Bulge (game)

Bulge is a simplistic, often rudimentary, computer game concept, primarily distributed as a demonstration program or a piece of demoscene art, usually in the context of early personal computers, such as the Commodore 64 or ZX Spectrum. The core gameplay, if it can be called that, typically involves a single, often pixelated, graphic of a vaguely phallic shape ("the bulge") that may expand, contract, or otherwise undulate on the screen.

The purpose of such programs is rarely centered on complex gameplay mechanics or narrative. Instead, the "game" serves primarily as a vehicle to showcase programming skill, humor (often immature), and potentially the graphics capabilities of the target hardware. Bulge games are typically extremely short, repetitive, and lacking in any significant player interaction beyond perhaps starting or stopping the animation.

Because of their low technical requirements, bulge games were sometimes employed to fill empty space on compilation tapes or disks. The term "bulge" in this context is almost invariably a juvenile reference to male genitalia. Given their nature and purpose, bulge games are generally not considered serious contributions to the video game landscape and are more accurately classified as novelties or demo scene creations. Their presence within the historical context of early home computing offers a glimpse into the less formal and more irreverent aspects of early digital culture. The distribution of these games was largely underground and word-of-mouth, given the explicit nature of the content.