Gato (computer game)
Encyclopedia
GATO was a real-time submarine simulator
published by Spectrum HoloByte
in the 1980s for use on several platforms, including the Apple IIe
and Atari XE Game System. It simulated combat operations aboard the Gato-class submarine in the Pacific Theater
of World War II
. GATO was the first PC
submarine simulator and the first simulator for the Apple Macintosh.
The player was tasked with chasing Japanese shipping across a 20-sector map while returning for resupply as necessary from a submarine tender
. The islands on the map were randomly generated and not based on real-world geography. Combat was conducted using a screen with a view through the periscope and at various gauges and indicators. The game had multiple difficulty levels, the highest of which required the player to translate mission briefings which were transmitted only as audible Morse Code
.
An unusual feature in the Apple IIe version allowed the game to be paused and a spreadsheet shown on the screen with a single button press
.
A review in Computer Gaming World
praised the game for being simultaneously easy to play and having deep, detailed strategy.
Submarine simulator
A submarine simulator, or subsim for short, is usually a computer game in which the player commands a submarine. The usual form of the game is to go on a series of missions, each of which features a number of encounters where the goal is to sink surface ships and to survive counterattacks by...
published by Spectrum HoloByte
Spectrum HoloByte
Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher originally based in Alameda, California.The company was founded in 1983 and was most famous for its simulation games, notably the Falcon series of flight simulators and Vette!, a driving simulator from 1989...
in the 1980s for use on several platforms, including the Apple IIe
Apple IIe
The Apple IIe is the third model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The e in the name stands for enhanced, referring to the fact that several popular features were now built-in that were only available as upgrades and add-ons in earlier models...
and Atari XE Game System. It simulated combat operations aboard the Gato-class submarine in the Pacific Theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. GATO was the first PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
submarine simulator and the first simulator for the Apple Macintosh.
The player was tasked with chasing Japanese shipping across a 20-sector map while returning for resupply as necessary from a submarine tender
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
. The islands on the map were randomly generated and not based on real-world geography. Combat was conducted using a screen with a view through the periscope and at various gauges and indicators. The game had multiple difficulty levels, the highest of which required the player to translate mission briefings which were transmitted only as audible Morse Code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
.
An unusual feature in the Apple IIe version allowed the game to be paused and a spreadsheet shown on the screen with a single button press
Boss key
A boss key or boss button is a special keyboard shortcut used in computer games or other programs to quickly hide the program and possibly display a special screen that appears to be a normal productivity program...
.
A review in Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
praised the game for being simultaneously easy to play and having deep, detailed strategy.