California Games

California Games, was slated by Epyx as their biggest selling game. Funny that, because they went broke not soon after the GS version was released in 1988!

Jokes aside, California Games was indeed immensely popular. I've always enjoyed playing Epyx's game series, which includes IIGS versions of Winter Games and World Games. It's a nice sociable way to compete against your friends. Come to think of it, why did Epyx go bust if their games were almost always well received?

Control can be achieved through either keyboard or joystick, so using keyboard is just fine. Keypad navigates directional controls and open apple or option is the fire button.

The IIGS version is a little weird. The graphics are nice and colourful, sharp even, but they look so damn similar to the 8-bit Apple II version it's uncanny. I think it also shares the odd distinction in that it's the only IIGS game that sounds like a Commodore 64 game; were the programmers showing off the power of the Ensoniq, emphasising that whatever the C64's SID sound chip could do the IIGS could do as well if not better? Why bother to prove it? The same guy, Bob Yannes, designed both!

Well, it's all here, Half Pipe, Foot Bag, Surfing, Roller Skating, BMX and Flying Disk. California Games is just a fun time waster!