SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative
Publisher: Sega Activision Developer: Sega Pixies Source System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum ROM Size: 128kB Genre: Shoot-'em-Up Number of Players: 2 Release Date RRP Code World 1987  ? JP 1987-10-24 ¥5,000 G-1338 US 1988 $40.00  ? EU 1988-03 £19.95 MK-5102-50 KR 19xx ₩? GB-1338 EU 19xx £24.99  ? EU 19xx £19.99  ? EU 19xx £14.99  ? EU (Cassette) 19xx £9.99  ? US 19xx $?  ? EU 19xx £14.99  ? EU (Cassette) 19xx £14.99  ? EU 19xx £9.99 URK 301 {{#ifeq: 0 | 3 |

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative is a 1987 shoot-'em-up arcade game developed by Sega for the Sega System 16 arcade platform.

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Ports 3 Production Credits 3.1 Arcade Version 3.2 Commodore 64 Version 4 Physical Scans 4.1 Master System version 4.2 Amiga Version 4.3 Amstrad CPC Version 4.4 Atari ST Version 4.5 Commodore 64 Version 4.6 ZX Spectrum Version

Gameplay

Unusual for its time, SDI has the player assume the role of a satellite, tasked with destroying enemy satellites and missiles. Each level is divided into two "modes" - "offensive" mode, which takes the form of a sidescrolling shoot-'em-up, and "defensive" mode which is built more similarly to Atari's Missile Command. Beating both modes allows the player to progress, however, if the player can destroy all the enemies in offensive mode, defensive mode does not take place.

SDI not only gives the player control over the movement of the satellite, but also its aim. This mechanic was implemented in the original arcade cabinet through the form of a joystick and trackball - the joystick moving the player, the trackball moving the crosshair. On the top of the joystick is a button for firing.

A perfect game of SDI will result in the satellite being replaced with Flicky.

Ports

SDI was ported to the Sega Master System in 1987/1988, where western versions were renamed Global Defense. The Master System version, as well as cutting back on the graphical and audio quality, has to vastly reduce the difficulty of the game to match up with a new control scheme - as the console lacks a trackball, the player needs to switch between moving and aiming during play (holding while moving the D-Pad allows the satellite to move, otherwise the D-Pad only controls the crosshair). This makes moving and aiming at the same time impossible. fires.

Activision brought the game to home computers in Europe - the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum (not to be confused with S.D.I., an unrelated game also released for the Amiga and Atari ST).

These days, SDI is often grouped with another arcade game from the era, Quartet. Both were released as part of Volume 21 of the Sega Ages 2500 series, Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 21: SDI & Quartet: Sega System 16 Collection for the PlayStation 2. SDI & Quartet: Original Soundtrack contains the official soundtrack of both games.

Production Credits

Arcade Version

Planed by: Black Holl Tomo
Project Leader: Joe Kacchan
Programer: Sweet Tohchan, Anatano Pideshi, Ippo Ogapi
Character Design: Saitama Kenji, 8940 Kon
Scene Design: Henchan
Music by: Funky Gerogero
Sound Effects: Nao Chan
Mechanical Engineer: MI.U.I.Hachi
Enemy Creation: Demon Taka
Data Adjust: Nanno Icchan
Special Thanks: Mina Inochi, Hakusyon Daimaohe, Mamiko Chan, Uso Happyaku
Special No Thanks: Ashidematoi People
Presented by: Sega, Chin_Chin Brothers

Commodore 64 Version

(C)1988 Activision
Software Studios
Produced by Neil Jackson
Coding Graphics and Music was Produced by Source the Software House Ltd
Artwork by Bryn Redman, Ross Harris
Music Composed by Paul Summers
Programming by Mike Chilton

Physical Scans

Master System version

	76	Sega Retro Average
		Based on 5 reviews
Publication Score Source ACE 62 №14 Computer & Video Games 80 №78 The Games Machine (UK) 81 №5 Sega Power 80 №23, p57 Sega Pro 78 №3, p19

Amiga Version

	57	Sega Retro Average
		Based on 1 review
Publication Score Source The Games Machine (UK) 57 №22, p91

Amstrad CPC Version

	29	Sega Retro Average
		Based on 1 review
Publication Score Source The Games Machine (UK) 29 №18, p43

Atari ST Version

	74	Sega Retro Average
		Based on 3 reviews
Publication Score Source ACE 84 Computer & Video Games 81 №86 The Games Machine (UK) 56 №14, p81

Commodore 64 Version

	61	Sega Retro Average
		Based on 3 reviews
Publication Score Source Computer & Video Games 54 №116 Computer & Video Games 72 №118 The Games Machine (UK) 56 №18, p43

ZX Spectrum Version

	48	Sega Retro Average
		Based on 2 reviews
Publication Score Source Computer & Video Games 59 №116 The Games Machine (UK) 37 №18, p43