Rags to Riches (computer game)
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Rags to Riches is a side-scrolling game action adventure game released in 1985 for the Commodore 64, developed by Bob Keener and published by Melody Hall Publishing Corp. The game was well received and was considered highly original for its time.
Gameplay
The game starts with the player assuming the role of an unnamed homeless vagrant living in a fictional city, divided into four sections, titled North, South, West, and East. The player begins in the East section. To complete the game the player must earn $1,000,000 by progressing from the life of a vagrant, cleaning up by getting a haircut, securing odd jobs, attending High School, College, and eventually becoming an millionaire. Money is collected by finding 10c coins and $1 notes on the street and taking up employment. Bottles could also be found and exchanged for money at the Wine Store.
Movement within the city was within a scrolling two-dimensional landscape containing non-interactive pedestrians and foes. A subway system with an entrance in each section of the city allows the player to travel between sections of the city. Before travel a ticket must be purchased, with a maximum of two tickets able to be held at any one time.
An alcohol, rest, and education meter indicated to the player the progress achieved in each respective area. Food is freely available from a soup kitchen. Restaurants and fast food outlets offer the player health costing money, with price depending on the product consumed. All stores have limited opening hours displayed on store windows. At night, the player must find accommodation such as a hotel room, ranging in price from $2 per night to $40. A haircut is required before the player can obtain employment and also to avoid arrest. If arrested the player is transferred to the City Jail, removing health. Once a haircut is obtained, the player transforms from a vagrant with a knapsack to a clean shaved businessman wearing a suit. After a day or so your facial hair regrows and another haircut is required.
Robbers carrying guns steal any coins and notes you are currently holding, up to the value of $10. Workers from the IRS take all money the player is currently carrying in the game. Police arrest the player for drunkenness and vagrancy. Doors located throughout the city could be entered for special purposes including purchasing alcohol, food, attending college, obtaining a haircut and travelling the subway.
Bottles can also be collected from a junkyard and traded for money at a nearby wine store, which also sells alcohol. Before entering the junkyard the player is required to purchase dog bones to avoid being attacked by a guard dog. Alcohol can also be purchased from a convenience store. Being affected by alcohol is an expensive means of restoring health, however the player could not attend workplaces whilst affected and was also at risk of arrest.
A problem with the game which many considered a bug made it at times impossible to avoid the IRS character when exiting the subway. As the IRS character would remove all money from the player, the player would be required to continue the game as if starting again from the beginning. As was usual for many games of the era, no save game feature was available. Entering doors was also a problem due to the player character requiring near perfect alignment to be able to enter.
See also
External link
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