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{{Infobox video game
| title = Blood Money
| image = [[Image:Blood Money Coverart.png]]
| caption =
| developer = [[DMA Design]]
| publisher = [[Psygnosis]]
| distributor =
| programmer = [[David Jones (video game developer)|David Jones]]
| designer = Tony Smith
| composer = Ray Norrish<br />Fredrik Segergalk
| engine =
| released = '''Amiga''', '''Atari ST'''<br>May 1989<br />'''DOS'''<br>1989<br />'''Commodore 64'''<br>1990
| genre
| modes = [[Single player]]
| platforms = [[Amiga]]
}}
'''''Blood Money''''' is a [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] video game developed by [[DMA Design]]. It was published by [[Psygnosis]] in 1989 for the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]] and [[DOS]], and in 1990 for the [[Commodore 64]]. The game is set in four different locations on a planet, where players are tasked with attacking the enemies and defeating the bosses.
The game began development immediately after ''[[Menace (video game)|Menace]]'', and borrowed similar gameplay elements. The development team used advanced hardware to develop ''Blood Money'', utilising improved graphical and technological processes. The game was inspired by the presentation of ''[[Mr. Heli]]'', and the animations of ''Blood Money'' would later inspire the development of ''[[Lemmings (video game)|Lemmings]]''. The game was released to positive reviews; praise was given to the game's graphics and gameplay. The game was also commercially successful, selling over 40,000 copies.
==Gameplay==▼
▲== Gameplay ==
[[Image:Blood Money gameplay screenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|left|In the game, players control different vehicles and defend against enemies, who attempt to destroy the vehicle.]]
''Blood Money'' is a horizontal [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] [[Shoot 'em up|shooter]] that uses [[2D computer graphics]]. Players move through four stages on the planet, taking control of a different vehicle in each level: a helicopter in the metal world, a submarine in a water world, a spacesuit in an ice world, and a fighter jet in a fire world. Each vehicle features unique weaponry, which players use to attack all advancing enemies. Players can upgrade their vehicle with [[power-up]]s, which grant them additional weapons and upgrades, such as support missiles and neutron bombs.<ref name="CVG Review"/> The vehicles' energy is depleted when players make contact with enemies and walls.<ref name="Emulator"/> The first two levels may be selected from the beginning of the game; after one level is complete, players can select any remaining world without restrictions. At the end of each level, players must defeat a [[Boss (video game)|boss]].<ref name="CVG Review"/>
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== Development ==
Following the successful release of ''[[Menace (video game)|Menace]]'' in 1988, [[David Jones (video game developer)|David Jones]] began developing ''Blood Money'' on 4 January 1989, on the 25MHz 386-DX computer that publisher [[Psygnosis]] granted him, alongside a [[Intel System Development Kit|Personal Development System]].<ref name="History 2.1"/> Jones saw ''Blood Money'' as a "further development" of the concept used in ''Menace''.<ref>{{citation |title=Blood Money ''Instruction Booklet'' |editor=[[DMA Design]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |location=[[Liverpool]] |year=1989 |page=12 |url=http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Commodore_Amiga//Manual/formated/Blood_Money_-_1989_-_Psygnosis_Limited.htm |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2Y3YPri |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref> Jones was heavily inspired by the "cuteness" of ''[[Mr. Heli]]'' (1987) during the development of ''Blood Money''.<ref name="History 2.1"/> The game's cover art was designed by British artist [[Peter Andrew Jones]] for the novel ''[[Protector (novel)|Protector]]'' (1973) by [[Larry Niven]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peterandrewjones.net/paintings_science_fiction/swa150.htm |title=Protector |last=Jones |first=Peter Andrew |authorlink=Peter Andrew Jones |publisher=[[Peter Andrew Jones]] |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2bIr4XE |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
With ''Blood Money'', Jones was determined to utilise the full colour range of the [[Amiga]], opting to use the [[blitter]] as opposed to the hardware scrolling; the blitter allowed graphics to be drawn quickly. Tony Smith, who had worked on ''Menace'', produced the graphics for ''Blood Money'', while Jones began work on a new scrolling system. While developing his own game, ''Talisman'', [[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] created a compact method to move enemies on-screen, which Jones incorporated into ''Blood Money''.<ref name="History 2.1"/> The game's animations fascinated Jones' friend Gary Timmons, who then began experimenting with [[Deluxe Paint]]; his work on the program led to his employment at DMA Design, and inspired some of the animations used in DMA's next game, ''[[Walker (video game)|Walker]]'' (1993).<ref name="History 2.4"/> The game's introduction required a star field, which Jones took from a quick demonstration that Dailly had been working on.<ref name="History 2.3"/>
