Difference between revisions of "After Burner (home computers)"

Revision as of 09:04, 2 June 2019

For other versions of the game see After Burner and After Burner II.

n/a

After Burner

System(s): Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, MSX, ZX Spectrum

Publisher: Sega,

Activision

Developer: Sega AM2,

(US version) Weebee Games, International Development Group,

Weebee Games (US), Argonaut Software (EU), Uncle Art, Focus,

Unlimited Software

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Release	Date	RRP
US	1989
UK	1988-12^[1]	£24.9924.99^[2]^[3]
UK (The Hit Squad)	1991	£7.997.99^[4]
UK	1988-11^[1]	£24.9924.99^[5]
UK (The Hit Squad)	1991
ES (Cassette)	19xx
ES (Disk)	19xx
UK (Disk)	1989	£14.9914.99^[5]^[7]
UK (Cassette)	1989	£9.999.99^[5]^[7]
US (Disk)	1988
UK (Disk)	1988-11^[1]	£14.9914.99^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1988-11^[1]	£9.999.99^[3]
UK (The Hit Squad)	199x	£2.992.99^[6]
ES (Cassette)	19xx
UK (Disk)	1988-11^[1]	£12.9912.99^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1988-11^[1]	£9.999.99
UK (The Hit Squad)	1991	£2.992.99^[9]
US	1989	$39.9539.95^[8]
UK	1988-11^[1]	£9.999.99^[5]

The Western home computer versions of After Burner are shoot-'em-up games released between 1988 and 1991. Despite their names, all are actually conversions of After Burner II, and most refer to themselves as such in-game.

Two versions for both the Amiga and Commodore 64 were released; a set for North American audiences (1988) and another for the European market (1989).

Versions

In the arcades, After Burner (II) relies on real-time hardware sprite scaling which was not supported on any of these formats. As such, just like the home ports of Space Harrier and OutRun, the effect is simulated by switching between different-sized sprites during gameplay, giving a choppier and more simplified look. A benefit of After Burner is that the player's F-14 Tomcat travels much faster than the player does in the aforementioned games, so the choppiness is less obvious.

After Burner does, however, simulate the ground using this method. Due to graphical limitations, the simpler home computers opted to use a solid colour as the ground, which means transitions between levels are more abrupt (although the multi-load nature of the 8-bit versions means a pause is often necessary anyway).

These home computer versions have the plane automatically fire its machineguns at all times, likely as standard computer joysticks of the era only had one button (which in After Burner's case is used for missiles). The space bar is used to either increase or decrease the speed depending on the situation.

The Amstrad CPC version does not include any in-game music. The ZX Spectrum 128K and MSX versions are identical (48K Spectrum owners can also play the game, albeit with no music), though the MSX port runs slower due to a lack of optimisation for the system. Neither version offers the bonus rounds.

Two versions exist for the Commodore 64, built by entirely different teams for different markets. The earlier North American version is played in full screen and is arguably the more accurate of the two, but runs slower, has a very limited HUD and has no in-game music. The European version, by contrast, is faster and has music, but plays in a window. There are also colour clashing issues when enemy planes are drawn above the ground, and the level order is different.

The IBM PC version supports VGA, EGA and CGA graphics (though very little separates the VGA and EGA modes, as the former still restricts itself to 16 colours), but only the PC Speaker as a form of sound (which it also uses for music, to varying degrees of success). Missiles are generally harder to avoid in the IBM version, and the HUD is mostly text-based rather than using the icons seen in the arcade version.

The 16-bit Atari ST version is predictably more accurate than its 8-bit counterparts, and features higher frame rates and sampled speech (which causes minor slowdown when playing). The game cannot handle both music and sound effects concurrently so the user has to choose between the two. Similar to Space Harrier, it can also be played with a mouse.

Again, two different versions for the Amiga were produced, one for North American markets and another for Europe, the latter being an ST port, with better music. The North American version uses a full-screen display but runs slower.

History

Release

Retailers expected the Activision versions of After Burner to be collectively the best selling game in the United Kingdom of Christmas 1988^[10]. In the end, they were fifth, ranked behind Ocean Software's home conversions of Operation Wolf and RoboCop, the budget release of Ghostbusters by Mastertronic and Double Dragon by Melbourne House^[11].

