SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

n/a

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum

Publisher: Sega,

Activision

Developer: Sega,

Software Studios

Source Software

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Number of players: 2

Release	Date	RRP	Code

JP	1987-10-24	¥5,0005,000	G-1338
US	1988-03	$40.0040.00^[1]	5102
EU	1988-03		MK-5102-50
AU	19xx
BR	19xx
KR	19xx		GB-1338
UK	1988	£24.9924.99
UK	1988	£19.9919.99^[3]
ES (Cassette)	19xx
UK (Disk)	1988	£14.9914.99
UK (Cassette)	1988	£9.999.99
UK (The Hit Squad)	19xx	£2.992.99
UK (Disk)	1988	£14.9914.99^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1988	£9.999.99^[3]
UK (The Hit Squad)	19xx	£2.992.99^[4]
ES (Cassette)	19xx		SEC 576
UK (Cassette)	1988	£9.999.99^[3]	URK 301
UK (The Hit Squad)	19xx	£2.992.99^[5]

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative is a 1987 shoot-'em-up arcade game developed by Sega for the Sega System 16 arcade platform.

Gameplay

Unusual for its time, SDI has the player assume the role of a satellite, tasked with destroying enemy satellites and missiles. Each level is divided into two "modes" - "offensive" mode, which takes the form of a sidescrolling shoot-'em-up, and "defensive" mode which is built more similarly to Atari's Missile Command. Beating both modes allows the player to progress, however, if the player can destroy all the enemies in offensive mode, defensive mode does not take place.

SDI not only gives the player control over the movement of the satellite, but also its aim. This mechanic was implemented in the original arcade cabinet through the form of a joystick and trackball - the joystick moving the player, the trackball moving the crosshair. On the top of the joystick is a button for firing.

A perfect game of SDI will result in the satellite being replaced with Flicky.

Versions

SDI was ported to the Sega Master System in 1987/1988, where western versions were renamed Global Defense. The Master System version, as well as cutting back on the graphical and audio quality, has to vastly reduce the difficulty of the game to match up with a new control scheme - as the console lacks a trackball, the player needs to switch between moving and aiming during play (holding while moving the D-Pad allows the satellite to move, otherwise the D-Pad only controls the crosshair). This makes moving and aiming at the same time impossible. However, the U.S. manual lists an alternate two-controller configuration in which the first controller aims and the second controller moves the satellite. When the game is started in this configuration, the satellite fires automatically. To start the game with two controllers, on the second controller either press Left and or Right and .

Activision brought the game to home computers in Europe - the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum (not to be confused with S.D.I., an unrelated game also released for the Amiga and Atari ST).

These days, SDI is often grouped with another arcade game from the era, Quartet. Both were released as part of Volume 21 of the Sega Ages 2500 series, Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 21: SDI & Quartet: Sega System 16 Collection for the PlayStation 2. SDI & Quartet: Original Soundtrack contains the official soundtrack of both games.

Production credits

Arcade version

Planed by: Black Holl Tomo
Project Leader: Joe Kacchan
Programer: Sweet Tohchan, Anatano Pideshi, Ippo Ogapi
Character Design: Saitama Kenji, 8940 Kon
Scene Design: Henchan
Music by: Funky Gerogero
Sound Effects: Nao Chan
Mechanical Engineer: MI.U.I.Hachi
Enemy Creation: Demon Taka
Data Adjust: Nanno Icchan
Special Thanks: Mina Inochi, Hakusyon Daimaohe, Mamiko Chan, Uso Happyaku
Special No Thanks: Ashidematoi People
Presented by: Sega, Chin_Chin Brothers

(According to Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 21, Masaki Kondo (近藤正樹) was a "Designer", Katsumi Tojo (藤乗　勝巳) was the "main programmer" and Eishi Kawatake (川竹　英士) was also a programmer. All three worked on Galaxy Force too).

