Dogfight (1980 computer game)

Infobox VG |title = Dogfight


developer = Bill Basham
publisher = Microlab, Inc.
released = 1980
genre = Shoot 'em up
modes = Single Player, Multiplayer (2-8 players)
ratings = N/A
platforms = Apple II

"Dogfight" is an aerial combat video game released for the Apple II computer in 1980. A later version, "Dogfight II", is copyrighted 1983. It is essentially a shoot 'em up style game, with the player controlling an aircraft which they can steer in one axis (left or right) and shoot. Similar to "Asteroids", the screen wraps around at the edges, such that a player heading off the right edge of the screen will re-enter from the left.

Players can play solo against the computer, or, in a system very unusual in video games, up to 8 humans can play against each other. Since all control is via the single built-in keyboard of the Apple II, this involves the players crowding up against each other to reach their 3 keys. Each plane is identified by a number drawn next to it.

When a plane is shot, it becomes a parachuting figure, which transits the screen from top to bottom a few times and also may be shot.

The game was written by Bill Basham in Rockford, Illinois. He obtained an Apple II and began to program in machine language, and wanted to explore the animation capabilities. He ended up being able to smoothly animate up to 56 items on the screen at the same time. Part of the performance was obtained by using a lookup table.

Although voted into the Top 20 games in Softalk Magazine's April 1981 poll, the game was only moderately successful financially. A later version was given away with a later Basham program, "Diversi-DOS", which was an enhancement utility for Apple DOS 3.3

References

* [http://gue.vintagegaming.org/galleries/index.php?pub=0&item=43&id=2&key=0&GUE=87ca9133ad687318765801e1089c2154 Writeup at gue.vintagegaming.org, including quotes from author]
* [http://apple2history.org/history/appy/aha78.html Softalk Magazine poll results]