A Look Back at Water Polo for the Commodore 64 on National Video Game Day

BRIDGEPORT Pa. — On National Video Game Day (not to be confused with National Video Games Day which occurs on September 12), the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) honors the 1987 classic “Water Polo” for the Commodore 64.

On a day that recalls some of the best games in history – we recall the only water polo game that was mass produced. 

The granddaddy of all water polo games was the 1987 “classic” which featured the following rules:

• Acquire possession of the ball by attacking from five different directions from the front. If the opponent is not active (i.e. does not wave the ball in the air), then the possession changes.
• An attack from the three rear positions (left rear, rear and right rear) is not allowed. A try is instantly punished by the referee with a foul.
• Fouls, goals and quarterly breaks are indicated by a whistle from the referee.
• An attack on the goalkeeper in front of the goal is also a breach of the rules.
• The fouls are personally counted separately for each team member. After the third foul a player gets ejected (for 90 seconds or until the opposing team scores a goal) and the ball possession goes to the other team. Re-entering is only possible after a goals is scored or the ball has landed on a dry place or at the end of a quarter (i.e. in situations, when both teams are not active).
• A quarter lasts five minutes, the allowed time for an attack is 35 seconds, if this time passes without a throw on the opposing goal the ball possession changes.
• When a goal is scored there is an instant action replay.
• If a team scores 50 goals, the match will end (the programmers listed the reason as there must be cheating).