Lost In Translation/Amidar

About The Game
An abstract arcade game in which players must 'colour in' all of the rectangles on the screen. Each level has a number of patrolling enemies - or 'Amidars' - that must be avoided. Players are aided in their task with the inclusion of a JUMP button which, when used, causes all the on-screen enemies to jump; allowing the player time to escape from a close situation. There are only 3 'jumps' given per level, however.

On even-numbered levels, the player's character is a gorilla; on odd-numbered levels, it is a paint roller. The Amidar enemies are savages and pigs, respectively.

Filling the 4 corner boxes of the screen gives the player a short time in which to chase the Amidars and score extra points. In between levels, there is a chance to earn 5,000 bonus points. Here, a pig moves across the top of the screen. By pushing the jump button, the pig traces a path across the boxes towards the bottom of the screen. If the savage or pig reaches a bunch of bananas, a bonus is awarded.

Trivia
Released in October 1981.

Licensed to Stern for distribution in the US (April 1982) and to Olympia.

Todd Lamb holds the official record for this game with 19,225,030 points.

A bootleg of this game is known as "Amigo".

Re-released by Konami on the "Scramble" hardware in 1982.

Updates
Japanese version : Worse attract mode and does not display the number of jumps left Also higher scoring (20 points per coconut/segment).

The "Scramble" hardware version has different character's names.

Scoring
Collecting a coconut or painting a segment : 10 points.

Filling in a box with the paintbrush : the score in the centre of the box - 100 to 700 points.

Killing the Amidars and Tracer after filling in the corner boxes : 100 points, 200 points, 400 points, 800 points, 1,600 points, etc. 3,200 is the maximum on later levels (only in the Japanese version).

Collecting the bonus banana on the interim level : 5,000 points.

Tips and tricks

 * The Tracer always follows the outside edge and is easy to avoid. Try to ensure it is within range when you complete the fourth corner box of the maze, making it easy to kill.


 * The Amidars all have a set movement pattern, which is detailed by the 'Amidar movement' on the title screen. They only move in 4 ways :


 * 1) up/right
 * 2) up/left
 * 3) down/right
 * 4) down/left

They will follow their current pattern of movement until they reach the edge of the maze when they move round the edge of the last box they contact and continue with their new pattern. e.g. Up/right to the top right of the maze, round the last box and then down/left to the bottom left corner. Mastering their pattern of movement is the key to success!


 * If all Amidars are close to the bottom of the screen on the coconuts level, they will take a while to make it to the top. Use this time to clear as much of the top area as you can.


 * Remember you have 3 jumps available on each level so make use of them to get yourself out of a tight corner. 2 quick jumps if used in succession will easily give you enough time to get well clear of any danger.

Ports

 * Consoles :
 * Atari 2600


 * Computers :
 * Atari ST (1983)
 * BBC B (1983, "Crazy Tracer" - Acornsoft)
 * BBC B ("Crazy Painter" - Superior Software)
 * BBC Electron (1983, "Crazy Tracer" - Acornsoft)
 * Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1983, "Colour Clash" - Romik Software)
 * Sinclair ZX81 (1983 "Damper" - Quicksilva)
 * Commodore C64 (1984, "Rollin")


 * Others :
 * VFD portable game (1981) by Gakken.
 * VFD portable game (19??) by CGL (Gakken clone).