Videomation
1991 video game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Videomation is a North America-exclusive art application for the Nintendo Entertainment System that was released in 1991.
| Videomation | |
|---|---|
Cover art | |
| Developer | FarSight Studios[1] |
| Publisher | Toy Headquarters[1] |
| Programmer | Rand Siegfried[2] |
| Platform | NES[1] |
| Release | |
| Genre | Productivity[1] |
| Mode | Single-player[6] |
Videomation saw official release outside North America, by BIC, who sold it in Asian cartridge. They give the official license to a well known, regional famiclone distributors like BiT Argentina[4] (known from Bitgame, Super Bitgame and Video Racer), BobMark Int. Poland[5] (known from Pegasus) and others.
Overview
This application allows players to create artwork using a mostly freestyle method, with support for full video animation. The game does not support the use of a mouse or any other external component, requiring users to rely on the NES game controller to draw objects. There is a basic grey screen surrounded by graphics stamps. This application utilizes the CHR RAM chip[7] that is also used in a variety of other contemporaneous NES video games. Thirteen different variations of palettes and seven different kinds of tools (including a pen, various geometric shapes, and the eraser) are available for use in creative compositions.[8] Once the user chooses one of the palettes, there are different colors to choose. The colors include these: turquoise, pink, purple, light blue, and colors that have been dithered.
After drawing a stationary picture, the game allows to place one of a few possible animatable objects (these include a man, a child, a car, a plane, etc.) and then choose a path it will follow on the screen. One options allows the object to follow the cursor.
The game's instruction manual has some ideas for drawing including these: geometric designs with intense patches of color,[9] birds flying over untamed jungles,[9] cars on a race track,[9] and dinosaurs in the user's imaginary backyard.[9]
There is no data storage or export medium, so pictures and video can only be saved by recording a playback of the NES's display through a VCR.[6]
Reception
According to InstallSoftware.com, the game offers a relatively good short-term replay factor while lacking on the long-term replay factor.[10]
