|  | Rachy's new project is ripe for public introduction: Preic is a tool that makes cross-developing Commodore BASIC programs a lot easier. For the details have a look at the link! | [ comments ] |
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|  Nukewar Plus/4: "A Strange Game..." | | Posted by Luca on 2024-12-09 |
 NukeWar – this was its first title, with capital W – is a real classic among the strategy games, developed by Gary Bedrosian in 1978 on a North Star computer, and then ported on several other machines; nominated in 1980 as "Best Computer Game" at CSR Award.
Probably, that's the reason why somebody did take it into the Plus/4 scene. Unfortunately, Nukewar looks quite weird about its interface, and once played, it proves to be buggy. And you know why? Well, Nukewar actually is the untouched C64 version, spread among the users simply because it apparently ran with no immediate error to show... Until the SID registers and the hardware sprites begin to touch their memory locations!
So that's the deal: would you like to see it running on a Plus/4? Good, you need to convert it. Nukewar Plus/4 is the porting of the C64 version, originally coded by Winchell Chung and released by the Microcomputer Games division of Avalon Hill, publisher of well known wargames, board and role-play games, miniatures and so on. It still represents an old little game written in BASIC, which plays like a cross between a strategic game and the classic "battleships". Luca/FIRE did only add sparse LM codes here and there, in order to have TED/SID optional audio by autodetect, and move few software sprites where needed.
A single session on Nukewar Plus/4 only takes 5-10 minutes to be played from beginning to the end, and it uses very few commands, but the sensation is that the simple but precise algorithms which run the game, hide more than the player actually manages to fully realise. Build up your arsenal and spy what your opponent is doing on his country, during the Cold War phase. Balance the use of your warfare resources, and decide defensive and offensive tactics, during the real conflict phase. Declare war at the most strategic moment, and negotiate peace in the most favorable position.
Every game session is different, every ending is equally regrettable. "A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?". Give it a try: you can play it in its original BASIC, or run a faster compiled version. |
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