The Official Father Christmas

December 31, 1989 Alternative Software Ltd.

Arcade

C64 ZXS

About

"The Official Father Christmas" takes place on Christmas Eve, with Santa rushing to deliver presents worldwide. First, the player enters their name, which later appears in a personal letter to Santa. The first level is a flip-screen collecting game where Santa gathers the scattered parts of his sleigh at home. If he collides with running elves, the item he is carrying is dropped and must be found again. Next, the player selects six gifts they want (computer, doll, book, etc.), which are listed in their letter to Santa. Santa then collects these presents as they fall from the top of the screen. Finally, the delivery phase begins, with Santa flying his sleigh over scrolling continents, dropping presents by parachute to homes indicated by arrows. However, clouds and airplanes can knock the presents off course.

Screenshots

Similar Games

79.2

{
    "id": 71350,
    "cover": {
        "id": 54218,
        "image_id": "dyjkpuey29ckpp4vgwwi",
        "url_thumb": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_thumb/dyjkpuey29ckpp4vgwwi.jpg",
        "url_small": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_small/dyjkpuey29ckpp4vgwwi.jpg",
        "url_big": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/dyjkpuey29ckpp4vgwwi.jpg",
        "url_hd": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_720p/dyjkpuey29ckpp4vgwwi.jpg",
        "url_full": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_1080p/dyjkpuey29ckpp4vgwwi.jpg"
    },
    "first_release_date": 631065600,
    "game_modes": [
        {
            "id": 1,
            "name": "Single player"
        }
    ],
    "genres": [
        {
            "id": 33,
            "name": "Arcade",
            "slug": "arcade"
        }
    ],
    "involved_companies": [
        {
            "id": 408779,
            "company": {
                "id": 18932,
                "name": "Alternative Software Ltd."
            },
            "developer": false,
            "publisher": true
        }
    ],
    "name": "The Official Father Christmas",
    "platforms": [
        {
            "id": 15,
            "abbreviation": "C64",
            "name": "Commodore C64/128/MAX"
        },
        {
            "id": 26,
            "abbreviation": "ZXS",
            "name": "ZX Spectrum"
        }
    ],
    "player_perspectives": [
        {
            "id": 4,
            "name": "Side view"
        }
    ],
    "release_dates": [
        {
            "id": 577061,
            "date": 631065600,
            "human": "1989",
            "platform": {
                "id": 26,
                "name": "ZX Spectrum"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": 954626,
            "date": 631065600,
            "human": "1989",
            "platform": {
                "id": 15,
                "name": "Commodore C64/128/MAX"
            }
        }
    ],
    "screenshots": [
        {
            "id": 1901374,
            "image_id": "sc14r3y",
            "url_blur": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_med/sc14r3y.jpg",
            "url_thumb": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_med/sc14r3y.jpg",
            "url_big": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_big/sc14r3y.jpg",
            "url_huge": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_huge/sc14r3y.jpg",
            "url_full": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_1080p/sc14r3y.jpg"
        },
        {
            "id": 1901375,
            "image_id": "sc14r3z",
            "url_blur": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_med/sc14r3z.jpg",
            "url_thumb": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_med/sc14r3z.jpg",
            "url_big": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_big/sc14r3z.jpg",
            "url_huge": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_huge/sc14r3z.jpg",
            "url_full": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_1080p/sc14r3z.jpg"
        },
        {
            "id": 1901376,
            "image_id": "sc14r40",
            "url_blur": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_med/sc14r40.jpg",
            "url_thumb": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_med/sc14r40.jpg",
            "url_big": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_big/sc14r40.jpg",
            "url_huge": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_screenshot_huge/sc14r40.jpg",
            "url_full": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_1080p/sc14r40.jpg"
        }
    ],
    "similar_games": [
        {
            "id": 57621,
            "cover": {
                "id": 54762,
                "image_id": "fpohfxovjjbeochbuyrl",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/fpohfxovjjbeochbuyrl.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Special Delivery: Santa's Christmas Chaos",
            "slug": "special-delivery-santas-christmas-chaos"
        },
        {
            "id": 104100,
            "cover": {
                "id": 411868,
                "image_id": "co8tss",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co8tss.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Hole.io",
            "rating": 69.96418622836462,
            "slug": "hole-dot-io"
        },
        {
            "id": 62961,
            "cover": {
                "id": 37027,
                "image_id": "ytbjbwxp9f4cjnjindmh",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/ytbjbwxp9f4cjnjindmh.jpg"
            },
            "name": "3D Maze Man: Adventures in Winter Wonderland",
            "slug": "3d-maze-man-adventures-in-winter-wonderland"
        },
        {
            "id": 12266,
            "cover": {
                "id": 356391,
                "image_id": "co7mzr",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co7mzr.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Qix",
            "rating": 71.586169107908,
            "slug": "qix"
        },
        {
            "id": 3446,
            "cover": {
                "id": 217875,
                "image_id": "co4o43",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co4o43.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Bomberman",
            "rating": 79.24455961401885,
            "slug": "bomberman--2"
        },
        {
            "id": 254101,
            "cover": {
                "id": 349499,
                "image_id": "co7hob",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co7hob.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Beat the Boss",
            "slug": "beat-the-boss"
        },
        {
            "id": 163344,
            "cover": {
                "id": 200938,
                "image_id": "co4b1m",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co4b1m.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Rune Evolution",
            "rating": 90,
            "slug": "rune-evolution"
        },
        {
            "id": 145515,
            "cover": {
                "id": 137056,
                "image_id": "co2xr4",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2xr4.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Pac-Man 99",
            "rating": 77.95984329257496,
            "slug": "pac-man-99"
        },
        {
            "id": 135291,
            "cover": {
                "id": 106746,
                "image_id": "co2ad6",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2ad6.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Bulanci",
            "rating": 79.8787197939643,
            "slug": "bulanci"
        },
        {
            "id": 133040,
            "cover": {
                "id": 99981,
                "image_id": "co2559",
                "url": "https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co2559.jpg"
            },
            "name": "Cryptoman",
            "rating": 86.67667376913441,
            "slug": "cryptoman"
        }
    ],
    "slug": "the-official-father-christmas",
    "summary": "\"The Official Father Christmas\" takes place on Christmas Eve, with Santa rushing to deliver presents worldwide. First, the player enters their name, which later appears in a personal letter to Santa. The first level is a flip-screen collecting game where Santa gathers the scattered parts of his sleigh at home. If he collides with running elves, the item he is carrying is dropped and must be found again. Next, the player selects six gifts they want (computer, doll, book, etc.), which are listed in their letter to Santa. Santa then collects these presents as they fall from the top of the screen. Finally, the delivery phase begins, with Santa flying his sleigh over scrolling continents, dropping presents by parachute to homes indicated by arrows. However, clouds and airplanes can knock the presents off course.",
    "themes": [
        {
            "id": 1,
            "name": "Action"
        }
    ],
    "websites": [
        {
            "id": 354405,
            "trusted": true,
            "url": "https://www.twitch.tv/directory/game/The%20Official%20Father%20Christmas",
            "type": 6
        }
    ],
    "buy_links": [],
    "developers": [],
    "publishers": [
        "Alternative Software Ltd."
    ],
    "release_date_formatted": "December 31, 1989",
    "release_year": "1989"
}

Ratings & Metrics

Game Info

Release Date December 31, 1989
Publisher Alternative Software Ltd.
Game Modes Single player
Perspective Side view
Themes Action