Invasion (computer game)
| invasion | |
|---|---|
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| Game plan of invasion | |
| Studio | Magnavox |
| Publisher | Magnavox |
| Senior Developer | Ralph Baer |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1972 |
| platform | Magnavox Odyssey |
| genre | Computer strategy game |
| Subject | Siege Battles |
| Game mode | Multiplayer |
| control | Rotary control |
| medium | Plug-in modules |
| language | English |
| information | first commercial computer strategy game |
Invasion ( English for Einmarsch ) is a hybrid computer board game for two to four players that was published in 1972 in the USA by Magnavox for the game console Magnavox Odyssey . It is considered to be the first commercially available computer strategy game .
Game description
In Invasion , two to four players try to conquer all twelve castles on a game board. The game's equipment includes the game board with twelve castles, 300 game pieces (armies), 4 game pieces (ships), 40 loot cards, two six-sided dice and two colored adhesive foils (for 2 different screen sizes). In addition, the game console and the associated plug-in modules no. 4, 5 and 6 are required.
At the beginning of the game, depending on the number of players, the players receive a predetermined number of armies, which are supplemented by held lands in the further course. In addition, players can loot gold through successful attacks, which they can use to buy additional armies, ships or favors from other players.
The game is turn-based in turn. In his turn, each player has the option of attacking a castle on a neighboring piece of land. Alternatively, a player can embark armies, transport them by sea and, when reaching a suitable landing site, start an attack against the castle located there. At the end of a turn, each player can move his units within a contiguous area.
Attacks are carried out either as direct attacks or as sneak attacks. In the case of direct attacks, the opposing armies fight against each other until one of the opponents no longer has enough units to continue fighting. During the sneak attack, the attacker tries to sneak past the guards in front of the castle and secretly bring troops into the castle. After a successful direct or sneak attack, a fight with the guards posted there occurs inside the castle. The fight is decided when either the attacker or the defender has no more troops in the land.
The tactical attacks are carried out on the game console. The strategic part of the game is played out on the game board with pieces, dice or playing cards.
The game mechanisms are partly reminiscent of the board game Risk , but are enhanced by the possibility of sea transport, the two different attack tactics and the two-stage battle for land. In addition, fights are not decided by chance, but by skill in a duel on the console.
Origin and technology
The game is the first attempt to implement a graphic strategy game using a computer. Baer and his team only had the minimalist technical possibilities of the Magnavox Odyssey at their disposal. The device has no RAM and can only play games similar to pong . Therefore, the entire bookkeeping of the score had to be outsourced to the game board. In contrast to other Odyssey games, the game uses different plug-in cards (No. 4, 5 and 6) depending on the game situation, which makes it the most complex of all games for this system. The visual design on the screen was upgraded by means of colored adhesive film on the television ( overlay ).
Reception and significance in the history of games
The game is one of the titles that did not come with the console, but had to be purchased additionally. There is no official information about the number of copies sold, however, when the console was launched in Germany, the local distributor ITT-Schaub-Lorenz and in all other countries except the USA did not even start selling the game due to low sales expectations.
Since there were no computer game magazines in 1972 , there is no contemporary review of the game. Since the game is also difficult to emulate because of the accessories, the response in the press and the Internet is limited to very few posts. In the few existing reviews, the game is rated as rather lengthy. The console-based attacks led to entertaining duels, but this would rather hinder the flow of the strategy game. The execution of the fights is better playable with dice instead of the game console.
Nevertheless, the game is widely regarded as a milestone, as it resulted in the first implementation of a graphic computer strategy game with the help of the imaginative accessories and thus founded this genre.
The concept of a hybrid computer board game was used more frequently until the late 1980s, after which it was only used very rarely. More recently, it has been gaining popularity again in the form of app-supported board games such as XCOM: The Board Game .
literature
- Christian Wirsig: The great lexicon of computer games . Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf Verlag , Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-89602-525-2 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Game consoles and home computers 1972–2009 , Winnie Forster, Gameplan-Verlag, Utting 2009, ISBN 3-00-024658-4
- ↑ Review of Invasion on Armchairarcade.com
- ↑ GameStar , issue 6/2016, page 98