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f13.net  |  f13.net General Forums  |  Gaming  |  The f13 Radicalthon  |  Topic: Sid Meier's Covert Action by Microprose 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
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Author Topic: Sid Meier's Covert Action by Microprose  (Read 25887 times)
rk47
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on: April 28, 2009, 02:09:21 AM

Combine James Bond & Where in the World is Carmen San Diego and you have Sid Meier's COVERT ACTION !








Download Link: http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/139/Covert+Action.html


You are Max Remington, a CIA Operative tasked with multitude of missions ranging from a local disturbance to threat of national security or even trigger a global crisis!  Beware, the clock is always ticking. Was it the KGB behind all this? The PRC? Or Mossad? Step on the wrong toes and they will go after you in retaliation!

Employ all possible methods to unravel clues and apprehend suspects before the time runs out!


DECRYPT SECRET TRANSMISSIONS TO EXPOSE PLOTS


RAID SAFEHOUSES AND HIDEOUTS TO CAPTURE MEMBERS OF TERRORISTS CELLS


WIRETAP PHONE CONVERSATION TO GATHER CLUES DISCREETLY


Are you a bad enough dude to save the United States?  DRILLING AND MANLINESS







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rk47
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Reply #1 on: April 28, 2009, 02:45:18 AM

Briefing
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:43:25 PM by rk47 »

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rk47
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Reply #2 on: April 28, 2009, 03:41:35 AM

Tehran
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:43:49 PM by rk47 »

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rk47
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Reply #3 on: April 28, 2009, 04:43:22 AM

Khartoum
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:52:54 PM by rk47 »

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rk47
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Reply #4 on: April 28, 2009, 05:31:08 AM

Arrest
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:46:00 PM by rk47 »

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rk47
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Reply #5 on: April 28, 2009, 06:16:48 AM

Prison Break
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:46:25 PM by rk47 »

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Hoax
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l33t kiddie


Reply #6 on: April 28, 2009, 07:32:28 AM

Would read another.

A nation consists of its laws. A nation does not consist of its situation at a given time. If an individual's morals are situational, then that individual is without morals. If a nation's laws are situational, that nation has no laws, and soon isn't a nation.
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LK
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Reply #7 on: April 28, 2009, 08:06:39 AM

Awesome game. I want a modern version. ^^

"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
rk47
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Reply #8 on: April 28, 2009, 08:07:25 AM

I need to figure out what went wrong with my approach. I think I need to let the 'plot' advance while gathering more info before making my move. The moment I grabbed that bypass device and take away their alarm specialist their whole plan fell apart and they went into hiding before I could arrest more.

That never happened in lower difficulties.

1. Local Disturbance
2. National Security
3. Regional Threat <---Current difficulty level
4. Global Crisis

But that's the beauty of the game. For a decisive victory (clean sweep) to be done it's really,really hard. And time limits make decisions hard to make. And it never points you with a complete instruction. They only gives pieces of clue that you have to follow up yourselves.

I wish there's a modern remake for this. Sid said himself that he doesn't like the way the mini-games 'compete with each other' (shooting/driving/decrypts/tracers) so the chances of him remaking it is slim.

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rk47
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Reply #9 on: April 28, 2009, 09:30:59 AM

Plot 2
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:47:06 PM by rk47 »

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LK
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Reply #10 on: April 28, 2009, 01:53:30 PM

I downloaded this and tried to play it but I had no idea what I was doing. This definitely needs some modern era intuitive game design. But I do like the Carmen Sandiego vibe I'm getting out of this one.

Could you imagine a Splinter Cell game or something playing out like this?

"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
rk47
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Reply #11 on: April 28, 2009, 03:53:43 PM

Yeah I'm really dying to download the manual for this game, most of the basic controls I figured out are from basic trial and error but I was lucky that I have the experience of watching my older cousin play this game 9 years ago or so.

Oh managed to google it up  DRILLING AND MANLINESS

CONTROLS
GENERAL INTERFACE   
Change highlight    numeric keypad keys, arrow keys or pull joystick
Choose option    return key, spacebar, or fire button #1
Leave menu/screen    escape key, or fire button #2
Animations off/on    Alt + A
Pause/Restart game    Alt + P
Quit game    Alt + Q
Sound off/on    Alt + S
Joystick off/on    Alt + J
CAR DRIVING CONTROLS   
Increase speed    +/= key
Decrease speed    _/- key
Car turns    keypad/arrow keys
Switch car    spacebar
Arrest suspect    F1
Escape    F2
Follow car    F10
Fast speed    F
Default speed    D
Slow speed    S
Quit chase    Escape
WIRETAPPING/CAR TRACING CONTROLS   
Select chip    keypad/arrow keys, or push joystick
Replace chip    return key, spacebar, or fire button #1
COMBAT AND BREAK-IN CONTROLS   
examine; open/close    F1, Fire button #1
take photo    F2
plant bug    F3
enter password    F4
short throw    F5
medium throw    F6
long throw    F7
remote control    F8
set grenade    F9
select grenade    F10
move    keypad key, push joystick, Shift + keypad, Joystick + Fire button #2
crouch/stand    5 key, fire button #2
fire gun    spacebar, fire button #1
fast speed    F
default speed    D
slow speed    S
CODE BREAKING CONTROLS   
code letter    letter key
replacement letter    letter key
erase letter    spacebar
computer assistance    F1
erase guesses    F10

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rk47
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Reply #12 on: April 28, 2009, 04:07:48 PM

I downloaded this and tried to play it but I had no idea what I was doing. This definitely needs some modern era intuitive game design. But I do like the Carmen Sandiego vibe I'm getting out of this one.

