Columns (video game): Difference between revisions

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| image_size =  
| image_size =  
| caption =  
| caption =  
| developer = [[Sega]]
| developer = Jay Geertsen<ref name="RG"/>
| publisher = Sega
| publisher = [[Sega]] (arcade and Sega consoles)
| designer = Jay Geertsen<ref name="RG"/>
| designer = Jay Geertsen<ref name="RG"/>
| composer = Tokuhiko Uwabo
| composer = Tokuhiko Uwabo
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| platforms = {{collapsible list
| platforms = {{collapsible list
  | title = [[HP-UX|HP-UX m68k]]
  | title = [[HP-UX|HP-UX m68k]]
  | [[HP-UX|HP-UX m68k]], [[Classic Mac OS]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]], [[Master System]], [[Sega CD]], [[Game Gear]], [[Atari ST]], [[TurboGrafx-16|PC-Engine]], [[FM Towns]], [[NEC PC-8801]], [[NEC PC-9801]], [[X68000]], [[MSX2]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Virtual Console]], [[iOS]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
  | [[HP-UX|HP-UX m68k]], [[Classic Mac OS]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]], [[Master System|Mark III/Master System]], [[Sega CD|Mega-CD/Sega CD]], [[Game Gear]], [[Atari ST]], [[TurboGrafx-16|PC-Engine]], [[FM Towns]], [[NEC PC-8801]], [[NEC PC-9801]], [[X68000]], [[MSX2]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Virtual Console]], [[iOS]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
  }}
  }}
| released = {{collapsible list
| released = {{collapsible list
  | title = {{nobold|March 1990}}
  | title = {{nobold|1989}}
  | '''Arcade''' {{vgrelease|JP|March 1990<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Overseas Readers Column: "SF II", "Exhaust Note" Top Videos '92 |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |issue=441 |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |date=1–15 January 1993 |page=36 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19930101p.pdf#page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Columns |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M729027 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref>|NA|June 1990<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Machine Catalog: Video Games |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=78–85 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/84/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=130–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n131/mode/2up}}</ref>|EU|August 1990<ref name="SU103"/>}} '''Mega Drive/Genesis''' {{vgrelease|JP|June 30, 1990<ref name="Sega titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Sega Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html |website=Sega Hard Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Sega|Sega Corporation]] |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref>|NA|September 1990<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/mega-play-february-1991/page/n39/mode/2up|title=MEGA REVIEWS!! The Sega Genesis/Master System Resource|magazine=Mega Play|issue=2|date=February 1991|pages=40-45|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref>|EU|1990}} '''Game Gear''' {{vgrelease|JP|October 6, 1990|EU/NA|April 26, 1991}} '''MSX2'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 25, 1990}}'''PC Engine'''{{vgrelease|JP|March 29, 1991}}'''X68000'''{{vgrelease|JP|October 16, 1991<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/sharp-x68000/columns|title = Columns for Sharp X68000 (1991)}}</ref>}}
  | '''HP-UX''' {{vgrelease|WW|1989}} '''Classic Mac OS''' {{vgrelease|WW|1989}} '''MS-DOS''' {{vgrelease|WW|1989}} '''Arcade''' {{vgrelease|JP|March 1990<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Overseas Readers Column: "SF II", "Exhaust Note" Top Videos '92 |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |issue=441 |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |date=1–15 January 1993 |page=36 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19930101p.pdf#page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Columns |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M729027 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref>|NA|June 1990<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Machine Catalog: Video Games |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=78–85 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/84/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=130–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n131/mode/2up}}</ref>|EU|August 1990<ref name="SU103"/>}} '''Mega Drive/Genesis''' {{vgrelease|JP|June 30, 1990<ref name="Sega titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Sega Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html |website=Sega Hard Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Sega|Sega Corporation]] |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref>|NA|September 1990<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/mega-play-february-1991/page/n39/mode/2up|title=MEGA REVIEWS!! The Sega Genesis/Master System Resource|magazine=Mega Play|issue=2|date=February 1991|pages=40-45|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref>|EU|1990}} '''Game Gear''' {{vgrelease|JP|October 6, 1990|EU/NA|April 26, 1991}} '''MSX2'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 25, 1990}}'''PC Engine'''{{vgrelease|JP|March 29, 1991}}'''X68000'''{{vgrelease|JP|October 16, 1991<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/sharp-x68000/columns|title = Columns for Sharp X68000 (1991)}}</ref>}} '''Super Famicom''' {{vgrelease|JP|August 1, 1999}}
  }}
  }}
| genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
| genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
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}}
}}


