Peazjelly
Super Smurf
Member # 3101
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posted 03-24-2025 01:18 AM
Dino Smurf - Gameplay
Dino Smurf
Developed by: Dead Smurf Software
Age Rating : Mature
Release Date: 1983
Platform: Apple II
Dino Smurf: A Pioneering Apple II Game Mod
Released in 1983 by Dead Smurf Software, Dino Smurf is a parody of the platformer Dino Eggs, designed by David H. Schroeder and published by Micro Fun. This game is notable as being one of the earliest examples of a game "mod".
Origins and Concept
Dino Smurf was created by Andrew Johnson and Preston Nevins, operating under the moniker Dead Smurf Software. The original Dino Eggs tasked players with controlling "Time Master Tim," a time traveler collecting dinosaur eggs and rescuing hatchlings in a prehistoric setting, all while avoiding dangers like snakes, spiders, and a protective "Dino Mom". Dead Smurf Software transformed this premise into a Smurf-themed adventure, replacing Time Master Tim with "Smurfbutcher Bob". In this parody, Bob travels back in time not to save dinosaurs, but to eliminate the prehistoric ancestors of our beloved Smurfs.
The mod retained the core mechanics of Dino Eggs: players collect eggs (up to three at a time), return them to a time warp, and avoid contamination from enemies, which could destroy the eggs. If a fire is built, eggs hatch into baby creatures that also need rescuing, adding complexity. In Dino Smurf, these elements were reframed with a humorous twist, targeting the Smurfs’ imagined lineage, complete with quirky additions like "orange Smurfs," a fictional extinct variant.
A Milestone in Modding History
What makes Dino Smurf significant is its status as one of the first known game mods. By altering graphics, text, and narrative, Johnson and Nevins demonstrated how players could repurpose existing games to create new experiences - a practice that would later explode with modern modding communities.
The mod was part of a planned trilogy by Dead Smurf Software, which also included Castle Smurfenstein, a Smurf-themed reworking of Silas Warner’s Castle Wolfenstein. A third title, tentatively a mod of Sky Fox called Sky Smurf, was conceptualized but never completed due to the creators’ college commitments. This trilogy highlights the duo’s fascination with blending Smurf lore into classic Apple II games, often with a satirical edge.
Gameplay
Gameplay in Dino Smurf mirrored Dino Eggs, featuring platforming across four levels connected by stone ladders. Players navigated hazards like "proto-snakes" and "proto-spiders," built fires to fend off the Dino Mom, and managed the delicate task of transporting eggs and hatchlings. The Smurf overlay added a layer of absurdity, appealing to players familiar with both the original game and the Smurfs.
Legacy
Dino Smurf’s legacy lies in its pioneering role in modding culture. It predated the widespread use of tools that would later simplify game modifications, relying instead on rudimentary editors and the creators’ technical know-how. Its Smurf-centric parody also tapped into 1980s pop culture, when the Smurfs were a household name thanks to their animated series.
Today, Dino Smurf can still be experienced through Apple II emulators. It remains a curiosity for retro gaming fans and a testament to the creativity of early hobbyists. Meanwhile, David Schroeder, the original creator of Dino Eggs, expressed delight at the mod’s existence, noting in a 1999 email that he was "honored" to see his work repurposed in such a playful way.
Dead Smurf Software's only other game is Castle Smurfenstein.
 Smurf Video Games Guide
The Smurfs Video Games List
 Play a Smurf Game Now!
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Posts: 439 | From: SC | Registered: Feb 2010
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