Abstract
Video game production began relatively early in Australia, most notably with Beam Software in Melbourne, which released the hit games The Hobbit in 1982 and Way of the Exploding Fist in 1985. With hobbyist companies emerging and connecting with early computer clubs, game production continued at a small scale throughout the early 1980s. Beam would go on to release games for the Nintendo Entertainment System specifically for the Australian market, including a cricket game and the first Australian Rules Football game, complete with heavily digitized voice clips.
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References
Swalwell, Melanie. 2007. “Independent Game Development: Two Views from Australia.” In Videogames and Art, edited by Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell, 234–46. Bristol, UK: Intellect.
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Games Cited
Antichamber, 2012, Alexander Bruce, Melbourne
Blade Kitten, 2010, Krome Studios, Brisbane
Captain Forever, 2010, Jarrad “Farbs” Woods, Canberra
Flight Control, 2009, Firemint, Melbourne
Fruit Ninja, 2010, Halfbrick Studios, Brisbane
The Hobbit, 1982, Beam Software, Melbourne
Real Racing, 2009, Firemint, Melbourne
Rom Check Fail, 2009, Jarrad “Farbs” Woods, Canberra
Way of the Exploding Fist, 1985, Beam Software, Melbourne
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© 2013 Nina B. Huntemann and Ben Aslinger
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McCrea, C. (2013). Australian Video Games: The Collapse and Reconstruction of an Industry. In: Huntemann, N.B., Aslinger, B. (eds) Gaming Globally. Critical Media Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137006332_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137006332_14
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-43501-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-00633-2
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