The Universal Military Simulator

Publisher(s) Rainbird Software
Platform(s) Apple II, Atari ST, Amiga, Macintosh, IBM Compatibles
Release date(s) 1987

The Universal Military Simulator is a computer game developed by Rainbird Software in 1987 for the Apple II, Macintosh, Tandy 4000, and IBM microcomputers and compatibles. In 1988 both Atari ST, Amiga versions were released. The game was created by Ezra Sidran. The PC and Amiga versions were ported by Ed Isenberg. The game spawned two sequels: UMS II: Nations at War and The War College: Universal Military Simulator 3.

Plot

This computer wargame allows players to create armies and battlefields, using three-dimensional terrain to place features such as towns and hills. Players can explore historical confrontations such as Hastings, Gettysburg, Waterloo, Arbela, and Marston Moor. The player can zoom in on specific units confronting one another to plan strategy. The player has the option to play against another human opponent.[1]

Reception

The game was reviewed in 1988 in Dragon #137 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.[1] In 1990 Computer Gaming World gave the game two-plus stars out of five, stating "A visual feast, but a playable desert, U.M.S. is incorrect on two counts—it is neither universal nor a simulator". The magazine cited as weaknesses the lack of navies, awkward user interface, and a Battle of Waterloo scenario that completely omitted the Prussians.[2] In 1993 two surveys of wargames in the magazine gave it one-plus stars[3] and two stars, respectively. The latter survey gave the 1991 revision U.M.S. II two-plus stars.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (September 1988). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (137): 88–93.
  2. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (October 1990). "Computer Strategy and Wargames: Pre-20th Century". Computer Gaming World. p. 11. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (June 1993). "An Annotated Listing of Pre-20th Century Wargames". Computer Gaming World. p. 136. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (October 1993). "Brooks' Book Of Wargames: 1900-1950, R-Z". Computer Gaming World. pp. 144–148. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
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