One Armed Bandit review
By Chris Birch
Copyright (c) 1991 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
"BOP TILL YA DROP!"
The One Armed Bandit is due for a corrective. Another $15000 should do it. I tell you this machine is going to pay for laughing at me like it did the last time it beat me. I learnt my lesson then. I set the stakes to $2500 and sat around the One Armed Bandit with three other computerised players. Awesome.
"Would you like to play a game?" droned the One Armed Bandit. Yes it spoke to me. Clearly I had to do battle on more than one front - it was an assault of the senses - visually and aurally. With my mouse at the ready I clicked. "Don't you just hate it..." said the screen message as I was informed that I would miss a turn. The Boings and "Yikes" from the speaker did not help.
Ken Franklin, who wrote One Armed Bandit would not of course be showing off how well he can digitise sounds and do graphics. They just happen to be necessary elements in properly annoying some hapless gambler such as me. More rolls and I'd accumulated three stars and two aces. Just one reel stood between me and doubling the $1950 I'd won so far. Click, "Sorry..." and so the story goes.
This one armed bandit has got it all. For starters it talks. If it can't insult you on the screen it'll talk at you. Better than sitting in the pub and doing battle with the crowd and the cigarette smoke. If you are going to be shouted at and abused it may as well be in the privacy of your own home. No loss of face there.
One Armed Bandit insidiously plays upon the weaknesses in all gamblers. Before long you'll be battling your conscience as you decide between consolidation and the chance of a bonus. It's in 320 mode and that means lot's of colour. There are some interesting graphics and cycling routines too. The digitised sounds round out one of the better AUG Public Domain Library Shareware offerings.
There's no need for the "Y'all come back now, y' hear?" southern American drawl when you quit the One Armed Bandit. There will be need for a Gamblers Anonymous though if you don't get to hear the fire bells sounding out to say you've played and won at the One Armed Bandit!

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