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Spectre (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Spectre was a computer game for the Apple
Macintosh, developed in 1990 by Peninsula Gameworks and published in 1991 by Velocity Development. It was a 3D
tank battle reminiscent of the arcade game Battlezone. Later games in the series were released for the PC
and Nintendo
Super NES
, with Spectre VR being named to a number of lists of best video games .
s) and the shots of computer-generated enemy tanks.
In single player mode, you can choose four kinds of tanks, which one having different stats for shields (it's like armor), speed and ammo: Balance, Speedy, Strong and Custom (you can freely distribute 15 stat points for this one). Each stage passed increases game's difficulty (quantity and speed of enemy tanks). Furthermore, from level 6 appear yellow tanks (which are faster and more resistant than normal enemy red tanks) and every 10 levels the shields of all enemy tanks are increased by 1. Also, you can throw grenades after level 9 passed, with a cost of 10 ammo, which damages all enemy tanks in his explosive range.
The game supported multiplayer operation over an AppleTalk
network. Each player used a single Mac, but the other players were depicted as enemy tanks.
The original Spectre is often confused with the 1994 Spectre VR, an enhanced network-oriented version of the game. It and Spectre Supreme were also available for PC
-compatible computers, but only Spectre was available for the Nintendo
Super NES
video game console
.
The original Spectre was also released as Spectre Classic in the late 1990s.
On May 21, 2010, Brilliant Bytes Software released Spectre 3D for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. This version includes levels from Spectre Classic and Spectre VR, four multiplayer games including Arena, Capture the Flag, Flag Rally and Base Raid, adds 3D visuals, and Bluetooth, Internet and WiFi multiplayer support for up to 16 players. Dedicated hosted servers are also available for online play.
#184 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
Macintosh, developed in 1990 by Peninsula Gameworks and published in 1991 by Velocity Development. It was a 3D
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...
tank battle reminiscent of the arcade game Battlezone. Later games in the series were released for the PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
and Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, with Spectre VR being named to a number of lists of best video games .
Gameplay
The goal of the game was to drive the tank around the playfield, collecting ten flags by driving over them, while avoiding obstacles (including rotating windmillWindmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
s) and the shots of computer-generated enemy tanks.
In single player mode, you can choose four kinds of tanks, which one having different stats for shields (it's like armor), speed and ammo: Balance, Speedy, Strong and Custom (you can freely distribute 15 stat points for this one). Each stage passed increases game's difficulty (quantity and speed of enemy tanks). Furthermore, from level 6 appear yellow tanks (which are faster and more resistant than normal enemy red tanks) and every 10 levels the shields of all enemy tanks are increased by 1. Also, you can throw grenades after level 9 passed, with a cost of 10 ammo, which damages all enemy tanks in his explosive range.
The game supported multiplayer operation over an AppleTalk
AppleTalk
AppleTalk is a proprietary suite of protocols developed by Apple Inc. for networking computers. It was included in the original Macintosh released in 1984, but is now unsupported as of the release of Mac OS X v10.6 in 2009 in favor of TCP/IP networking...
network. Each player used a single Mac, but the other players were depicted as enemy tanks.
Sequels
A sequel, Spectre Supreme, was released in late 1993.The original Spectre is often confused with the 1994 Spectre VR, an enhanced network-oriented version of the game. It and Spectre Supreme were also available for PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
-compatible computers, but only Spectre was available for the Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
.
The original Spectre was also released as Spectre Classic in the late 1990s.
On May 21, 2010, Brilliant Bytes Software released Spectre 3D for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. This version includes levels from Spectre Classic and Spectre VR, four multiplayer games including Arena, Capture the Flag, Flag Rally and Base Raid, adds 3D visuals, and Bluetooth, Internet and WiFi multiplayer support for up to 16 players. Dedicated hosted servers are also available for online play.
Reception
The game was reviewed in 1992 in DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#184 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.
External links
- 1993 advertising text describing Spectre
- Review of Spectre VR
- Spectre for Super NES at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- iPhone version from 2010