Terrorist (video game)
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1979 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Terrorist (video game) |
Terrorist is a two-player, real-time strategy game created by Steven Pederson for Edu-Ware and launched on the Apple II platform in 1980. One participant takes on the role of a government authority while the other leads a terrorist faction, competing across three distinct scenarios: hostage situation during building capture, hijacking of an aircraft, and nuclear extortion. Players make their moves simultaneously using game paddles, with results determined by a scoring mechanism that balances the government's societal priorities against the terrorists' goals.
Gameplay
In Terrorist, players execute moves at the same time through Apple II game paddles.
At the start, the terrorist player selects a scenario that establishes the government’s societal values—such as prioritizing individual freedoms or economic advancement—which influences how the game unfolds. For example, the United States emphasizes individual rights, whereas Japan focuses on economic growth.
Following this, the terrorist picks one of three fictional organizations: International Brotherhood for Liberation, National Fundamentals Army, or People's Low Republic, and defines their demands consistent with their ideological stance. For instance, the National Fundamentalist Army centers its demands on judicial efficiency in a criminal case.
The gameplay is conducted in real time with each player independently choosing actions via paddles. The deliberately challenging paddle controls mimic the uncertainty in executing decisions, symbolizing how leaders have limited influence over unfolding events.
Reception
Despite limited commercial success typical of early Edu-Ware releases—selling only several hundred copies—Terrorist garnered favorable critical attention. Peelings II magazine gave it an "A" grade, praising its clear textual presentation but noting that its scoring system was intricate and designed primarily for programmers.
John Martellaro emphasized the game's educational potential, recommending it as a useful tool for college-level courses in history or political science.
Bruce Webster’s review in The Space Gamer endorsed it for enthusiasts of political strategy games while cautioning about its price and warning that competitive play might cause tension between players due to its intense thematic content.