Blue Print (video game)
A 1982 maze game featuring machine assembly and monster avoidance.
Blue Print is a maze video game released for arcades in 1982, developed by Zilec Electronics and published by Bally Midway. In 1983, CBS Electronics issued ports for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, and Commodore 64.
Players control J.J., a man whose girlfriend, Daisy Damsel, is pursued by Ollie Ogre. To stop Ollie, J.J. must locate all components of a machine he designed, assemble it, and fire at Ollie. The controls are a joystick and a single button.
The screen splits into three areas. At the top, a ledge shows Ollie chasing the girl, occasionally knocking down flowerpots that can strike J.J. The middle section is a maze of ten houses. The bottom holds the machine’s blueprint, a start button, and a pit. Eight houses contain one machine part each; the other two hold bombs. A house’s contents appear only when J.J. enters it. If he finds a part, he must move it to the correct spot on the blueprint. If he finds a bomb, he must carry it to the pit before it detonates. Re-entering any house always yields a bomb, but with a much shorter fuse. Holding the button lets J.J. move faster, but only for a limited time shown by an on-screen gauge; placing a newly found part on the blueprint partially refills the gauge.
Once the machine is assembled, J.J. steps on the start button and climbs aboard. The player then uses the joystick to steer left or right while the machine shoots balls upward. Hitting Ollie makes him fall, completing the level and awarding bonus points for each flowerpot still on the ledge. A new level begins with the houses rearranged. The first three levels each have a unique layout; from the fourth level onward, the layout repeats.
J.J. must dodge falling flowerpots, both when they are knocked down and as they bounce across the lower screen. He also occasionally faces a monster called Sneaky Pete, who peeks out from the bomb pit, then jumps out and wanders toward the start button. If Pete reaches the button, he stomps on it, causing machine parts to fall off the blueprint. J.J. must then drag Pete back to the pit and reassemble the fallen parts. Starting with the second level, another monster, Fuzzy Wuzzy, patrols the maze.
- Developer
- Zilec Electronics
- Publisher
- Bally Midway
- Release Year
- 1982
- Genre
- Maze video game
- Platforms
- Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Commodore 64
- Notable Designers
- Not applicable
Quick Facts
- Title
- Blue Print
- Developer
- Zilec Electronics
- Publisher
- Bally Midway
- Designer
- Tim Stamper / Chris Stamper / John Lathbury
- Platforms
- Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Commodore 64
- Released
- title=September 1982 · Arcade · September 1982 · 2600 · July 1983 · 5200 · October 1983 · C64 · 1983
- Genre
- Maze
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In Blue Print, the player controls J.J., whose girlfriend Daisy Damsel is chased by Ollie Ogre. To defeat Ollie, J.J. must find all parts of a machine hidden in a maze of ten houses, assemble them on a blueprint, and use the machine to shoot Ollie. Two houses contain bombs instead of parts; bombs must be carried to a pit before exploding. Revisiting a house always yields a bomb with a shorter fuse. The player can use a speed boost for limited time, refilled by placing parts on the blueprint. Once the machine is assembled, J.J. steps on a start button and climbs aboard to fire balls upward. If Ollie is hit, the level ends with bonus points for remaining flowerpots. New levels feature different house configurations; the first three levels are unique, while the fourth and beyond repeat the same layout. J.J. must avoid falling flowerpots and a monster named Sneaky Pete, who emerges from the bomb pit and stomps the start button, causing machine parts to fall off. J.J. must drag Pete back to the pit and reassemble the parts. Starting with the second level, another monster, Fuzzy Wuzzy, patrols the maze.
Reader's Guide
Blue Print is notable as an early arcade title from the Stamper brothers, who would go on to found Rare, a major video game developer. The game combines maze navigation, item collection, and timed bomb disposal with a unique machine-assembly mechanic. Its three-section screen layout—featuring a ledge with flowerpots, a house maze, and a blueprint area—was innovative for its time. The inclusion of monsters like Sneaky Pete and Fuzzy Wuzzy added strategic pressure beyond simple maze traversal. Ports to home systems by CBS Electronics extended its reach. While not a landmark commercial hit, Blue Print represents a formative step in the careers of influential game designers and offers a glimpse into early 1980s arcade design trends.
Did You Know?
- Blue Print was one of the first games designed by the Stamper brothers, future founders of Rare.
- The game includes a monster named Sneaky Pete who stomps on the start button, causing machine parts to fall off the blueprint.
- Starting with the second level, a monster named Fuzzy Wuzzy patrols the maze.
- The first three levels have unique layouts, but the fourth level and beyond use the same level layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blue Print (video game)?
Blue Print is a 1982 maze arcade game in which you navigate a split-screen layout to rescue a girl from a pursuing monster. It was developed by Zilec Electronics and published by Bally Midway.
Who developed and published Blue Print (video game)?
Zilec Electronics created the game, and Bally Midway released it in arcades in 1982. CBS Electronics later issued home ports for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, and Commodore 64 in 1983.
What is the story of Blue Print (video game)?
You play as J.J., whose girlfriend Daisy Damsel is being chased by a creature named Ollie Ogre. Your mission is to locate every component of a machine you designed, assemble it, and use it to blast Ollie before he catches her.
How does Blue Print (video game) gameplay work?
The screen is divided into three zones, with a top ledge showing Ollie pursuing the girl and occasionally dropping flowerpots that can strike you. You steer with a joystick and a single button, collecting machine parts while dodging hazards in the maze below.
How does Blue Print (video game) end?
You complete a round by gathering all the machine pieces, putting the device together, and firing it at Ollie Ogre to halt his chase. The game then resets for another attempt at the maze.
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