Deflektor

{{Short description|1987 video game}} {{Distinguish|Deflector (disambiguation){{!}}Deflector}} {{Infobox video game | title = Deflektor | image = Deflektor.png | caption = | developer = [[Vortex Software]] | publisher = [[Gremlin Graphics]] | composer = [[Ben Daglish]] | released = December 1987 | modes = [[Single-player]] | genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]] | platforms = [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amiga]], [[PC-98]], [[X68000]] | designer = [[Costa Panayi]] | programmer = Costa Panayi }}

'''''Deflektor''''' is a [[puzzle video game]] developed by [[Vortex Software]] and published by [[Gremlin Graphics]] in December 1987. The game was ported to the [[X68000]] by [[Blue Planet Software|Bullet-Proof Software]] and the [[Atari 8-bit computers]] developed by [[Atari Corporation]] in 1988, but was not published.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reichert |first=Matt |title=Deflektor |website=AtariProtos.com |url=http://www.atariprotos.com/8bit/software/deflektor/deflektor.htm |accessdate=September 19, 2014}}</ref> According to ''Deflektor X4'' remake programmer Ignacio Pérez Gil, ''Deflektor'' developer [[Costa Panayi]] endorsed the creation and distribution of the non-commercial [[open-source software|open-source]] [[freeware]] in the 2000s.<ref>[https://retrospec.sgn.net/info.htm?id=deflektorx4&t=g Deflektor x4] on retrospec.sgn.net</ref>

''Deflektor'' has been well received by reviewers. Critics emphasized its high appeal and originality. The game also received positive feedback for its graphics, difficulty, and in-depth exploration. It was followed by a sequel in 1989, ''Mindbender''.

== Gameplay == [[Image:Deflektor ingame.png|left|thumb|The beam is transferred by fibre optics.|187x187px]]''Deflektor'' is a [[Real-time game|real-time]] [[Puzzle video game|puzzle game]] that takes place in an [[photonic integrated circuit|optical circuit]]. The player must rotate mirrors to deflect a beam in order to destroy all the cells of each level. There are also other devices which the player cannot touch with the beam for too long because it will make the system overload. The player only has a certain amount of time to complete each level.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Inlay English Instructions |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-info/d/Deflektor.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907233539/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-info/d/Deflektor.txt |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=[[World of Spectrum]]}}</ref> There are also various other items on each level which can be collected and a practise mode.<ref name=":0" />

== Development == [[Costa Panayi]] was the principal programmer, game designer and artist for [[Vortex Software]], when Panayi was programming primarily on the [[ZX Spectrum]]. He developed and released ''[[Revolution (video game)|Revolution]]'', which later influenced the creation of ''Deflektor''. The game was based on a simple physical phenomenon which was further modified in terms of game mechanics. Panayi was inspired to create the game by observing scientific software that worked with lasers. The development was carried out with the idea of being different from existing trends in the gaming industry.

The development of the original game for the ZX Spectrum was handled by Panayi himself and was published by Gremlin Graphics. A month before its release date, the game was announced in magazines.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 6, 1988 |title=Popular Computing Weekly |url=https://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/magazines/PopularComputingWeekly/Issue871231/Pages/PopularComputingWeekly87123100025.jpg |journal=[[Popular Computing Weekly]] |page=25}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | AMI = true | C64 = true | ZX = true | na = true | ACE_AMI = 94% | ACE_ZX = 91% | ACE_C64 = 91% | CVG_C64 = 10/10 | CVG_ZX = 10/10 | YSinclair_ZX = 90%<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Berkmann |first=Marcus |date=January 1988 |title=Deflektor |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/deflektor.htm |journal=[[Your Sinclair]] |issue=25 |access-date=2023-05-25 |archive-date=2016-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413073420/http://ysrnry.co.uk/articles/deflektor.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev1 = ''Zzap!'' | rev1_C64 = 81%<ref name="zzapreview"/> | award1Pub = ''Amstrad Action'' | award1 = Mastergame<ref>Game review, Amstrad Action magazine, [[Future Publishing]], issue 30, March 1988</ref> }}

Writing for ''Zzap!'' magazine in February 1988, Julian Rignall wrote that "''Deflektor'' is very enjoyable, and provides an original and worthwhile way to kill time".<ref name="zzapreview">Deflektor review in Zzap! issue 34, feb. 1988, p. 20, ISSN 0954-867X [http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=34&page=20 here]</ref> According to ''[[Amstrad Action]]'', ''Deflektor'' was the best game of March 1988.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1988 |title=Amstrad Action vol. 40 |url=https://archive.org/stream/AmstradAction052/AmstradAction/AmstradAction040#page/n20/mode/1up |journal=[[Amstrad Action]] |issue=40}}</ref> In 1988, ''Deflektor'' was included in the 100 best games by ''[[ACE (magazine)|ACE]]'' where the game was described as unique, but easy because passing the level is enough to test all the conditions of the mirror. In 1990, the author of an article in ''[[Your Sinclair]]'' ranked ''Deflektor'' seventh out of the nine best puzzles and described it as distinctive and interesting.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=September 1990 |title=The YS Complete Guide To Puzzle Games |url=http://ysrnry.co.uk/articles/completeguidetopuzzlegames.htm |journal=[[Your Sinclair]] |issue=57|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319144922/http://ysrnry.co.uk/articles/completeguidetopuzzlegames.htm |archive-date=2016-03-19}}</ref> {{clear}}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{moby game|id=/deflektor}} * [https://retrospec.sgn.net/info.htm?id=deflektorx4&t=g ''Deflektor X4'']: authorised remake

[[Category:1987 video games]] [[Category:Amiga games]] [[Category:Amstrad CPC games]] [[Category:Atari ST games]] [[Category:Blue Planet Software games]] [[Category:Cancelled Atari 8-bit computer games]] [[Category:Commodore 64 games]] [[Category:Gremlin Interactive games]] [[Category:NEC PC-9801 games]] [[Category:Puzzle video games]] [[Category:Single-player video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Video games scored by Ben Daglish]] [[Category:Vortex Software games]] [[Category:X68000 games]] [[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]