Let's be honest, 1983 BASIC type-ins of less than 2K are seldom given much thought nowadays. But as these sorts of games go, this one is pretty good even if terribly simple. You use "cursor" keys (or in my case the PC arrow keys via emulated keystick) to move a stick-man UDG around an enclosed orchard, picking up as many oversized apples as possible within a strict thirty second limit. The stick man looks so thin, that you can probably forgive him the minor crime of apple theft in this case.
The time limit and number of apples is well balanced making this game quite difficult on the first few plays. You'll soon learn to avoid the dreadful annoyance of running right around an apple instead of picking it up, losing vital seconds. This is due to the fact that the keyboard repeat is active and the main game loop is pretty fast. You'll also soon learn to work out a reasonably efficient route to pick all of the apples up, as if you don't then you just won't have enough time to win the game.
Win the game once and you'll feel pretty pleased with yourself. I eventually did it in 26 seconds. It's good to see that someone can make a pleasing game from such a short listing.
There are some pretty good BASIC games around. Orchard Thief just isn't one of them.
I found this on a tape together with other equally awful games, but for some reason I can't explain, I only remember this one. Probably because it was the most crude and appalling of all.
Do not waste a second of your life on Orchard Thief. You'll regret it.
