Datastorm
Encyclopedia
Datastorm is a Defender-like game for the Amiga
published in 1989. Written by Søren Grønbech, it was inspired by Dropzone
for the Commodore 64
. As such, the exact gameplay deviates from Defender in that the task on each level is to carry the 8 pods through a portal, with points on completing a level for each one you saved. The amount of points increases for each level - on levels 5,19, 13 and so on you get a new set of 8 and the scoring resets.
Like Grønbech's Sword of Sodan
, it made full use of the Amiga's hardware at a time when most games were direct ports from the Atari ST
- the number of sprites moving smoothly around the screen is noteworthy. Some, including the Datastorm itself, cover almost the entire length of the screen.
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
published in 1989. Written by Søren Grønbech, it was inspired by Dropzone
Dropzone
Dropzone is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Arena Graphics in 1984. It is a bi-directional, horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up in the style of Defender. It was designed and written by Archer MacLean, his first commercial video game. In fact, "Arena Graphics" is just a shell name for MacLean...
for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
. As such, the exact gameplay deviates from Defender in that the task on each level is to carry the 8 pods through a portal, with points on completing a level for each one you saved. The amount of points increases for each level - on levels 5,19, 13 and so on you get a new set of 8 and the scoring resets.
Like Grønbech's Sword of Sodan
Sword of Sodan
Sword of Sodan is a hack and slash video game released for the Amiga in 1988 by Discovery Software and Apple Macintosh System 7 in 1993 by Bethesda Softworks, with a scaled down port released for the Sega Genesis in 1990 by Electronic Arts.-Story:...
, it made full use of the Amiga's hardware at a time when most games were direct ports from the Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
- the number of sprites moving smoothly around the screen is noteworthy. Some, including the Datastorm itself, cover almost the entire length of the screen.
Trivia
- Pressing F10 during play displays a hidden message or Easter EggEaster egg (media)Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
from the author - Destroying all 8 pods unleashes four waves of tougher enemies, destruction of all four waves reverts the game back to normal, but allows collection of extra powerups, and increased points.