Othello (1980 video game)

The 1980 video game Othello is a computerized adaptation of the abstract strategy board game Othello, also known as Reversi. It was released for various home computers and gaming consoles of the early 1980s, including the Atari 2600, the Apple II, and the Commodore 64.

The game typically features a computer opponent that players can challenge. The objective, mirroring the board game, is to have more of your colored discs on the board than your opponent at the end of the game. This is achieved by "flipping" opponent's discs by surrounding them with your own discs in a straight line (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).

Gameplay involves selecting a square on the board to place your disc. The computer opponent then takes its turn. The game continues until neither player can make a valid move, at which point the player with the most discs wins.

The quality of the AI opponent varied depending on the platform and the specific implementation, with some versions offering multiple difficulty levels. The user interface generally consisted of a visual representation of the 8x8 game board, with indicators for the players' scores and the current turn. Othello proved to be a popular title due to the strategic depth of the game and its accessibility on home computers.