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Hey there @Haitch2PointOh, I am wondering if you would be willing to look at this one? It's about an early 80s video game series rather than a single game. I'm sure there is plenty about each individual game in the series (Cytron Masters, The Cosmic Balance, Galactic Gladiators, S. E. U. I. S.) as each of those is notable in its own right, but I am wondering if there are any other sources for the series itself as a whole? If so, maybe it can be restored from this version? BOZ (talk) 03:57, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'll look but Wikipedia might not be the right place for articles on these obscure compilations due to lack of notability. One or two sources won't be enough, especially when articles on the singular games or developer (which are more notable) essentially repeat the information. Other wikis with less restrictive guidelines would be a better place. Plus it's very hard to find anything concrete with such common, words with non-unique spellings as the titles. Haitch2PointOh (talk) 17:25, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
OK @Haitch2PointOh, gotcha and thanks for checking. This one is from a major publisher so it may not be obscure. BOZ (talk) 18:15, 1 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Timur9008 do you see anything more for this one based on the notes above? BOZ (talk) 00:34, 11 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nope. Timur9008 (talk) 06:18, 11 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
OK, thanks for checking. BOZ (talk) 09:55, 11 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Cunard do you see anything more for this one based on the notes above? BOZ (talk) 13:12, 18 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi BOZ (talk · contribs). Here are some sources about the subject:

  1. "New Products". Creative Computing. Vol. 8, no. 12. December 1982. p. 358. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via Internet Archive.

    The article notes: "There are four games in the Rapidfire line: Cytron Masters puts the player in command of an army of cytrons who battle other cytron armies, $39.95; Galactic Gladiators features a collection of bizarre creatures from the Bubble galaxy, $39.95; the Cosmic Balance has the player assume the dual role of commander and architect of a starship fleet, $39.95; and Shoot Tim Up In Space allows players to build ships from a choice of six prototypes to form squadrons and fleets, $39.95. Guadalcanal Campaign is a monster computer wargame that is a 40to 80-hourlong simulation of America's most devastating conflict with Japan. $59.95. All games are designed for the 48K Apple II Plus, Apple III, or Apple II with Applesoft ROM Card. Strategic Simulations Inc."

  2. Barnes, Adam (April 2015). "Strategic Simulations Inc. As the rise of personal computers began in earnest, Joel Billings saw an opportunity to modernise his hobby, wargaming. The result was SSI, one of the biggest names in early strategy games and a company that, as Adam Barnes learns, was an important precursor to the videogames industry". Retro Gamer. No. 140. p. 53. ProQuest 2709631564.

    The article notes: "During this period of growth SSI launched its RapidFire brand, a line of games that were published through third-party developers rather than created internally. The branding only lasted for a handful of titles, however, and was discarded by 1984. But in looking at every opportunity it was sent, SSI would stumble on an important shift in the company."

    The article notes in the "Timeline" section: "1982: SSI launches its first RapidFire brand, intended to denote games published by the company rather than developed internally. The branding only survives a handful of titles."

  3. Ritchie, Craig (October 2007). "Strategic Simulations Inc. Developer Lookback: The history of Strategic Simulations Inc reads like a tale in divine providence, with chance meetings and right-place-at-the-right-time stories cropping up more than pure luck should surely allow for. Craig Ritchie guides us through the first in a two-part series look at this RPG and wargaming powerhouse". Retro Gamer. No. 42. p. 38. ProQuest 2705969159. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via Internet Archive.

    The article notes: "With SSI releasing a plethora of hit games and becoming recognised as a leader in strategic and tactical titles, it decided to take a new direction with a new line of products called RapidFire. "We decided we wanted to market games to customers that might not want to play the more serious and slow SSI wargames," says Joel, "so we decided to package them differently and call them RapidFire to emphasise the speed and ease of play -- some of them had real-time or action elements unlike our other games." RapidFire was a success and, now recognised for unique and novel titles as well as its trademark strategy fare, the company started attracting more and more outside talent, including the likes of the legendary Dani Bunten Berry, young programming mastermind Keith Brors, and a talented developer named Chuck Kroegel who would later go on to become the company's vice president of research and development. It was a great time for Strategic Simulations Inc, a company that could seemingly do no wrong."

  4. "Maintaining Cosmic Balance". Electronic Games. Vol. 2, no. 12. March 1984. p. 69. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via Internet Archive.

    The article notes: "Cosmic Balance and Cosmic Balance II (Strategic Simulations/Apple, Atari) are titles in the Rapidfire series of strategy/action games. CB and CB II simulate the broad'

  5. "Strange Lands—and Stranger Battles". Electronic Games. Vol. 1, no. 3. May 1982. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via Internet Archive.

    The article notes: "The Shattered Alliance (Strategic Simulations) gives electronic stratagists the chance to see how they might lead an army in a world where fantastic creatures are an everyday fact and magic is as powerful as artillery. Projected as the first of a lengthy series, The Shattered Alliance makes use of SSI's new "Rapidfire" movement system that is said to greatly speed play."

  6. Bolduc, David (February 1982). "Featured Review: The Shattered Alliance". Space Gamer. No. 48. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via Internet Archive.

    The article notes: "Another significant development is what Strategic Simulations calls its “Rapidfire” game system. In “Rapidfire,” the game, rather than being divided into turns, is divided into “time points.” Each unit uses a specified number of time points to perform an action, and will move again after that many time points have passed. The result is a semi-simultaneous movement system, in which you might move one unit, your opponent moves two, then you might move two or three before your opponent has a chance to move again. Because of the staggered movement, only two units fight at a given time."

  7. Moriarty, Brian (October 1998). "A Tribute to Danie Bunten Berry". Game Developer. No. 35. p. 72. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via Internet Archive.

    The article notes: "The theme of war makes its first appearance in 1982, with Cytron Masters for SSI's RapidFire label. This two-player design offered a curious conjunction of strategy and real-time action in a game that pushed the Apple II hardware to"

Cunard (talk) 01:26, 19 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Awesome, thank you! :) I will restore and put some work into this in the near future. BOZ (talk) 01:31, 19 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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