{{nihongo|'''''Columns'''''|コラムス|Koramusu|lead=yes}} is a [[match-three]] [[puzzle video game]] designed by Jay Geertsen and released in 1990. Originally developed for the [[Motorola 68000]]-based [[HP 9000]] running [[HP-UX]],<ref name="RG"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBDcpkqZpaY|title=Columns for HP-UX (1989) {{!}} First Ever Release, Before Sega Bought The Rights|date=May 2024 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/05/the-original-version-of-columns-for-the-hp-ux-has-just-been-found|title=The Original Version of Columns for the HP-UX Has Just Been Found|website=Time Extension|date=2 May 2024 |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref> it was ported to [[Classic Mac OS|Mac]] and [[MS-DOS]]<ref name="RG" /> before being released commercially by [[Sega]] who ported it to [[Arcade video game|arcades]] and then to several [[List of Sega video game consoles|Sega consoles]]. The game was subsequently ported to other [[home computer]]s, including the [[Atari ST]].
{{nihongo|'''''Columns'''''|コラムス|Koramusu|lead=yes}} is a [[match-three]] [[puzzle video game]] designed and developed by Jay Geertsen and shared in 1989. Originally developed for the [[Motorola 68000]]-based [[HP 9000]] running [[HP-UX]],<ref name="RG"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBDcpkqZpaY|title=Columns for HP-UX (1989) {{!}} First Ever Release, Before Sega Bought The Rights|date=May 2024 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/05/the-original-version-of-columns-for-the-hp-ux-has-just-been-found|title=The Original Version of Columns for the HP-UX Has Just Been Found|website=Time Extension|date=2 May 2024 |publisher=[[Gamer Network]]}}</ref> it was [[porting|ported]] to [[Classic Mac OS|Mac]] and [[MS-DOS]]<ref name="RG" /> before being released commercially by [[Sega]] who ported it to [[Arcade video game|arcades]] and then to several [[List of Sega video game consoles|Sega consoles]]. The game was subsequently ported to other [[home computer]]s, including the [[Atari ST]].
 
==History==
Columns was originally developed in 1989 by Jay Geertsen, a software engineer at [[Hewlett-Packard|Hewlett-Packard (HP)]], as a personal project to learn [[X Window System|X11]] programming on the [[HP-UX]] operating system. After completing the game, Geertsen shared it with colleagues at HP, which led to interest in porting it to other platforms. Two of his colleagues took the initiative to create ports for the Macintosh and MS-DOS.
 
As these ports gained popularity, Sega became aware of Columns and expressed interest in acquiring the commercial rights to the game. They reached out to Geertsen through an independent lawyer to initiate discussions. Recognising the implications of this interest, Geertsen informed HP of the situation, given that he had utilised corporate resources during the game's development.  Escalating the matter to his management, a review of the potential deal with Sega was prompted. HP took approximately six months to deliberate on the request, ultimately deciding to sell non-exclusive rights to Sega. Meanwhile, HP retained the rights to distribute Geertsen's original X11 version of Columns alongside HP-UX.<ref name="RG" />


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
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==Ports==
==Ports==
Sega ported the arcade game to the [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]] console. This version was nearly identical to the original arcade game.<ref name="RG">{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Adam |title=The Making Of: Columns |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-gamer/20190711/281599537055264 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=[[Retro Gamer]] |via=[[PressReader]] |date=11 July 2019}}</ref>
In 1990, Sega ported Columns to the arcade, and then to the [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]] console. These two versions were nearly identical.<ref name="RG">{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Adam |title=The Making Of: Columns |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-gamer/20190711/281599537055264 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=[[Retro Gamer]] |via=[[PressReader]] |date=11 July 2019}}</ref>


