Ardy the Aardvark
Name: Ardy the Aardvark
Programmer(s): Chris Oberth
Publisher: Datamost Inc.
Year: 1983
Description:
Released in 1983 by Datamost, Ardy the Aardvark was an action maze game developed by Chris Oberth for the Apple II platform. The game was essentially Oberth's own Apple II version of his earlier arcade creation, Anteater, reimagined for home computer audiences.
The gameplay centered on controlling the tongue of Ardy the aardvark through underground maze systems, where players had to navigate carefully to collect food drops while avoiding dangerous creatures. The challenge came from evading worms, stinging ants, and spiders that populated the subterranean tunnels. While worms could pass harmlessly through the tongue and only posed danger when touching its tip, other creatures would instantly kill the player upon contact with any part of the tongue.
Strategic depth was added through special objects located in the lowest levels of the underground areas, which could clear the entire screen of enemies when touched by Ardy's tongue. Players could also quickly retract the tongue by pressing a button when dangers approached.
The game was also ported to other popular platforms of the era, including the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers. Ardy the Aardvark represented the successful translation of arcade-style action gaming to home computers, combining simple controls with challenging gameplay that required both quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The game stands as a memorable example of early 1980s computer gaming, when creative developers were finding innovative ways to bring arcade experiences into homes across America.