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{{Short description|1986 video game}}

[[Image:DefenderOfTheCrown.jpg|right|thumb|Defender of the Crown box art]]

{{For|the Human Fortress music album|Defenders of the Crown}}

{{Infobox video game

|title = Defender of the Crown

|image = DefenderOfTheCrown.jpg

|developer = [[Cinemaware]]

|publisher = Cinemaware

|designer = Kellyn Beeck

|artist = [[James D. Sachs]]

|composer = Jim Cuomo

|released = {{vgrelease|NA|November 1, 1986<ref>{{cite web |title=Defender of the Crown (Registration Number VA0001257939) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=5 July 2021}}</ref>}}

|genre = [[Strategy game|Strategy]]

|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]

|platforms = [[Amiga]], [[Commodore 64|C64]], [[Atari ST]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Macintosh]], [[Apple IIGS|Apple II<small>GS</small>]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Commodore CDTV|CDTV]], [[CD-i]], [[Windows]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[mobile phone]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Atari Jaguar|Jaguar]], [[Intellivision]]

}}

'''''Defender of the Crown''''' is a [[strategy game|strategy]] [[computervideo game]] designed by [[Cinemaware]]Kellyn Beeck. It was originally released for the [[AmigaCinemaware]]'s infirst [[1986]].game, In [[1987]] itand was portedoriginally toreleased [[DOS]],for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES), [[Atari ST]] and [[Amiga|Commodore 64Amiga]]. Within its release on the Amiga1986, ''Defender of the Crown'' setsetting a new standard for graphic quality in [[home computer]] games.

In 1987 it was ported to [[MS-DOS]], the [[Atari ST]] and the [[Macintosh]] and a conversion was done for the [[Commodore 64]]. Later it was ported to the [[Commodore CDTV|CDTV]], [[CD-i]] and [[Atari Jaguar]] and conversions were made for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES), [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Apple IIGS|Apple II<small>GS</small>]] and [[Intellivision]]. Unofficially a [[ZX Spectrum]] version was also made. A sequel, ''Defender of the Crown II'', was released in 1993 for the CDTV and [[Amiga CD32]]. Two remakes have been released: ''[[Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown]]'' in 2003 and ''Defender of the Crown: Heroes Live Forever'' in 2007.

==Overview==

==Gameplay==

The game is somewhat shallow in strategic depth. It is the [[Middle Ages]], the King of [[England]] is dead and different factions are fighting over control of territories. To make matters worse, the king's crown has disappeared.

The game is set in [[England]] in 1149 during the [[Middle Ages]] where, following the death of the king, different factions are fighting for territorial control.

[[File:ST Defender of the Crown fight.png|thumb|left|The fighting screen was one of the features added to the [[Atari ST]] version]]

The player assumes the role of a [[Saxon]] and tries to fight off the [[Norman]] hordes and wrestle for control of England. Eventually, the player must fight for control of all territories, even those controlled by other Saxons. The player must amass armies and fight for control of opponents' [[castle]]s. The player may engage enemy armies in battle, loot or lay siege to opposing castles. From time to time the player may attempt to rescue a [[damsel in distress]] and can appeal for help from the mythical bandit [[Robin Hood]].

The player assumes the role of a [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] (Wilfred of [[Ivanhoe]], Cedric of Rotherwood, Geoffrey Longsword, or Wolfric the Wild) and tries to fight off the [[Normans|Norman]] hordes and wrestle for control of England. Eventually, the player must fight for control of all territories, and potentially those controlled by other Saxons, if they have become antagonistic. The player must amass armies and fight for control of opponents' [[castle]]s. The player may engage enemy armies in battle and loot or lay siege to opposing castles. Territories can also be won in the periodic [[jousting]] contests. From time to time the player may attempt to rescue a [[damsel in distress]] and can appeal for help from the legendary bandit [[Robin Hood]].

