Incoming - Aliens, more aliens, a load more after that and not much else (A Friend Recalls)
#DecemberisDreamcastMonth
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A short retrospective review of Incoming, the PC and Dreamcast game by Rage Software. Given free to people who purchased a VooDoo2 3D accelerator card for their computers this game built a niche fan audience but struggled to replicate that success on the Sega Dreamcast.
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This is part of a video series providing retrospective analysis of popular culture (video games, books, comics, movies), trying to understand how our taste in entertainment has changed over the last few decades. In these videos look at topics such as the history behind their creation, the cultural impact they had on the wider world or just celebrate high watermarks - experiences that deserve to be celebrated. In 2018 video gaming became the worlds single most popular form of entertainment however that does not mean other forms are dead or deserve to be forgotten. We have been fortunate enough to reap the benefits of an evolving industry that learns from both it's successes and mistakes - and I've been learning as a consumer. This series is designed to celebrate and share important milestones and significant releases; be they good or bad.
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From Wikipedia:
Incoming is a 3D shooter video game developed by Rage Software and published by Interplay. The game was first released for Microsoft Windows in late 1998, and was followed by a Sega Dreamcast version, which was released in Japan on December 17, 1998, in Europe on October 14, 1999, and in North America on September 15, 1999. Set in the near-future of 2009, the game primarily revolves around controlling vehicles and turrets to fight alien invaders of Earth in one of the campaign modes, the arcade mode, and with or against another player. Some levels include brief real-time strategy segments.
Praised for its then-advanced graphics and sound, the game was generally well-received on the PC, though the critical response was less positive for the Dreamcast version. A sequel entitled Incoming Forces was released in 2002 exclusively for the PC. An arcade version of the game, utilising a unique hardware interface, was released in 2003.
Primarily a vehicle simulation game, the player controls one of a number of possible vehicles in order to complete objectives. The vehicle used could be an aerial craft, defence emplacement, or surface craft, and is usually armed with a primary weapon (with unlimited ammunition) and sometimes secondary weapons (with either a limited or infinite supply). Incoming employs an arcade style; in particular, the logging of high scores and a "life" system.
There are three different game modes. The campaign mode follows the main storyline, in which the player must complete a series of objectives to neutralise the alien threat. Typical goals include transporting cargo and defending allied convoys. Two variants of the campaign exist: "campaign action" purely consists of the simulation missions; "campaign tactics" features the same main missions as campaign action, but with some extra sub-missions. These sub-missions take place in the "tactical display", where the player controls several vehicles and gun emplacements in a similar manner to real-time strategy games.
Either campaign consists of ten missions (referred to as "phases" in the game) in each of the six locations. These locations can also be accessed in the arcade mode. This mode sees the player fight off alien craft while picking up as many power-ups as is possible. The same mechanics apply to the multiplayer mode, with some slight variations depending on the game type selected. Multiplayer is available in split-screen mode on both platforms, in addition to networking and Internet options on the PC version.
