Matt Chat 27: Autoduel

Origin's 1985 hit Autoduel, designed primarily by Chuck "Chuckles" Bueche, is one of the most unusual and ambitious CRPGs ever made, blending three supposedly distinct genres (racing, shoot'em up, rpg) into a combustible cocktail. Originally developed for the Apple II and ported to several other systems, Autoduel was a smash hit that has since become a cult classic like the high-octane, post-apocalyptic game Car Wars and films like Death Race 2000 and Mad Max. Despite its popularity, Autoduel did not initially please Steve Jackson Games, who objected to the arcade-like nature of the gameplay.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• autoduel
• origin
• car wars
• apple
• apple ii
• videogames
• games
• computer games
• matt chat
• matt barton
• racing games
• crpg
• role-playing

[theelusiveone]

I just beat the GAME.........YEsssssssssssssss­s!

[blacklily8]

@theelusiveone Grats!

[theelusiveone]

Great review blacklilly8. Autoduel is one of my all time favorites. I had it on the atari 800 and 130xe. I wish I still had my Atari to play it. They do have excellent Atari emulators but for some reason I can not get Autoduel to work. I love your review of M.U.L.E also.

[blacklily8]

Thanks! These are both games that are long overdue for a good remake.

[Adventurestud]

Fantastic! I've been a big fan of Steve Jacksons' "Car Wars" since I was a teen and was intrigued by the C64 version of Autoduel but ultimately disappointed with it for various reasons. There should be an updated version more closely related to the original table top game.

Thanks so much for the review. Good job. You have a new subscriber.

[blacklily8]

Thanks! I hope you also enjoy the new episodes.

[BackForwardPunch]

Looks like an interesting game! Nice ending line by the way! haha

[Gooberslot]

I don't think it's a good thing for a game to have a steep learning curve. As long as there is a curve and not a flat line.

[1manwalkingfreakshow]

Ah, yes. I remember seeing this game on our neighbor's Apple IIc. We were so jealous of him then. But we didn't have the cash for our own high-falootin' computer, so we had to make do with the printed one with counters and dice. Had a lot of fun drawing our maps and playing the console of our minds, though.

I'd love to get my hands on the Origin game, though. Thanks for the Memory Lane trip!

[00Miedo]

This game was surely very good by the time Mad Max came out.. i used to watch that movie over and over again when i was a kid :P

[starknight97]

@theelusiveone originally when i played them C64 for both. yet i looked back at c64 their is so many games. So fare i fond this which seem like a newer version Hard Truck Apocalypse, currently at (version 1.7 stable now). watch?v=aItKf1lREx8 Though the 1 i remember top down graphics like GTA 1. Big ass red truck i even remember parking it in people houses drive ways when i walked out side it. Filled up their hole drive ways too lol.

[theelusiveone]

@starknight97 Hmmm what system did you play that other car game on? PC, Commodore, Atari? Maybe it was a game called Car wars.

[starknight97]

@theelusiveone yes i did main thing i remember about that game first 1st person game that you could get in and out of a car i remember anyway. though their 1 other game that game a feel like auto duel just can't remember it name. i remember driving a big foot like vehicular around town improving it. Just got done with statecraft 2 was great game even with crap graphics too play again too.

[starknight97]

@theelusiveone Think mines dos as i had too use dosbox. I should get there soon tough game went broke twice and so tough to come back. lost a car for fuel that so crappy lol. Sweet i love games with freedom like that.

[theelusiveone]

@starknight97 Staknight did you ever play a game called Interstate76? I am playing it now and it is the only game that gave me the same feeling as AutoDuel.

[theelusiveone]

@starknight97 I don't have a video. I did save the game right before the ending. I can do it over again at any time but I never made a video before and don't even know how to. I played it on an Atari 800 emulator. After the last fight the game still allows you to play on and finish other errands and stuff like that. Im going to jump back into the game soon and finish all the other stuff and see what happens. What system or emulator are you playing on?

[starknight97]

@theelusiveone you have i'm playing it again i love too video of the mr big fight?