Wargame Construction Set

Wargame Construction Set
Developer(s) Roger Damon
Publisher(s) Strategic Simulations
Platform(s) Amiga, Atari 8-bit family, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS
Release date(s) 1986
Genre(s) Wargame
Mode(s) Single-player, two-player

Wargame Construction Set is a video game builder series published in 1986 by Strategic Simulations. It is also the name of the first application in the series. Developed by Roger Damon, it allows the user to construct, edit and play customizable wargame scenarios. It was released for the Amiga, Atari 8-bit family, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS.

Overview

The application is based on Roger Damon's source code for Operation Whirlwind, Field of Fire, and Panzer Grenadier.[1] It lets users design and play wargames from simple to complex. Users start by drawing maps and placing geographical features and buildings in any arrangement and scale desired. There are several levels of combat: from man-to-man engagements to large scale strategic campaigns. Each unit can be given different attributes such as unit type, weapon type and firepower, movement and strength points.

Users are able to create scenarios from many periods of military history, ranging from spears and catapults to missiles and tanks. Users can create various genres of wargames including sword-and-sorcery fantasies or science-fiction battles.

The game comes with eight pre-made ready-to-play scenarios which can be modified or played as-is.

Reception

Computer Gaming World rated Wargame Construction Set in 1987 and twice in 1993 with 2.5, 2.5, and two points out of five, respectively. It stated that "the game's potential ... is limited by the failings of the system's mechanics", and only suitable for novices.[1][2][3] Orson Scott Card viewed it more favorably, describing it in Compute! as "a simple, elegant, infinitely variable game".[4]

Sequels

Wargame Construction Set II: Tanks! was released in 1994. This entry in the series focuses on armored combat. Wargame Construction Set III: Age of Rifles 1846-1905 was released in 1996.

References

  1. 1 2 Brooks, M. Evan (May 1987). "Kilobyte Was Here!". Computer Gaming World. p. 6.
  2. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (June 1993). "An Annotated Listing of Pre-20th Century Wargames". Computer Gaming World. p. 136. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (October 1993). "Brooks' Book Of Wargames: 1900-1950, R-Z". Computer Gaming World. pp. 144–148. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Card, Orson Scott (January 1989). "Gameplay". Compute!. p. 12. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
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