QIX
About the Game
Qix is a fixed-screen action-puzzle game in which players control a small marker moving along the boundary of an initially empty rectangular playfield. The objective is to claim a required percentage of the screen by drawing orthogonal lines, known as Stix, through the unclaimed area. When a line reconnects with an existing boundary, the section that does not contain the Qix is filled in and added to players’ territory. Two drawing speeds are available.
Gameplay & Core Systems
Larger regions are generally worth more, and claiming territory beyond the minimum required to complete a stage provides an additional bonus. It cannot harm the marker while players remains on a completed boundary, but touching the marker or an unfinished Stix while a line is being drawn costs a life. players cannot cross or reverse along an unfinished line, so a poorly planned route may leave no safe way to reconnect with the boundary. Resuming movement extinguishes it, provided it has not already caught players. Taking too long to finish a stage releases additional Sparx, which eventually become Super Sparx capable of pursuing players along unfinished lines.
Standout Features
- One or two players can participate, with two players alternating turns.
- Game Boy: The NES version adds a computer-virus theme, while the Game Boy adaptation includes intermissions featuring Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.
- Later stages introduce two Qixes within the same playfield.
- Separating them into different enclosed regions immediately completes the stage and permanently increases the score multiplier applied to subsequent rounds, up to a maximum of nine.
- Qixes: As play continues, the Qixes move more rapidly, additional Sparx appear, and claiming the required territory becomes increasingly dangerous.
- The numerous computer, console, handheld, and mobile conversions preserve the central territory-drawing mechanics while adapting the graphics, sound, controls, speed, and available modes to their respective hardware.
Modes & Ways to Play
Player support includes Turn-Based Multiplayer (Game Link Cable) and 1-2 Players.
More game data: releases, identifiers & technical details
Regional release records and identifiers for QIX | Nintendo Game Boy.
Release and technical facts
| Fact | Value | Release / platform | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published by | Nintendo of Europe GmbH | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Threshold Research | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Ported by | Minakuchi Engineering Co., Ltd. | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | Bandai UK Ltd. | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo of Europe GmbH | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Threshold Research | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| Ported by | Minakuchi Engineering Co., Ltd. | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | Bergsala AB | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Threshold Research | Japan | MobyGames |
| Ported by | Minakuchi Engineering Co., Ltd. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Published by | Nintendo of America Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Threshold Research | United States | MobyGames |
| Ported by | Minakuchi Engineering Co., Ltd. | United States | MobyGames |
| Package Design by | Tim Girvin Design, Inc. | United States | MobyGames |
| Multiplayer Options | Turn-Based Multiplayer (Game Link Cable) | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Number of Players Supported | 1-2 Players | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Game Link Cable | Game Boy | MobyGames |
| Original game disc count | 1 | North America | MobyGames |
| Genre | Puzzle | North America | PriceCharting |
| Also compatible on | GameBoy Advance and GameBoy Color | North America | PriceCharting |
| ESRB rating | Everyone | North America | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | North America | PriceCharting |
| Genre | Puzzle | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Also compatible on | PAL GameBoy Color | PAL | PriceCharting |
| Genre | Puzzle | PAL | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | PAL | PriceCharting |
Regional releases
| Release date | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| 1990 | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| 1990-04-13 | Japan | MobyGames |
| 1990-05 | United States | MobyGames |
| 1990-05-01 | North America | PriceCharting |
| 1990-04-13 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| 1990-09-28 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| May 1, 1990 | North America | PriceCharting |
| April 13, 1990 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| September 28, 1990 | PAL | PriceCharting |
Catalog identifiers by release
| Identifier | Code | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-QX-UKV | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730079 | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1562 | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B000035XFC | Ireland, United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730079 | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B000035XFC | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-QX-SCN | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1562 | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden | MobyGames |
| EAN-13 | 4902370501087 | Japan | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-QXA-JPN | Japan | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1701488240 | Japan | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 045496730079 | United States | MobyGames |
| Nintendo Media PN | DMG-QX-USA | United States | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B08BCPFNDK | United States | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1562 | United States | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B000035XFC | United States | MobyGames |
| asin | B000035XFC | North America | PriceCharting |
| epid | 1562 | North America | PriceCharting |
| upc | 045496730079 | North America | PriceCharting |
Data by MobyGames.com · Catalog data: PriceCharting
