Archer Maclean: Do the Right Thing! Port Mercury!
posted April 16th, 2008 9:43 PM EDT by blakespot in RequestsApple is postioning the iPhone to go head to head with Sony’s Playstation Portable on the mobile gaming front. As an avid PSP gamer myself, I can say that one of the best games available for that platform is Archer Maclean’s Mercury. It’s a game in which the player tilts a mazeboard level in order to get a drop of mercury to its appointed destination. Simple and engrossing — but also brilliant. And it’s no wonder. Archer Maclean is one of the world’s most esteemed game designers, responsible for the 80s classcis Dropzone, International Karate, and many others.
More than any game I have ever played, it is clear that Archer Maclean’s Mercury is the title most crying out to be ported to the iPhone and its integrated accelerometer control system. On the iPhone, this title simply becomes the perfect game.
[ watch video ]
Although it’s unlikely that the revered Mr. Maclean will ever read this post, I had to put the request out there. Someone had to plead the cause: Archer. Mr. Maclean. For the love of God we beg of you to port Mercury or its cell-shaded sequel, Mercury Meltdown, to the iPhone. Allow perfect gaming to commence!
April 17th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I don’t think they will port this game, because it is basically the same thing as Super Monkey Ball. The only real difference between the two is that SMB use a ball whereas this game uses a drop of mercury. Plus, they have already announced Super Monkey Ball is being produced.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I find Mercury to be much more “intricate” a game. Slower paced and requiring more skill, overall. And it goes well beyond just a ball moving through a maze; the mercury bead can split into multiple beads and they can take on different colors, and switches / exits are color-sensitive. For these reasons, I find it much more engrossing as well as nicer to look at.
I do hope a port comes.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Marble Madness is the originator of this type of game and although I think they should all be ported, Marble Madness should get its due.
However, there should be no doubt that this type of game will be seen over and over once the App Store is available.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Marble Madness is a great game. I play quite a bit of it these days via SMS (Sega Master System) emulator on my GP2X game unit. (The SMS version is particularly good.)
April 18th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I think the current development of Mercury titles is run by Ignition, after MacLean left Awesome and the team split. Any calls for a Touch version should probably be sent towards http://www.ignitionusa.com/meltdown/