Cargo  (Preview)
Platform: Commodore 64
Region: PAL
Gametype: Licensed
Release Year: 1988
Developer: Firebird
Publisher: Firebird
Programmer: Simon Nicol, Stavros Fasoulas
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1988 Firebird
Status: No Download, Findability: 3/5

Coding: Simon Nicol, Stavros Fasoulas
Graphics: Stavros Fasoulas
Sound: N/A

Cargo was a game which was being developed by Simon Nicol and Stavros Fasoulas under the Ducksoft Development label, and was meant for Firebird Software.

We were first informed about the title (though without a title) by Simon’s friend Said Hassan, who tells GTW64 that Cargo was a title produced in a single night as he watched them code it.

It apparently was to prove a point according to Said, that a budget title could be written overnight.   It had Simon’s starfield in the background, and an Amidar style maze on the top.  There was to be a Vorpal loader and a cast off Hubbard track too – but nothing seems to exist of this.  They may not have quite managed to get the tune included – unless a budding hacker can find it tucked away?

Richard Hewison of The Bird Sanctuary (a tribute site to Firebird) couldn’t recall the title, but suggested that at the time it would have likely gone on the Silverbird label.  There was no adverts for the game it seems though!  Did Simon and Stavros ever even intend to release it?

You can see the elements of Quedex and Delta within the game’s style, but also Simon’s distinctive star field in the background.   It is a neat puzzler where you have to colour in the maps in Painter style, even at this early stage (where there is no sound).

The game looks fairly close to completion – and considering it was done in a night … the game must actually be complete!   If it was intended for Firebird, then we can only assume that the buyout of Telecomsoft meant the end for the game.   We hope to find out more from Simon and Stavros in the future!

For now, check it out!

Contributions: Andrew Fisher, Simon Nicol, Said Hassan


http://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/cargo/
