Strip Poker (Artworx) – A Controversial Classic of Early Macintosh Gaming
Few games from the early days of Apple computers sparked as much conversation as Strip Poker, published by Artworx. Blending card gameplay with digitized artwork, Strip Poker became one of the most infamous—and commercially successful—adult-oriented titles of the 1980s home computer era.
📅 Release Information
- Title: Strip Poker
- Original Release: 1986
- Publisher: Artworx
- Platforms: Apple II, Macintosh, Commodore 64, IBM PC, Amiga
- Macintosh Version: Programmed by Robert Hommel
- Graphics: Digitized artwork by Brian McMurdo
Strip Poker first appeared on the Apple II before quickly expanding to other popular home computers of the time, including the classic Macintosh, where higher-resolution graphics helped elevate its presentation.
🃏 Gameplay Overview
At its core, Strip Poker is exactly what the name suggests: a five-card draw poker game where players compete against computer-controlled opponents. The twist—and the game’s claim to fame—is that each opponent removes an article of clothing when they lose a hand.
Gameplay features include:
- Standard five-card draw poker rules
- AI opponents with distinct personalities
- Increasing difficulty as the game progresses
- A clear win/lose structure tied directly to the strip mechanic
While mechanically simple, the game relied heavily on presentation and novelty rather than complex card strategies.
🖥️ Graphics & Presentation
One of Strip Poker’s most notable achievements was its use of digitized grayscale imagery, particularly impressive on the original black-and-white Macintosh displays.
Key visual highlights:
- Digitized portraits instead of pixel art sprites
- Progressive image reveals tied to gameplay outcomes
- High contrast artwork suited to early Mac screens
- A polished title screen branded with ARTWORX®, reinforcing its commercial ambitions
The artwork by Brian McMurdo was a major selling point and pushed the limits of what early personal computers could display.
🍎 Strip Poker on the Macintosh
The Macintosh version stood out due to:
- Improved image clarity over 8-bit versions
- Mouse-driven interface
- Smoother presentation compared to Apple II releases
Despite the Mac’s reputation as a productivity machine, Strip Poker demonstrated that the platform could also host provocative and entertainment-focused software—much to Apple’s quiet discomfort.
⚠️ Controversy & Cultural Impact
Strip Poker quickly became controversial:
- Some retailers refused to carry it
- Schools and offices banned it outright
- It fueled debates over adult content on home computers
Ironically, the controversy helped boost sales. Strip Poker became one of Artworx’s best-known titles and inspired numerous sequels and imitators throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
🧠 Legacy
Today, Strip Poker is remembered less for its card mechanics and more as:
- A milestone in adult-oriented computer games
- An example of early digitized graphics on Apple systems
- A reflection of the rapidly expanding boundaries of personal computing in the 1980s
For vintage Apple enthusiasts, it represents a time when developers were freely experimenting—sometimes controversially—with what computers could be used for beyond spreadsheets and word processing.
🖱️ Final Thoughts
While Strip Poker may feel tame by modern standards, its impact on early home computing is undeniable. It challenged social norms, pushed technical limits, and secured its place as one of the most talked-about Macintosh and Apple II games of its era.
Love it or hate it, Strip Poker remains an unforgettable chapter in vintage Apple gaming history.
