Hover Force
Encyclopedia
Hover Force is a video game published by INTV Corporation for the Intellivision
video game system in 1986. The game was initially developed by Mattel Electronics
with the intent of it being played in 3-D
, but the company was shut down before it could be released; INTV, after acquiring the Intellivision assets from Mattel, re-tooled the game, which pits players against a terrorist group laying siege to a city, and released it itself.
. Terrorists are attacking the fictional city of New Seeburg, and the player must eliminate the terrorists and also minimize the amount of damage the terrorists are causing. The helicopter is armed with laser cannons and water cannons, both with a limited amount of ammunition. The water cannons are used to put out fires started by the terrorists' activities.
Players seek out enemy helicopters with a radar screen, then fly using a top-down perspective toward their targets. The terrorists attack with a number of different helicopters, each with different skills and patterns. Attacks on the player's helicopter may cause damage to certain systems, such as weapons or the engine. Depending on the system, the damage can either make operating the craft difficult or cause the helicopter to crash, ending the game.
The player's missions start and end at an island base near the city. This base will also repair, refuel and re-arm the helicopter during the missions, but only twice; a third attempt to land prior to completion of the mission counts as a crash. Upon completion of the game, the player is given a rank between 1 and 100 based on their efficiency at both eliminating enemy helicopters and keeping damage to a minimum, with a score of 100 considered "perfect."
developed a technology for viewing three-dimensional
images using glasses fitted with special prism
s, and attempted to solicit interest from various video game companies. Mattel Electronics began pursuing the technology, with Hover Force, then marketed as Hover Force 3-D, making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show
in Las Vegas
in January 1984. Mattel Electronics had developed a method for producing the glasses at low cost, and had even decided to develop two additional 3-D titles, but the company was shut down before the plans could come to fruition. INTV Corporation, which acquired Intellivision's assets from Mattel, re-tooled the game and dropped any mention of 3-D for its release in 1986.
and Nintendo GameCube
. In July 2010, Microsoft
re-released Hover Force on the Game Room
service for its Xbox 360
console and for Games for Windows Live.
Intellivision
The Intellivision is a video game console released by Mattel in 1979. Development of the console began in 1978, less than a year after the introduction of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The word intellivision is a portmanteau of "intelligent television"...
video game system in 1986. The game was initially developed by Mattel Electronics
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
with the intent of it being played in 3-D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
, but the company was shut down before it could be released; INTV, after acquiring the Intellivision assets from Mattel, re-tooled the game, which pits players against a terrorist group laying siege to a city, and released it itself.
Gameplay
In Hover Force, the player is a pilot of a combat helicopterHelicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
. Terrorists are attacking the fictional city of New Seeburg, and the player must eliminate the terrorists and also minimize the amount of damage the terrorists are causing. The helicopter is armed with laser cannons and water cannons, both with a limited amount of ammunition. The water cannons are used to put out fires started by the terrorists' activities.
Players seek out enemy helicopters with a radar screen, then fly using a top-down perspective toward their targets. The terrorists attack with a number of different helicopters, each with different skills and patterns. Attacks on the player's helicopter may cause damage to certain systems, such as weapons or the engine. Depending on the system, the damage can either make operating the craft difficult or cause the helicopter to crash, ending the game.
The player's missions start and end at an island base near the city. This base will also repair, refuel and re-arm the helicopter during the missions, but only twice; a third attempt to land prior to completion of the mission counts as a crash. Upon completion of the game, the player is given a rank between 1 and 100 based on their efficiency at both eliminating enemy helicopters and keeping damage to a minimum, with a score of 100 considered "perfect."
Development
In the early 1980s, researchers at the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
developed a technology for viewing three-dimensional
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
images using glasses fitted with special prism
Prism (optics)
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use...
s, and attempted to solicit interest from various video game companies. Mattel Electronics began pursuing the technology, with Hover Force, then marketed as Hover Force 3-D, making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in January 1984. Mattel Electronics had developed a method for producing the glasses at low cost, and had even decided to develop two additional 3-D titles, but the company was shut down before the plans could come to fruition. INTV Corporation, which acquired Intellivision's assets from Mattel, re-tooled the game and dropped any mention of 3-D for its release in 1986.
Ports
Hover Force was re-released as part of the Intellivision Lives! collection for computers and other video game consoles, like the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
. In July 2010, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
re-released Hover Force on the Game Room
Game Room
Game Room is a gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system, Microsoft Windows PCs, and Windows Phone 7. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room lets players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores...
service for its Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
console and for Games for Windows Live.
External links
- Hover Force at IntellivisionLives
- Hover Force at GameFAQs