''Columns'' was the first [[pack-in game]] for the [[Game Gear]]. This version was slightly different from the Mega Drive/Genesis version and its soundtrack was transposed and rearranged due to limitations of the handheld's sound chip. While the columns themselves were updated for the Mega Drive/Genesis version, the overall decoration was less like a cartoon in the Game Gear version and instead more artistically designed. Lastly, the Game Gear version had a feature that let the player change the jewels to fruit, squares, dice, or [[playing card suit]]s (clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts).
''Columns'' was the first [[pack-in game]] for the [[Game Gear]]. This version was slightly different from the Mega Drive/Genesis version and its soundtrack was transposed and rearranged due to limitations of the handheld's sound chip. While the columns themselves were updated for the Mega Drive/Genesis version, the overall decoration was less like a cartoon in the Game Gear version and instead more artistically designed. Lastly, the Game Gear version had a feature that let the player change the jewels to fruit, squares, dice, or [[playing card suit]]s (clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts).
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Columns (Video Game)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Columns (Video Game)}}
[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:1989 video games]]
[[Category:Articles contradicting other articles]]
[[Category:Articles contradicting other articles]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Falling block puzzle games]]
[[Category:Falling block puzzle games]]
[[Category:FM Towns games]]
[[Category:FM Towns games]]

Latest revision as of 15:21, 27 June 2025

Template:More footnotes needed Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "infobox".Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other

Script error: No such module "Nihongo". is a match-three puzzle video game designed and developed by Jay Geertsen and shared in 1989. Originally developed for the Motorola 68000-based HP 9000 running HP-UX,[1][2][3] it was ported to Mac and MS-DOS[1] before being released commercially by Sega who ported it to arcades and then to several Sega consoles. The game was subsequently ported to other home computers, including the Atari ST.

History

Columns was originally developed in 1989 by Jay Geertsen, a software engineer at Hewlett-Packard (HP), as a personal project to learn X11 programming on the HP-UX operating system. After completing the game, Geertsen shared it with colleagues at HP, which led to interest in porting it to other platforms. Two of his colleagues took the initiative to create ports for the Macintosh and MS-DOS.

As these ports gained popularity, Sega became aware of Columns and expressed interest in acquiring the commercial rights to the game. They reached out to Geertsen through an independent lawyer to initiate discussions. Recognising the implications of this interest, Geertsen informed HP of the situation, given that he had utilised corporate resources during the game's development. Escalating the matter to his management, a review of the potential deal with Sega was prompted. HP took approximately six months to deliberate on the request, ultimately deciding to sell non-exclusive rights to Sega. Meanwhile, HP retained the rights to distribute Geertsen's original X11 version of Columns alongside HP-UX.[1]

Gameplay

Columns was one of the many tile-matching puzzle games to appear after the great success of Tetris in the late 1980s.[4] The game itself is enclosed within a tall, rectangular playing area. Columns of three different symbols (such as differently-colored jewels) appear, one at a time, at the top of the well and fall to the bottom, landing either on the floor or on top of previously fallen "columns". While a column is falling, the player can move it left and right, and can also cycle the positions of the symbols within it. After a column lands, if three or more of the same symbols are connected in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line, those symbols disappear. The pile of columns then settles under gravity. If this resettlement causes three or more other symbols to align, they too disappear and the cycle repeats. Occasionally, a special column with a multicolor Magic Jewel appears. It destroys all the jewels with the same color as the one underneath it. The columns fall at a faster rate as the player progresses. The goal of the game is to play for as long as possible before the well fills up with jewels, which ends the game. Players can score up to 99,999,999 points.[5]

Some ports of the game offer alternate game modes as well. "Flash columns" involves mining through a set number of lines to get to a flashing jewel at the bottom. "Doubles" allows two players to work together in the same well. "Time trial" involves racking up as many points as possible within the time limit.

