Virus

aka: Bird of Prey, Lander, Zarch
Moby ID: 19494
Acorn 32-bit Specs
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Description

Aliens have infested Earth, and are spreading a deadly virus throughout the planet. Needless to say, they must be stopped, and fast. The time pressure (your score upon completing a level is based on the uninfected percentage of the land) is only one difficult aspect of this shooter.

Viewed in remote 3D with a patchwork-quilt type ground effect, with trees sticking out and full gravity. Controlling your spaceship involves balancing the direction and height as well as thrusting to the right speed. A scanner tells you where the aliens are.

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Screenshots

Credits (Acorn 32-bit version)

Game by

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 79% (based on 19 ratings)

Players

Average score: 2.8 out of 5 (based on 11 ratings with 0 reviews)

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Trivia

Acorn Archimedes version

A demo of the game, still called Lander at the time, was bundled with new Acorn Archimedes computers.

Commodore 64 version

Despite frequent rumours, no C64 version was officially planned.

ZX Spectrum version

The Spectrum version started as a bedroom project, as Firebird did not believe the game was viable on 8-bit systems. It was not until Steve Dunn had written a demo of the ship flying over the landscape that anything official was signed.

Awards

  • ACE
    • October 1988 (issue #13) - Included in the Top-100 list of 1987/1988 (editorial staff selection)
    • March 1991 (issue #42) - Included in the list Greatest Games of all Time in category Shoot-'em-ups (editorial staff choice)
  • Amiga Power
    • May 1991 (Issue #00) - #5 in the "All Time Top 100 Amiga Games"
  • Computer Industry's InDin Awards
    • 1988 - 16 bit Game of the Year
  • ST Format
    • May 1990 (Issue #10) - Included in the list "ST Format's 30 Kick-Ass Classics"

Information also contributed by Indra was here

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Lander
Released 1977 on Commodore PET/CBM
Prey Mobile 3D
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Wings of Prey: Platinum Edition
Released 2012 on Windows
KIM Goes to the Moon
Released 1977 on KIM-1
Space Flight
Released 1977 on SWTPC 6800, HP Programmable Calculator
Skate Bird
Released 2014 on iPhone, iPad, Android
Jumbo Lander
Released 1980 on Commodore PET/CBM, 1982 on Commodore 64, 2006 on VIC-20
Mars Lander
Released 1976 on TI Programmable Calculator, 1977 on HP Programmable Calculator
Marauder
Released 2009 on Windows

Related Sites +

  • Virus - Memories
    article about the development of the ZX Spectrum version, on The Bird Sanctuary

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 19494
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Martin Smith.

Acorn 32-bit added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: EboMike, Sciere, Jo ST.

Game added October 19th, 2005. Last modified January 22nd, 2024.