Dingo (Spectrum version)


Dingo’ is a simple maze/labyrinth game where you play ‘Big Ted‘ – a koala on a mission to collect fruit and avoid being stomped on by Dingos.
Download emulator image in TAP & TZX format for ZX Spectrum emulator. (74KB)

Current version v1.3 (released January 17th, 2016)
The original version of this game was an arcade machine made by A.C.G – also known as ‘Ultimate Play the Game’ – in 1983 and it’s a game that looks very much like their classic Spectrum game ‘Sabre Wulf’. The game has never seen any other commercial releases, but I also remade it for the PC in 2008 for a competition, and ported it to OSX in 2011.
Here’s a couple of screenshots from the game.
The loading screen

The loading screen

The main menu

The main menu

The intro

The intro

Some in-game action

The main menu

Picture of the original arcade version, for reference

Picture of the original arcade version, for reference

Gameplay description:
Your mission is to dash around the melon field and collect all the fruit there, to complete your mission. Your enemies are the Dingos – they should be avoided as they will stomp the life out of you if they get too near, and koala bears only have one life (well, three actually). Sometimes the Dingoes will also collect fruit by stomping on it and throw it at Big Ted – which is also fatal…if they hit that is.
Luckily Big Ted can defend himself by picking up fruit and use it to throw after the Dingos himself. Very hand for survival as it stuns the Dingoes for a few seconds…but a piece of fruit gives you just one shot and you have to pick up another piece before you can shoot again.
However, fruit is no good when it’s been thrown around, so every piece that you throw won’t add to your score, so it’s best to try and clear the screens as fast as possible and only throw as little as you have to.
Earn extralives every 25.000 points.

Installation
:
Unpack the ZIP file and you’ll end up with a TAP file and a TZX file. They can be used with a Spectrum emulator. I recommend ZXSpin (free) and Spectaculator (commercial) – they can both found the The World Of Spectrum.

Controls
:
QAOP and SPACE to control the game.
Kempston joystick also supported.
All key can be redefined.

Legal Blurb
:
This game is FREEWARE and must remain freeware. I would also ask that the game will only be available from this website or from The World Of Spectrum (where you can also find the artwork to make your own data cassettes.

Copyright
:
Copyright for the gameidea – the IP – is held by A. C. G. who made the original arcade game in 1983.
This remake was programmed by S. Borgquist (aka Sokurah), 2011
Graphics: Mark. R. Jones.

Version history
.
v1.1 – November 5th 2011
v1.3 – January 17th 2016

Extra info
.
The game “premiered” at the REPLAY EXPO in Blackpool during the first weekend in november 2011. For this purpose we produced 60 physical cassette copies which we demoed and sold at cost from The Attic Bug stand at the Expo. The cassettes were all signed by the artist and me, and 50 of them were also numbered while the remaining 10 that were not numbered were made to be given away for free. A few copies were left unsold at the Expo but they have all found new owners and there won’t be any more. However, the day after the Expo the game was release as a free download – including all the highres artwork, so if you wish you can make your own.
Here’s a couple of pictures from the event.
The game was demoed at the Expo

The game was demoed at the Expo

Here's a person playing the game

Here’s a person playing the game

The displaycase that held the copies. Most have been sold here.

The displaycase that held the copies. Most have been sold here.

We also had a prerelease copy of the Retro Gamer Magazine which has a "Making Of" article, courtesy the editor.

We also had a prerelease copy of the Retro Gamer Magazine which has a “Making Of” article, courtesy the editor.

...but before we could sell them we had to sign and number all of them. Hard work. :)

…but before we could sell them we had to sign and number all of them. Hard work. 🙂