WarGames: Defcon 1

{{Infobox video game

|title = WarGames: Defcon 1

|image = WarGames - Defcon 1 Coverart.png

|caption = European cover box

|publisher = MGM Interactive{{vgrelease|EU|Electronic Arts}}

|released = {{vgrelease|EU|June 1998 (PS)|NA|29 July 1998{{cite web|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_07/29_new/index.html|title=New Releases|author=GameSpot staff|date=29 July 1998|website=GameSpot|publisher=Ziff Davis|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128171339/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_07/29_new/index.html|archivedate=28 January 1999|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/videogamescoms-game-calendar/1100-2464499/|title=videogames.com's Game Calendar [date mislabeled as "March 14, 2000"]|last=Muldoon|first=Moira|date=31 July 1998|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990421121901/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_07/31_consolecal/index.html|archivedate=21 April 1999|url-status=live|accessdate=30 March 2021}}|EU|21 August 1998 (PC)}}

|director =John Whigham
Richard Hackett

|designer =Leigh Griffiths
Satty Mann

|programmer =Ian Bird
Andrew Oliver
John Whigham
Richard Hackett

|writer =John Badham
John Tarnoff

|artist =Stephen Thomson

|composer =Tommy Tallarico
Fabian Del Priore

|producer =Robb Alvey
Jim Banting
Robert Rader
Sean Wilson

|genre = Tactical shooter, Real-time strategy

|platforms = PlayStation, Windows

|modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

WarGames: Defcon 1 (known simply as WarGames on PC) is a video game for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows developed by Interactive Studios and co-published by MGM Interactive and Electronic Arts (in North America, MGM Interactive solely published the game). Although both versions possess the same missions and content, the PlayStation version is a tactical vehicle-shooting game while the PC version is a real-time strategy game (similar to Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds). The game is loosely based on the movie WarGames; the story was scripted by John Badham, director of the original film.{{cite magazine |title=Sneak Previews: WarGames|magazine=GamePro|issue=114|publisher=IDG|date=March 1998|page=64}}

PlayStation version

The player plays as NORAD or WOPR. The game takes place 20 years after the film: WOPR attempts to exterminate humanity and NORAD tries to stop it.{{cite magazine |title=WarGames: Defcon 1 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=104 |date=March 1998 |page=60}} During a mission the player takes control of a vehicle and can change the controls of any vehicle the team has—for example, while NORAD has heavily armored and armed tanks and aircraft, WOPR possesses exotically futuristic mechs and hovercraft. Vehicles can recharge ammunition by obtaining powers. The player can command their team to send resupply on ammunition, repair damage units, attack, or follow the player's main vehicle.

=Multiplayer=

WarGames: Defcon 1 features 2-player split screen VS. or Co-op.{{cite magazine |title=WarGames: Defcon 1 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=106 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=May 1998|page=47}} The Co-op allows the players to play all single player levels with a partner. Unlike most multiplayer games, the screen is split diagonally.

PC version

Unlike the PlayStation version, the PC version is a real-time strategy game,{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_32/page/n20|title=In the Studio|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=32|date=August 1997|page=19|quote=MGM Interactive is the most recent publisher to catch the real-time strategy bug. ... A PlayStation strategy title of the same name is following, but will be distinctly different in design.}} in which the player can control different units at once. The missions are identical to the PlayStation version.

The electronic registration program included on the game CD contained the Marburg computer virus; playing the game would not cause the player's computer to be infected with the virus, but registering it electronically would.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/14/wargames-plagued-by-virus|title=WarGames Plagued by Virus|last=Bates|first=Jason|date=13 August 1998|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=20 March 2021}}

Development

WarGames: Defcon 1 was one of the few strategy games of its time to not use a tile system, instead allowing troops to be place and moved freely across the landscape. Team leader John Whigham commented, "While this is of great benefit to the player and to the game in general, the programming nightmares it raises have given us more than one sleepless night over the last few months."{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_36/page/n145/mode/2up|title=NG Alphas: WarGames|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=36|date=December 1997|pages=144–45|accessdate=30 March 2021}} The game was showcased at E3 1997{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Johnston|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/09_mgm/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980119052411/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/09_mgm/index.html|title=MGM's E3 Lineup|website=GameSpot|archivedate=January 19, 1998|date=June 9, 1997|accessdate=July 26, 2022}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| PC = true

