Arcade Insanity

Name: Arcade Insanity
Programmer(s): Brad Rosen
Publisher: Avant Garde
Year: 1983

Description:

Released in 1983 by Avant-Garde Creations, Arcade Insanity stands as an intriguing entry in the Apple II's extensive game library. This title emerged during a particularly fertile period for home computer gaming, when developers were experimenting with bringing arcade-style experiences to personal computers.

Avant-Garde Creations, founded in Eugene, Oregon in 1979 by Mary Carol Smith, was initially known as Avant-Garde Creations before later becoming Avant-Garde Publishing Corporation. The company focused primarily on educational software but also ventured into entertainment titles, developing games that showcased the Apple II's capabilities. By 1984, the company had grown to employ approximately 50 people, demonstrating their success in the competitive software market.

The title "Arcade Insanity" suggests a game designed to capture the frenetic energy and excitement of arcade gaming, translating that experience for home computer users. During this era, many Apple II games attempted to recreate or reimagine popular arcade concepts, often with creative twists that took advantage of the computer's unique capabilities compared to dedicated arcade hardware.

Unfortunately, like many games from smaller publishers of the early 1980s, Arcade Insanity has become somewhat obscure over time. The game represents part of a broader trend during the Apple II's golden age, when numerous independent developers and publishers were creating innovative software that pushed the boundaries of what home computers could achieve. While detailed gameplay information remains elusive, the game's existence within Avant-Garde Creations' catalog alongside titles like Zero Gravity Pinball and Hi-Res Computer Golf suggests it was part of their effort to create engaging entertainment software that appealed to the growing home computer market of the early 1980s.