| Odell Lake | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | MECC[1] |
| Publisher(s) | MECC[1] |
| Platform(s) | Apple II,[2]Commodore 64[2] |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Educational simulation[2] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Odell Lake is a 1986 educationallife simulation game produced by MECC for the Apple II and Commodore 64.[2] The player is a fish living in Odell Lake, a real-world lake in Oregon.[2] It was followed-up by Odell Down Under.
Niche – a genetics survival game is a turn-based strategy game combined with simulation and survival elements for PC, Mac and Linux. Shape your own species of animals based on real genetics. Keep your species alive against all odds, such as predators, climate change and spreading sickness.
Gameplay[edit]
As a fish, the player could 'go exploring' or 'play for points'.[2] The object was to decide which fish to eat, while trying to survive and avoid other enemies; such as otters, ospreys, and bait from fishermen. When simply exploring, the player could select from six different species of fish, such as Mackinaw Trout, Whitefish, or Rainbow Trout; however, when playing for points, the computer randomly assigned the type of fish that the player will play as. In addition, the titles for each of the types of fish and other creatures are removed when playing for points, forcing the player to rely on memory; also the game was timed. After every five moves, the player played as a different type of fish.
When playing for points, the best decision netted the player the most points, with less intelligent decisions earning the player fewer or no points, or in the case of the fish eating something disagreeable, actually taking them away. If no decision was made when time ran out, it counted as 'Ignore'. If at any time the player's fish was attacked by an enemy, or the player got caught by an angler, the game ended immediately.
In Israel the game was published in Hebrew in 1987 for Apple II.
Main fish[edit]
The species of fish found in Odell Lake included the following:
- Mackinaw trout, the largest fish in the game
- Whitefish can eat
- Chub, the smallest fish in the game
The game is played by random and the same situation can have different outcomes, for the most points players must play the game safely, by memory, and by reading the outcome of each situation... The location of their food (shallow or deep), and the location of their predator, and must remember not every situation will have the same outcome.
Other species[edit]
Mac Old Fish Survival Game 2
In addition to the other species of fish, the player's fish could come across the following in or above the lake:
- Otters, who would eat any fish not making a deep escape (except the Mackinaw Trout, because it can only swim in deep water)
- Ospreys, who would grab any fish not making a deep escape (except the Mackinaw Trout, because it can only swim in deep water)
- Algae (only a good food to the Chub; any other fish would find it disgusting if eaten)
- Fishermen, whose presence would not be known unless the player ate a baited Chub or a fisherman's fly concealed as Insects and Larva
- Insects and larva
Actions[edit]
Oldest Fish In The World
The actions a fish could take when he approached (or was approached by) another fish, animal, or object included:
- Attempting to eat the item
- Attempting to chase away the item
- Ignoring the item (by default when the player ran out of time in 'Play for points')
- Making a 'shallow escape' (heading for high water)
- Making a 'deep escape' (heading for low water)
References[edit]
- ^ abcdOdell Lake at GameFAQs
- ^ abcdefOdell Lake at MobyGames
External links[edit]
200 Year Old Fish
- The Apple II version ofOdell Lake can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
- Odell Lake at Gamebase 64