Gunship
Alternative title: Gunship - The Helicopter Simulation
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Release Date:	1/1/1986
Manufacturer:	Microprose
 
Gunship is an AH-64 Apache helicopter simulation that was released by Microprose in 1986. Its platforms include DOS, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, MSX and ZX Spectrum. A direct sequel, Gunship 2000, was released in 1991.
After selection of region, style, and enemies, the pilot is assigned a primary mission and a secondary mission. These could include such objectives as "Destroy enemy headquarters" or "Support friendly troops" (i.e. destroy targets near friendly forces). The latter would be an easier mission, because the battle would be fought closer to friendly lines.

The pilot then arms the chopper, usually selecting:

AGM-114 Hellfires Air-to-Ground Missile (guided missiles that destroy "hard" targets such as bunkers and tanks)
FFARs Folding Fin Aerial Rocket (unguided rockets that destroy "soft" targets such as infantry and installations)
HEDP (High-Explosive, Dual-Purpose) rounds for the 30 mm cannon (an all-purpose weapon with a maximum range of 1.5km)
In Central America, the Middle East, and Western Europe, AIM-9 Sidewinders would also be standard equipment, usually as a backup air-to-air weapon in case of cannon failure.
Patient players might move in short jumps, crouching behind hills to block the enemy's line of sight and suddenly popping up to attack. More aggressive players generally fly fast and erratically to evade enemy fire, flying in low to deliver devastating cannon attacks at close range. Since flight time is a component of the mission evaluation, either method has its advantages. The latter, however, can be rather dangerous against 1st Line enemies whose fast reaction times can cause the chopper to be pummelled with relentless fire.

Most enemy fire, especially from light cannons, is deflected by armor. Some enemy fire will cause systems damage. After enough damaging hits, the structural integrity will fail, causing a general power failure. This manifests itself in a dual-engine flameout, warranting an emergency landing. An emergency landing by a seriously injured pilot in enemy territory causes him to become Missing in Action. If the pilot lands without serious injury, he can escape back to base and live to fight another day.

There is no defined time limit in the game. A player can return to any number of Forward Area Resupply Points where he'll be rearmed, refueled and damage repaired. Returning to the Home Base will end the mission. Ideally, the pilot completes both missions, knocks out other targets, and makes it back to base within 20 minutes. 

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Trivia

Apple II and Atari XL/XE versions
 Despite loading instructions for both platforms in the manual, the game was never released for those systems. 

Development
 Originally scheduled for release in mid-1988, the Amiga version of Gunship didn't materialise until mid-1989. Reportedly, the delay was predominantly the result of the programmer's source disk becoming infected with a virus. Source: Amiga User Internation (Sept 88, page 44) and HOL.

MicroProse had to release a later DOS version of Gunship to deal with faster computers. The game was also not easily playable in CGA, due to the similar color of HUD controls vs. targeting radar. 
Maxis' Gunship
Maxis released an arcade side-scroller called Gunship made with the Klik and Play system. It was apparently inspired by this game. 

Sidewinder missile
 The AH-64 Apache actually cannot mount the sidewinder missile at the wingtips as depicted on the arming screen. The manual explained that it should be quite possible to do so, and there was no other air-to-air missile that Apache can mount at the time. In the sequel, Gunship 2000, one gets to choose between sidewinder and the smaller stinger missiles (in a 2-pack). 

Strategy Guide
Gunship was so popular, it spawned a strategy guide from Compute! Books titled Gunship Academy. 

Awards
Computer Gaming World Magazine
November 1996 - #102 overall among the “150 Best Games of All Time”
Happy Computer 
Issue 01/1988 - Best Simulation in 1987

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Description from the packaging :
Climb into the cockpit of the U.S. Army's most advanced helicopter- the AH-64A Apache- and prepare for the flight of your life! Skim the treetops at 120 miles per hour and blast tanks with your laser guided Hellfire missiles...or scramble into position to take out Soviet Hind helicopters with your heat-seeking Sidewinders!

Only Gunship combines fast, furious action with the demand for strategic thinking to give you the true to life experience of today's combat chopper pilot. More than 300,000 computer pilots already know the thrill of these exciting Gunship features:
Realistic missions in Southeast Asia, Central America, Western Europe, and the Middle East.
Authentic weapons, counter-measures, flight controls, and sophisticated electronics.
Dramatic game play that rewards you with promotions throughout your combat career.
Vivid 3-dimensional, out of the cockpit graphics.



http://pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=38596&type=Software