The game's strategy boils down to a war of attrition as the player tries to amass larger armies than his opponents and manages to attack their territories at the right time.

The game's strategy boils down to a [[attrition warfare|war of attrition]] as the player tries to amass larger armies than their opponents and manages to attack their territories at the right time.

However, the high-quality graphics are what really made this game a blockbuster. Never before the release of this game had such detailed, colorful and realistic graphics been seen on a home computer. The art direction by [[James D. Sachs]] set this game apart from the others fighting for shelf space. The music by [[Jim Cuomo]] is also notable.

Due to financial strains, Cinemaware decided to release the initial version without all the features originally planned for because of their need for revenue. Some features were partially implemented, but were removed so the game could be shipped. Some additional features completed but never seen in the shipped game include flaming fireballs (launched via the [[catapult]]), more locations (more varied castles to attack), and more in-depth strategy. Some of these features were implemented in later versions of the game.

==Ports==

[[James D. Sachs]], the primary [[Game art design|artist]] for the game, showcased some of these features on the Amiga during interviews after the release of the game.

The ports of the game, notably to the [[IBM PC compatible|PC]] and the NES, resulted in an enormous loss in graphic and audio quality due to those systems' inferior abilities compared to the Amiga. But these ports featured more in-depth strategic elements compared to the original version. The Atari ST and Commodore 64 versions were ported with much greater success and much of the audio and graphics nearly rivaled the quality of the original Amiga version.

==UnfinishedCover art==

The cover art of ''Defender of the Crown'' was put together by Peter Green Design and painted by Ezra Tucker.

Randy McDonald was in charge of art direction, design, and production for Cinemaware's first four games, and he explains in an interview that "Peter Greene or I would do a sketch of generally what we wanted for each cover. I went to Western Costume in Hollywood, which for many decades was the giant in the costume industry there, and rented costumes for the types of "look" we had settled on for each cover. We hired models and brought them into Peter's large photo studio, where we set them up in the costumes I had rented, posed as closely as possible to the way we wanted them to be illustrated."<ref>[http://spelpappan.se/2013/08/this-is-how-the-cover-art-of-defender-of-the-crown-1986-was-made/ This is how the cover art in Defender of the Crown was made] - Spelpappan.se</ref>

''Defender of the Crown'' was one of Cinemaware's first titles. Due to financial strains, Cinemaware decided to release the initial version without all the features originally planned for because of their need for revenue. Some features were partially implemented, but were removed so the game could be shipped. Some additional features completed but never seen in the shipped game including flaming fireballs (launched via the [[catapult]]), more locations (more varied castles to attack) and more in-depth strategy. Some of these features were implemented in the ports of the game.

The initial artist, according to Randy McDonald, was supposed to be Greg Winter, but the cover eventually went to Ezra Tucker.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Jim Sachs showcased some of these features on the Amiga during interviews after the release of the game.

==Versions==

The versions of ''Defender of the Crown'', notably for [[DOS]] and the NES, resulted in an enormous loss in graphic and audio quality due to those systems' inferior abilities compared to the Amiga. But these versions featured more in-depth strategic elements compared to the [[unfinished work|unfinished]] original version. The [[Apple IIGS|Apple II<small>GS</small>]], Atari ST, and Commodore 64 versions were done with better success, the II<small>GS</small>, Macintosh, and ST versions' graphics coming quite close to the Amiga version. A version for the [[Sharp X68000]] was in development by [[Bullet-Proof Software]] but never released.<ref name="BPS">{{cite web|url=http://jester.dw.land.to/bps.htm|title=ＢＰＳの話|website=jester.dw.land.to|access-date=2020-04-01|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824170232/http://jester.dw.land.to/bps.htm|archive-date=2016-08-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

All versions:

* [[Amstrad CPC]]

* [[Atari ST]]

* [[Apple IIGS|Apple II<small>GS</small>]]

* [[Commodore 64]]

* [[Game Boy Advance]]