| PS = true

| na = true

| GR_PC = 66%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/46083-wargames/index.html|title=WarGames for PC|website=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609144626/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/46083-wargames/index.html|archivedate=9 June 2019|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| GR_PS = 78%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199262-wargames-defcon-1/index.html|title=WarGames: Defcon 1 for PlayStation|website=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501050239/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199262-wargames-defcon-1/index.html|archivedate=1 May 2019|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| CNG_PC = 7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1962,00.html|title=WarGames|last=Rausch|first=Allen|date=23 July 1998|website=Gamecenter|publisher=CNET|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816112040/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1962,00.html|archivedate=16 August 2000|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| CGSP_PC = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/014/003/wargames_review.html|title=WarGames|last=Hunter|first=Scott|date=25 August 1998|website=Computer Games Strategy Plus|publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030529181325/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/014/003/wargames_review.html|archivedate=29 May 2003|url-status=dead|accessdate=31 March 2021}}

| CGW_PC = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_172.pdf|title=Your Move–If You Want It (WarGames Review)|last=Clarkson|first=Mark|magazine=Computer Gaming World|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=172|date=November 1998|page=324|accessdate=31 March 2021}}

| Edge_PC = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk062/page/n85/mode/2up|title=Wargames [sic] (PC)|author=Edge staff|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=62|date=September 1998|page=95|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| Edge_PS = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk061/page/n83/mode/2up|title=Wargames [sic] (PS)|author=Edge staff|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=61|date=August 1998|page=96|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| EGM_PS = 7.125/10{{cite magazine|title=WarGames: Defcon 1|author=EGM staff|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=110|date=September 1998}}

| GI_PS = 7.25/10{{cite magazine|title=Wargames [sic]: Defcon 1|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=FuncoLand|issue=65|date=September 1998}}

| GamePro_PC = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_109_August_1998/page/n87/mode/2up|title=WarGames|author=Boba Fatt|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG Entertainment|issue=119|date=August 1998|page=87|accessdate=30 March 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PC version two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, 2/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for overall fun factor.}}

| GamePro_PS = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/365.shtml|title=WarGames: Defcon 1 Review for PC on GamePro.com|author=Boba Fatt|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG Entertainment|issue=120|date=September 1998|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214062518/http://gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/365.shtml|archivedate=14 February 2005|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 March 2021}}{{efn|GamePro gave the PlayStation version three 4.5 scores for graphics, sound, and control, and 4.5/5 for overall fun factor.}}

| GameRev_PC = C+{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33302-wargames-review|title=WarGames Review|last=Hubble|first=Calvin|date=September 1998|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910133823/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/wargames|archivedate=10 September 2015|url-status=live|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| GSpot_PC = 7.1/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wargames-review/1900-2531819/|title=WarGames Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]|last=Ryan|first=Michael E.|date=10 August 1998|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050127163830/https://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/wargames/review.html|archivedate=27 January 2005|url-status=live|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| GSpot_PS = 7.6/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wargames-defcon-1-review/1900-2550152/|title=WarGames: Defcon 1 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]|last=Gerstmann|first=Jeff|date=7 August 1998|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| IGN_PC = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/19/wargames|title=WarGames|last=Bates|first=Jason|date=18 August 1998|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| NGen_PC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_46/page/n137/mode/2up|title=WarGames|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=46|date=October 1998|page=134|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| NGen_PS = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_46/page/n133/mode/2up|title=WarGames: Defcon 1|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=46|date=October 1998|page=130|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| OPM_PS = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=WarGames: Defcon 1|magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine|publisher=Ziff Davis|volume=1|issue=12|date=September 1998}}

| PCA_PC = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL02Oct1998/page/n113/mode/2up|title=WarGames|last=Lee|first=John|magazine=PC Accelerator|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=2|date=October 1998|page=108|accessdate=30 March 2021}}

| PCGUS_PC = 81%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer199810/page/n211/mode/2up|title=WarGames|last=McDonald|first=T. Liam|magazine=PC Gamer|publisher=Imagine Media|volume=5|issue=10|date=October 1998|pages=204–5|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991210205048/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/76.html|archivedate=10 December 1999|url-status=live|accessdate=31 March 2021}}

}}

The PlayStation version received favourable reviews, while the PC version received average reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Next Generation called the former version "a fun romp that is, unfortunately, a bit on the short side. A two-player combat option alleviates this problem somewhat. The bottom line? If you have a second player handy, get it. If not, rent it – it makes for a good three-day weekend of fun"; and called the latter "a fairly competent and well-crafted game. It just doesn't take the genre in any new direction and feels like little more than a me-too effort." Mark Kanarick of AllGame gave Defcon 1 two-and-a-half stars out of five, saying, "I like what MGM Interactive is trying to do in WarGames Defcon 1, but the game just seems to far out there for someone who is not a strategy/wargame enthusiast to grasp. I think it is enjoyable for those looking for a 'different' game, but there is nothing substantial here to warrant anything more than a rental."{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7995&tab=review|title=WarGames: Defcon 1 - Review|last=Kanarick|first=Mark|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115120636/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7995&tab=review|archivedate=15 November 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 March 2021}}