1980s
Qix
1981 · Puzzle · Arcade
Overview
Qix is a classic 1980s puzzle game developed by Randy & Sandy Pfeiffer for Arcade.
Deep Dive
Qix is a classic 1980s puzzle game developed by Randy & Sandy Pfeiffer for Arcade.
Developer Story
Qix was designed by husband-and-wife team Randy and Sandy Pfeiffer at Taito America in 1981. Players drew lines to claim territory on the screen while avoiding the Qix — an abstract entity of spinning lines. The concept was entirely original with no precedent in arcade games. The game required a mental model completely different from shooting or racing games, and attracted a dedicated following among players who enjoyed its abstract puzzle quality.
Did You Know?
- Qix was designed by a married couple — Randy and Sandy Pfeiffer — making it one of very few golden age arcade games with female design involvement.
- The Qix itself is a purely abstract entity — a set of moving lines — with no game-world explanation for what it is.
- Drawing a "fast" line (using the fast button) scored fewer points than a slow line, creating a risk-reward calculation around drawing speed.
- The concept has been reimplemented dozens of times, most famously as Volfied and Gals Panic.
