Classic games that were on the most different systems

[j_factor]

Some of the recent kids' movie license games have been coming out on a ridiculous number of systems. There appears to be 9 different versions of Cars, and 12 of Ratatouille. This phenomenon is almost exclusive to kid-friendly movie licenses -- the most recent non-license game I can think of with so many versions is Puyo Puyo Fever (with 12).

Got me to thinking about classic games that were ported to a billion systems. In particular, the early to mid 90s saw a huge number of different platforms, and so a lot of games had a lot of ports.

I've been doing a little "research", and from what I've gathered so far, the #1 classic game for being on the most different platforms appears to be Lemmings at 19, closely followed by Klax and Prince of Persia at 17, and then Tetris at 16. The next closest I can find is Pac-Man at a mere 13, and then a tie of Mortal Kombat II and Theme Park, with a paltry 11 each. I've noticed another 6 games with 10 versions: Flashback, James Pond 2: Robocod, Cannon Fodder, Worms, Chuck Rock, and Doom; and 6 more with 9 versions each: Zoop, Zool, Mortal Kombat 1, Speedball 2, Syndicate, Myst, and SimCity 2000. For the pre-crash days, the best I could think of was Pitfall and Piftall 2, with 8 each (strangely, The Mayan Adventure only had 7).

(Note that I'm not including unofficial ports like the 5200 version of Klax or the graphing calculator version of Tetris)

So, what are some other games that had lots of ports?

Or, anyone want to dispute my counts? :p

[Kamisama]

that's an interesting list.
19 ports of Lemming, that's pretty crazy. I just that there were many Computer games in the 80s aswell, that were ported to other computers.
First game that comes to my mind is "180". It was ported to ZX Spectrum, MSX, C64, Amiga, CPC and Atari 8-Bit Computers. I guess when you search a bit you'll find games that were ported more often.

[JerseyDevil65]

The next closest I can find is Pac-Man at a mere 13

Are you counting current gen compilations that have Pac-man games?

[smokehouse]

Holy cow…the classics like Pac Man and Q*Bert were on tons of systems. Then there’s Tetris, Klax, Qix and other puzzle titles that were release 1000 times as well.

[coinheaven]

Double Dragon had a ton, even the hand held tiger game.

[heybtbm]

All those "ports" of Lemmings were sometimes very different games. Some were the same, some are definitely different (I obviously haven't played all of them). I wouldn't count different games with a similar title or theme to count on a list like this (like PoP or arcade ports). The same thing goes for modern Disney-type games. The DS version is not the same thing as the 360 version.

Anyway, my vote for the "exact same game on different consoles" goes to something like Resident Evil 2 (PS, N64, PC, DC, GC).

[AlanD]

Does Zork count? (25 computers + a possible console port)

* Amiga
* Amstrad CPC
* Apple II
* Apricot
* Atari 8-bit
* Atari ST
* Commodore 128
* Commodore 64
* Commodore Plus/4
* CP/M
* DECmate
* DEC Rainbow
* Epson QX-10
* Kaypro II
* Macintosh
* NEC APC
* PC
* PDP-9 [RT-11]
* PDP-10
* PDP-11 [RT-11]
* Tandy
* TI-99/4A
* TI Professional
* TRS-80 [Model I and III.]
* TRS-80 Color

and I think there is a Sega Saturn version.

[skaar]

Doom hit a fair number of consoles the last few gens.

[Jorpho]

How about Bomberman? Or Popeye? (Remember "Everyone has their own system for playing Popeye"?)

Buck Rodgers is probably up there too. (Not everything had its chance to shine on the TI99/4A!)

[mregashu]

On a related note, does anyone else remember the old ads usually on the backs of comic books in the 80s that showed a screen shot from like, 12 different versions of the same game? I think they were Parker Brothers ads because I remember the Frogger one vividly.

The reason I bring this up is that if my memory serves me right and there were like, 10 or 12 screen shots, I would have to assume Frogger would now be up at or near the top with the various new releases. (XBLA, plug & play, etc.)

[bangtango]

Paperboy and Donkey Kong both ended up on a bunch of systems, probably not as many as those other games. Still, most everybody had a chance to play a version of either game no matter what console or computer they owned. Same with the NBA Jam games.

Seeing that people like to say John Madden Football is the same game every year, then I guess there have been a hell of a lot of platforms which had a Madden game including the 3DO, the original Game Boy and the Turbo Duo.

[DarthKur]

Frogger:
Apple ][
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 800
ColecoVision
Commodore 64
Game Boy
VIC-20
TRS-80
TRS-80 COCO
Commodore 64/128
PC Booter
TI-99/4A
Sega Genesis
SNES
Odyssey 2
Macintosh
MSX
Intellivision

There's 19 that I know of.

[tom]

'Pong' at least 1000s of different consoles during the 70s

[DefaultGen]

.....

[diskoboy]

Tetris is only on 16 platforms??

