Artworx

{{multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=March 2022}} {{notability|Companies|date=February 2022}} }}

'''Artworx''' was a Naples, Florida software company that produced and supported a line of video games ( specializing in poker and other card games) from 1981 to 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Arthur |date=2015 |title=Artworx Adieu |url=http://artworx.com/choices.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215105245/http://www.artworx.com:80/adieu.htm |archive-date= 2015-02-15|access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Artworx Home Page}}</ref> It is named after the founder's given name. At first the company published a variety of games, including in adventure and action genres, but became best known for a strip poker series.

Some other Artworx titles are ''Bridge 8.0'' and ''King of Solitaire'', although these have not sold as well as the poker games. Artworx' titles were released by partner companies in regional markets: '''Anco''' in Europe, '''CDS Software''' and '''Guildhall''' in the United Kingdom, and Artworx in the rest of the world.

== ''Strip Poker'' == {{redirect-distinguish|Strip Poker (video game series)|World Series of Poker (video game)}} {{Short description|1980s video game series}} {{Infobox video game series |genre = Erotic, card |developer = Artworx |first release version = 1982 |latest release version = 1995 }}

The ''Strip Poker'' series ran from 1982 to 1995 over five games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-05 |title=SPWV2 Info |url=http://www.artworx.com/spwv2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105083943/http://www.artworx.com/spwv2.htm |archive-date=2005-11-05 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Artworx Home Page}}</ref> The player is a presumed male who plays strip poker against attractive women. The games received generally positive reviews over the series history. Critics appreciated the game's sense of humour and for effectively using their limited graphics to create titillating imagery. Others felt that a video game was a depressing way for players to view such content, when alternatives like ''Playboy'' were available.

=== Gameplay === The player, a male poker player, plays a card game against the computer who is represented by an attractive woman. As the player beats the woman in the game, she proceeds to take off items of clothing as a reward. The core models in the series are Suzi and Melissa. Other characters are available in certain games through expansion packs.

=== Development === In the original game, Douglas McFarland did the graphics while Mitch Garnaat did the coding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hol.abime.net/3731|title=Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game Of Chance|date=April 9, 2017|website=Hall Of Light: The database of Amiga games|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref> In ''Strip Poker II'', graphics are by Douglas McFarland, with programming by both McFarland and Mitch Garnaat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hol.abime.net/2152|title=Strip Poker II|date=August 23, 2010|website=Hall Of Light: The database of Amiga games|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref>

Karen Graham, one of the developers, was looking for male models for a version targeted at the female gamer.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=April 1988|title=Strip Poker 2+ preview|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_15696 |journal=AUI |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=36}}</ref> When asked about potential controversy, Graham said that while they were bound to receive complaints with the title, the male version planned for 1988 would have evened things out, but it was never released.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|date=May 1988|title=Strip Poker 2+ preview|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_43136 |journal=The Games Machine|issue=6|pages=18–19}}</ref>

=== Release === Billed as the first home computer strip poker video game, ''Strip Poker'' was ported to numerous platforms, including the Apple II (1982), Commodore 64 (1983), Atari 8-bit computers (1983), MS-DOS (1985), Amiga (1986), Atari ST (1987) and Apple IIGS (1987). Data disks were available that offered additional opponents; these disks have since become very hard to find. Artworx's first poker game was followed by several sequels.

