Dactyl Nightmare © 1991 Virtuality, Ltd.
The Dactyl Nightmare experience has two derivatives. The pistol based 'shoot-em-up' version, and a more advanced hand to hand combat version known as 'Capture the Flag'. The World's first discrete entertainment experience places the player in a surreal world of chequered platforms and Escher -like pillars and archways. Designed as a one to four player interactive Experience, in Training Mode the player must simply seek and destroy the other animated beings trapped in this alternative world with them -usually other human opponents in linked Cyberspace systems!
Advanced Mode brings axes, shields and crossbows, and more involved 'Capture the Flag' gameplay where players must co-operate towards a common goal -bringing longevity to an easy-to-understand concept. The player soon forgets it's a world of fantasy, plunged into an ultrareal setting trying to avoid the menacing intentions of giant swooping pterodactyls in this game of unprecedented realism.
1000CS hardware
Amiga 3000 based
Graphics :
- Texture mapping capability : no
- Number of Polygon/second : 30,000 flat shaded f: 20 f/s
- Maximum No. of moving objects : 256
- Other graphical info : flat Shaded, TMS 34020 graphic processor with TMs 34082 coprocessor
Sound :
- 1 Mb 8Bit sample memory (Stereo)
- Background music : yes, CD audio
Maximum no. of locally networked units: 4
Other technical description : Mic-Net support, supports PAL
Players: Up to 4 simultaneously
Control : headset tracker, 3-D joystick
The game was originally called 'Nightmare'.
Only 350 1000CS's units were created, with 120 of these being installed inside the US. The system was sold as a Stand alone Point of Display unit, retailing for $60,000. The machine went out of production during 1994. Second-hand units currently retail for around $10,000 - $20,000.