Games published by Carr Software
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We provide a complete list of games published by this publisher.
Capture the flag
CGW's Chuck Miller said it all in his review of this wildly popular shareware game: 'Based on the traditional outdoor game of the same name, [Capture the flag] pits the player against an opponent (human or computer) in an effort to capture the other's flag.
The objective is quite simple: capture the enemy's flag before your own flag is taken. Unlike most war games, Capture the flag is primarily a non-violent offering with a short learning curve. There is no death or destruction; no one is ever killed. Like its namesake, enemy players are captured (in a cute cartoon-style animated scuffle) and sent to 'prison', a holding area, where they remain for the entire game (or a set number of turns). The game] is very easy to play. Two small teams are deployed on a large battlefield. The game is turn-based, with each player moving their characters and assigning them individual commands until the available movement points have been spent. The playing field itself is composed of several well-designed and varied terrain types, ranging from flat grasslands to forests, and even rocky wastelands. In addition, a terrain editor is provided to build your own battlefields. The graphics are of very good quality and provide a pleasant game environment (the appearance is similar to that of a Windows-based product). Character animation during movement is smooth. The sound effects enhance the gaming experience. The icon-based interface is simple and very intuitive, to the point that the few instructions needed to play are available through an integrated help function.
Overall, it is evident that care has been taken in the development of this product, the presentation of which is of commercial quality'.
Rescue
The Islands of Danger remains to this day one of the most unique and memorable text-based games ever written. As one of the first shareware titles programmed by Richard Carr, IoD bodes well for his later minor fame as the creator of Capture the Flag, another shareware classic. J. Michael Ambrosio wrote a great review of what makes IoD so much fun: 'Islands of Danger is an arcade-style game that pits you and your hovercraft against a series of seven islands that have been fortified with missile launchers. You must pilot your hovercraft in and around forests and swamps, blast your way through walls and dodge mountains, all while deftly avoiding an endless barrage of guided missiles. Can you make it to the last island and rescue your best friend? Every aspect of this game is impressive: the broad and colorful visual design, the fast-paced gameplay, the attention-grabbing sound effects, the extensive online help. But, as a programmer, what has impressed me most is the surprising degree of artificial intelligence that the game exhibits. First, there is the island generation algorithm. All the islands are randomly generated, so the game offers new challenges every time you play. But the island layouts are surprisingly complex, considering they are computer-generated. There is a mix of open fields, mountain ranges and dense forests. There are narrow corridors through forests and around swamps that barely leave any room for your hovercraft to pass through. If you follow these passages, you will almost always find a group of missile launchers at the end. This is especially evident in the last three islands of the sequel, Islands of Courage. Another sign of intelligence is in the behavior of the guided missiles. In most games, you expect the missiles to come straight at you, fast and furious. In this game, each missile has its own plan of attack. If a group of missiles is headed toward your ship, some of them will take the direct route. But sometimes, they will simply fly past you, then turn around and come up behind you. Other times, they'll head straight for your line of fire, then suddenly stop and change direction, just before you're about to fire at them. They almost never come straight at you, but dance back and forth, confusing your attempts to destroy them until they are almost on top of you. It's really amazing to see the missiles and how they seem to work together to defeat you'. Overall, a great example of how great gameplay can be created without flashy graphics. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Pyro 2, another ASCII classic.
