1980s
Spy vs. Spy
1984 · Action / Strategy · Commodore 64 / Multiple
Overview
Spy vs. Spy is a classic 1980s action / strategy game developed by Mike Riedel for Commodore 64 / Multiple.
Deep Dive
Spy vs. Spy is a classic 1980s action / strategy game developed by Mike Riedel for Commodore 64 / Multiple.
Developer Story
Spy vs. Spy was developed by Mike Riedel at First Star Software in 1984, based on the Mad magazine cartoon strip. Two spies set traps for each other in a split-screen environment. The game was one of the first to use a divided screen to show both players simultaneously in a competitive game, and the booby trap mechanic — setting spring-loaded surprises for the opponent — was genuinely creative.
Did You Know?
- Spy vs. Spy was one of the earliest split-screen competitive games — both players saw the full environment but from their own perspective.
- Traps were set in objects around the map — briefcases, filing cabinets, doors — and triggered when the opponent interacted with them.
- The game's tone perfectly matched the Mad magazine comic strip it was based on: slapstick violence with no lasting consequences.
- It was one of the first games to be based on a magazine property, years before the era of licensed games from films and TV.