Airheart
Encyclopedia
Airheart is a 1986
video game for the Apple II
. It was designed
and programmed
by Dan Gorlin
and published
by Brøderbund
. It requires an Apple IIe enhanced
(or later) game to run, as it uses double hi-res graphics.
, which he developed in about six months. This title, however, took about three years to develop. This is in large part because he also developed other games which he lost interest in and never completed and also because he did a lot of research and built a number of tools
to help in game development
.
Gorlin was unable to include all the features he planned. At one point, for example, he had tunnel and underwater levels working, but was unable to complete them due to time constraints. Tunnels and islands, in fact, were key elements of his original vision for the game, but had to be scrapped, being too ambitious for the time.
Gorlin and his team created the largest version of each sprite
by hand and then used proprietary tools to create the about twenty smaller versions of the sprite. Storing these sprites in RAM
, they were able to simulate scaling in realtime. Though the sprites used a lot of memory, it was the only method that satisfied Gorlin since he hated the low-polygon look of other contemporary games.
ic defenders. Spirit guardians instruct the player to collect certain items, such as a sword or a goblet. Gathering the items is a precursor to a final battle to free an infant boy prince.
for 16-bit computers which is closer to what he originally envisioned for this game.
1986 in video gaming
-Events:-Notable releases:*Namco releases Sky Kid Deluxe, Hopping Mappy, Toy Pop, The Return of Ishtar, which is the sequel to Tower of Druaga, Genpei Tōma Den, and Rolling Thunder....
video game for the Apple II
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
. It was designed
Game design
Game design, a subset of game development, is the process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in a game as...
and programmed
Game programming
Game programming, a subset of game development, is the programming of computer, console or arcade games. Though often engaged in by professional game programmers, many novices may program games as a hobby...
by Dan Gorlin
Dan Gorlin
Dan Gorlin is a computer game programmer, designer and founder of Dan Gorlin Productions. He is best known for his 1982 Apple II game Choplifter.-Career:...
and published
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
by Brøderbund
Brøderbund
Brøderbund Software, Inc. was an American maker of computer games, educational software and The Print Shop productivity tools. It was best known as the original creator and publisher of the popular Carmen Sandiego games. The company was founded in Eugene, Oregon, but moved to San Rafael,...
. It requires an Apple IIe enhanced
Apple IIe
The Apple IIe is the third model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The e in the name stands for enhanced, referring to the fact that several popular features were now built-in that were only available as upgrades and add-ons in earlier models...
(or later) game to run, as it uses double hi-res graphics.
Development
Gorlin had great success with his first title, ChoplifterChoplifter
Choplifter is a 1982 Apple II game developed by Dan Gorlin and published by Brøderbund. It was ported to other home computers and, in 1985, Sega released a coin-operated arcade game remake, which in turn received several home ports of its own...
, which he developed in about six months. This title, however, took about three years to develop. This is in large part because he also developed other games which he lost interest in and never completed and also because he did a lot of research and built a number of tools
Game development tool
A game development tool is a specialized software application that assists or facilitates the making of a computer or video game. Some tasks handled by tools include the conversion of assets into formats required by the game, level editing and script compilation.Almost all game development tools...
to help in game development
Game development
Game development is the software development process by which a video game is developed. Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business. Mainstream games are normally funded by a publisher and take several years to develop. Indie games can...
.
Gorlin was unable to include all the features he planned. At one point, for example, he had tunnel and underwater levels working, but was unable to complete them due to time constraints. Tunnels and islands, in fact, were key elements of his original vision for the game, but had to be scrapped, being too ambitious for the time.
Gorlin and his team created the largest version of each sprite
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
by hand and then used proprietary tools to create the about twenty smaller versions of the sprite. Storing these sprites in RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
, they were able to simulate scaling in realtime. Though the sprites used a lot of memory, it was the only method that satisfied Gorlin since he hated the low-polygon look of other contemporary games.
Gameplay
The name Airheart is the title the player aspires to earn. The user controls a jet-propelled flotation device. They must navigate their craft and fight robotRobot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
ic defenders. Spirit guardians instruct the player to collect certain items, such as a sword or a goblet. Gathering the items is a precursor to a final battle to free an infant boy prince.
Legacy
Airheart was a precursor to Gorlin's later game, Typhoon Thompson in Search for the Sea ChildTyphoon Thompson
Typhoon Thompson in Search for the Sea Child is a 1988 computer game created by Dan Gorlin. It was published by Brøderbund for the Atari ST and later for Amiga .-History:...
for 16-bit computers which is closer to what he originally envisioned for this game.