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Treasure Island

Video Game
1984 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the player controls the books's protagonist, Jim Hawkins. The game opens with two minigames, the first has you attempting to board the 'Hispaniola' by avoiding pirates, the second leaping over barrels while sailors wave swords and arms at you from below. The third part takes place on the island and is a maze/strategy game, where the player must find Ben Gunn’s cave. Captain Flint's treasure must be brought to Spy Glass Cove, avoiding enemy pirates throwing a limited-number of swords at them. In total, there were 64 different screens. At the end of the game a percentage score is awarded which reflects the ‘speed and fighting spirit with which it was played’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Case
  • Cassette
  • Insert
TitleTreasure Island (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Plastic, printed paper
Brief description
Video game cassette, 'Treasure Island', Mr. Micro for Sinclair, 1984
Physical description
Video game cassette in transparent plastic case, with printed paper insert.
Production typeMass produced
Object history
Purchased for the V&A exhibition 'British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age' [2014/755].
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceTreasure Island
Summary
Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the player controls the books's protagonist, Jim Hawkins. The game opens with two minigames, the first has you attempting to board the 'Hispaniola' by avoiding pirates, the second leaping over barrels while sailors wave swords and arms at you from below. The third part takes place on the island and is a maze/strategy game, where the player must find Ben Gunn’s cave. Captain Flint's treasure must be brought to Spy Glass Cove, avoiding enemy pirates throwing a limited-number of swords at them. In total, there were 64 different screens. At the end of the game a percentage score is awarded which reflects the ‘speed and fighting spirit with which it was played’.
Collection
Accession number
W.19:1 to 3-2016

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Record createdSeptember 30, 2014
Record URL
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