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General discussion (archive)Release: Sid Meier's Covert Action(112 posts)(112 posts)
(112 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted January 16, 2014
Intelligence proper.

Sid Meier's Covert Action, a 1990 classic CIA operative simulator with unlimited number of cases for you to solve, is available on GOG.com for only $5.99.

Let me tell you, if the people knew everything that's happening around the world, they couldn't lead their normal lives. They'd be paralyzed with fear. If they only knew how many times a year the cities they live in become a theater of a silent game between the agencies, terrorists, and crime syndicates they would fear to step out in the street. They couldn't live knowing how many times a steady hand stops the clock on a bomb at exactly 00:01 seconds. How many times a silent bullet shot from a sniper rifle flies just an inch over their head. They can't ever find out. That's why we act silently to stop all threats. All of our actions, are covert actions.

Sid Meier's Covert Action will have you taking on the role of CIA agent Maxine "Max" Remington or her male counterpart, Maximillian, and solving seemingly impossible situations in ver 45 cities on 3 continents. You will tap phone lines, crack complex codes, defeat computerized defense systems, and track suspects around the globe as you put together the pieces to a worldwide criminal plot. The work of a secret agent is never over--you'll be able to stay on duty indefinitely, as the game provides an infinite number of randomly generated missions. Be sure, that each play session will surprise you with something unexpected!

Get undercover and experience all the dangers, excitement, and challenge of a secret agent's life in Sid Meier's Covert Action, for only $5.99 on GOG.com.

NOTICE:
The manual for the game will be added to the bonus section as soon as possible. We have our top field agent working towards acquiring it as we speak!
Posted January 16, 2014
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Psyringe: There ought to be a way in DOSBox to remap the numpad keys to something usable on a laptop.
There is: http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Mapper.
Posted January 16, 2014
I remember having this game on the Amiga, I could never get very far at all.

Maybe i'll give it another go.
Posted January 16, 2014
Cool release. It will be exciting to see other Microprose games arrive to GOG as well.
Posted January 16, 2014
Interesting, I don't remember ever hearing about this Sid title. It'll have to go on the wishlist for now. But also may want to fix the announcement text

impossible situations in ver 45 cities on 3 continents
I assume it's supposed to over
Posted January 16, 2014
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BlueKronos: Interesting, I don't remember ever hearing about this Sid title.
Same here.

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BlueKronos: I assume it's supposed to over
Indeed, it's "over" (no pun intended :D) in the gamecard.
Posted January 16, 2014
I downloaded it as *cough* "abandonware" *cough* years ago, but never got to properly play it until last year.

It's brilliant and deserves a modern remake or sequel. it's a shame, however, that any modern sequel would tack in a "proper plot" and ruin everything with cutscenes and such. but the action (sneaking) sections would benefit from an upgrade, along with the driving (I always planted a bug instead of driving after a suspect).

I'll probably buy it later on.
Posted January 16, 2014
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salaminizer: I downloaded it as *cough* "abandonware" *cough* years ago, but never got to properly play it until last year.

It's brilliant and deserves a modern remake or sequel. it's a shame, however, that any modern sequel would tack in a "proper plot" and ruin everything with cutscenes and such. but the action (sneaking) sections would benefit from an upgrade, along with the driving (I always planted a bug instead of driving after a suspect).

I'll probably buy it later on.
It seems that Meier regards the game as a failed experiment because he feels the various minigames implemented made the gameplay too unfocused. He said he has a personal rule called "the Covert Action rule" that he now uses to keep his game designs more streamlined.
Posted January 16, 2014
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salaminizer: I downloaded it as *cough* "abandonware" *cough* years ago, but never got to properly play it until last year.

It's brilliant and deserves a modern remake or sequel. it's a shame, however, that any modern sequel would tack in a "proper plot" and ruin everything with cutscenes and such. but the action (sneaking) sections would benefit from an upgrade, along with the driving (I always planted a bug instead of driving after a suspect).

I'll probably buy it later on.
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andysheets1975: It seems that Meier regards the game as a failed experiment because he feels the various minigames implemented made the gameplay too unfocused. He said he has a personal rule called "the Covert Action rule" that he now uses to keep his game designs more streamlined.
To quote him :

"The mistake I think I made in Covert Action is actually having two games in there kind of competing with each other. There was kind of an action game where you break into a building and do all sorts of picking up clues and things like that, and then there was the story which involved a plot where you had to figure out who the mastermind was and the different roles and what cities they were in, and it was a kind of an involved mystery-type plot.

I think, individually, those each could have been good games. Together, they fought with each other. You would have this mystery that you were trying to solve, then you would be facing this action sequence, and you'd do this cool action thing, and you'd get on the building, and you'd say, "What was the mystery I was trying to solve?" Covert Action integrated a story and action poorly, because the action was actually too intense. In Pirates!, you would do a sword fight or a ship battle, and a minute or two later, you were kind of back on your way. In Covert Action, you'd spend ten minutes or so of real time in a mission, and by the time you got out of [the mission], you had no idea of what was going on in the world."

I think he wasn't enterely wrong. Still Pirates or Sword of the SamuraÏ both had the same features and were above par in their time.
Posted January 16, 2014
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MoP: \o/
Another this-is-what-I'm-talkin'about Thursday, keep it up. Go Tomo!
I had never heard of Tommo before, now I just want to have their babies.
Posted January 16, 2014
hah, good release. remember playing this on my Amiga :)

speaking of which - it there much difference between the dos and amiga version? I must admit I know absolutely nothing about the dos version
Post edited January 16, 2014 by amok
Posted January 16, 2014
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Phc7006: I think he wasn't enterely wrong.
HE WAS. Okay, I speak for myself, but I never felt that I was losing the point of these action squences, I was always playing through them with the anticipation of the clue they'd lead to and the consequence on the investigation.

Do you lose the point of the film's plot after a james bond brawl ?
Posted January 16, 2014
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BlueKronos: Interesting, I don't remember ever hearing about this Sid title.
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Thespian*: Same here.
I only heard about it a few years ago because of Ancient Dos Games.
Posted January 16, 2014
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FoxySage: I only heard about it a few years ago because of Ancient Dos Games.
Ditto for me.
Posted January 16, 2014
Awesome! I loved playing this back in the day.
Posted January 16, 2014
No waterboarding, no buy.
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General discussion (archive)Release: Sid Meier's Covert Action(112 posts)(112 posts)
(112 posts)