* [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]

* [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]]

* [[DOS]] [[Color Graphics Adapter|CGA]] (4 color) and [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] (16 color)

* [[ZX Spectrum]] (unofficial)

* [[CD-i]]

* [[iOS]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemaware.com/products/dotc-ios/|title=Defender of the Crown iOS|access-date=2011-11-27|archive-date=2011-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126005259/http://www.cinemaware.com/products/dotc-ios/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [[Android (operating system)|Android]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemaware.com/cinemaware-classic-defender-of-the-crown-ready-for-android/|title=Cinemaware Classic Defender of the Crown Ready for Android|access-date=2014-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716060838/http://www.cinemaware.com/cinemaware-classic-defender-of-the-crown-ready-for-android/|archive-date=2016-07-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [[Atari Jaguar]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mag.mo5.com/actu/147685/defender-of-the-crown-et-treasure-island-dizzy-sur-atari-jaguar/|title=Defender of the Crown et Treasure Island Dizzy sur Atari Jaguar !|date=21 September 2018}}</ref>

* [[Intellivision]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indieretronews.com/2018/06/defender-of-crown-all-time-classic-game.html|title = Defender of the Crown - All time classic game by Cinemaware is coming to the Intellivision!}}</ref>

In 1989, the game became the second game to ship on [[CD-ROM]], after ''[[The Manhole]]''.<ref name="sipe199211">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=100 | title=3900 Games Later ... | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1992 | access-date=4 July 2014 | author=Sipe, Russell | pages=8}}</ref>

==Reception==

The first public demonstration of ''Defender of the Crown'' occurred at the Los Angeles Commodore Show in September 1986, before its November release, and attracted a huge crowd.{{r|maher20150416}} The game amazed those who saw it for the first time:<ref>[http://worldcat.org/isbn/0973864907 ''On the edge : the spectacular rise and fall of Commodore''] from WorldCat.org</ref>

[[File:Amiga Defender of the Crown raid.png|right|thumb|400px|Screenshot of a raid with graphics in the 1986 [[Amiga]] version.]]

{{blockquote|[[RJ Mical|Mical]] saw artist Jim Sachs push the Amiga to its full potential. "Jim Sachs, what a god he is," marvels Mical. "Jim Sachs is amazing. These days everyone sees graphics like that because there are a lot of really good computer graphics artists now, but back then, 20 years ago, it was astonishing to have someone that good."

The final game was a landmark in video game production values. As game designer Bob Lindstrom recalls, "The shock of seeing ''Defender'' for the first time was one of those experiences that changed the gaming stakes for all of us."

Compared to other video games of the time, ''Defender of the Crown'' established a new level of quality. IBM had ''[[King's Quest I|Kings Quest]]'' by [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra On-Line]], a decent but primitive adventure game. The Macintosh had games like Checkers or Backgammon, or board games like ''Risk''. ''Defender of the Crown'' had richer graphics than any computer, console, or even arcade game could boast in 1986. It was a revelation.}}

''Defender of the Crown'' became a commercial hit. In 1989, ''[[Video Games & Computer Entertainment]]'' reported that it had been purchased by "almost three-quarters of a million gamers worldwide".<ref name=megahits>{{cite journal | author=Worley, Joyce | title=Mega Hits: The Best of the Best | journal=[[Video Games & Computer Entertainment]] | date=December 1989 | pages=130–132, 137, 138 }}</ref> Sales had surpassed 1 million units by 2001.<ref name=pczonepreview>{{cite journal| title=Cinemaware Return from the Dead | author=Hill, Mark | journal=[[PC Zone]] | date=January 2001 | issue=98 | page=30 }}</ref>

