The Birth of Real-Time Strategy?
Real-time SSI
Most people familiar with gaming history know that the popular conception of Warcraft and Dune II ushering in real-time strategy is a misconception. Two examples frequently cited are Populous and SimCity. Of course, real-time strategy is nearly as old as personal computing. Dani Bunten-Berry's seminal M.U.L.E. is one strong example.
Another is from SSI, and its advertising is strangely familiar. The game? Combat Leader available for the Atari 8-bit (initially) and the Commodore 64 by David Hille. It was initially marketed under SSI's "RapidFire" action-y line.
Here are some choice tidbits of an ad for the game that appeared in the October 1983 issue of COMPUTE!
INTRODUCING A REAL-TIME WARGAME SO FAST YOU'LL CALL IT A STRATEGY ARCADE GAME!
...Now don't get us wrong. We love real-time arcade action as much as the next person. So we've put a great deal of energy to develop a game that's the perfect union of these two worlds: heart-pounding arcade excitement in a thought-provoking, tactically challenging wargame.
...In every way, COMBAT LEADER is the ideal first-born of this new hybrid of strategy arcade wargames.
...The computer handles all "book-keeping" chores while giving you real-time action: Your troops look, retreat, advance, patrol and fire the instant you order them to do so. No waiting, no pause. In fact, the pace is so fast we had to provide slower levels of play to give you a chance at this game.
COMBAT LEADER™ On 48K disk or cassette for the ATARI® 400/800/1200; $39.95