Production credits

Amiga version (US)

Programmed by: Jeff Spangenberg
Graphics by: Matthew Stubbington
Level Desgin and additonal graphics by: Darrin Stubbington
Music and sound effects by: Jason Brooke

Amiga version (EU)

Programmed By Argonaut Software Ltd.
Code C 1985 1988 Argonaut Software Ltd
Music and Sound Effects By Uncle Art
Artwork By Focus C.E. Ltd.
A Software Studios Production

Commodore 64 version (EU)

This game has been produced under license from Sega Enterprises Ltd Japan and used by Activision UK Ltd
Coding by: Dalali Software Ltd
Graphics by: Focus CE Ltd
Music by: Adam Gilmore
A Software Studios Production
Copyright Sega 1988

Commodore 64 version (US)

Music: Jeroen Tel

DOS version

Programmer: Jack Rebbetoy
Graphic Artsits: Gerard DeSouza, Faye Hoffman
Unlimited Software Inc.

Magazine articles

Main article: After Burner (home computers)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) #10: "November 1989" (1989-1x-xx)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #85: "November 1988" (1988-10-15)
also published in:

ACE (UK) #14: "November 1988" (1988-xx-xx)^[12]

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #86: "December 1988" (1988-11-xx)
also published in:

ACE (UK) #15: "December 1988" (1988-xx-xx)^[13]
Computer & Video Games (UK) #87: "January 1989" (1988-12-16)^[14]
ACE (UK) #16: "January 1989" (1989-xx-xx)^[15]
ACE (UK) #17: "February 1989" (1989-xx-xx)^[16]

Physical scans

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

70

^[2]

Commodore User (UK)

31

^[17]

The Games Machine (UK)

50

^[18]

Score (CZ)

65

^[20]

Zzap!64 (UK)

29

^[19]

	49
Based on 5 reviews

After Burner (home computers)

Amiga, US
Cover
Disk

Amiga, UK

Amiga, UK (The Hit Squad)

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

67

^[21]

Amstrad Action (UK)

81

^[22]

The Games Machine (UK)

68

^[7]

Tilt (FR)

50

^[23]

	67
Based on 4 reviews

After Burner (home computers)

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette) (alt)
Cover

Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)

Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
Cover

Amstrad CPC, ES (disk)
Cover

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

69

^[27]

The Games Machine (UK)

47

^[25]

New Computer Express (UK)

25

^[28]

The One (UK)

63

^[29]

Tilt (FR)

10

^[23]

	43
Based on 5 reviews

After Burner (home computers)

Atari ST, UK
Cover
Disk 1 Disk 2

Atari ST, UK (The Hit Squad)
Cover

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

52

^[27]

Commodore Format (UK)

45

^[6]

Commodore Format (UK)

39

^[34]

Commodore User (UK)

70

^[35]

The Games Machine (UK)

23

^[25]

Tilt (FR)

50

^[23]

Zzap!64 (UK)

17

^[32]

Zzap!64 (UK)

20

^[19]

Zzap! (IT)

45

^[36]

Zzap! (IT)

65

^[37]

	43
Based on 10 reviews

After Burner (home computers)

Commodore 64, US
Cover
Disk

Commodore 64, UK (cassette)

Commodore 64, UK (disk)
Cover
Disk

Commodore 64, UK (The Hit Squad)
Cover
Cassette

DOS version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

After Burner (home computers)

DOS, US
Cover
Disk 1

MSX version

MSX, ES (MCM)
Cover

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

66

^[27]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

90

^[40]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

82

^[9]

The Games Machine (UK)

83

^[25]

New Computer Express (UK)

25

^[41]

Your Sinclair (UK)

78

^[42]

	71
Based on 6 reviews

After Burner (home computers)

ZX Spectrum, UK (cassette)

ZX Spectrum, UK (disk)

