Omega
| Developer: MicroMagic | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Origin | Sound: |
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| Year: 1989 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Simulation | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
7/10 | |
You’re an engineer, freshly recruited by the prestigious strategic intelligence agency, tasked with designing and building the next generation of fully automated battle tanks!
Start by proving yourself with a limited budget, making the most of modest weaponry and equipment through the programming of a high-performing artificial intelligence. Once you’ve defined your tank’s behaviour in detail, using your own algorithms, it’ll be time to test it under real-world conditions: your prototype will be thrown onto a battlefield (fully customizable as well) and pitted against enemy tanks. If the results meet your superiors’ expectations (when your creation stands alone amid the smoking wreckage of your opponents), you’ll be allocated a larger budget, allowing you to create more powerful models—ones that can even communicate with each other and fight in a coordinated manner…
This game feels like a robotics club simulation. You fully program your little tank, then an entire battalion, before pitting them against enemy AIs. A deep read of the manual is essential, given the complex language (and the not always clear interface). Some programming (and English) knowledge seems necessary, though it could be a good way to dip your toes into the joys of loops, variables, conditions, and other logical operators while having fun … provided you’re motivated … and not too bothered by the outdated presentation … or the loading times. And if you find a second motivated and brave geek, you’ll have the chance to literally pit your war programs against each other.
This original concept could really use a bit of a refresh. When can we expect a 3D-ified remake? Maybe a “physical” design like the one in Warzone 2100, and, of course, a multiplayer mode! Still dreaming…
I couldn’t create a save disk, but you can find one on Planet Emulation. I found the manual (in English) on Abandonia. To make things easier, I’ve bundled it all into a single file (below). I recommend disabling the joystick-to-arrow-key assignment on the keyboard.
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