Commodore 64 version

(C)1988 Activision
Software Studios
Produced by: Neil Jackson
Coding Graphics and Music was Produced by: Source the Software House Ltd
Artwork by: Bryn Redman, Ross Harris
Music Composed by: Paul Summers
Programming by: Mike Chilton

Magazine articles

Main article: SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

System 16 US flyer
System 16 JP flyer

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

ACE (UK) #14: "November 1988" (1988-xx-xx)^[6]

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #115: "June 1991" (1991-05-11)

Physical scans

System 16 version

System 16, JP

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

62

^[7]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

79

^[8]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

80

^[9]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

PAL

80

^[15]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

75

^[16]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

80

^[10]

The Games Machine (UK)

81

^[11]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

80

^[17]

Power Play (DE)

65

^[12]

S: The Sega Magazine (UK)

PAL

78

^[13]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

75

^[18]

Sega Pro (UK)

78

^[14]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

75

^[19]

User (GR)

PAL

43

^[20]

	74
Based on 14 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual Poster

Master System, EU
Cover

Master System, EU ® variant
Cover

Master System, EU "no limits" variant
Cover

Master System, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU

Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, KR

Cart

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

The Games Machine (UK)

57

^[21]

New Computer Express (UK)

50

^[22]

	54
Based on 2 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

Amiga, UK

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

79

^[23]

Amstrad Computer User (UK)

49

^[25]

The Games Machine (UK)

29

^[24]

	52
Based on 3 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

Amstrad CPC, UK

Amstrad CPC, UK (The Hit Squad)
Cover

Amstrad CPC, ES
Cover

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

84

^[26]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

81

^[27]

The Games Machine (IT)

59

^[29]

The Games Machine (UK)

56

^[28]

Génération 4 (FR)

77

^[30]

	71
Based on 5 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

Atari ST, UK

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Commodore Force (UK)

46

^[33]

Commodore User (UK)

67

^[34]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

54

^[4]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

72

^[31]

The Games Machine (UK)

56

^[24]

Zzap!64 (UK)

64

^[35]

Zzap!64 (UK)

60

^[36]

Zzap! (IT)

84

^[32]

	63
Based on 8 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

Commodore 64, UK (cassette)

Commodore 64, UK (disk)

Commodore 64, UK (The Hit Squad)
Cover

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Computer & Video Games (UK)

59

^[5]

The Games Machine (UK)

37

^[24]

New Computer Express (UK)

25

^[37]

Sinclair User (UK)

70

^[38]

Your Sinclair (UK)

64

^[39]

	51
Based on 5 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

ZX Spectrum, UK
Cover

ZX Spectrum, UK (The Hit Squad)
Cover

ZX Spectrum, ES
Cover

References

↑ File:CGW US 050.pdf, page 45
↑ File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 166
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 File:CVG UK 085.pdf, page 43
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 File:CVG UK 116.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 116.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 File:CVG UK 116.pdf, page 85 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 116.pdf_p85" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ACE, "November 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 72
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 File:ACE UK 14.pdf, page 49 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 14.pdf_p49" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 File:CompleteGuideToConsoles UK 01.pdf, page 57 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CompleteGuideToConsoles UK 01.pdf_p57" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 97 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p97" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 File:CVG UK 078.pdf, page 122 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 078.pdf_p122" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 File:TGM UK 05.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 05.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 File:PowerPlay DE 004.pdf, page 93 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PowerPlay DE 004.pdf_p93" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 08.pdf, page 12 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 08.pdf_p12" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf, page 19 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf_p19" defined multiple times with different content
↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 57
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 141
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 57
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
↑ User, "Septémvrios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 86
↑ ^21.0 ^21.1 File:TGM UK 22.pdf, page 91 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 22.pdf_p91" defined multiple times with different content
↑ New Computer Express, "July 15, 1989" (UK; 1989-07-13), page 50
↑ ^23.0 ^23.1 File:ACE UK 20.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 20.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 ^24.3 ^24.4 ^24.5 File:TGM UK 18.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Amstrad Computer User, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 36
↑ ^26.0 ^26.1 File:ACE UK 15.pdf, page 75 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 15.pdf_p75" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^27.0 ^27.1 File:CVG UK 086.pdf, page 58 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 086.pdf_p58" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^28.0 ^28.1 File:TGM UK 14.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 14.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
↑ The Games Machine, "xxxx 198x" (IT; 1988-12-15), page 36
↑ Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 24
↑ ^31.0 ^31.1 File:CVG UK 118.pdf, page 88 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 118.pdf_p88" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^32.0 ^32.1 File:Zzap IT 57.pdf, page 51 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Zzap IT 57.pdf_p51" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Commodore Force, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 20
↑ Commodore User, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-19), page 64
↑ Zzap!64, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 21
↑ Zzap!64, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-13), page 79
↑ New Computer Express, "December 24, 1988" (UK; 1988-12-22), page 41
↑ Sinclair User, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-15), page 42
↑ Your Sinclair, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-xx), page 58

