Syncron
Encyclopedia
Syncron is a shooter-type game for the BBC Micro
and Acorn Electron
, written by Gary Partis. It was first released in 1987 as the lead game on The Superior Collection compilations (vol 1 for the BBC Micro, vol 3 for the Electron). It was eventually given its own release as part of the Superior Software
/ Blue Ribbon
budget series in 1990.
The player must collect a number of orb
s by first blasting off their covers, then flying over them to pick them up before depositng them by landing on a runway
. They must also destroy alien spacecraft and targets on the scrolling landscape to obtain a set number of points before proceeding to the enemy headquarters and destroying that to move on to the next level.
The game vertically scrolls, with the player being able to change direction at any time, but not change speed. The landscape loops with the player being able to reach the bottom by travelling up far enough, and vice versa. The game is incredibly fast and smooth scrolling (particularly for the Acorn Electron
which lacks hardware scrolling ability), and the author once stated that he designed Syncron as an exercise in pure speed rather than playability (Micro User magazine, January 1989).
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
and Acorn Electron
Acorn Electron
The Acorn Electron is a budget version of the BBC Micro educational/home computer made by Acorn Computers Ltd. It has 32 kilobytes of RAM, and its ROM includes BBC BASIC along with its operating system....
, written by Gary Partis. It was first released in 1987 as the lead game on The Superior Collection compilations (vol 1 for the BBC Micro, vol 3 for the Electron). It was eventually given its own release as part of the Superior Software
Superior Software
Superior Software is a video game publisher. It was established in 1982 by Richard Hanson and John Dyson, two graduates of the University of Leeds, England...
/ Blue Ribbon
Blue Ribbon (software house)
Blue Ribbon was the budget computer software publishing label of CDS Micro Systems.The label launched in 1985 mostly made up of games from the MRM Software back catalogue. MRM had been a label producing games for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron. Blue Ribbon reissued these and also converted them...
budget series in 1990.
The player must collect a number of orb
Orb
The word "Orb", from the Latin orbis 'circle', is another name for a round object, especially a disk or a sphere.-Orb as a word:Orb may refer to:...
s by first blasting off their covers, then flying over them to pick them up before depositng them by landing on a runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. They must also destroy alien spacecraft and targets on the scrolling landscape to obtain a set number of points before proceeding to the enemy headquarters and destroying that to move on to the next level.
The game vertically scrolls, with the player being able to change direction at any time, but not change speed. The landscape loops with the player being able to reach the bottom by travelling up far enough, and vice versa. The game is incredibly fast and smooth scrolling (particularly for the Acorn Electron
Acorn Electron
The Acorn Electron is a budget version of the BBC Micro educational/home computer made by Acorn Computers Ltd. It has 32 kilobytes of RAM, and its ROM includes BBC BASIC along with its operating system....
which lacks hardware scrolling ability), and the author once stated that he designed Syncron as an exercise in pure speed rather than playability (Micro User magazine, January 1989).