Craps

Name: Craps
Programmer(s): Roger Walker
Publisher: Softape
Year: 1979

Description:

Craps was a digital dice game released for the Apple II computer in 1978 by Programma International. This early gambling simulation brought the excitement of casino craps to home computers when most people had never seen a computer game before.

The game recreated the standard craps table found in casinos. Players bet virtual money on dice rolls using the Apple II's keyboard. The screen showed a simple text-based representation of a craps table with different betting areas. Players could place bets on the pass line, don't pass line, field bets, and specific number combinations. The computer rolled two dice and calculated wins and losses based on real craps rules.

Playing Craps required understanding actual casino craps rules. On the first roll, called the "come out roll," rolling a 7 or 11 won for pass line bets. Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 lost. Any other number became the "point," and players tried to roll that number again before rolling a 7. The game tracked your money and let you keep playing until you went broke or decided to quit.

The graphics were basic even by 1978 standards. The game used only text characters to draw the table and show dice results. Numbers appeared on screen to represent dice faces rather than actual dice graphics. Sound consisted of simple beeps when dice rolled or bets won. The entire program fit in about 16 kilobytes of memory, which seems tiny today but was typical for Apple II games.

Programma International made several gambling games for early computers. Their Craps game helped establish computer gambling simulations as a popular genre. Players could practice craps strategies without risking real money. The game also served as a teaching tool for people who wanted to learn craps rules before visiting actual casinos.

While simple compared to modern games, Craps demonstrated what early personal computers could do. It showed that computers could handle complex rule systems and random number generation. The game remained popular throughout the early 1980s as one of the better gambling simulations available for home computers. Later craps games added better graphics and more betting options, but this 1978 version introduced many computer users to digital casino gaming for the first time.

Craps was a digital version of the popular casino dice game released for the Apple II computer in 1978 by Programma International. This early gambling simulation brought the excitement of casino gaming to home computers during the dawn of personal computing.

The game faithfully recreated the rules of casino craps on the Apple II's simple graphics system. Players rolled two dice by pressing keys on the keyboard and placed bets on various outcomes. The screen displayed a basic representation of a craps table with betting areas marked for pass line, don't pass, field bets, and other standard wagers. Numbers appeared as white text on a black background, showing dice results and keeping track of money.

Players started with a set amount of virtual money and could bet different amounts on each roll. The game followed standard craps rules where players first established a point number, then tried to roll that number again before rolling a seven. Winning bets paid out at correct odds, just like in real casinos. The computer handled all calculations automatically, making it easy for beginners to learn craps without the pressure of a real casino environment.

What made this version special was its educational value. The game included instructions that explained each type of bet and the odds involved. This helped players understand probability and basic math concepts while having fun. The program ran smoothly on the Apple II's limited 48K of memory and loaded quickly from cassette tape or floppy disk.

The simple graphics consisted entirely of text characters and basic ASCII symbols. There were no sound effects since most Apple II computers at that time lacked audio capabilities beyond simple beeps. Despite these limitations, the game succeeded in creating an engaging gambling experience.

Programma International released several other casino games for the Apple II, including Blackjack and Roulette. These games helped establish computer gambling simulations as a popular genre. While primitive by today's standards, Craps for the Apple II introduced many people to both computer gaming and casino games in a risk-free environment.

The game remained popular throughout the early 1980s as one of the better gambling simulations available for home computers. It demonstrated that computers could successfully recreate complex games with multiple betting options and probability calculations. This paved the way for more sophisticated casino simulations that followed on later computer systems.