| SimAnt |
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SimAnt: The Electronic Ant Colony is a puzzle strategy game developed and published by Maxis Software in 1991. It was originally released on DOS, and the quickly ported the Windows. The goal is to build a thriving ant colony, conquer the opposing red ants, and take over a human's house. To do this, you must monitor your colony's food supply, breeding, and avoid the hazards ants fact like carnivorous insects, flooding, lawn mower, and insecticide. You being the game controlling an individual ant, but, as you progress, you must zoom out and control to colonization of new queens across the yard. Like many other Sim games, SimAnt features an experimental mode which lets you play around with your ants.
Screenshots
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Title screen.
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Setting up a new game.
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Hanging out in my colony.
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Collecting food.
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Flooding from rain is just one of the hazards at this size.
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Crawling under a coffee table inside the house.
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Music
SimAnt features a soundtrack credited to Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, and Chris Schardt, although the credits don't list the composers based on their songs. The original DOS score consists of 30 songs, but the Windows port only has 29, and, even then, eight of those appear to go unused.
While the DOS game used a custom sound driver, the Windows port used General MIDI. However, it appears Maxis didn't do a very good job of converting the music from the custom driver. Several of the songs have noticeably altered tempos, and a lot of the instruments sound pretty different (not in a harmonious way), and some of the notes are out of place.
The titles come from a combination of the song's file names and the meta data in the MIDI files.
Recording
Songs starting with a 1 were recorded on a Sound Blaster 16, songs starting with a 2 were recorded on an AdLib.
| # |
Title |
Composer | Arranger |
Length |
Listen |
Download |
| 101 |
Game Theme |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
1:42 |
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Download |
| 102 |
Ant Theme 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:56 |
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Download |
| 103 |
Ant Theme 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:48 |
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Download |
| 104 |
Ant Theme 3 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:41 |
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Download |
| 105 |
Happy 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:04 |
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Download |
| 106 |
Happy 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:04 |
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Download |
| 107 |
Call to Arms |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 108 |
Freed |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 109 |
Sad 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:13 |
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Download |
| 110 |
Sad 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 111 |
Sad 3 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:08 |
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Download |
| 112 |
Sad 4 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:09 |
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Download |
| 113 |
Ominous |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 114 |
New Body |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 115 |
Attack |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 116 |
Queen For a Day |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:17 |
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Download |
| 117 |
Red Queen Dead |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 118 |
Black Queen Dead |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 119 |
Jolly 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:08 |
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Download |
| 120 |
Jolly 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 121 |
Jolly 4 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:08 |
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Download |
| 122 |
Bad News |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 123 |
Defeat |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:34 |
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Download |
| 124 |
Human Aware |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:20 |
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Download |
| 125 |
Human Theme |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:20 |
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Download |
| 126 |
Jolly 3 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 127 |
Jolly 5 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 128 |
New Colony |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:04 |
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Download |
| 129 |
Victory |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:30 |
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Download |
| # |
Title |
Composer | Arranger |
Length |
Listen |
Download |
| 201 |
Game Theme |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
1:43 |
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Download |
| 202 |
Ant Theme 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:55 |
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Download |
| 203 |
Ant Theme 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:47 |
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Download |
| 204 |
Ant Theme 3 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:40 |
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Download |
| 205 |
Happy 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:09 |
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Download |
| 206 |
Happy 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:11 |
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Download |
| 207 |
Call to Arms |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:10 |
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Download |
| 208 |
Freed |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:10 |
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Download |
| 209 |
Sad 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:19 |
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Download |
| 210 |
Sad 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:08 |
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Download |
| 211 |
Sad 3 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:09 |
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Download |
| 212 |
Sad 4 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:24 |
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Download |
| 213 |
Ominous |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:09 |
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Download |
| 214 |
New Body |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:06 |
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Download |
| 215 |
Attack |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 216 |
Queen For a Day |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:22 |
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Download |
| 217 |
Red Queen Dead |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:12 |
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Download |
| 218 |
Black Queen Dead |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:09 |
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Download |
| 219 |
Jolly 1 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
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Download |
| 220 |
Jolly 2 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:06 |
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Download |
| 221 |
Jolly 4 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:07 |
|
Download |
| 222 |
Bad News |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:11 |
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Download |
| 223 |
Defeat |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:34 |
|
Download |
| 224 |
Human Aware |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:20 |
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Download |
| 225 |
Human Theme |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:20 |
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Download |
| 226 |
Jolly 3 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:04 |
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Download |
| 227 |
Jolly 5 |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:05 |
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Download |
| 228 |
New Colony |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:04 |
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Download |
| 229 |
Victory |
Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt | Matthew Berardo, Steve Hales, Jack Thorton, Chris Schardt |
0:30 |
|
Download |
Credits
(Sources: In Game, Help File. Unfortunately, both spell Thornton/Thorton differently.)
Game Rip
SimAnt uses whatever audio device you have setup for music in Windows, so there is no "official" sound to the audio. In the recorded soundtracks above, those starting with a 1 use Sound Blaster 16, those starting with a 2 use AdLib. Both were emulated through DOSBox.
The type 1 MIDI files are located in the .\SOUNDS folder within the installed path.
The game has digital sound effects, but they haven't been extracted. Data strings in the SIMANTW.EXE file contains a reference to a WAV header, and, since this game was made for Windows 3, the sound effects are most likely in WAV format, just compressed among the files. Interestingly, the game SimLife (W16) reuses the same audio driver even to the point of including the SimAnt MIDI names.
Releases
Links
