Virus (video game)

:"This article describes the computer game; for other uses see virus (disambiguation)"

Infobox VG
title = Virus


caption = "Virus", Amiga version
developer = Frontier Developments
publisher = Firebird
designer = David Braben
engine =
released = 1988
genre = Action/Arcade
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, IBM PC Compatible, ZX Spectrum
media =
requirements =
input = Mouse and keyboard

"Virus" is a computer game designed by David Braben, developed by Frontier Developments, and Published by British Telecom (under the Firebird name). "Virus" is a port of the 1987 game "Zarch", the flagship game of the Acorn Archimedes computer. It was released in 1988 for Atari ST, Commodore Amiga (both versions coded by David Braben), and IBM PC (coded by Chris Sawyer). It was later ported to the ZX Spectrum by Steven Dunn - an impressive feat considering the inferior processing power and poor graphics of the Spectrum when compared to the Archimedes, Amiga, Atari ST and PC. More recently, a Windows remake called "Z-Virus" was created in Blitz BASIC. David Braben's game engine for "Virus" was also used to create a game called " Conqueror" - this involved driving a tank over a patchwork landscape. It was coded by Jonathan Griffiths and released on the Archimedes, Atari ST and Amiga. Later still, a game called "Zeewolf" was released for the Amiga that had a similar look and feel, with the player in control of an armed helicopter - this game did not use any of the original "Virus" code as it was a separate product.

Based on "Zarch", "Virus" was one of the first solid 3D games and was also the first to have 3D lighting effects and shadowing, although these are less sophisticated than those of "Zarch".

Ten years later in 1998, a sequel, "V2000" (also known as Virus 2000), was released on the PC and PlayStation.

External links

* [http://www.frontier.co.uk/ Frontier Developments] official site
*moby game|id=/virus_|name="Virus"
* [http://www.birdsanctuary.co.uk/virus/i.php Information and screenshots at The Bird Sanctuary]
* [http://www.frontier.co.uk/games/v2000/index.html V2000] at the Frontier Developments website
*WoS game|id=0005587|name=Virus