I, Ball

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I, Ball

Developer(s)	Timothy Closs
Publisher(s)	Firebird Software
Platform(s)	Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release date	1987
Genre(s)	Action game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	N/A
Media	Cassette
Input methods	Keyboard, Joystick

I, Ball is a shoot 'em up computer game published for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1987 by Firebird. It was programmed by Timothy Closs. The C64 version features music written by Rob Hubbard, based on a tune by Cabaret Voltaire called "Whip Blow".

The player takes the role of the eponymous Ball and gameplay takes the form of a vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up. It was also one of the first games to feature a wide range of power-ups (via power discs). Both versions also featured some memorable synthesised speech.

It was followed by a sequel, I, Ball 2, released later the same year.

[edit] Critical response

Criticism was largely positive, with CRASH magazine awarding the Spectrum version of the game 90% and describing it as "a great little game with plenty of lasting appeal"^[1]. Zzap64 awarded the C64 version 80%, calling it "unusual and competent"^[2]