Could you imagine a Splinter Cell game or something playing out like this?

Basic start up is pretty clear at lower level. You usually get a list of clues, and sometimes if you're lucky an address to break in. Narrow down the suspected list of factions. And plan your moves based on it. Check the city you are about to travel to on your datapad to confirm that the important places are there (related factions, the all important addresses). If it seemed too much of a 'stab in the dark' it's best to raid a related faction HQ directly for clues. Perhaps making repeated raids till you build enough data to move in to a specific city.

Example:
John Doe is confirmed to be a member of Marxists and was spotted in London.

Check London on your data list for known locations of Marxists hide out. If it doesn't show up that means it's hidden. You have to raid their known HQ for more info. Break into their office, ransack their file cabinets, F1 to open the drawers then F2 to snap shot the datas. Carry a safe cracking kit to grab those red safes. Remember, you can raid the office repeatedly for different datas but the floor layout will remain the same. However if you alert them too much on your previous entries subsequent break-ins would be much more difficult since they placed more guards. You can see how much security is beefed up from outside the building.

If they never described any activity means they don't suspect a thing.
A few guards peering through windows indicates a low alert level.
Guards patrolling indicates medium alert.
Swarming with guards means you've pissed them off. Better pack a kevlar.

Once you get the data...it'll look like 'Marxist safehouse located in London' you can now proceed to London to capture the Marxist Operative, John Doe.

Fuck I'm having a hard on from just thinking of the possibility of MULTIPLAYER support if a modern remake is in the works. A simultaneous arrest? A split up search in two different cities? Rescuing another agent from capture? There's so much possibilities for co-op game.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 04:10:19 PM by rk47 »

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FatuousTwat
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Reply #13 on: April 28, 2009, 04:08:20 PM

Why do the pictures of the developers all look like mugshots for pederasts?

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
rk47
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Reply #14 on: April 28, 2009, 05:39:11 PM

Iraqi SP, Athens
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 10:14:01 PM by rk47 »

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LK
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Reply #15 on: April 28, 2009, 06:06:47 PM

This would make an awesome iPhone app.

"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
rk47
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Reply #16 on: April 28, 2009, 06:16:56 PM

The raid on the Marxists office begins.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:52:21 PM by rk47 »

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rk47
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Reply #17 on: April 28, 2009, 07:43:46 PM

Developments
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:51:40 PM by rk47 »

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NiX
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Reply #18 on: April 28, 2009, 07:51:22 PM

I'd try this game, but I really think you make it sound more interesting than I'll find it.
rk47
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Reply #19 on: April 28, 2009, 08:22:15 PM

Damascus


« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:51:08 PM by rk47 »

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Reply #20 on: April 28, 2009, 09:01:15 PM

Khartoum
« Last Edit: April 28, 2009, 09:53:23 PM by rk47 »

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FatuousTwat
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Reply #21 on: April 28, 2009, 09:13:57 PM

Thanks for the updates, seems like a cool game.


I gotta ask... You have the day off today? :)

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
Zar
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Reply #22 on: April 28, 2009, 09:19:58 PM

Looks like a fun game.  Surprised I'd never heard of it before.  I had a blast with Where in the [world/usa/wherever] is Carmen Sandiego games when I was a youngster, and this looks to be an interesting take on that.

This thread sure is annoying as shit to load though.
rk47
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Reply #23 on: April 28, 2009, 09:42:55 PM

Thanks for the updates, seems like a cool game.


I gotta ask... You have the day off today? :)

Yeah.  Oh ho ho ho. Reallllly? And nothing to play.

Looks like a fun game.  Surprised I'd never heard of it before.  I had a blast with Where in the [world/usa/wherever] is Carmen Sandiego games when I was a youngster, and this looks to be an interesting take on that.

This thread sure is annoying as shit to load though.

Perhaps I should Spoiler the updates.

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rk47
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Reply #24 on: April 28, 2009, 10:13:25 PM

Return to Damascus


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rk47
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Reply #25 on: April 29, 2009, 12:19:46 AM

Baghdad


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rk47
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Reply #26 on: April 29, 2009, 12:41:22 AM

Rescue Operation


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Mosesandstick
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Reply #27 on: April 29, 2009, 12:45:25 AM

Exciting  awesome, for real
rk47
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Reply #28 on: April 29, 2009, 01:15:10 AM



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Reply #29 on: April 29, 2009, 12:01:27 PM

Nice 80s hair, ladies.

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justdave
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Reply #30 on: April 29, 2009, 02:59:11 PM

This is kind of like Sid Meier's Tom Clancy.

"They started to resist with a crust that was welded with human brain and willpower."
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Reply #31 on: May 02, 2009, 02:23:41 AM

The game freezes as soon as I try to break into a building ?

"I've been done enough around here..."- Signe
rk47
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Reply #32 on: May 02, 2009, 04:31:57 AM

Did you try running it on DOSBOX? Or are you running it from command prompt?

Just load it up on DosBox for headache-free abandonware gaming. Increase Cycle speed to 10,000 and you'll have fun.

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antitu
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Reply #33 on: July 24, 2009, 12:44:24 PM

Caught this thread while doing a Google search.

First, I have played and beaten this game probably over one hundred times (no joke) since I first played it in 1993.  I love it.  If anyone needs some help, or a PDF of the manual fire away.

Second, I was searching because we (a friend of mine and I) are working on a rewrite of the game.  It will stick to the original just with modern equipment.  When released it will be open source and free for the taking.

Have fun all!

Soln
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Reply #34 on: July 24, 2009, 02:04:03 PM

christ this is a detailed game. Thx for the write up.  Will read all when I have more time  Oh ho ho ho. Reallllly?
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