Epoch (video game)

Last updated
Epoch
Epoch Apple II.jpg
Developer(s) Larry Miller
Publisher(s) Sirius Software
Designer(s) Larry Miller [1]
Platform(s) Apple II
Release 1981
Genre(s) Space combat simulator

Epoch is a space combat simulator for the Apple II written by Larry Miller and published by Sirius Software in 1981. [1]

Contents

Gameplay

Epoch uses a first-person camera to aim at oncoming enemy spaceships. The player must steer the reticle in-line with the enemy ships in order to destroy them before they destroy the player's ship. The player does not have infinite ammo or fuel, but can steer the ship towards friendly spaceships and bases to refuel. [2]

Reception

Ron Boerger reviewed Epoch in The Space Gamer No. 48, commenting that "this is an excellent game. If you like arcade-type games, Epoch is a must; it's among the best out for the Apple." [3]

Barry Gittleman reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World , and stated that "If you are the type that likes simple games, like Space Invaders, pinball, etc., you will probably have a bit of trouble adjusting to Epoch, which at times can be a very high speed game. Most computer gamers, especially space and shoot-em-up lovers, will enjoy this game. It is planned out in detail, and well programmed." [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Star Raiders</i> 1980 video game

Star Raiders is a first-person space combat simulator for the Atari 8-bit family of computers. It was written by Doug Neubauer, an Atari employee, and released as a cartridge by Atari in March 1980. The game is considered the platform's killer app. It was later ported to the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, and Atari ST.

<i>Defender</i> (1981 video game) 1981 video game

Defender is a scrolling shooter video game developed by Williams Electronics in 1980 and released for arcades in 1981. A side-scrolling shooter, the game is set on either an unnamed planet or city where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts. Development was led by Eugene Jarvis, a pinball programmer at Williams; Defender was Jarvis' first video game project and drew inspiration from Space Invaders and Asteroids. Defender was demonstrated in late 1980, before entering production in early 1981. It was distributed in Japan by Taito.

<i>Tempest</i> (video game) Atari vector arcade game from 1981

Tempest is a 1981 arcade game by Atari Inc., designed and programmed by Dave Theurer. It takes place on a three-dimensional surface divided into lanes, sometimes as a closed tube, and viewed from one end. The player controls a claw-shaped "blaster" that sits on the edge of the surface, snapping from segment to segment as a rotary knob is turned.

<i>Phoenix</i> (video game) 1980 video game

Phoenix is a fixed shooter arcade video game released in December 1980 by Taito. It was then released in Europe, and then in the Americas by Centuri and Amstar Electronics in January 1981.

<i>Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness</i> 1981 video game

Ultima, later known as Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness or simply Ultima I, is the first game in the Ultima series of role-playing video games created by Richard Garriott, originally released for the Apple II. It was first published in the United States by California Pacific Computer Company, which registered a copyright for the game on September 2, 1980 and officially released it in June 1981. Since its release, the game has been completely re-coded and ported to many different platforms. The 1986 re-code of Ultima is the most commonly known and available version of the game.

<i>Apple Panic</i> 1981 video game

Apple Panic is a game for the Apple II programmed by Ben Serki and published by Broderbund Software in 1981. Apple Panic is an unauthorized version of the 1980 arcade game Space Panic, the first game with ladders and platforms. While the arcade original remained obscure, Apple Panic became a top seller for home computers. It was ported to the Atari 8-bit family, VIC-20, IBM PC, and TRS-80.

<i>Delta</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Delta is a horizontally scrolling shooter originally released for the Commodore 64 by Thalamus Ltd in 1987. It was programmed by Stavros Fasoulas and the music was written by Rob Hubbard. The menu-music is based on the theme of Koyaanisqatsi by Philip Glass and the in-game-music is based on Pink Floyd's On the Run.