The game was ported to the PC by Tim Ansell of [[Creative Assembly]],<ref name="PC port"/> and to [[Atari ST]] by Jones' friend Wayne Smithson,<ref name="History 3.2"/> while Dailly began porting the game to the [[Commodore 64]] following the [[Personal Computer World]] Show in September 1989.<ref name="History 2.4"/> Dailly used the code from the ''Talisman'' [[Technology demonstration|demo]], and wrote a new [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] system. He also re-worked the multi-directional scrolling,<ref name="History 2.5"/> and wrote his own tape loading routines, wanting one that allowed players to play a simple game while ''Blood Money'' loaded.<ref name="History 3.1"/> Smith designed the graphics for the port, and became confused by the limitations of the hardware: he had to draw double pixels in Deluxe Paint, and was limited to sixteen colours.<ref name="History 2.5"/> Dailly finished developing the Commodore 64 version of ''Blood Money'' on 12 March 1990.<ref name="History 3.2"/>
== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| CVG = (AMI, PC) 85%<ref name="CVG Review"/> <br>(ST) 84%<ref name="CVG Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=48 |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=92 |date=June 1989 |last=Glancey |first=Paul |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Graham |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=http://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-092/CVG092_Jun_1989#page/n47/mode/2up |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref> <br>(C64) 79%<ref name="CVG Review C64">{{cite journal |title=Update: Blood Money |page=58 |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=105 |date=August 1990 |editor-last=Rignall |editor-first=Julian |editor-link=Julian Rignall |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=http://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-105/CVG105_Aug_1990#page/n57/mode/2up |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]]''
| rev1Score = (ST) 740/1000<ref name="ACE Review"/><br>(PC) 700/1000<ref name="ACE Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=97 |journal=[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]] |issue=26 |date=November 1989 |editor-last=Cooke |editor-first=Steve |publisher=[[EMAP]] |url=http://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-26/ACE_Issue_26_1989_Nov#page/n96/mode/1up |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[CU Amiga]]''
| rev2Score = 76%<ref name="CUAmiga Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=54–55 |journal=[[CU Amiga]] |issue= |date=June 1989 |last=Pattenden |first=Mike |publisher=[[EMAP]] |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015104100/http://amigareviews.classicgaming.gamespy.com/bloodmon.htm |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Games Machine]]''
| rev3Score = (AMI) 90%<ref name="TGM Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=43 |journal=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=19 |date=June 1989 |editor-last=Kean |editor-first=Roger |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=http://archive.org/stream/the-games-machine-19/TheGamesMachine19#page/n42/mode/1up |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]''
| rev4Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="One Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=93 |journal=[[The One (magazine)|The One]] |issue=33 |date=June 1991 |editor-last=Brennan |editor-first=Ciarán |publisher=[[EMAP]] |url=http://archive.org/stream/One_for_ST_Games_The_Issue_033_1991-06_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n91/mode/1up |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[ST Format]]''
| rev5Score = (ST) <ref name="ST Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=72–73 |journal=[[ST Format]] |issue=2 |date=September 1989 |last=Higham |first=Mark |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=http://www.atarimania.com/atari-magazine-issue-st-format-issue-02_86.html |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]''
| rev6Score = (AMI) 92%<ref name="STAmiga Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=72–73 |journal=[[ST/Amiga Format]] |issue=11 |date=May 1989 |last=Barrett |first=Gary |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015104100/http://amigareviews.classicgaming.gamespy.com/bloodmon.htm |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Zzap!64]]''
| rev7Score = (AMI) 94%<ref name="Zzap Review">{{cite journal |title=Blood Money |page=68–69 |journal=[[Zzap!64]] |issue=51 |date=July 1989 |last1=Wynne |first1=Stuart |last2=Hogg |first2=Robin |last3=King |first3=Phil |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015104100/http://amigareviews.classicgaming.gamespy.com/bloodmon.htm | accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
}}
''Blood Money'' received mostly positive reviews from critics upon release, particularly for its gameplay, graphical design, and sound. Gary Barrett of ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]'' wrote that the game is the best shoot 'em up game on the Amiga.<ref name="STAmiga Review"/> ''[[Zzap!64]]'' listed ''Blood Money'' as the best Amiga game of the 1980s,<ref name="Zzap 57"/> and ''ST Format'' named it the second-best shoot 'em up game of 1990.<ref name="STFormat 18"/> The game sold 40,000 copies, which is double the sales of ''Menace''.<ref name="History 4.1"/>