Ports

In 1990, Sega ported Columns to the arcade, and then to the Mega Drive/Genesis console. These two versions were nearly identical.[1]

Columns was the first pack-in game for the Game Gear. This version was slightly different from the Mega Drive/Genesis version and its soundtrack was transposed and rearranged due to limitations of the handheld's sound chip. While the columns themselves were updated for the Mega Drive/Genesis version, the overall decoration was less like a cartoon in the Game Gear version and instead more artistically designed. Lastly, the Game Gear version had a feature that let the player change the jewels to fruit, squares, dice, or playing card suits (clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts).

In 1990, Compile and Telenet Japan developed and published an MSX2 version.

In November 2006, Columns was released as part of the game Sega Genesis Collection for the PlayStation 2, and later on another release of the above compilation for PlayStation Portable. The same year on December 4, it was released on Nintendo's Virtual Console for 800 Wii Points. It is also included on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[6] It was included as one of the games in the Sega Genesis Mini. It was also included as one of the games in the 2018 releases of Sega Genesis Classics for Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Most recently, the game was ported to iOS, but the port was subsequently withdrawn by Sega.[7] The game was re-released on the Nintendo Classics service in December 2022.

Music

Tokuhiko Uwabo composed the music for Columns. The tracks "Clotho", "Atropos" and "Lathesis" are named after the Moirai from Greek mythology.

Reception

Template:Video game reviews

In Japan, Game Machine listed Columns on their April 15, 1990 issue as being the eighth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[8] It went on to be Japan's fourth highest-grossing arcade game of 1990 (below Capcom's Final Fight and Sega's Tetris and Super Monaco GP)[9] and third highest-grossing arcade conversion kit of 1991 (below Capcom's Street Fighter II and Sega's Tetris).[10]

Reviewing the game's appearance in Sega Arcade Classics for the Sega CD, Glenn Rubenstein gave it a B+ rating in Wizard magazine, describing it as "like Tetris but a bit better".[11] Mega placed the game at number 34 in their "Top Mega Drive Games of All Time".[12] In 2017, Gamesradar ranked the game 40th on its "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time".[13]

Legacy

Many sequels and spin-offs were produced: Columns II: The Voyage Through Time, Columns III: Revenge of Columns, Columns '97, Sakura Taisen: Hanagumi Taisen Columns 1 & 2, and many compilations and re-releases (Columns Arcade Collection, Sega Ages Vol. 07: Columns) as well. Since Columns was created by Sega, versions were made available on the Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD, Game Gear, Saturn, and Dreamcast. Additional versions of the game have also been made available on PC-Engine, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation 2. A Super Famicom version was released in Japan via the Nintendo Power service.[14] The Game Boy Color version was specifically called Columns GB: Osamu Tezuka Characters, where it featured many of his characters such as Kimba and Astroboy, but also featured slightly less known characters like Unico.

Columns has also been cloned many times across different platforms:

Title Platform Release date Developer Publisher Notes
Coloris Amiga 1990 Signum Victoriae Avesoft
Magic Jewelry NES Hwang Shinwei RCM Group Released on unlicensed multicarts.
Columns ZX Spectrum 1991 Piter Ltd. Piter Ltd.
Magic Jewelry II NES Hwang Shinwei RCM Group With the addition of new features, it is the sequel to Magic Jewelry.
Jewelbox Macintosh 1992 Rodney and Brenda Jacks Varcon Systems
Xixit MS-DOS 1995 John Hood, Tomasz Pytel; music by Andrew Sega Optik Software
Yahoo! Towers Java 1999/2000 Yahoo! Games Yahoo! Games This clone allows up to eight players to compete against each other.
BREF Columns IOS, Android 2013 Mumblecore Mumblecore
Magic Jewelry 3 2015 Guolin Ou Guolin Ou A magic column appears when a level is cleared, with which a player can clear all the jewels in same color.
Molums 2018 Antonelli Francisco Wisefox

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Columns series Template:Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  8. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  9. ↑ Template:Cite magazine alternate url
  10. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Mega magazine issue 1, page 76, Future Publishing, Oct 1992
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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