Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Qwak!

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Distributor(s)
  
Atari Inc.

CPU
  
discrete

Developer
  
Atari

Platform
  
Arcade game

Cabinet
  
unique

Initial release date
  
1974

Publisher
  
Atari

Sound
  
Amplified Mono (one channel)

Display
  
Horizontal orientation, raster (black and white), Standard Resolution.

Genres
  
Shooter game, Light gun shooter

Similar
  
Gran Trak 10, Elimination, Crash 'N Score, Doctor Pong, Qwak

Qwak! is a 1 player arcade game by Atari Inc., originally released in 1974. It simulates duck hunting, whereby players fire at flying on-screen ducks using a rifle with a light gun attached to the end.

Contents

Technology

The game is housed in a custom cabinet that includes a light gun. The game PCB is composed of discrete technology and includes Atari/Kee's Durastress technology.

Marsh reeds and a tree branch are provided by a screen overlay representing perspective of looking up from the ground.

The game can be set by the operator to have time limits, extended time and free games.

Gameplay

One duck flies across the screen at a time, giving the player three shots to hit it. A hunting dog runs out and collects the fallen prize if the player was successful with their aim.

Legacy

  • In 1982, Atari Inc. developed a prototype for a duck themed game also similarly entitled Qwak. With the goal of "Help mama duck and her three ducklings get home safely", the player shifts picture blocks into place to create a safe path for the ducks to get home. There were 15-puzzles with cute animations, and a player's score is determined by how long the ducks are on-screen and by how many get home safely. The developers are unsure whether this was originally designed for a touch-screen or not. It could have been a joystick game that happened to be in development when they were interested in evaluating touch-screen technology. They felt that the touch-screen would make a more intuitive interface, but were apparently wrong. The most common comment at the focus-group was "could you put a joystick or buttons on it. It would be easier"...
  • Nintendo produced a clone of Qwak! for the Famicom in 1984, called Duck Hunt.

    • References

    Qwak! Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA