''Epoch'' is a space combat simulator for the

Apple II The Apple II (stylized as ) is an 8-bit home computer and one of the world's first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. It was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak; Jerry Manock developed the design of Apple II's foam-m ...

written by Larry Miller and published by

Sirius Software Sirius Software was a video game publisher of Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and VIC-20 games in the early 1980s. Sirius also developed games for the Atari 2600 which were published by 20th Century Fox Video Games. History The com ...

in 1981.

Gameplay

''Epoch'' uses a first-person camera to aim at oncoming enemy spaceships. The player must steer the

reticle A reticle, or reticule also known as a graticule, is a pattern of fine lines or markings built into the eyepiece of an optical device such as a telescopic sight, spotting scope, theodolite, optical microscope or the screen of an oscilloscope, ...

in-line with the enemy ships in order to destroy them before they destroy the player's ship. The player does not have infinite ammo or fuel, but can steer the ship towards friendly spaceships and bases to refuel.

Reception

Ron Boerger reviewed ''Epoch'' in ''

The Space Gamer ''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...

'' No. 48, commenting that "this is an excellent game. If you like arcade-type games, ''Epoch'' is a must; it's among the best out for the Apple." Barry Gittleman reviewed the game for ''

Computer Gaming World ''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American computer game magazine published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 1993. It expanded greatly through ...

'', and stated that "If you are the type that likes simple games, like ''Space Invaders'', pinball, etc., you will probably have a bit of trouble adjusting to ''Epoch'', which at times can be a very high speed game. Most computer gamers, especially space and shoot-em-up lovers, will enjoy this game. It is planned out in detail, and well programmed."

References

External links

Softalk reviewReview
in

Personal Computer World ''Personal Computer World'' (''PCW'') (February 1978 - June 2009) was the first British computer magazine. Although for at least the last decade it contained a high proportion of Windows PC content (reflecting the state of the IT field), the mag ...

1984 Software Encyclopedia
from

Electronic Games An electronic game is a game that uses electronics to create an interactive system with which a player can play. Video games are the most common form today, and for this reason the two terms are often used interchangeably. There are other common ...

Epoch disassembly and analysis
{{Videogame-stub 1981 video games Apple II games Apple II-only games Sirius Software games Space combat simulators Video games developed in the United States