Artillery

"Artillery" is a classic computer game written by Jeff Jessy and published by Creative Computing in the late 1970s. It was designed for early personal computers, including the Commodore PET. The game is a turn-based strategy simulation where players control artillery units to fire projectiles at each other, adjusting angle, velocity, and other factors to hit the opponent. The gameplay is inspired by the real-world mechanics of artillery fire, incorporating physics calculations to determine trajectory and impact.

The game was part of a wave of early computer games that emphasized simple yet engaging mechanics, often requiring players to manually input parameters like angle and power to achieve their goals. "Artillery" was notable for its educational value, as it introduced players to basic physics concepts such as projectile motion and gravity. It was also one of the first games to feature competitive two-player gameplay, making it a popular choice for early computer enthusiasts.

Creative Computing, the publisher, was a prominent name in the early days of personal computing, known for distributing software and games for platforms like the Commodore PET. Jeff Jessy's work on "Artillery" contributed to the growing interest in computer games during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The game's influence can be seen in later titles that adopted similar mechanics, such as "Scorched Earth" and modern artillery-style games.