Strike Force Harrier

Short description: 1986 video game

Strike Force Harrier

Publisher(s)| Mirrorsoft
Designer(s)| Rod Hyde[1]
Platform(s)| BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, MS-DOS,[2] Amiga, Atari ST
Release| 1986[3]
Genre(s)| Combat flight simulation
Mode(s)| Single-player

Strike Force Harrier is a 1986 combat flight simulation video game designed by Rod Hyde and published by Mirrorsoft for the 8-bit home computers. 16-bit ports were released later.

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Reception
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links
* 6 Features
* 7 History
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## Gameplay

The game simulates the flying of the British attack aircraft Harrier jump jet, known for its vertical takeoff and landing. The objective is to attack an enemy base 250 miles away, filled with MiG fighters, SAM sites, and tanks. The game can't be cleared in one go, each sector must be cleared to establish landing, refuelling, and rearming bases for the land forces. A HUD displays essential information on the cockpit window. A radar screen plots the position and any enemies nearby. Red traces warn of missiles requiring evasive action.[4]

## Reception

Reception

| Review scores

Publication| Score
ACE| 6/10 (ST)[2]
Amtix| 90%[5]
Crash| 83% (ZX)[7]
CVG| 37/40 (BBC)[8]
31/40 (C64)[9]
29/40 (ZX)[9]
Zzap!64| 68% (C64)[10]
Commodore User| 8/10 (C64, Amiga)[11][12]
Computer Gamer| 80% (ZX)[4]
| Award

Publication| Award
Sinclair User| SU Classic[13]

Amtix called the game better than Skyfox and Spitfire 40. They summarized the game as "[a] simply superb fight simulation with loads of potential".[5] Crash said that "though by no means the best on the Spectrum, Strike Force Harrier is quite reasonable. As a flight sim, this is pretty good".[7] Computer and Video Games reviewed the BBC Micro version and concluded: "A classy, polished and highly addictive simulation, this is a game to keep".[8] When reviewing the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum versions they said that "Strike Force Harrier is set to become a classic of its type on all formats".[9] Zzap!64 summarized: "Not a brilliant flight simulator, but one of the more exciting on the market".[10]

## See also

* Harrier Combat Simulator, a 1987 video game by the same designer and publisher, simulating the same aircraft

## References

1. ↑ "Front of the game box". Strike Force Harrier (Mirrorsoft). https://www.mobygames.com/game/18415/strike-force-harrier/cover/group-24430/cover-61976/. "Program designed by Rod Hyde".
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Flight Simulators - Strike Force Harrier". ACE (Future plc) (5): 72. February 1988. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-05/page/n71/mode/2up.
3. ↑ Rod Hyde. Strike Force Harrier. ZX Spectrum. Mirrorsoft. Level/area: Title screen. "©1986 Mirrorsoft Ltd. ©1986 Rod Hyde"
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "High Flyers - Strike Force Harrier (Mirrorsoft)". Computer Gamer (Argus Specialist Publications) (22): 22–23. January 1987. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gamer_Issue_22_1987-01_Argus_Press_GB/page/n21/mode/2up.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Reviews - Strike Force Harrier". Amtix (Newsfield Publications Ltd) (6): 30–31. April 1986. https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-06/page/n29/mode/2up.
6. ↑ Strack, Martina (November 1986). "Denk(-)mal! - Senkrechtstarter" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) (9/86): 66. https://archive.org/details/asm_magazine-1986-09/page/n65/mode/2up. "Grafik: 9/12, Handhabung: 7/12, Technik/Strategie: 10/12, Spielwert: 10/12".
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Reviews - Strike Force Harrier". Crash (Newsfield Publications Ltd) (33): 120–121. October 1986. https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-33/page/n119/mode/2up.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Software Reviews - Strike Force Harrier [BBC Micro"]. Computer and Video Games (Future plc) (52): 23. February 1986. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_052_1986-02_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n21/mode/2up. "Graphics: 9, Sound: 8, Value: 10, Playability: 10".
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Metcalfe, Tim (October 1986). "Software Reviews - Strike Force Harrier [C64, Spectrum"]. Computer and Video Games (Future plc) (60): 38. https://archive.org/details/ComputerAndVideoGamesIssue060Oct86/page/n37/mode/2up. "Graphics: 8 (C64) 7 (Spec), Sound: 7 (C64) 6 (Spec), Value: 8, Playability: 8".
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Test - Strike Force Harrier". Zzap!64 (Newsfield Publications Ltd) (19): 138. November 1986. https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-019/page/n137/mode/2up.
11. ↑ Hutchinson, John (November 1986). "Screen Scene - Strike Force Harrier [C64"]. Commodore User (EMAP) (38): 26–27. https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-38/page/n25/mode/2up.
12. ↑ Frogsac, Ian J. (April 1988). "Screen Scene - Strike Force Harrier [Amiga"]. Commodore User (EMAP) (55): 26–27. https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-55/page/n69/mode/2up.
13. ↑ Game review, Sinclair User magazine, EMAP, issue 55, October 1986, page 43

## External links

* MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

## Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

## History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

## See also

* IGDB - game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/.
2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521.
8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned.
10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner.
11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames.
12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/.
14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/.
15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/.
16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.

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