Disk

ZX Spectrum, UK (The Hit Squad)
Cover
Cassette

ZX Spectrum, ES
Cover

ZX Spectrum, ES (alt)
Cover

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 The Games Machine, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-17), page 17
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ACE, "June 1989" (UK; 1989-05-04), page 77
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 16
↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 93
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 17
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 File:CommodoreFormat UK 07.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CommodoreFormat UK 07.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CommodoreFormat UK 07.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 The Games Machine, "April 1989" (UK; 1989-03-23), page 31
↑ File:CGW US 065.pdf, page 92
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Computer & Video Games, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-16), page 72
↑ File:TGM UK 13.pdf, page 10
↑ The Games Machine, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 92
↑ ACE, "November 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 36
↑ ACE, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 54
↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-16), page 90
↑ ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 100
↑ ACE, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 62
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 Commodore User, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-26), page 69
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 The Games Machine, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-20), page 39
↑ ^19.0 ^19.1 ^19.2 Zzap!64, "January 1991" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 60
↑ Score, "Březen 1995" (CZ; 1995-03-01), page 1
↑ ^21.0 ^21.1 ACE, "April 1989" (UK; 1989-03-02), page 84
↑ ^22.0 ^22.1 Amstrad Action, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-01-12), page 40
↑ ^23.0 ^23.1 ^23.2 Tilt, "Mars 1989" (FR; 1989-0x-xx), page 66
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 54/55 (54)
↑ ^25.0 ^25.1 ^25.2 ^25.3 ^25.4 ^25.5 The Games Machine, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-01-19), page 59
↑ The One, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-xx), page 32-34 (32)
↑ ^27.0 ^27.1 ^27.2 ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 54
↑ New Computer Express, "November 26, 1988" (UK; 1988-11-24), page 31
↑ The One, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-xx), page 32
↑ Commodore Format, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-21), page 47
↑ Commodore User, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-26), page 16/17 (16)
↑ ^32.0 ^32.1 Zzap!64, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 78
↑ Zzap!64, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 60
↑ Commodore Format, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 47
↑ Commodore User, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-26), page 16
↑ Zzap!, "Gennaio 1989" (IT; 198x-xx-xx), page 12
↑ Zzap!, "Giugno 1989" (IT; 1989-xx-xx), page 40
↑ Joystick, "Mars 1990" (FR; 1990-02-20), page 145
↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 52/53 (52)
↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 52
↑ New Computer Express, "November 19, 1988" (UK; 1988-11-17), page 28
↑ Your Sinclair, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-xx), page 69

After Burner (home computers)
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception No results

Games in the After Burner Series
	After Burner (1987) \| After Burner II (home computers) (1987) \| G-LOC: Air Battle (home computers) (1990) \| Strike Fighter (1991) \| Sky Target (1995) \| Sega Strike Fighter (2000) \| After Burner Climax (2006)
	After Burner (1987) \| G-LOC: Air Battle (1991)
	After Burner (1988)
	After Burner II (1990) \| G-LOC: Air Battle (1993)
	G-LOC: Air Battle (1990)
	After Burner III (1992)
	After Burner Complete (1995)
	Sega Ages After Burner II (1996) \| Sky Target (1997)
	Sky Target (1997)
	After Burner II (200x) \| After Burner II DX (2007)
	Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 10: After Burner II (2004)
	After Burner: Black Falcon (2007)
	After Burner Climax (2010)
	3D After Burner II (2013)
	After Burner Climax (2013)
After Burner related media
	Sega Game Music Vol. 3 After Burner (1987) \| After Burner (1990) \| Strike Fighter (1991) \| Yu Suzuki Produce After Burner II (1997) \| Yu Suzuki Produce G-LOC/R360/Virtua Racing (1998) \| After Burner Climax Sound Track (2006) \| After Burner 20th Anniversary Box (2007) \| After Burner II (2018) \| G-LOC Air Battle: Series Music Collection (2020)
	After Burner (1987) \| After Burner / Super Hang-On (1987)

[:File:TGM_UK_13.pdf_p17-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 The Games Machine, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-17), page 17

[:File:ACE_UK_21.pdf_p77-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ACE, "June 1989" (UK; 1989-05-04), page 77

[:File:CVG_UK_086.pdf_p16-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 16

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p93-4] Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 93

[:File:CVG_UK_086.pdf_p17-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 17

[:File:CommodoreFormat_UK_07.pdf_p43-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 File:CommodoreFormat UK 07.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CommodoreFormat UK 07.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CommodoreFormat UK 07.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TGM_UK_17.pdf_p31-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 The Games Machine, "April 1989" (UK; 1989-03-23), page 31

[:File:CGW_US_065.pdf_p92-8] File:CGW US 065.pdf, page 92

[:File:CVG_UK_113.pdf_p72-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Computer & Video Games, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-16), page 72

[:File:TGM_UK_13.pdf_p10-10] File:TGM UK 13.pdf, page 10

[:File:TGM_UK_16.pdf_p92-11] The Games Machine, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 92

