Omega  (Origin)
Original title: Omega - Neural Cybertank Design & Simulation
Alternative title: Omega - The Neural Tank Simulator
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Omega casts the player into the role of a cyber-tank designer and programmer. The goal is to design a powerful tank capable of defeating opponents within the frames of a limited budget. A successful completion of this task grants the player character a higher security clearance and a large budget. Combat plays little to no role in the game; the gameplay is dedicated to designing the tanks themselves. 

The player programs tanks by using a built-in text editor. It is possible to assign different artificial intelligence script commands that control various aspects of the tank, as well as enable communication between several tanks in a group. The player must take into account the equipment of a tank and its attributes in order to design a vehicle that would prove successful in combat.


Alternate Titles
"T.A.N.C." -- Working title



Trivia

Omega was a much-improved, advanced version of Silas Warner's classic Robot War. John Romero was part of the small group that came up with the name for this game.



This is neither the first nor the last robot tank design and programming game for a consumer platform.

Muse software made one for the Apple ][ back in the very early days, at least 3 years before Origin did Omega. I *think* the title was Robot Wars but I could be mistaken.

There was a team-oriented game with little hardware design for the Macintosh in the early 90s, but I don't even remember the title.

More recently, one of the first titles to demonstrate Sony's commitment to unusual games on the then-new Playstation was a game called Carnage Heart, which was precisely this sort of game.

Finally, there is a current PC product called Mindrover which takes this concept to great heights. It sells equally well as an educational toy and a pure game. If you remember any of these titles fondly, be sure to check out Mindrover.






http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/omega_
