Miscellaneous / Miscellaneous · 1981

Abuse

Published by Don't Ask Computer Software · Developed by [n/a]

atarimania.com — atari-400-800-xl-xe-games-abuse-59

Information

Genre: Miscellaneous
Language: BASIC
Controls: Keyboard
Players: 1
Programmer(s): Simon, Randy, Freedman, Robert
Graphic Artist(s): [n/a]
Sound: [n/a]
Cover Artist(s): [unknown]
Year: 1981
Publisher: Don't Ask Computer Software
Developer: [n/a]
Country: USA
License: Commercial
Medium: Disk
Rarity: 9
Serial: -

Votes / Statistics

Rating: 8.0/10 · Votes: 26 · Downloads: 2,515 · Hits: 13,776

Additional Comments

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Screenshots (3)

Ads (3)

Don't Ask Provides The Missing Links · 1983

Book / Magazine Reviews (1)

Electronic Games · January, 1983

Some of the early computer teaching and quiz programs tried to personalize the machine by having it make extra little comments depending on whether the human operator had just given the right or wrong response. It was quite common for a computerist to be told "you're wrong, you turkey" or the equivalent by his machine.
Saner heads have prevailed in recent years. The current emphasis on user-friendliness is also reflected in the fact that few programmers will put such insults into their creations for fear of needlessly embarrassing - and thus turning off - the user.
But if you're one of the few who miss this rather sophomoric aspect of early home computing - or you just enjoy exchanging slurs - Abuse is right up your alley, you shallow nerd. Oops, guess this program is even getting to me!
The format is simplicity itself. The computer prints an insult on the screen and prompts you to type in a reply on the keyboard. Based on certain key words in your insult, the computer churns out a hopefully appropriate snide remark. There's even a semi-competitive version in which the human player gets points for hurling jibes that hit the program's key words.
In the absence of graphics or other complications, this program must be judged as having only limited appeal to a special audience of crypto-masochists. It's well done enough - though the computer's habit of throwing phrases together somewhat randomly causes it to speak gibberish from time to time - but it is unlikely to hold the typical computerist's attention for more than a few minutes.

Comments (3)

Daniel Thomas MacInnes — 24 Jul 2018
I remember these "insult" programs during the 1980s. I even wrote one of my own for the Apple IIe while in my high school computer class (which was being taught by some clueless soccer mom who barely knew how to turn the computers on). As a program, this is incredibly simple and anybody who has even a rudimentary knowledge of BASIC can put one of these together. You just write a massive database of insults and then write triggers that have the program respond to specific words or phrases. Gameplay-wise, it's good for a chuckle, will probably amuse you for about ten seconds. If you could write an insult program that uses the SAM voice, that would be better.
Abuse Victim — 14 Aug 2014
That's what I loved about this, Jordi -- the mind games. I always felt like there were a lot more secrets hidden in the game that I tried to find by typing the right thing. It was sort of like an Infocom game in that way.
Jordi — 24 Apr 2011
Something cool that's not apparent in the screenshots or description is that this game plays mind tricks on you. It will let you hit the Escape key and act like you have successfully escaped from the program and returned to Atari Basic and then surprise you when you try to do things like type the command "LIST" by listing reasons why you're ugly. It even lets you go into Atari DOS and attempt to erase or copy the game whereupon it lets loose with more insults. A pretty ingenious program.