Terrorist (computer game)

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Terrorist

Developer(s)	Edu-Ware
Publisher(s)	Edu-Ware
Designer(s)	Steven Pederson
Latest version	1.3
Release date(s)	1980
Genre(s)	Strategy
Mode(s)	Two player
Platform(s)	Apple II
Media	5¼" disk
System requirements	Applesoft, 48K RAM
Input	Keyboard, Game paddles

Terrorist is a real-time, two player strategy game developed by Steven Pederson of Edu-Ware Services in 1980 for the Apple II. One player plays the government authority, while the other plays a terrorist organization in three scenarios: the capture of a building and taking of hostages, air piracy, and nuclear blackmail. Players make their moves at the same time through the use of game paddles. Winner and loser is judged by an elaborate scoring system based upon the government player's societal values and the terrorist player's goals.^[1]

1 Gameplay
2 Educational Benefits
3 Reception
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Gameplay

Terrorist is a two-player game that allows the players to make moves as the same time thorugh the use of the Apple II's game paddles.

The game begins with one player choosing to be the terroist and using a scenario generator to define the government in which the terrorist incident will take place. For example, among the societal values of individual rights, state rights, and economic progress, the United States, according to the game puts most of its emphasis on the former, while Japan puts most of its emphasis on the latter.

Next, the terrorist player selects one of three fictional terrorist organizations to play: the International Brotherhood for Liberation, the National Fundamentals Army, or the People's Low Republic. He also develops a list of demands that it will seek from the governement that it is terrorizing. For example, the National Fundamentalist Army (NFA) is concerned that a rapist/murder is not being efficiently brought to trial and punished.

Finally, the terrorist chooses which one of the three terrorist scenarios it will use to achieve its goals:

Seizing of the World Commerce Center
Airline Highjacking
Nuclear Blackmail

Once the political environment and terrorist goals have been set, the action begins in real time. Each player simultaneously and independently calls up diffent options through the use of the Apple II's game paddles.

Using the paddles to control the game introduces a degree of clumsiness that was intentional. According to designer Pederson, "You are no longer the operator of a computer, you are simulating the role of a decision maker. Your decision may or may not be executed, or may be executed too late. Just because the head of state or leader of a movement gets credit for whatever actions are taken does not mean that they are in full control of all events.".^[2]

[edit] Educational Benefits

John Martellaro, in his review for Peelings II magazine, noted the game's educational merits, writing, "Terrorist is both a chilling and educational use of a microcomputer... It seems a good place for this program is in a college history or political science class." ^[3]

[edit] Reception

Terrorist, like most games from Edu-Ware's zip-lock bag era, sold only a few hundred units. However, it was well reviewed, receiving an "A" rating from Peelings II magazine, noting the well-organzied text layout of the game screens. However, one criticism was that the game's scoring algorithm was opaque and programmer-oriented.