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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qix603.jpg]]

Qix (1981) is a [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames Golden Age videogame]] involving, of all things, drawing. Draw boxes using "stix" to claim as much screen as possible without getting in the path of the "Qix" (pronounced either "kicks" or "quicks" depending on where you live), "Sparx" or "Fuse". Dividing the play-field fills the area without a Qix, claiming it for the player. Draw slower for more points and hope that you have enough coins. If a Qix touches one of the player's stix while in the process of drawing, a life is lost. Claim enough of the playfield, and the player wins and moves on to the next level. Later levels have two Qixs to deal with. If the player successfully draws a stix between them, the level is cleared automatically, and while you get no bonus points for it, the ScoreMultiplier is incremented by one. Simple but very addicting!

One of the few games designed by Taito America.

Several [[FanService softcore]] Japanese games use the gameplay of this game. So did ''Cacoma Knight in Bizyland'', which attempted to provide a context for the gameplay and created a QuirkyWork in the process.

''Qix'' received a sequel in 1987 called ''Super Qix'', with improved graphics and a fairy tale fantasy theme. Instead of an abstract stick-like enemy, the Qix appears as a goblin-like creature, while the Sparx appear as sinister red skulls. ''VideoGame/{{Volfied}}'' (alternately known as ''Ultimate Qix'' or ''Qix Neo''), released in 1989[[note]] and also made by Taito[[/note]], is a similar game with a DarkerAndEdgier science fiction theme, and incorporates power ups into the gameplay. The original game was also adapted by Creator/{{Nintendo}} into an early Platform/GameBoy title featuring [[TheCameo cameo appearances]] by [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]. The latest game in the series, ''Qix++'', was released for Platform/XboxLiveArcade in 2009, and later as a Japan-exclusive port for the Platform/PlaystationPortable.
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!!''Qix'' contains the following tropes:
* AdaptationExpansion: The NES version adds "Spritz," which bounce around the screen in diagonals hoping to hit you.
* TheCameo: [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] in the Platform/GameBoy version.
* EndlessGame: The levels keep on coming until the player runs out of lives.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: A Qix kills you if it touches a stix you're in the process of drawing. Sparx kill you by [[CollisionDamage running into you]] anywhere on the screen. The Fuse is notorious for killing via the "Spiral Death Trap" -- you can't connect a new stix to itself, so if you inadvertently try to do so, then turn the wrong way while trying to correct, you'll end up drawing a spiral that you can't get out of. The Fuse then ignites and runs down your stix just like a fuse on a firecracker.
%%* EvolvingWeapon: In ''Qix ++''.
* InstantWinCondition: If the level has two Qixes and you manage to separate the Qixes, the level is instantly cleared with no bonus points, but the ScoreMultiplier is incremented by one.
* OneHitPointWonder: Anything that can kill you will do so in one hit.
* OverflowError: If your score goes over 1 million points in the original arcade version, you lose a million points.
* ScoreMultiplier: This starts at 1x, and is incremented by 1 each time that you manage to win a level by drawing stix in a way to separate the two Qixes in the level in levels with 2 Qixes. Your multiplier maxes out at 9x.
* ScoringPoints: You score points for capturing areas on the play field, with double the points if you draw slow stix instead of fast stix for the entire capture. There is a high score table. However, beware the OverflowError that subtracts a million points each time if you exceed that amount if you are going for a high score.
* StalkedByTheBell: Don't spend too long trying to draw a stix or the Fuse will show up and kill you in short order.
* VideoGameLives: Other than the traditional CollisionDamage caused by the Sparx, the series has a unique take in which you can't let the Qix touch the stix you're currently drawing.
* WordPureeTitle: "Qix" is not a real word in English.
* XtremeKoolLetterz: The letter X shows up a lot.
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