Firetrack [SEP] publisher
Firetrack
Firetrack is a vertically-scrolling shooter programmed by Nick Pelling and released for the BBC Micro and Commodore 64 platforms in 1987 by Electric Dreams Software. It was also ported to the Acorn Electron by Superior Software in 1989 as part of the "Play It Again Sam 7" compilation. It resembles the 1984 arcade game "Star Force" in style and gameplay. The game was technically advanced and very well received by critics.
Gameplay.
The player controls a fighter ship which flies at constant speed and heading
often resulting in graphical flicker or visible redraw. A notable exception is Players' "Joe Blade" series.
Technical information Tricks.
Technical information Tricks FireTrack: smooth vertical scrolling.
Although programs can alter the position of the screen in memory, the non-linear format of the display means that vertical scrolling can only be done in blocks of 8 pixels without further work.
"FireTrack" exploits a division in the way the Electron handles its display — of the seven available graphics modes, two are configured so that the