Gunship (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Gunship


developer = Microprose
publisher = Microprose
designer = Arnold Hendrick
engine =
released = 1986
genre = Vehicle Simulation
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: n/a
platforms = Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, DOS, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum
media =
requirements =
input =

"Gunship" is an AH-64 Apache helicopter simulation that was released by Microprose in 1986. Its platforms include DOS, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, MSX and ZX Spectrum. A direct sequel, "Gunship 2000", was released in 1991.

Regions

The game features missions in seven regions, including:
* Training in the USA
* Southeast Asia - 1st Air Cavalry Division
* Central America - 82nd Airborne Division
* Middle East - 101st Airborne Division
* Western Europe - 3rd Armored Division

Gameplay

Missions

After selection of region, style, and enemies, the pilot is assigned a primary mission and a secondary mission. These could include such objectives as "Destroy enemy headquarters" or "Support friendly troops" (i.e. destroy targets near friendly forces). The latter would be an easier mission, because the battle would be fought closer to friendly lines.

Weaponry

The pilot then arms the chopper, usually selecting:
* AGM-114 Hellfires Air-to-Ground Missile (guided missiles that destroy "hard" targets such as bunkers and tanks)
* FFARs Folding Fin Aerial Rocket (unguided rockets that destroy "soft" targets such as infantry and installations)
* HEDP (High-Explosive, Dual-Purpose) rounds for the 30 mm cannon (an all-purpose weapon with a maximum range of 1.5km)

In Central America, the Middle East, and Western Europe, AIM-9 Sidewinders would also be standard equipment, usually as a backup air-to-air weapon in case of cannon failure.

Flight

Patient players might move in short jumps, crouching behind hills to block the enemy's line of sight and suddenly popping up to attack. More aggressive players generally fly fast and erratically to evade enemy fire, flying in low to deliver devastating cannon attacks at close range. Since flight time is a component of the mission evaluation, either method has its advantages. The latter, however, can be rather dangerous against 1st Line enemies whose fast reaction times can cause the chopper to be pummelled with relentless fire.

Most enemy fire, especially from light cannons, is deflected by armor. Some enemy fire will cause systems damage. After enough damaging hits, the structural integrity will fail, causing a general power failure. This manifests itself in a dual-engine flameout, warranting an emergency landing. An emergency landing by a seriously injured pilot in enemy territory causes him to become Missing in Action. If the pilot lands without serious injury, he can escape back to base and live to fight another day.

There is no defined time limit in the game. A player can return to any number of Forward Area Resupply Points where he'll be rearmed, refueled and damage repaired. Returning to the Home Base will end the mission. Ideally, the pilot completes both missions, knocks out other targets, and makes it back to base within 20 minutes.

Winning the game

There is no ending to "Gunship". Promotions stop once a pilot makes Colonel, although he can continue amassing medals. (This is in contrast to games like Chopper Commando, in which the pilot can reach the rank of General and retire.)

To earn all medals, the player can follow these steps:
* Accomplish missions during Training in the USA to earn the National Defense Service Medal.
* In Southeast Asia, accomplish missions to earn the Southeast Asia Campaign Ribbon.
* In Central America, accomplish missions to earn the Central America Campaign Ribbon.
* In the Middle East, accomplish missions to earn the Middle East Campaign Ribbon.
* In Western Europe, accomplish missions to earn the Western Europe Campaign Ribbon.The first time around, the pilot will earn the Distinguished Service Cross. The second time around, the pilot will earn the Congressional Medal of Honor. [http://www.flightsimbooks.com/gunship/10_4_Winning_Medals.php] All other medals will likely be earned enroute to this goal.Medals are awarded on a points per mission basis but lower awards are required to be won first. It is possible to play four missions on maximum difficulty level (Volunteer Hazardous Duty, 1st Line Troops, Realistic Flying, Western Europe) and earn the Bronze Star for Valor, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross and Medal of Honor in that order with promotions on each mission, also receiving the Western Europe campaign ribbon.

Copy protection

On some platforms "Gunship" originally used a copy protection scheme that allowed a limited number of hard disk installs from a key disk. If needed, "Gunship" could later be un-installed from the hard disk, crediting the install back to the key disk. This system had the drawback of not working if the user ran defragmentation software without uninstalling "Gunship" first. Later versions used a key disk system that allowed unlimited backup copies, but required the key disk to be inserted briefly before the game would run. This had the drawback that, if the key disk were lost or damaged, the user would have to pay for a new copy.

Other copy protection measures include a Vehicle Identification screen at startup that requires the user to match the image on the screen to the appropriate vehicle (e.g. BTR, BMP, ZSU, etc) from the manual.

In addition, upon approaching a friendly base after completion of missions, the base radios a password, and the pilot is expected to respond with the corresponding countersign from the manual. Theoretically, if he enters a blank or incorrect countersign twice, he will be shot down; however, by that time, the pilot is usually so close to base that he can land before friendly air defenses have a chance to respond.

Cracked copies of "Gunship" have been circulating since the 1990s. However, the game aborts as soon as the pilot reaches the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. One of the most famous events in the history of warez and cracking was the case when a member of Eaglesoft pirate group broke into the house of Gunship's programmer in one night and stole his floppies. The version of the game that Eaglesoft got this way and put into circulation was far from ready though.

equels

References

* [http://www.devili.iki.fi/pub/Commodore/docs/Project64/games/gunshi10.txt Gunship manual]
* [http://www.flightsimbooks.com/gunship/ Gunship Academy - full text of Richard Sheffield's 1988 book about the Gunship flight combat sim]

External links

*moby game|id=/gunship|name="Gunship"
*WoS game|id=0002183|name=Gunship
* [http://hol.abime.net/2810 "Gunship"] on the Amiga at [http://hol.abime.net/ The Hall of Light (HOL)]