''[[Info (magazine)|Info]]'' gave the Amiga version four stars out of five, stating that its "graphics have set new standards for computer games". The magazine praised the "breathtaking" animation and "impressive" color, but hoped that future Cinemaware games would improve on the "adequate" gameplay, which was "the weak link".<ref name="info198701amiga">{{Cite magazine |last1=Dunnington |first1=Benn |last2=Brown |first2=Mark R. |last3=Malcolm |first3=Tom |date=January–February 1987 |title=Amiga Gallery |url=https://archive.org/stream/info-magazine-13/Info_Issue_13_1987_Jan-Feb#page/n89/mode/2up |magazine=Info |pages=90–95}}</ref> ''The Australian Commodore Review'' gave the Commodore 64 version of the game a total score of 96 out of 100,<ref>Gordon, Stephen; Watts, Shane (February 1987), [http://amr.abime.net/review_15143 "Defender of the Crown - page scan at Amiga Magazine Rack], issue 2, accessed December 18, 2012</ref> while ''[[Commodore User]]'' said that it was "totally brilliant and one of the best games to date on the 64."<ref>Patterson, Mark (August 1987) [http://amr.abime.net/review_12453 "Defender of the Crown" - page scan at Amiga Magazine Rack], accessed December 18, 2012.</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' praised the Amiga version of ''Defender of the Crown'''s graphics and animation, calling the game "a showcase program to demonstrate the power of the Amiga to your friends." Although the gameplay was not as complex as other strategy games of the time, the reviewer was still exceptionally pleased with Cinemaware's first game.<ref name="CGW">{{Cite magazine |last=Lee |first=Wyatt |date=January–February 1987 |title=Defender of the Crown |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_34/page/n35/mode/2up |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=36–37, 68–69}}</ref> That year the magazine gave ''Defender of the Crown'' a special award for "Artistic Achievement in a Computer Game",<ref name="cgw198712">{{Cite magazine |date=December 1987 |title=Computer Gaming World Meets Dragoncon '87 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1987&pub=2&id=42 |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=42 |pages=62 |access-date=23 April 2016}}</ref> but in 1990 and 1993, surveys of wargames in the magazine gave the game two-plus stars out of five.<ref name="brooks199010">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=75 | title=Computer Strategy and Wargames: Pre-20th Century | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=October 1990 | access-date=16 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=11}}</ref><ref name="brooks199308">{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=109 | title=Wargame Survey Version 2.0 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=August 1993 | access-date=12 July 2014 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=128}}</ref>

''[[Compute!]]'' also stated that ''Defender of the Crown'' effectively demonstrated the Amiga's graphics, but stated that its gameplay was oversimplified.<ref name="randall198706">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/1987-06-compute-magazine/page/n61/mode/1up | title=Defender Of The Crown For Amiga | magazine=Compute! | date=June 1987 | access-date=10 November 2013 | last=Randall |first=Neil | pages=60 |issue=85}}</ref> ''[[CU Amiga]]'' stated that "there are not many areas in which ''Defender of the Crown'' could be improved ... the graphics are sophisticated with lush colours and visual effects."<ref>Keating, Fiona (July 1991), [http://amr.abime.net/review_8962 "Defender of the Crown" - page scan at Amiga Magazine Rack], accessed December 18, 2012</ref> ''[[Amiga Format]]'' were less kind to the CD rerelease of the game, stating that it "hasn't stood the test of time simply because the gameplay is somewhat weak."<ref>Noonan, Damien (October 1992) [http://amr.abime.net/review_2648 "Defender of the Crown - page scan at Amiga Magazine Rack], issue 39, accessed December 18, 2012</ref><ref name="maher20150416">{{cite web | url=http://www.filfre.net/2015/04/defender-of-the-crown/ | title=Defender of the Crown | publisher=The Digital Antiquarian | date=2015-04-16 | access-date=16 April 2015 | author=Maher, Jimmy}}</ref> [[Power Unlimited]] gave the CD-i version a score of 87% writing: "Defender of the Crown is a very varied game. All sorts of things come your way, including tactics, action and romance. Graphically it is also beautifully put together. Too bad it runs quite slowly, like many other CD-I games."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=3920 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030831162832/http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=3920 |archive-date=August 31, 2003 |access-date=December 12, 2024 |website=Power Unlimited}}</ref>

