Carrier Command

Carrier Command
Studio	Realtime games software
Publisher	Rainbird software
Erstveröffent- lichung	1988
platform	Amiga , Atari ST , MS-DOS , Amstrad CPC , ZX Spectrum , Commodore 64 , Apple Macintosh
genre	Real-time strategy , simulation
Subject	Amphibious combat command
Game mode	Single player
control	Mouse , keyboard
medium	Floppy disk , datasette
language	German , English , French

Carrier Command: Gaea Mission
Studio	Bohemia Interactive
Publisher	Bohemia Interactive
Erstveröffent- lichung	27 Sep 2012
platform	Windows , Xbox 360
Game engine	Enforce
genre	Real-time strategy , simulation
Game mode	Single player
control	Mouse , keyboard
medium	DVD , download
language	English with German subtitles
Age rating	USK PEGI

Carrier Command is a computer game that was developed by Realtime Games Software and was released in 1988 for the Amiga , PC , C64 and Atari ST . In 2012, a new edition of was Windows from Bohemia Interactive under the name Carrier Command: Gaea Mission launched.

In this game, the player takes control of a modern (fictitious) aircraft carrier . The aim of the game is to take out the enemy aircraft carrier. The player has various options for this: He can use aircraft, amphibious vehicles , rockets and lasers as weapons. In order to have enough resources available, the player must first colonize various islands in order to build up a sufficient supply network.

In addition to the game principle, the complex and fluid 3D vector graphics set new standards for the time . The Atari and PC versions as well as the new edition for Windows contain additional functions such as: B. a time lapse mode and additional animations. Due to the limited possibilities of the system, the C64 version is the only one that uses a 2D representation of the game.

story

Due to volcanic activity, several islands have been created in a marine area. Due to their volcanic origin, they are very rich in raw materials and have therefore been released for settlement and mining. An automated aircraft carrier was supposed to do this, but terrorists managed to reprogram the carrier. Although he continues to pursue the goal of colonizing the islands, he is no longer subject to government control.

The player is now used as the commander of the previous model, which is not yet automated and has a much lower speed, but has a main cannon. Now he should take out the new, now hostile, carrier.

Island settlement

For the settlement of an island, the player must by an amphibious vehicle, Walrus called a ACCB store (Automatic Command Center Builder) on the island. This ACCB then independently sets up a command center. The type of command center decides which function the island will take on in the network by controlling which other buildings will be automatically erected on the island.

Type	function
Defense	Defense system that can defend itself against attackers with rocket launchers and aircraft.
resource	Funds resources that the player needs for the operation of his aircraft carrier and the production facilities.
Industry	Manufacturing facilities that produce weapons, aircraft and amphibious vehicles.

The player can freely decide which type to place. All islands are basically suitable for all types, but they differ in size and shape and thus also in the efficiency of island management.

Exactly one island - provided it is seamlessly connected to the base island by the network - can be defined as a stockpile . Only here can the aircraft carrier be supplied by a cargo drone. The definition is left to the player and can be changed at any time, but the transfer of goods from the previous Stockpile Island to the new one takes a certain amount of time. If the Stockpile Island is cut off from the base island, no new supplies can be produced in the entire network. The player then has the choice of either defining a new Stockpile Island and thereby losing all goods stored on the previous one, or trying to reconnect.

Island conquest

If an island is already settled by the opponent, the player can decide how he would like to take the island. There are two ways of doing this.

Virus bomb

The walrus can carry a virus bomb as a payload. This contains a computer virus that must be injected into the command center on the island. To do this, the virus bomb is fired into the open side of the command center. However, due to the defenses of the islands, this approach can prove difficult and requires preparatory attacks. The advantage is that you can take over the island and all its facilities undamaged and without delay. However, one cannot choose the type of island and generally has to destroy so many facilities in preparation that nothing remains of the advantage.

destruction

If the command center of an island is destroyed, it becomes free again and can be repopulated. All existing buildings are slowly beginning to deteriorate. However, if you quickly put down a new ACCB, they will be repaired after its completion. If the new ACCB (Automatic Command Center Builder) is of a different type than the previous Command Center, buildings that are no longer needed are finally demolished and their raw materials are used for the faster construction of new buildings, so that the island rebuilds itself according to the player's wishes .

Carrier Command: Gaea Mission reissued

The development studio Bohemia Interactive , developer of the military simulation series ArmA , released a new edition of the game in 2012 under the name Carrier Command: Gaea Mission . This version uses contemporary graphics and sound, but largely adheres to the gameplay of the original. In addition to the original, the new edition contains a campaign mode , which also serves as a tutorial , and a few small missions that are played from the first person shooter perspective.

reception

The original game was consistently rated good to very good in the Amiga and Atari ST versions. Above all, the fluid 3D display and the well-coordinated strategic game depth with a versatility of weapon systems that could be combined with one another in action simulations were praised. The lengthy flow of the game and the poor AI control of one's own units were seen as negative . The C64 version received significantly worse ratings because of the lack of a 3D representation.

The new edition received only moderate reviews , mainly due to deficiencies in automatic path finding and a campaign that was perceived as uninspired. Metacritic found a score of 60% for the game. The strategy game, which is independent of the campaign, was sometimes seen by fans of the original as a successful new edition, as it has a higher game depth compared to the old game in addition to the much better graphics and some improvements in the game balance have been made.

supporting documents

1. ↑ Carrier Command - Videos: Shooter and strategy mission with the developer alluded to GameStar .de
2. ↑ Carrier Command test in Happy Computer , June 1988
3. ↑ Test by Carrier Command in Games Machine, October 1988
4. ↑ Test of the C64 version of Carrier Command in Zzap62, Jun 1990
5. ↑ Test by Carrier Command: Gaea Mission in Gamestar, 10/2012
6. ↑ Review of Carrier Command: Gaea Mission at Metacritic
7. ↑ User reviews of the Steam community