Memory Hog Hunter - ADG Episode 304
207Turns out 640 K wasn't enough for everybody... :P
Today on Ancient DOS Games, Gemini's taking a look at Memory Hog Hunter, a simple Pac-Man clone developed by Jim Bodio and published through Intel in 1988 as a pack-in included with free promotional material given out to businesses looking to upgrade their computer systems with "Above Board" memory expansion cards.
There's actually very little to say about this game and the history behind it isn't quite as elaborate as one would hope, but hey, if you ever wondered why PCs had both EMS and XMS to deal with and why there wasn't just a single all-encompassing solution to the 640 K conventional memory limit, then you're about to learn something! ;)
------------------------------------------
Additional Information and Corrections:
* If you want to try this game for yourself, follow this link over to the DOS Games website: https://www.dosgames.com/game/memory-hog-hunter
* Due to how the 20,000 point extra life check works, you actually need to EXCEED 20,000 points to get it; Hitting 20,000 points exactly isn't enough. ;)
* So the Lotus 1-2-3 box here happens to be from 1986, not 1988. Part of the confusion is that this same box art was used throughout that span between 86 and 88 and they didn't put new box art in place until their next version update in 1989. :P
* One semi-annoyance is that you can't collect the super chips while already supercharged. While I understand why this is a thing, it means you may end up delayed a bit when trying to end the level if you left all of the super chips to the very end.
* The memory hogs themselves are technically not worth any points, it's the software they give you which is worth points AFTER you clear the level, though I'm not actually sure if defeating any memory hogs once you have all six software packages continues to accrue more software packages transparently, or if it's hard capped at six and thus defeating more hogs is worth nothing at all.
------------------------------------------
Pixelmusement Website: http://www.pixelships.com
ADG on Pixelmusement: http://www.pixelships.com/adg
Alphabetical Index of ADG Episodes: http://www.pixelships.com/adg/index2.html
Kris' Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/kasick
@Pixelmusement on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pixelmusement