There has to be more than that... Even the VCS has a homebrew tetris.

[bangtango]

Tetris is only on 16 platforms??

There has to be more than that... Even the VCS has a homebrew tetris.

The OP says he isn't counting unofficial ports, which I would say includes homebrew games. Is that 2600 version called Tetris or was that one of the variants like Edtris, Kevtris or whatever it was called?

[ubersaurus]

1up had an article on this just the other day.

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3160354

[Gentlegamer]

Tetris is the champ at 39 different platforms!

[fergojisan]

Frogger:

(systems snipped)

There's 19 that I know of.

I think Frogger is unique because it came out twice for one system without being a sequel.

[idrougge]

Frogger:
Apple ][
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 800
ColecoVision
Commodore 64/128
Game Boy
IBM PC
Intellivision
Macintosh
MSX
Odyssey 2/G7000
TI-99/4A
TRS-80
TRS-80 COCO
Sega Genesis
SNES
VIC-20

There's 18 that I know of.

Add Dragon 32, Game.com, Xbox, mobile phones, Compact Vision TV Boy, Game Boy Colour, Tomy Pyuta to that list.

It was ported twice to the 2600, both for cartridge and cassette tape.

[DarthKur]

It was ported twice to the 2600, both for cartridge and cassette tape.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Starpath version. I've yet to try that one. I have the rom for it to transfer to my Supercharger but so far I've been to lazy to hook up the proper connections. I'd love to get the original tape but that one is one of the more difficult to come by.

[tom]

Add Dragon 32, Game.com, Xbox, mobile phones, Compact Vision TV Boy, Game Boy Colour, Tomy Pyuta to that list.

It was ported twice to the 2600, both for cartridge and cassette tape.

I also have it for the Sharp MZ-700 series:

[idrougge]

I think Frogger is unique because it came out twice for one system without being a sequel.

Tetris came in two or even three versions for several systems.

[idrougge]

I also have it for the Sharp MZ-700 series:

But is that a licenced port?

[icbrkr]

Frogger:
Apple ][
Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 800
ColecoVision
Commodore 64
Game Boy
VIC-20
TRS-80
TRS-80 COCO
Commodore 64/128
PC Booter
TI-99/4A
Sega Genesis
SNES
Odyssey 2
Macintosh
MSX
Intellivision

There's 19 that I know of.

It also was the first licensed arcade port for the ZX-81/Timex Sinclair 1000 - so there's 20.

[Iron Draggon]

surely Space Invaders has to be up there somewhere, especially if you count compilation versions... are you counting those as well? if you are, then all the Atari classics, Midway classics, Williams classics, Konami classics and Namco classics have to be way up there... I bet there's a version of Qix for alot of different systems too... not as many as Space Invaders, but I know of about half a dozen different versions of Qix for various platforms over the years... and then there's all the Activision classics and Intellivision classics too... so I think you should be counting compilation versions also, if you aren't doing it...

now about those 39 different platforms for playing Tetris... I can believe it... but what are they all? I'd really like to know how many systems got that one!

[Gentlegamer]

now about those 39 different platforms for playing Tetris... I can believe it... but what are they all? I'd really like to know how many systems got that one!
Official, Noncompilation Versions (39): Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple IIGS, Arcade, Atari ST, CD-i, Commodore 64, Dedicated Handheld, Dreamcast, Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, GameCube, Genesis, iPod, Macintosh, Mobile Phone, MS-DOS, MSX, NES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Palm, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Plug and Play, Pocket PC, Saturn, Sega Master System, SNES, Super Famicom, TRS-80 CoCo 3, Virtual Boy, Windows, WonderSwan Color, Xbox, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum

[j_factor]

Official, Noncompilation Versions (39): Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple IIGS, Arcade, Atari ST, CD-i, Commodore 64, Dedicated Handheld, Dreamcast, Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, GameCube, Genesis, iPod, Macintosh, Mobile Phone, MS-DOS, MSX, NES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Palm, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Plug and Play, Pocket PC, Saturn, Sega Master System, SNES, Super Famicom, TRS-80 CoCo 3, Virtual Boy, Windows, WonderSwan Color, Xbox, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum

Tetris Worlds and other sequels don't count. The original, plain Tetris was not on Dreamcast, Gamecube, Xbox, etc.

Are you guys sure about some of those Frogger ports? I've never heard of a separate Commodore 128 version, and I'm not sure that TRS-80 and COCO really count as two distinct platforms. And I don't even know what "PC Booter" means. On the other hand, I am pretty sure there was a Vic-20 port. In all, I'm counting 18: VCS, 5200, Coleco, Inty, Odyssey2, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, MSX, TI-99/4A, C64, TRS-80/CoCo, Vic-20, ZX-81, Mac, Genesis, SNES, Game.com, Mobile.