[:File:ACE_UK_14.pdf_p36-12] ACE, "November 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 36

[:File:ACE_UK_15.pdf_p54-13] ACE, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 54

[:File:CVG_UK_087.pdf_p90-14] Computer & Video Games, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-16), page 90

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p100-15] ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 100

[:File:ACE_UK_17.pdf_p62-16] ACE, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 62

[:File:CommodoreUser_UK_68.pdf_p69-17] 17.0 ^17.1 Commodore User, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-26), page 69

[:File:TGM_UK_18.pdf_p39-18] 18.0 ^18.1 The Games Machine, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-20), page 39

[:File:Zzap64_UK_069.pdf_p60-19] 19.0 ^19.1 ^19.2 Zzap!64, "January 1991" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 60

[20] Score, "Březen 1995" (CZ; 1995-03-01), page 1

[:File:ACE_UK_19.pdf_p84-21] 21.0 ^21.1 ACE, "April 1989" (UK; 1989-03-02), page 84

[:File:AmstradAction_UK_041.pdf_p40-22] 22.0 ^22.1 Amstrad Action, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-01-12), page 40

[:File:Tilt_FR_064.pdf_p66-23] 23.0 ^23.1 ^23.2 Tilt, "Mars 1989" (FR; 1989-0x-xx), page 66

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p54_.2854.2F55.29-24] 24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 54/55 (54)

[:File:TGM_UK_15.pdf_p59-25] 25.0 ^25.1 ^25.2 ^25.3 ^25.4 ^25.5 The Games Machine, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-01-19), page 59

[:File:TheOne_UK_04.pdf_p32_.2832-34.29-26] The One, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-xx), page 32-34 (32)

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p54-27] 27.0 ^27.1 ^27.2 ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 54

[:File:NewComputerExpress_UK_003.pdf_p31-28] New Computer Express, "November 26, 1988" (UK; 1988-11-24), page 31

[:File:TheOne_UK_04.pdf_p32-29] The One, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-xx), page 32

[:File:CommodoreFormat_UK_07.pdf_p47-30] Commodore Format, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-21), page 47

[:File:CommodoreUser_UK_63.pdf_p16_.2816.2F17.29-31] Commodore User, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-26), page 16/17 (16)

[:File:Zzap64_UK_047.pdf_p78-32] 32.0 ^32.1 Zzap!64, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 78

[:File:Zzap64_UK_047.pdf_p60-33] Zzap!64, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 60

[:File:CommodoreFormat_UK_22.pdf_p47-34] Commodore Format, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 47

[:File:CommodoreUser_UK_63.pdf_p16-35] Commodore User, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-26), page 16

[:File:Zzap_IT_30.pdf_p12-36] Zzap!, "Gennaio 1989" (IT; 198x-xx-xx), page 12

[:File:Zzap_IT_35.pdf_p40-37] Zzap!, "Giugno 1989" (IT; 1989-xx-xx), page 40

[:File:Joystick_FR_003.pdf_p145-38] Joystick, "Mars 1990" (FR; 1990-02-20), page 145

[:File:CVG_UK_086.pdf_p52_.2852.2F53.29-39] Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 52/53 (52)

[:File:CVG_UK_086.pdf_p52-40] Computer & Video Games, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-xx), page 52

[:File:NewComputerExpress_UK_002.pdf_p28-41] New Computer Express, "November 19, 1988" (UK; 1988-11-17), page 28

[:File:YourSinclair_UK_65.pdf_p69-42] Your Sinclair, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-xx), page 69

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@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | amiga_date_us=1989
 | amiga_date_uk=1988-12{{magref|gamesmachineuk|13|17}}
-| amiga_rrp_uk=24.99{{fileref|ACE UK 21.pdf|page=77}}{{magref|cvg|86|16}}
+| amiga_rrp_uk=24.99{{magref|ace|21|77}}{{magref|cvg|86|16}}
 | amiga_date_uk_1=1991
 | amiga_rrp_uk_1=7.99{{magref|raze|5|93}}

Difference between revisions of "After Burner (home computers)"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 09:04, 2 June 2019

Contents

Versions

History

Release

Production credits

Amiga version (US)

Amiga version (EU)

Commodore 64 version (EU)

Commodore 64 version (US)

DOS version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Amiga version

Amstrad CPC version

Atari ST version

Commodore 64 version

DOS version

MSX version

ZX Spectrum version

References