Wizard Video Games.[2] It was designed and programmed by VSS, a software development company started by Ed Salvo and several other ex-Games by Apollo programmers.

Gameplay

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A video game sprite representing Leatherface, facing a sprite representing a possible victim. Below Leatherface is a sprite of a bush, to the left of the screen is a sprite of a cow skull. The background is lined with four trees, and distant house and car sprites.
The player, Leatherface, approaching a victim.

The player takes on the role of the movie's chainsaw-wielding villain, Leatherface,[3] and attempts to murder trespassers while avoiding obstacles such as fences, wheelchairs, and cow skulls.[4] The player controls the murderer with the objective to chase and kill victims.[5] Each victim slain gives the player 1,000 points. The player receives additional fuel at every 5,000 points (5 victims). A life is lost when the player's chainsaw runs out of gasoline. Gameplay ends when the last tank of gas is consumed.

Reception

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As one of the first horror-themed video games, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre caused controversy when it was released because of the violent nature of the video game and sold poorly; many stores refused to carry it.[6][7] Wizard's other commercial release, Halloween, was also not well-received.[8]

Reviews

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. ^ Texas Chainsaw Massacre Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine at AtariAge
  3. ^ Fahs, Travis (2009-10-30). "IGN Presents the History of Survival Horror". IGN. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  4. ^ Texas Chainsaw Massacre[permanent dead link] on AllGameGuide
  5. ^ Cohen, D.S. "Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the Atari 2600 – The First Slasher Video Game". About.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  6. ^ "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Atari game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  7. ^ "Classic horror movies on the Atari 2600". BavaTuesdays.com. April 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  8. ^ "Halloween for the Atari 2600". Rogue Cinema. April 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
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