Anyway, I've found a couple more ports of Lemmings that I wasn't aware of, bringing the count to 22 if I'm correct:

Amiga
Atari ST
PC (DOS/Windows)
Macintosh
Genesis
SNES
CDi
3DO
CD32
SMS
NES
PC Engine CD
Game Boy
Game Gear
Lynx
Commodore 64
Apple IIgs
Amstrad CPC
Spectrum
Acorn Archimedes
SAM Coupé
mobile

I've also heard of an X68k port, but I can't find any evidence of it. And I'm not counting the PSP or Eyetoy version because those are more remakes IMO. I'm also not counting the PSX release "Lemmings & Oh No! More Lemmings", but maybe I should? I guess there's a lot of grey areas...

[Iron Draggon]

variations and sequels do count, as far as I'm concerned... why else would you count MS-DOS and Windows separately? it's just counting PC twice...

[DarthKur]

Are you guys sure about some of those Frogger ports? I've never heard of a separate Commodore 128 version, and I'm not sure that TRS-80 and COCO really count as two distinct platforms. And I don't even know what "PC Booter" means.


Yes, I'm quite positive. I did not list the C128 as a separate port. It is included as functional with the C64 original. The TRS-80 is quite different from the CoCo version. In fact they are completely incompatible with each other since the TRS-80 Model I/III and TRS-80 Color Computers are comprised of dissimilar architecture. Hence the need for individual ports.

As for PC Booter, they were programs for use on early IBM compatible PC's. You would insert the 5 1/4 floppy then power up the computer which would then "boot" the game. The games were created to work independently of any operating system which is why you would boot the system from the game disk and not from any other source.

In addition to those I previously mentioned I'll add the Cornsoft made port for the Sinclair Spectrum. I was just playing it earlier this morning. Corsoft is the same company that created both TRS-80 versions. Unfortunately the Speccy version is almost identical to the TRS-80 I/III one, which is, as you can see in the pics below much more primitive.
There's also a port of Frogger issued on tape for the Sega SC-3000 which I believe was official.

[tom]

'Pong' at least 1000s of different consoles during the 70s

So 'Pong' still in the lead.....

[idrougge]

Are you guys sure about some of those Frogger ports? I've never heard of a separate Commodore 128 version, and I'm not sure that TRS-80 and COCO really count as two distinct platforms.


No, there is no C128 version.
The TRS-80 and TRS-80 Colour are two distinctly different machines, with different CPUs (Z80 vs. Motorola 6809) and graphics.


And I don't even know what "PC Booter" means.


It just means IBM PC with a bootable diskette. Most likely someone copied a list from Mobygames.


On the other hand, I am pretty sure there was a Vic-20 port. In all, I'm counting 18: VCS, 5200, Coleco, Inty, Odyssey2, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, MSX, TI-99/4A, C64, TRS-80/CoCo, Vic-20, ZX-81, Mac, Genesis, SNES, Game.com, Mobile.


As I mentioned, it's also released in official form for Dragon 32, Tomy Tutor/Pyûta and Gameboy Colour, not to mention some other extraordinarily obscure systems.


Anyway, I've found a couple more ports of Lemmings that I wasn't aware of, bringing the count to 22 if I'm correct:


There are also pirate ports for MSX and Sharp MZ-800. Are you sure the SAM Coupé port is legitimate?

[DarthKur]

It just means IBM PC with a bootable diskette. Most likely someone copied a list from Mobygames.




If you would have bothered to read my reply to him above you'd have seen that I explained in detail the meaning of the PC Booter programs. I chose not to simply state "PC" because of the difference in how these programs functioned versus how more modern PC compatible programs work. And no, I did not just copy the list from Moby Games.

[j_factor]

variations and sequels do count, as far as I'm concerned... why else would you count MS-DOS and Windows separately? it's just counting PC twice...

Actually, I don't count those separately, even when there were separate DOS and Windows releases (as with Lemmings).


Yes, I'm quite positive. I did not list the C128 as a separate port. It is included as functional with the C64 original

You listed "Commodore 64" separate from "Commodore 64/128" -- these are two separate things?


The TRS-80 is quite different from the CoCo version. In fact they are completely incompatible with each other since the TRS-80 Model I/III and TRS-80 Color Computers are comprised of dissimilar architecture. Hence the need for individual ports.

I stand corrected; I never knew anything about TRS-80 computers, other than to avoid them. :p


Are you sure the SAM Coupé port is legitimate?

It seems to be; from what I've gathered, it was released in 1993. It seems like every article on the net about the SAM Coupé mentions that it had a port of Lemmings.

[DarthKur]

You listed "Commodore 64" separate from "Commodore 64/128" -- these are two separate things?


Woops. I guess I did. I didn't mean to do that. I gather when I was brainstorming about all the different systems I listed the Commodore twice but remembered to include the 128 on the second time. My memory isn't nearly what it used to be. :confused:





I stand corrected; I never knew anything about TRS-80 computers, other than to avoid them. :p




You need not avoid the Tandy line of computers. Even though graphically inferior to many of their counterparts the games for the CoCo's can be quite fun and entertaining.