ECS no. 1
ECS no. 2

Simulcra

General info

Not Amiga Original

Relationships

WHDLoad

2006-09-18

Stats

5,513

ECS / OCS

Version info

No
Max 1, Sim 1

Features

Hard Disk Installer

No

Compilations

Releases

Year
Name
Licence
Type
Country
Publisher
Languages
Manual Languages
Disks
Rarity
1990
Simulcra
Commercial
Full Price
Worldwide
English
1
Rare

Notes

[1] Main coding by Dominic Robinson and Steve Turner; Alien Manoeuvre Program (AMP) by Andrew Braybrook; technical routines by Darren Eteo; and Amiga conversion performed with the help of the Object Orientated Programming System (OOPS) kernel written for ST/Amiga by Dominic Robinson. Graphics by John Cumming. Music by Jason Page and sound FX by Steve Turner.


TRIVIA:

[1] Coder Dominic Robinson commented during development on how he coined the game name SIMULCRA -

"It comes from 'Simulacra', meaning a superficial likeness to something," he explains. "Only I mispelled it..."
[Source: The One preview(Issue 15, Dec 89, pp37-38), courtesy of the Amiga Magazine Rack].

[2] SIMULCRA marked Dominic Robinson's first game for 16-bit platforms, but also represented the crossroads at which he felt that he had to leave developer Graftgold to pursue his passion for pure 3D games programming with Vektor Grafix. While the 3D world and system routines were originally conceived and created by Dominic Robinson, it was left to Graftgold boss Steve Turner to apply the finishing touches following Dominic's departure to Vektor Grafix.

Most of the formative 3D work for SIMULCRA was carried out on the CAD package Cyber Sculpt 3D in hires monochrome on the Atari ST. During development Dominic Robinson elaborated in some detail on how he created his 3D world for the game -

"I don't draw any sketches on paper - it's easier to visualise on screen." He produces a 3D model, then using the plan and side views he takes the co-ordinates to allow him to reproduce the objects in the 3D system. "I'm using a special macro system where the objects are defined point by point. I have to specify how they are connected, but the program can then take this definition and produce it as a solid filled object, with or without a shadow, or as a line-drawing. The semi-transparent stuff is done with stippling (ie: every other pixel is missing)."

"Any major inspirations? Mainly films which use computer graphics. For example, the Recognisers from Tron make a cameo appearance."

[Sources: The One preview(Issue 15, Dec 89, pp37-38) and The One review(Issue 24, Sept 90, pp48-49); courtesy of the Amiga Magazine Rack].

Conversion Notes

Based on 1990 Graftgold/MicroProse Atari ST release.

Screen info

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Box: ECS / OCS
Box scan ECS no. 1

Box scan ECS no. 2

Disk: ECS / OCS
Disk scan ECS no. 1

Misc: ECS / OCS
ECS no. 1

UK Advert (CU Amiga 12/1990, Page 72)

ECS no. 2

German Advert (ASM 12/1990, Page 66)

Manual info

ECS / OCS

No manuals found.

ECS / OCS

THE MOTHERSHIP: It follows you around generating meanies and can

take many hits. Ram rather than shoot.

HOMING WEAPONS: Retreat as fast as possible then shot them. Most

homing weapons have a limited range and can be out

run.

BLITZKRIEG: The best attack is a fast one. Attack a generator

by flying along power barriers at full speed.

Learn to recognise the edge barriers. Barriers you

can shut down never merge with the edge, and nearly

always lead to a generator.

Conversion info

Atari ST/E
No conversion screens found.

Map info

ECS / OCS

No maps found.

MAGAZINE REVIEWS

Magazine
Issue
Rating
Reviewer
Release type
Review
Scans
Amiga Action
14 (Nov 1990)
78%
Steve Merrett
Doug Johns
Alex Simmons
2
Amiga Computing
Vol 3 No 6 (Nov 1990)
79%
Duncan Evans
1
Amiga Format
15 (Oct 1990)
80%
Trenton Webb
1
Amiga Joker
Jan 1991
80%
Max Magenauer
1
Computer + Video Games
107 (Oct 1990)
93%
0
CU Amiga
Oct 1990
90%
Tony Dillon
2
CU Amiga
Apr 1991
Roundup
1
Datormagazin
No 1 (Jan 1991)
7/10
Erik Ehrling
1
Génération 4
26 (Oct 1990)
82%
0
Joystick
9 (Oct 1990)
87%
Artemus
0
Svenska Hemdatornytt
No 10 (Dec 1990)
84.5%
Derek dela Fuente
0
Zero
14 (Dec 1990)
85%
David Wilson
0
Zzap
66 (Oct 1990)
88%
Stuart Wynne
Warren Lapworth
0

MAGAZINE PREVIEWS

Magazine
Issue
Rating
Reviewer
Release type
Review
Scans
Amiga Joker
Nov 1990
T. Kansas
Carsten Borgmeier
Oskar Dzierzynski
Preview
1
Génération 4
18 (Jan 1990)
Preview
0
Génération 4
25 (Sep 1990)
Preview
0
The One
15 (Dec 1989)
Brian Nesbitt
Preview (in-depth)
2

ECS / OCS

Lore Score: 82%

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