GUMBALL

Originally released in 1983 by Brøderbund and brought to the PC-8801 by Enix in 1984, *Gumball* is a challenging action-puzzle game that simulates the high-pressure environment of a candy factory. Players must carefully manipulate levers and pathways to sort colored gumballs into the correct carts before the 5:00 PM shift deadline. This title famously captures the stress of corporate labor, tasking players with increasing quotas and complexity as they climb the ranks from worker to supervisor. With its blend of strategic decision-making and fast-paced coordination, *Gumball* remains a distinct example of early 80s arcade-style home computing software.

In this high-pressure puzzle game, you take on the role of an industrious factory worker tasked with sorting a constant stream of colorful gumballs across a complex, Rube Goldberg-esque machine. You must carefully toggle levers and shift collection bins to ensure each candy reaches its correct destination before the workday ends at 17:00. Each shift carries a demanding quota, and any gumballs lost or misdirected will increase your workload, pushing your efficiency and reflexes to the limit. As you rise through the ranks from laborer to foreman and eventually supervisor, you will face increasing complexity and tighter deadlines, risking immediate termination if you fail to meet your targets.