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Laser Hawk

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Laser Hawk
Developer(s)Andrew Bradfield[1]
Publisher(s)Red Rat Software
Artist(s)Harvey A. Kong Tin
Platform(s)Atari 8-bit
Release1986
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter

Laser Hawk is a horizontally scrolling shooter published for Atari 8-bit computers by UK-based Red Rat Software. It was created in Dunedin, New Zealand by programmer Andrew Bradfield[1] and artist Harvey A. Kong Tin.

A sequel, HawkQuest, also from Bradfield and Kong Tin, was released in 1989. Andrew Bradfield died in 2001 at age 35.[2]

Development

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Action in level 5

Work on Laser Hawk started in 1985 and took about a year to complete.[2] Laser Hawk was originally called Hot Copter by Bradfield. Red Rat Software came up with the name Laser Hawk.[2]

Reception

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A review of Laser Hawk in the January 1987 issue of Atari User concluded, "While the game concept is perhaps getting a little long in the tooth, Red Rat has tweaked it nicely, treating it in a thoughtful and refreshing way. What it may lack in originality it makes up for in finesse." The overall score was 8 out of 10.[3]

Legacy

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Laser Hawk was later included in the 4 Star Compilation, Volume 1 published by Red Rat, along with Escape from Doomworld, Domain of the Undead, and Panic Express.[4]

The same team created the sequel, HawkQuest, released in 1989.[5] Harvey Kong Tin was responsible for the overall design.[6] Development started in 1986 with the finished game using four floppy disk sides at 90K apiece.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. ^ a b c d Kong Tin, Harvey A. "Thanks Andy, for Laser Hawk". The Atari Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Reynolds, Niels (January 1987). "Rat's Flying High". Atari User (21): 22.
  4. ^ "4 Star Compilation - Volume 1". Atari Mania.
  5. ^ "Hawkquest". atarimania.com. Atari Mania. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Harvey Kong Tin". page6.org.
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