Description

"Tax Avoiders" is an unconventional video game for the Atari 2600 / VCS platform, developed by Dunhill Electronics and released in 1982. The game's core objective is a unique blend of financial themes and platform gaming challenges, where players take on the role of John Q, an investor aiming to collect as much money as possible while navigating through a multi-platform maze. As players collect money bags, they must simultaneously dodge the tax collectors and various other obstacles. The game features multiple levels, each representing a different financial year, and the ultimate goal is to end each year with a high bank balance while minimizing tax payments.

The game's release during the early 1980s reflected the era's growing interest in personal finance and tax issues, influenced by contemporary economic policies. "Tax Avoiders" was designed by John Simonds, who reportedly created the game based on his personal experiences as a tax planner, making it one of the few games to incorporate real-world financial strategies into its gameplay. Despite its novel concept, the game was not a major commercial success, partly due to its niche appeal and the complexity of its theme compared to more straightforward action games of the time. "Tax Avoiders" remains a curious artifact from the golden age of video gaming, notable for its attempt to gamify the concepts of financial management and tax evasion.

Title

Tax Avoiders - Title

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Gameplay

Tax Avoiders - Gameplay

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