Gorgon (video game)

Gorgon is a clone of the arcade game Defender, a horizontally-scrolling shooter, for the Apple II. It was programmed by Nasir Gebelli and published by Sirius Software[2] in June 1981.[1]

Gorgon
Developer(s)	Sirius Software
Publisher(s)	Sirius Software
Designer(s)	Nasir Gebelli[1]
Platform(s)	Apple II
Release	June 1981
Genre(s)	Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

In Gorgon, the player flies a spaceship across a side-scrolling landscape while protecting civilians on the ground from aliens that drop down from the top of the screen to try to carry them off.[3]

The game uses keyboard controls, with the A, Z, and left/right arrow keys for movement and the space bar for firing.[3]

Development

The graphics were drawn with Sirius's own E-Z Draw software (1980).[3]

Reception

By June 1982 Gorgon had sold 23,000 copies, making it one of the best-selling computer games at the time.[4] Bill Kunkel of Electronic Games called the game "another winner from ace designer Nasir" and "fine home version" of Defender, only criticizing the Apple II's lack of joystick support at the time.[5] BYTE stated that Gorgon "is well programmed and much more enjoyable than the arcade version [and] should provide many hours of enjoyment ... Rest assured that you Nasir Gebelli fans will not be disappointed by this one!"[2]

References

1. Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
2. Callamaras, Peter V (December 1981). "Gorgon". BYTE. p. 90. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
3. "Gorgon Manual". archive.org.
4. "List of Top Sellers". Computer Gaming World. 2 (5): 2. September–October 1982.
5. "Computer Playland". Electronic Games. January 1981. p. 38. Retrieved 28 January 2015.