<i>Strategic Conquest</i> Turn based strategy game based on Empire

Strategic Conquest is a turn-based strategy game based on the wargame Empire. It was written by Peter Merrill for the Apple Macintosh and released in 1984 by PBI Software, and later ported to the Apple II in 1986. Delta Tao Software took over distribution for later Classic Mac OS releases. It is sometimes shortened to Stratcon.

<i>Pax Imperia</i> 1992 video game

Pax Imperia is a 4X game for the Apple Macintosh, released in 1992. The game won praise for its complex gameplay, real-time mode and ability for up to 16 players to join a single game using AppleTalk.

<i>Omega Race</i> 1981 video game

Omega Race is a shoot 'em up arcade game designed by Ron Haliburton and released in 1981 by Midway. It is the only arcade game with vector graphics that Midway created.

<i>Astro Chase</i> 1982 video game

Astro Chase is a multidirectional shooter written by Fernando Herrera for the Atari 8-bit family. It was published by First Star Software in 1982 as the company's first game. Parker Brothers licensed it, releasing cartridge versions for the Atari 8-bit family and Atari 5200 console in 1983 and a Commodore 64 version in 1984. Exidy licensed it for arcade use with its Max-A-Flex cabinet.

<i>Penetrator</i> (video game) 1982 video game

Penetrator is a 1982 ZX Spectrum video game made by Melbourne House programmers Philip Mitchell and Veronika Megler. The game is a clone of Konami's 1981 Scramble arcade game. Penetrator was ported to the TRS-80 and Commodore 64.

<i>Protector</i> (1981 video game) 1981 video game

Protector is a 1981 scrolling shooter for the Atari 8-bit family programmed by Mike Potter and distributed first by Crystalware and then Synapse Software. A VIC-20 port was published by HesWare in 1983.

<i>Jabbertalky</i> 1981 video game by Automated Simulations

Jabbertalky is a 1981 video game for DOS, Apple II and TRS-80 published by Automated Simulations.

<i>Voyager I</i> (video game) 1981 video game

Voyager I: Sabotage of the Robot Ship is a computer game designed and programmed by William D. Volk, and published by the Microcomputer Games division of Avalon Hill. It was originally released for the Apple II in 1981, with later versions for the Atari 8-bit family, TRS-80 Color Computer, TRS-80, and Commodore PET.

<i>Star Maze</i> 1982 video game

Star Maze is a space-themed shooter taking place in a multidirectional scrolling maze published by Sir-Tech in 1982. It was written by Canadian programmer Gordon Eastman for the Apple II, based on a design by Robert Woodhead. Atari 8-bit family and Commodore 64 versions followed in 1983.

Target, or TARG, was an action video game written by Steve Dompier for the VDM-1 video card for S-100 bus microcomputers. It is among the earliest computer video games, released some time in 1976 or 1977.

<i>Star Blazer</i> (video game) 1982 video game

Star Blazer is a horizontally scrolling shooter programmed by Tony Suzuki for the Apple II and published by Broderbund Software in 1982. An Atari 8-bit family version was released in 1983 as Sky Blazer.

<i>Seafox</i> (video game) 1982 video game

Seafox is a shoot 'em up written by Ed Hobbs and published by Broderbund in 1982 for the Apple II and as a cartridge for the Atari 8-bit family. A VIC-20 port, also on cartridge, was released in 1983.

<i>Threshold</i> (video game) 1981 video game

Threshold is a space-themed fixed shooter written by Warren Schwader and Ken Williams for the Apple II and published by On-Line Systems in 1981. Inspired by Sega's Astro Blaster arcade video game, Threshold introduces many enemy ship types and wave formations as the game progresses.

References

  1. 1 2 Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. "Epoch for Apple II (1981)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  3. Boerger, Ron (February 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer . Steve Jackson Games (48): 36.
  4. Gittleman, Barry (September–October 1982). "Micro - Reviews". Computer Gaming World. Vol. 1, no. 6. pp. 41–42.