mkidwel@nswc-wo.ARPA (Michael Kidwell) (12/17/86)
For those of you who are sports minded, let me recommend GRIDIRON! - a football simulator developed by Bethesda Softworks. While my attention is not usually held for long by games, this is truly something different. In speaking with the designers, I learned that all of the actions by players on the field are calculated in real time. Each action affects others. To give you an overview of the game, you require 512K and 1 drive to operate. After loading the entire program into memory (about 2 minutes with Kickstart V1) you are greeted with a digitized national anthem followed by crowd noise. Although the disk is not copy protected, you are prompted for a validation code. The code is a hex number from pages of lists printed in light blue in the manual. Once you are past the authorization, you must choose game options. They are: 1 or 2 player, difficulty level (practice, beginner, intermediate, pro), playbook (default or specialized), and team (default, draft a new one or load one already created). Difficulty level is fairly obvious. At lower levels the play is much slower and the computer does not make intelligent defensive choices. At pro level the play is quite fast and you play an intelligent opponent. Practice level lets you be on offense constantly until you master the mechanics of the game. Playbooks are a unique and desirable feature of Gridiron. The default gives you 20 offensive and 20 defensive plays. On offense, there are nine runs, nine passes, punt and field goal/extra point. On defense, the distribution is similar with punt return being the only kick option. Through what is called the PCU (Play Creation Utility), at any time during the game, modify an existing play or create a new one (within the 20 limit). The possibilities are limitless. The play screen views approximately 50 yards of the field from above. Players are viewed as orange or black circles. Legitimate receivers on offense (2 backs, 2 ends and flanker) have stripes to identify them. Graphics are not super but adequate and digitized sound is good. There is a 30 second clock in which all decisions have to be made. Defender has until clock reaches 19 to choose a defense. Offense selects play. Both offense and defense can continue to "shift" or change selected play until ball is snapped. Selection is via boxes at top of screen. Once offense "hikes" ball, defense can select which player to control with joystick/mouse by positioning cursor over player and clicking. Remaining players play as programmed, adapting to action on screen. (For example, a linebacker programmed to play fullback in man-man pass coverage will break off once ball is thrown to other receiver or a run crosses line). Offense controls quarterback until/unless he hands off or passes. You have full option as to whom to hand ball to or pass to. I received my "beta" copy from the company for $59.95. It includes a free upgrade to release software. My understanding (and I have no relationship to Bethesda Softworks) is that release will be $79.95 and out by Christmas. Generally, I am highly pleased with the simulation. The play testing has been extensive (including Dave Butz of the Redskins). There are some bugs in the beta version. For example, a fumble stopping on the sideline with players approaching from two sides simultaneously could not be recovered and the system had to be rebooted. There is no way to change from one level of play to another during the game. Statistics (full stats are always available) seem odd because of rounding on yards gained. Using a joystick instead of a second mouse to control defense makes selecting the defender to control a bit awkward and in selecting a defensive play it is easy to call a time out by mistake. All of these bugs have been reported and are supposedly being enhanced or corrected. If you are a football fan, I highly recommend this simulation. Michael Kidwell