Mike Read’s Pop Quiz C64

Description

Mike Read’s Pop Quiz C64

Mike Read’s Computer Pop Quiz was released for the Commodore 64 in 1988 by Elite Systems and re-released in 1989 by Encore. The game is a port of the popular BBC Radio 1 music quiz show, hosted by Mike Read in the 1980s.

Gameplay and features
The C64 version emulates the format of the radio and TV show, testing players’ knowledge of music trivia from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Game modes: You can play alone against the computer or with another human player.

Team selection: You and your opponent(s) select team-mate avatars. The game originally used the same digitized faces from Elite’s previous licensed game, A Question of Sport, though they are designated as music specialists.

Game rounds: The structure follows the original show with several different rounds:

Jukebox Round: A multiple-choice round where players select from 12 numbered questions. A correct answer is worth two points, while an incorrect one gives the opponent a chance to “steal” for one point.

Guess the Star/Guess the Year: A round where you must name a pop star or the year an event happened based on up to three clues. The fewer clues needed, the more points you score.

Your Scene: A round where you answer a question from your chosen music category for one point or answer a harder question from another category for two points.
Quickfire Round: A rapid-fire round where players answer as many questions as possible in 45 seconds.

Development
Publisher: Elite Systems published the initial 1988 release, and Encore handled the budget re-release the following year.

Credits: The Commodore 64 port featured programming by Richard Underhill, graphics by David Percival, and music and sound effects by Mark Cooksey.

Criticism: Some reviews, particularly for the Spectrum version, noted that the game’s code was largely recycled from A Question of Sport, which resulted in similar gameplay mechanics and sound effects, making it feel more like a reskin than an original title.

Legacy
Mike Read’s Pop Quiz is remembered fondly by some players for its fun and simple quiz format and nostalgic connection to the 1980s music scene. The game is a representative example of the many licensed titles released during the home computer era.

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Another great retro game available at Escapist Gamer – Gauntlet The Deeper Dungeons (C64)