Warhead (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Warhead is a 3D
space combat simulator
for Amiga
(A500 and A2000) and Atari ST
platforms. Warhead is known for its strong alien atmosphere, reasonably realistic space kinematics
and a fish-eye perspective through which the space is viewed. It was created by Glyn Williams in 1989.
The game takes place during a war between the alien forces of Sirius
and the humans of Earth. The player fights for the Earth forces. The game is played as sequential missions. Completing a mission successfully lets the player advance to the next mission. It is possible to save the game status after each mission, but not during a mission. Typical mission objectives include intelligence gathering
, search and rescue
missions, destroying enemies and protecting friendly forces. The player is sent for missions from the SolBase, a military base orbiting the Sun. The player must travel to different solar systems using a device that allows faster than light travel through quad-space, which is a form of hyperspace
.
The enemy are an insect-like species from the star system Sirius. It is suspected that their present evolutionary form was achieved at the time there were Dinosaurs on Earth. It is also theorised that insects on Earth and Sirius share a same ancestor.
The Sirians operate as a group-minds of groups of tens or maybe hundreds of insects. As individuals the Sirians are not intelligent, but their intelligence comes from combining together in large groups. It is argued that their civilization acts as a single entity. The group-mind is based on radio communication that is a natural property of the metallic parts in their bodies. It is speculated that spaceship manufacturing technology is relatively new for the Sirians and that the first Sirian vessel was launched in 1897 from Sirius Five.
The Earth was attacked in the year 2045 by the Sirian fleet. The invasion lead to a planetary winter and 3 thousand million casualties and in following years a third of the Earth population died as a consequence.
The attack lead to political unity and the dissolution of national borders on Earth. The organisation called the Fist of Earth was formed to defend the Earth. The most important military base called SolBase was built in Earth orbit. When the SolBase became operational it was moved to orbit the Sun to a position that was thought to be a best place to defend the whole solar system.
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
space combat simulator
Space simulation
A space simulator is a system that tries to replicate or simulate outer space and/or the experience of space flight in a spacecraft as closely and realistically as possible...
for Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
(A500 and A2000) and Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
platforms. Warhead is known for its strong alien atmosphere, reasonably realistic space kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
and a fish-eye perspective through which the space is viewed. It was created by Glyn Williams in 1989.
The game takes place during a war between the alien forces of Sirius
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
and the humans of Earth. The player fights for the Earth forces. The game is played as sequential missions. Completing a mission successfully lets the player advance to the next mission. It is possible to save the game status after each mission, but not during a mission. Typical mission objectives include intelligence gathering
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
, search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
missions, destroying enemies and protecting friendly forces. The player is sent for missions from the SolBase, a military base orbiting the Sun. The player must travel to different solar systems using a device that allows faster than light travel through quad-space, which is a form of hyperspace
Hyperspace (science fiction)
Hyperspace is a plot device sometimes used in science fiction. It is typically described as an alternative region of space co-existing with our own universe which may be entered using an energy field or other device...
.
Story
The story takes place in a fight between the alien forces of Sirius and the humans of Earth. The player has been enrolled as a fighter pilot for the Fist-of-Earth space force. The player is led to know that the forces of Sirius have attacked humans for an unknown reason. The player knows the following:The enemy are an insect-like species from the star system Sirius. It is suspected that their present evolutionary form was achieved at the time there were Dinosaurs on Earth. It is also theorised that insects on Earth and Sirius share a same ancestor.
The Sirians operate as a group-minds of groups of tens or maybe hundreds of insects. As individuals the Sirians are not intelligent, but their intelligence comes from combining together in large groups. It is argued that their civilization acts as a single entity. The group-mind is based on radio communication that is a natural property of the metallic parts in their bodies. It is speculated that spaceship manufacturing technology is relatively new for the Sirians and that the first Sirian vessel was launched in 1897 from Sirius Five.
The Earth was attacked in the year 2045 by the Sirian fleet. The invasion lead to a planetary winter and 3 thousand million casualties and in following years a third of the Earth population died as a consequence.
The attack lead to political unity and the dissolution of national borders on Earth. The organisation called the Fist of Earth was formed to defend the Earth. The most important military base called SolBase was built in Earth orbit. When the SolBase became operational it was moved to orbit the Sun to a position that was thought to be a best place to defend the whole solar system.