Sea Dragon (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Sea Dragon is a side-scrolling game on the TRS-80
computer, released in 1982 by Adventure International
. It was port
ed to the Apple II
, Atari 400/800, and the TRS-80 Color Computer
.
and bad guys, and occasionally surfacing for air. The goal is to destroy an underwater reactor reached after navigating through several game levels. The game concept and gameplay are largely a knockoff of the Scramble
arcade game
.
Sea Dragon was mildly notable on the Apple II because the title page plays the sound of a digitized voice saying "Sea Dragon!" When the user starts the game he or she is told, "Attention Captain. Your ship's computer is now ready. Please wait while I initialize the systems", and during the game will be informed, "Air level critical!" and "Approaching maximum damage!" This speech was a novelty, as the Apple II speaker is usually only able to emit a click. Programmers clicked the speaker rapidly to produce any sound — the typical Apple II game made beep and boop sounds and plenty of clicking sounds. Programming Sea Dragon to play back an audio sample, using only a clicking speaker, was an interesting technical achievement, shared with several other 1982 Apple II games: Dung Beetles
, Creepy Corridors, and Plasmania. The Color Computer version is the only other version that features speech; it says "Welcome aboard, Captain!" on the title screen.
The original version was developed by Wayne Westmoreland and Terry Gilman on the TRS-80.
TRS-80
TRS-80 was Tandy Corporation's desktop microcomputer model line, sold through Tandy's Radio Shack stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first units, ordered unseen, were delivered in November 1977, and rolled out to the stores the third week of December. The line won popularity with...
computer, released in 1982 by Adventure International
Adventure International
Adventure International was a computer game publishing company that existed from 1978 until 1985, started by Scott and Alexis Adams. Their games were notable for being the first implementation of the adventure genre to run on a microcomputer system...
. It was port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
ed to the Apple II
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
, Atari 400/800, and the TRS-80 Color Computer
TRS-80 Color Computer
The Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer was a home computer launched in 1980. It was one of the earliest of the first generation of computers marketed for home use in English-speaking markets...
.
Summary
The player controls a submarine that can shoot torpedoes both forwards and upwards. The gameplay involves dodging moving underwater minesNaval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
and bad guys, and occasionally surfacing for air. The goal is to destroy an underwater reactor reached after navigating through several game levels. The game concept and gameplay are largely a knockoff of the Scramble
Scramble (arcade game)
Scramble is a 1981 horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up, arcade game. It was developed by Konami, and manufactured and distributed by Stern in North America. It was the first side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling and multiple distinct levels...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
.
Sea Dragon was mildly notable on the Apple II because the title page plays the sound of a digitized voice saying "Sea Dragon!" When the user starts the game he or she is told, "Attention Captain. Your ship's computer is now ready. Please wait while I initialize the systems", and during the game will be informed, "Air level critical!" and "Approaching maximum damage!" This speech was a novelty, as the Apple II speaker is usually only able to emit a click. Programmers clicked the speaker rapidly to produce any sound — the typical Apple II game made beep and boop sounds and plenty of clicking sounds. Programming Sea Dragon to play back an audio sample, using only a clicking speaker, was an interesting technical achievement, shared with several other 1982 Apple II games: Dung Beetles
Dung Beetles (computer game)
Dung Beetles is an Apple II computer game by Bob Bishop, released in 1982 by Datasoft.-Summary:This video game was ported to the TRS-80 Color Computer, where it was distributed by Tandy. On the Color Computer, it was renamed Mega-Bug; however, some copies were sold as Dung Beetles...
, Creepy Corridors, and Plasmania. The Color Computer version is the only other version that features speech; it says "Welcome aboard, Captain!" on the title screen.
The original version was developed by Wayne Westmoreland and Terry Gilman on the TRS-80.
Ports and Remakes
- The Tandy Color Computer port was done by Jim Hurd of Coniah Software
- The Atari 8-bit version was done by Russ Wetmore.
- The PC DOS port was done by Hervé Thouzard
- The IBM-PC color-graphics version was done by Dan Rollins
- The Apple II version was done by John Anderson
- The Commodore 64 version was done by David H. Simmons
- The ZX Spectrum version by Andrey Zhiglov, 2010 http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=31344
External links
- Review of Sea Dragon at TRS-80.org
- Sea Dragon Coco version of Sea Dragon reviewed.
- Reminiscing: Sea Dragon Screenshots from the Atari 8-bit version