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Guadalcanal Campaign (video game)

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Guadalcanal Campaign
Publisher(s)Strategic Simulations
Platform(s)Apple II
Release1982
Genre(s)Computer wargame
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Guadalcanal Campaign is a 1982 computer wargame developed by Gary Grigsby and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). It was Grigsby's first released game and has been cited as the first monster wargame made for computers.

Guadalcanal Campaign was a commercial and critical success that helped to establish Grigsby in the game industry. Grigsby followed it with Bomb Alley. Continuing to work with SSI, he went on to become a prominent name in the computer wargame field, releasing 23 games with the company by 1996.

Gameplay

The player plans their attack on the overhead map.

Guadalcanal Campaign is a computer wargame that simulates the Solomon Islands campaign of World War II.[1]

Development

Guadalcanal Campaign was the first game released by designer Gary Grigsby. He recalled beginning development in December 1981.[2] In early 1982, while phoning Strategic Simulations' hotline about its game Torpedo Fire, he got into a conversation with company head Joel Billings that led to an offer to publish Guadalcanal Campaign. Grigsby said that he had "nearly completed a crude working version" by the time that he talked to Billings.[3] Grigsby developed the game in his spare time at night while working a day job at the United States Department of Defense,[3] an arrangement he called "incredibly hard". He later said that he had made "a lot of little fragments of games" before Guadalcanal Campaign, but that it was the first full project he had undertaken.[4] Guadalcanal Campaign was released in 1982,[2] after roughly 8 months of work.[5]

Reception

Guadalcanal Campaign was a commercial success. According to Craig Ritchie of Retro Gamer, it sold roughly 3,500 copies, which he called "an outstanding figure for such a niche market".[2]

Richard Charles Karr reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "It is this writer's opinion that Guadalcanal Campaign is the best historical simulation (and one of their best games) from SSI to date. The essential aspects of historicity and playability are well-matched, with easy accessibility of gaming information, a well-organized set of rules, and good research combining to provide for a game that will keep you at your computer for days at a time."[1] Rich Sutton of Video Games called it "one of the best simulations available for beginner and expert alike".[6]

Legacy

Guadalcanal Campaign has been cited by Computer Gaming World, Electronic Games and author Rusel DeMaria as the first monster wargame released for computers.[1][7][8][9] According to Retro Gamer, it "set the standard for a long line of award-winning wargames to come." It helped to establish both Grigsby and SSI in the game industry; Grigsby himself went on to be one of the computer wargame genre's most respected contributors.[2] He continued his relationship with SSI; by 1996, he had worked with the company on 23 games.[10] In 2001, he co-founded the studio 2 by 3 Games with SSI's Joel Billings and Keith Brors, where they continued to work together on wargames such as War in the Pacific and Gary Grigsby's World at War.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Karr, Richard Charles (September–October 1982). "Guadalcanal Campaign: Review & Notes". Computer Gaming World. 1 (6): 16–17, 19, 46.
  2. ^ a b c d Ritchie, Craig (October 2007). "Developer Lookback; Strategic Simulations Inc (Part 1 of 2)". Retro Gamer (42): 34–39.
  3. ^ a b Staff (January 23, 2011). "Interview: War in the East Developers". Wargamer. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011.
  4. ^ Zabek, Jim; Wallace, Shaun (July 16, 2003). "Interview: Joel Billings and Gary Grigsby". Wargamer. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011.
  5. ^ Grigsby, Gary (November–December 1982). "The History of a Wargame Design". Computer Gaming World. 2 (6): 11, 12.
  6. ^ Sutton, Rich (October 1993). "War Games: A Battle Plan for Attacking Video Simulations". Video Games. 2 (1): 40, 41, 44–48.
  7. ^ Staff (May–June 1982). "Hobby and Industry News". Computer Gaming World. 3 (3): 4.
  8. ^ Staff (February 1983). "The Player's Guide to Computer Games; The World Marches to War!". Electronic Games. 1 (12): 47–49.
  9. ^ DeMaria, Rusel (December 2018). "Opportunity Knocks: The Story of SSI". High Score! Expanded: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (3rd ed.). CRC Press. pp. 166–171. ISBN 978-0-429-77139-2.
  10. ^ Dunne, Alex (1996). "Interview with Gary Grigsby, Developer of SSI's Steel Panthers". Game Developer Magazine. Archived from the original on January 21, 1998.
  11. ^ Ritchie, Craig (November 2007). "Developer Lookback; Strategic Simulations Inc (Part 2 of 2)". Retro Gamer (43): 82–87.
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