BROOKLYN, New York, USA – 22nd May 2025 – ChipWits, Inc. is excited to share that their reboot of the original ChipWits is coming to Steam with a demo releasing May 28th. Inspired by the early Macintosh game, old and new players alike can find a passion for programming in this nostalgic automation, programming game.
The original ChipWits debuted for Macintosh in 1984, developed by Doug Sharp and Mike Johnston. A game for all ages, ChipWits was created to teach players the basic principles of computer programming using a visual programming language of pictorial action chips placed on a chip board. Users chained together these chips to automate a ChipWit through a series of tasks and challenges. Receiving rave reviews and awards from leading magazines at the time like Byte, MacUser, and COMPUTE!, a reimagination of this nostalgic game is now coming to Steam.
Inspiring New Programmers
This current reboot of the 1984 game began back in 2023. The small team led by co-creator of the original ChipWits, Doug Sharp, and lead engineer, Mark Roth, are looking to bring this nostalgic classic to a new generation of fans. Mark Roth himself was first introduced to the original ChipWits in elementary school, by his 5th grade teacher. A programmer now, Mark personally credits the game with sparking his interest in the field. The team hopes to create similar experiences for new players of ChipWits.
“I'm proud that 'ChipWits' inspired young coders in the 80s and even prouder that it will inspire a new wave of coders--young and not-so-young--40 years after Mike Johnston and I created it,” shared Doug Sharp.
A Modern Makeover
ChipWits modernizes the retro original with updated graphics and music. New items, chips, missions, challenges, and an online leaderboard round out the additional features. Just like its predecessor, players are faced with a series of missions to complete by programming their little ChipWit robot. Every puzzle is open-ended, giving players the freedom to experiment with different chip combinations and encouraging everyone to find their own solutions. For those looking for an additional challenge, the global leaderboards track level scores, number of chips used, and number of steps taken, with lean and efficient programs coming out on top.
A ChipWits demo will be arriving on Steam this May 28th. Players can solve their way through 15 different levels, including two ChipWit Challenges, and two classic missions from the original 1984 ChipWits! The main story missions are set in Professor Chip’s Factory, where players will automate their ChipWit across the factory floor, maneuvering around obstacles and moving items to complete tasks. ChipWit Challenges are an expanding catalog of standalone puzzles that will be updated regularly. Demo players can always come back and access the two most recent challenges for free as they are published.
Gameplay Features:
- A Legacy Reboot: Bringing the original 1984 game to a new generation of gamers, an accessible introduction to programming.
- Easy to Learn: No prior experience required. Learn how to control your ChipWit in the step-by-step tutorial that will have you programming in no time.
- Hard to Master: Missions build upon themselves with new challenges, chips, and mechanics. Later levels can have players using over a hundred chips across multiple chip boards.
- Efficiency is Key: Optimize your solutions to maximize your score, minimize the number of chips used, and minimize the number of steps in your program to secure a top spot on the global leaderboards!
- ChipWit Challenges: An expanding collection of standalone puzzles that challenge the ChipWits community to compete for the highest score or most efficient solution. Complete past challenges and check back regularly for new ones!
- Old and New: 8 original classic missions from the first ChipWits, and over 55 new puzzles and missions with revamped chips and mechanics will be in the full release.
Wishlist ChipWits now on Steam to be notified of development updates and the upcoming game release. A demo will be available on May 28th for players to experience.
Keep up with all news from ChipWits, Inc. through their website, mailing list, YouTube channel, and Discord server.
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About ChipWits, Inc.
We at ChipWits are committed to making coding fun and accessible to everyone. Our goal is to provide you with a unique and entertaining learning experience for all ages. We are also dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for players of all backgrounds.