Dingo

Navigate twisting mazes in Dingo, a cooperative maze and collection game for two players released in 1983 by Ashby Computers and Graphics Ltd., operating under license from Jaleco. Players control canine characters as they move through vertical playfields using eight-way joysticks, seeking to gather fruit scattered throughout the environment. Each piece of produce – melons, strawberries, lemons, and more – awards points, encouraging players to explore every corner of the labyrinthine levels. The game’s visual style utilizes a palette of 98 colors across a 224 x 256 pixel resolution, creating a distinct aesthetic reflective of its Zilog Z80-based origins. Developed by a team including Christopher Stamper and John Lathbury, Dingo shares a font with another Ashby Computers & Graphics title, Atic Atac, demonstrating a connection to the company’s earlier work on platforms like the Sinclair Spectrum. Notably, Ashby Computers and Graphics later evolved into Rare, now a subsidiary of Microsoft, establishing a surprising link between this early arcade release and a major modern game developer. The game's sound is driven by a General Instrument AY8910 chip, adding auditory cues to the gameplay experience as players chase down those valuable fruits.