[:File:CGW_US_050.pdf_p45-1] File:CGW US 050.pdf, page 45

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p166-2] File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 166

[:File:CVG_UK_085.pdf_p43-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 File:CVG UK 085.pdf, page 43

[:File:CVG_UK_116.pdf_p81-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 File:CVG UK 116.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 116.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_116.pdf_p85-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 File:CVG UK 116.pdf, page 85 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 116.pdf_p85" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:ACE_UK_14.pdf_p72-6] ACE, "November 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 72

[:File:ACE_UK_14.pdf_p49-7] 7.0 ^7.1 File:ACE UK 14.pdf, page 49 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 14.pdf_p49" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf_p57-8] 8.0 ^8.1 File:CompleteGuideToConsoles UK 01.pdf, page 57 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CompleteGuideToConsoles UK 01.pdf_p57" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p97-9] 9.0 ^9.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 97 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p97" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_078.pdf_p122-10] 10.0 ^10.1 File:CVG UK 078.pdf, page 122 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 078.pdf_p122" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TGM_UK_05.pdf_p43-11] 11.0 ^11.1 File:TGM UK 05.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 05.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_004.pdf_p93-12] 12.0 ^12.1 File:PowerPlay DE 004.pdf, page 93 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PowerPlay DE 004.pdf_p93" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:StheSegaMagazine_UK_08.pdf_p12-13] 13.0 ^13.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 08.pdf, page 12 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 08.pdf_p12" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaPro_UK_03.pdf_p19-14] 14.0 ^14.1 File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf, page 19 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf_p19" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p57-15] The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 57

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p141-16] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 141

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p133-17] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p57-18] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 57

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p71-19] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71

[:File:User_GR_28.pdf_p86-20] User, "Septémvrios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 86

[:File:TGM_UK_22.pdf_p91-21] 21.0 ^21.1 File:TGM UK 22.pdf, page 91 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 22.pdf_p91" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:NewComputerExpress_UK_036.pdf_p50-22] New Computer Express, "July 15, 1989" (UK; 1989-07-13), page 50

[:File:ACE_UK_20.pdf_p78-23] 23.0 ^23.1 File:ACE UK 20.pdf, page 78 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 20.pdf_p78" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TGM_UK_18.pdf_p43-24] 24.0 ^24.1 ^24.2 ^24.3 ^24.4 ^24.5 File:TGM UK 18.pdf, page 43 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 18.pdf_p43" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:AmstradComputerUser_UK_54.pdf_p36-25] Amstrad Computer User, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 36

[:File:ACE_UK_15.pdf_p75-26] 26.0 ^26.1 File:ACE UK 15.pdf, page 75 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 15.pdf_p75" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_086.pdf_p58-27] 27.0 ^27.1 File:CVG UK 086.pdf, page 58 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 086.pdf_p58" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TGM_UK_14.pdf_p81-28] 28.0 ^28.1 File:TGM UK 14.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 14.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content

[29] The Games Machine, "xxxx 198x" (IT; 1988-12-15), page 36

[30] Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 24

[:File:CVG_UK_118.pdf_p88-31] 31.0 ^31.1 File:CVG UK 118.pdf, page 88 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 118.pdf_p88" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:Zzap_IT_57.pdf_p51-32] 32.0 ^32.1 File:Zzap IT 57.pdf, page 51 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Zzap IT 57.pdf_p51" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CommodoreForce_UK_08.pdf_p20-33] Commodore Force, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 20

[:File:CommodoreUser_UK_64.pdf_p64-34] Commodore User, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-19), page 64

[:File:Zzap64_UK_047.pdf_p21-35] Zzap!64, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-16), page 21

[:File:Zzap64_UK_075.pdf_p79-36] Zzap!64, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-13), page 79

[:File:NewComputerExpress_UK_007_8.pdf_p41-37] New Computer Express, "December 24, 1988" (UK; 1988-12-22), page 41

[:File:SinclairUser_UK_113.pdf_p42-38] Sinclair User, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-15), page 42

[:File:YourSinclair_UK_67.pdf_p58-39] Your Sinclair, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-xx), page 58

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SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Versions

Production credits

Arcade version

Commodore 64 version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

System 16 version

Master System version

Amiga version

Amstrad CPC version

Atari ST version

Commodore 64 version

ZX Spectrum version

References