Midi Maze

Midi-Maze is a 1-16 player, 3D first-person-shooter ported from the Atari ST version in 1989. Players are treated to fully 3D walls in a large maze where they hunt each other in full color at an impossibly smooth frame rate. Its name comes from the original version using the MIDI interface to establish a network between as many as Atari computer systems. While MIDI IN and OUT ports were standard on the ST, an adapter was needed for the Atari 8-bit line. With a MIDImate adapter, Atari 8-bit and Atari ST systems could be networked together for cross-platform "Multi-Machine Maze Mayhem!". Since the 8-bits needed add-on hardware anyway, XM301 modem, SX212 modem, and Atari 850 interface options were added for 8-bit connections. All players are represented by spherical smiley faces that spit balls at each other, deadly balls. A tagline for the game was "Put onKILL a happy face" and is meant to evoke humor rather than violence. Unlike the endless string of bloodstorms that would follow, the game's theme was widely considered safe for all ages. It wasn't even censored when Xanth Software created versions for Nintendo's platforms; where it was known as Faceball.

Oddly, Atari never published this game.

(Zerothis) - # 2008-09-06 12:25:46

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port of
Midi Maze (Atari ST)

version of
Faceball (PC Engine)
Faceball 2000 (GB)
Faceball 2000 (SNES)
Faceball 2000 (Game Gear)
Midi Maze (Atari ST)