View source for Loopz

{{Infobox video game
|title = Loopz
|image = Loopz Coverart.png
|caption = Cover art
|developer = [[Audiogenic]]
|publisher = [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]]
|designer = Ian Upton
|composer = [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]]
|engine =
|released = 1990
|genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|platforms = [[Atari ST]], [[Acorn Archimedes]], [[Acorn Electron]], [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[BBC Micro]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Game Boy]], [[Atari Lynx]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[NEC PC-9800]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[X68000]]
}}

'''''Loopz''''' is a [[puzzle video game]] designed and programmed by Ian Upton for the [[Atari ST]] in 1989. He previously worked as head game designer for [[Audiogenic]], who acquired exclusive rights to the game, then in 1990 arranged for [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]] to publish it for computers in North America and consoles worldwide.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] version (programmed by [[Bits Studios]]) and the [[Game Boy]] version (programmed by [[Argonaut Software]]) were released in 1990. Audiogenic published versions of the original game for the [[Acorn Archimedes]], [[Acorn Electron]], [[BBC Micro]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Atari ST]], [[Amiga]], and [[IBM PC]] in 1990 and 1991.

==Gameplay==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2023}}
The main focus is on the playing board where random pieces of different shapes are presented to the player. A shape is either a single square containing a straight line or 90° corner or a combination of multiple such squares. The player must then try to make loops out of them. Once a loop is completed, all pieces involved will disappear. (You cannot make any line overlapping the edge, in other words, it cannot be placed in this way)

There exist three different play modes, two of which can be played with two players.  The third mode of play starts with a loop already created and then takes away random pieces of it, so the player has to put them back in after they show up.

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
|ACE = ST: 795/1000<ref name = "ACE"/>
|ASM = 10/12<ref name = "ASMC64">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1991.04/page/n101/mode/2up|title=Loopz|date=April 1991|language=de|magazine=[[Aktueller Software Markt]]|page=102|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name = "ASMDOS">{{cite magazine|last=Kleimann|first=Manfred|date=February 1991|url=https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1991.02/page/n89/mode/2up|title=Loopz|language=de|magazine=[[Aktueller Software Markt]]|page=90|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name = "ASMNES">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1992.02/page/n121/mode/2up|title=Loopz|date=February 1992|language=de|magazine=[[Aktueller Software Markt]]|page=127|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref><br/><ref name = "ASMGB">{{cite magazine|last=Amann|first=Hans-Joachim|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=11256|title=Loopz|language=de|magazine=[[Aktueller Software Markt]]|date=June 1991|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref><br/>ST: 11/12<ref name = "ASMST">{{cite magazine|last=Schmidt|first=Ottfried|date=November 1990|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=6032|title=Spiel des Monats: Loopz|language=de|magazine=[[Aktueller Software Markt]]|pages=6–7|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref>
|CVG = 79%<ref name = "CVG"/>
|Raze = AMI & PC: 94%<ref name = "Raze">{{cite magazine|last=Boardman|first=Julian|date=December 1990|url=https://archive.org/details/RAZE_Issue_02_1990-12_Newsfield_Publishing_GB/page/n29/mode/2up?view=theater|title=Loopz|magazine=[[Raze (magazine)|Raze]]|issue=2|pages=30–31|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref>
|VGS = 69%<ref name = "VGSGB"/><ref name = "VGNES"/>
|VGCE = SNES: 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Nakamura|first=Eric|date=June 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_65_June_1994/page/n65/mode/2up|title=Super Loopz|magazine=[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment#VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine]]|issue=65|page=68|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref>
|YSinclair = 77%<ref name = "YS">{{cite magazine|last=Davies|first=Jonathan|date=April 1991|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010118012500/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/loopz.htm|archivedate=January 18, 2001|url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/loopz.htm|title=Loopz|magazine=[[Your Sinclair]]|issue=64|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref>
}}
Richard Leadbetter of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' gave the game 79% for its Amiga version describing its gameplay as simplistic but decent, while noted that graphics looked dated. The Atari ST version received the same score.<ref name = "CVG">{{cite journal |title=Loopz |first=Richard |last=Leadbetter |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |publisher=[[Emap]] |volume=108 |page=77 |date=November 1990 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_108_1990-11_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_108_1990-11_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n75/mode/2up}}</ref> Steve Cooke of [[ACE (games magazine)|''ACE'' magazine]] rated the Atari ST version 795/1000 noting its difficulty and longer learning curve compared to its peers.
<ref name = "ACE">{{cite journal |title=Loopz |first=Steve |last=Cooke |journal=[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |volume=38 |page=67 |date=November 1990 |url=https://archive.org/stream/ACE_Issue_38_1990-11_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n65/mode/2up}}</ref> Stephan Englhart of ''Video Games'' gave the game's Game Boy version 69% and noted that it didn't stand out among its peers.<ref name = "VGSGB">{{cite journal |title=Loopz |first=Stephan |last=Englhart |journal=Video Games  |publisher=Markt & Technik |language=de |page=74 |date=April 1991 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_1991-04_Markt_Technik_DE/Video_Games_1991-04_Markt__Technik_DE#page/n69/mode/2up}}</ref> Martin Gaksch gave the NES version 69% as well calling the idea innovative, but not well executed.<ref name = "VGNES">{{cite journal |title=Loopz |first=Martin |last=Gaksch |journal=Video Games |publisher=Markt & Technik |language=de |page=65 |date=February 1992 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_1992-02_Markt_Technik_DE/Video_Games_1992-02_Markt__Technik_DE#page/n59/mode/2up}}</ref>

==Legacy==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2019}}
A port was done for the [[Atari Lynx]], also for Audiogenic by [[Hand Made Software]] but lay unreleased until picked up by Songbird Productions in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kromin |first=Igor |title=Loopz - Atari Lynx {{!}} Atari Gamer |url=https://atarigamer.com/lynx/game/Loopz/730964739 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=atarigamer.com |language=en}}</ref>

An agreement was reached between Audiogenic Software and the defunct Atari Classics Programmer's Club in 1995 for creating a version of the game for [[Atari 8-bit computers]]. Development was abandoned in October 1998.

A sequel, ''[[Super Loopz]]'', was published for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] by [[Imagineer (Japanese company)|Imagineer]] and for the [[Amiga CD32]] by Audiogenic.

Audiogenic licensed the ''Loopz'' concept to Capcom who developed a prototype coin-op, but it was never released. Similarly Audiogenic developed an SWP (skill-with-prizes) version on behalf of Barcrest, a leading UK manufacturer of pub games, and this too remains unreleased.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/loopz|name=''Loopz''}}
*{{WoS game|id=0002927}}
*{{abime|id=912}}

{{Portal bar|1990s|United Kingdom|Video games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loopz}}
[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Acorn Archimedes games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Atari Jaguar games]]
[[Category:Atari Lynx games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Game Boy games]]
[[Category:Hand Made Software games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Puzzle video games]]
[[Category:Songbird Productions games]]
[[Category:X68000 games]]
[[Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Mindscape games]]
[[Category:Argonaut Games games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Bits Studios games]]


{{puzzle-videogame-stub}}