* ''Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of Chance'' was released in 1982 on Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, and IBM PC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/strip-poker-a-sizzling-game-of-chance|title=Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of Chance for Amiga (1986) - MobyGames|website=MobyGames}}</ref> * ''Strip Poker II'' (aka ''Deluxe Strip Poker'') was released in 1988 for Amiga, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX and IBM PC Compatibles.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Strip Poker II+ |url=https://www.lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=2138 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Lemon Amiga |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strip Poker II+ - Atari ST game |url=https://www.atarilegend.com/games/strip-poker-2 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Atari Legend |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strip Poker II Plus - Software Details - Plus/4 World |url=https://plus4world.powweb.com/software/Strip_Poker_II_Plus |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=plus4world.powweb.com}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=strip poker ii+ © anco software (1988) |url=https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=2100 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.cpc-power.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strip Poker II Plus at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4960 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strip Poker II Plus |url=https://www.generation-msx.nl/software/anco/strip-poker-ii-plus/2670/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/strip-poker-ii|title=Strip Poker II for Amiga (1988) - MobyGames|website=MobyGames}}</ref> Anco handled European publishing while Artworx handled the American market.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hol.abime.net/2152|title=Strip Poker II (Artworx): Hall Of Light - The database of Amiga games |website=hol.abime.net|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref> ''Strip Poker II'' was augmented by ''Strip Poker II+'' and ''Strip Poker II'' data disks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_7198|title=Strip Poker II+ Data Disks review from AUI Vol 2 No 12 (Dec 1988) - Amiga Magazine Rack|website=amr.abime.net|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-20 |title=SPX Data Disk Info |url=http://www.artworx.com/ddinfo.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051120084136/http://www.artworx.com/ddinfo.htm |archive-date=2005-11-20 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Artworx Home Page}}</ref> * ''Strip Poker Professional'' and ''Strip Poker Professional: Rev B'' were released on MS-DOS in 1994 and 1995 respectively.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/strip-poker-professional |title=Strip Poker Professional for DOS (1994) - MobyGames|website=MobyGames}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/strip-poker-professional-rev-b|title=Strip Poker Professional: Rev B for DOS (1995) - MobyGames |website=MobyGames}}</ref>

=== Reception === ''Tilt'' enjoyed ''Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of Chance''<nowiki/>'s graphics.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/erreur404.php|title=Le site des anciennes revues informatiques - www.abandonware-magazines.org|website=www.abandonware-magazines.org}}</ref> ''Computer Gamer'' felt that picking up a ''Playboy'' would be a better alternative to playing this game.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gamer_Issue_23_1987-02_Argus_Press_GB |title=Computer Gamer - Issue 23 (1987-02) (Argus Press) (GB)|date=February 1987}}</ref> Meanwhile ''Micro'' praised the game's sense of humour.<ref name="auto"/> ''Video Game Critic'' felt the game would appeal to players who wanted to see titillating content that was old-fashioned and pixelated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://videogamecritic.com/c64mz.htm?e=24357#rev4802 |title=Commodore 64 Reviews M-Z by The Video Game Critic |website=videogamecritic.com |access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref> ''Aktueller Software Markt'' had a mixed opinion on the game, questioning its purpose.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/asm_magazine-1987-03 |title=Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (March 1987)|date=March 1987 |language=de}}</ref> ''Info'' noted that besides the obvious draw of the title, it was the only game on the Amiga that offered a reasonable version of poker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_7035|title=Strip Poker review from Info 17 (Nov - Dec 1987) - Amiga Magazine Rack |website=amr.abime.net |access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref>

''Tilt'' felt the digitised images of ''Strip Poker II'' were impressive considering they were only 16-bit.<ref name="auto"/> ''Aktueller Software Markt'' thought the game was on par with the original.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/asm_magazine-1990-02/ASM_02_1990#page/n105/mode/2up|title=Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (February 1990)|date=February 1990}}</ref> ''Amiga Joker'' noted that games like this would always be in demand, and that it knew its audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=319|title=Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!|website=www.kultboy.com|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref> ''ACE'' criticized the game for it tackiness.<ref>{{cite web|website=archive.org|title=Magazine clipping|url=https://ia800604.us.archive.org/zipview.php?zip=/1/items/World_of_Spectrum_June_2017_Mirror/World%20of%20Spectrum%20June%202017%20Mirror.zip&file=World%20of%20Spectrum%20June%202017%20Mirror/sinclair/magazines/ACE/Issue09/Pages/ACE0900051.jpg}}</ref> ''The Games Machine'' panned the title as an "outrage of excessive sexism".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_43136|title=Strip Poker 2+ preview from The Games Machine 6 (May 1988) - Amiga Magazine Rack|website=amr.abime.net|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref> ''Amiga Joker'' gave ''Strip Poker II'' a mixed review, commenting that it was not the best way for players to access such content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_23226|title=Deluxe Strip Poker 2 review from Amiga Joker (Feb 1992) - Amiga Magazine Rack|website=amr.abime.net|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref> Conversely, ''Joystick'' gave the game a highly positive review, rating it 81%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_43864|title=Deluxe Strip Poker 2 review from Joystick 3 (Mar 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack|website=amr.abime.net|access-date=2018-03-27}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126233826/http://artworx.com |date=26 November 2005 |title=Official site }}

Category:Software companies based in Florida Category:Defunct poker companies Category:Amusement companies of the United States Category:Video game companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Collier County, Florida