Stuart Wynne of ''Zzap!64'' found the game "superb to play", while Robin Hogg of the same publication wrote that it "measures up" to the game's "brilliant" graphics.<ref name="Zzap Review"/> ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]'' found the game to be among the "most challenging and technically accomplished" shoot 'em ups,<ref name="One Review"/> while ''[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]]'' called it "compelling".<ref name="ACE Review"/> Conversely, Mike Pattenden of ''[[CU Amiga]]'' criticised the difficulty, noting its lack of rewards.<ref name="CUAmiga Review"/>
Critics praised the game's graphical qualities. Paul Glancey of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' lauded the game's opening sequence, and called the [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] among "the best designed and most fluidly animated" in an Amiga game.<ref name="CVG Review"/> ''[[The Games Machine]]'' found the graphics "utterly impressive",<ref name="TGM Review"/> and Barrett of ''ST/Amiga Format'' wrote that the game is "in a class of its own", praising the sprite animations.<ref name="STAmiga Review"/> ''Zzap!64''{{'}}s Hogg commended the animation and backgrounds.<ref name="Zzap Review"/> Conversely, ''CU Amiga''{{'}}s Pattenden felt that the graphics lack depth.<ref name="CUAmiga Review"/>
The game's use of sound received positive reactions. Phil King of ''Zzap!64'' was impressed by the soundtrack, particularly praising the introductory music.<ref name="Zzap Review"/> ''The Games Machine'' echoed similar remarks, writing that the game features "excellent" sound,<ref name="TGM Review"/> and Glancey of ''Computer and Video Games'' wrote that the sound chip was "put ... to bloomin' good use".<ref name="CVG Review"/> Barrett of ''ST/Amiga Format'' preferred the sound effects over the music, though felt that they were inferior to those in ''Menace''.<ref name="STAmiga Review"/> Pattenden of ''CU Amiga'' felt that the sound is "a poor tune and some average effects",<ref name="CUAmiga Review"/> while ''ACE'' called it "a little weedy".<ref name="ACE Review"/>
==References==
{{reflist
<ref name="Emulator">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/msdos_Blood_Money_1990 |title=Blood Money : DMA Design Limited : Free Streaming |work=Archive.org |publisher=[[Internet Archive]] |date=27 December 2014 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2WNAeAn |archivedate=5 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 2.1">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA2_1.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 1 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2XJIfn1 |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 2.3">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA2_3.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 3 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2YgvUD9 |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 2.4">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA2_4.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 4 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2Z6PAqg |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 2.5">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA2_5.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 2, part 5 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2aDe7oW |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 3.1">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA3_1.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 3, part 1 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2005 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2aJMJLF |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 3.2">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA3_2.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 3, part 2 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2005 |accessdate=5 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c2aL15ZY |archivedate=4 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="History 4.1">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA4_1.htm |title=The History of DMA - Chapter 4, part 1 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2004 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6c0CDd25p |archivedate=3 October 2015 |deadurl=no }}</ref>
<ref name="PC port">{{cite video game |title=Blood Money |developer=[[DMA Design]], [[Creative Assembly]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |date=1989 |platform=DOS |version=1.0 |scene=Main menu |language=English |quote="IBM Conversion: Tim Ansell" }}</ref>
<ref name="STFormat 18">{{cite journal |title=The Top 50 Games of 1990 |page=34–37 |journal=[[ST Format]] |issue=18 |date=January 1991 |last=Hutchinson |first=Andy |publisher=[[Future plc]] |url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-st-format-issue-018.pdf |accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="Zzap 57">{{cite journal |title=The Best Games of the 80's Decade |page=28–30 |journal=[[Zzap!64]] |issue=57 |date=January 1989 |last1=Wynne |first1=Start |last2=King |first2=Phil |publisher=[[Newsfield|Newsfield Publications]] |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=057&page=029&magazine=zzap | accessdate=5 October 2015 }}</ref>
}}
{{DMA Design}}
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[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
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