''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]'' magazine in 1991 rated the game four out of five stars for the Amiga, Atari ST and PC.<ref name="One">{{cite magazine|title = The Price is Right|date = 28 March 1991|url = https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-31/page/n79/mode/2up|magazine = [[The One (magazine)|The One]]|publisher = [[EMAP Images]]|last = Presley|first = Paul|issue = 31 (April 1991)|pages = 80–1}}</ref> In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared ''Defender of the Crown'' the 92nd-best computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98 }}</ref>

==Reviews==

*''[[:fr:Jeux et Stratégie|Jeux & Stratégie]]'' #47<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-47/page/62/mode/2up | title=Defender of the Crown |magazine=Jeux & stratégie |issue=47 |page=62 | date=October 1987 |lang=fr }}</ref>

==Legacy==

''Defender of the Crown II'' was published by [[Commodore International]] in 1993 for the [[CDTV]] and [[Amiga CD32]].

After a string of successful games and game series, Cinemaware eventually went [[bankrupt]]. (apparentlyIn 2000, thehowever, ownerLars Fuhrken-Batista and Sean Vesce bought Cinemaware's propensityname forand [[featureassets, creep]]and delayedfounded releaseCinemaware Inc., naming a remake of some''Defender keyof titles,the leadingCrown'' tofor amodern disruptionPCs as one of much-neededthe revenue)reformed company's first projects. The Innew version, titled ''[[2000Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown]],'' however,was thereleased foundersin of2003 for the company[[PlayStation 2]] (September 30), Lars[[Xbox Fuhrken-Batista(console)|Xbox]] (October 6), and Sean[[Microsoft Vesce,Windows|Windows]] regrouped(October and15). restartedThe thenew company, namingalso acreated remake"Digitally Remastered Versions" of classic Cinemaware games, including ''Defender of the Crown''.{{Citation for modern PCsneeded|date=January as one of the reformed companies first projects.2023}}

In February 2007, a second remake to the game called ''Defender of the Crown: Heroes Live Forever'' was released by [[eGames (video game developer)|eGames]],<ref>[http://www.egames.com/gamepage.php?id=60 ''Defender of the Crown: Heroes Live Forever] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405184441/http://www.egames.com/gamepage.php?id=60 |date=2008-04-05 }} from [[eGames (video game developer)|eGames]]</ref> who had acquired Cinemaware in 2005. ''Heroes Live Forever'' features many of the elements of the original game, including jousting and archery tournaments, raiding castles, rescuing princesses, and laying siege to enemy fortresses via catapult. A new addition to the game involved the use of Hero and Tactic cards during battles, giving the user's army various upgrades during the on-screen melee.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The new version, titled ''[[Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown]]'' was released in [[2003]] for the [[Playstation 2]] ([[September 30]]), [[Xbox]] ([[October 6]]) and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] ([[October 15]]).

During the second half of the 1980s, some games directly inspired by ''Defender of the Crown'' were released. Among these was for example ''Joan of Arc'' ([[Rainbow Arts]], 1989).

Cinemaware has also embarked upon creating "Digitally Remastered Versions" of some of their classic games. The "Digitally Remastered" version of ''Defender of the Crown'' for Windows and the [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] is available in [[Europe]] and should be available in the [[United States|US]] soon.

The [[Denmark|Danish]] band [[PRESS PLAY ON TAPE]] remixed the theme music of the game on their 2003 album ''Run/Stop Restore'', replacing the instrumental tune with proper medieval-sounding lyrics.<ref name="ppot">{{cite web|title=CDs|url=http://pressplayontape.com/music/cds/|website=Press Play On Tape|access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of computer and video games by name]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*{{moby game|id=/defender-of-the-crown}}

* [http://www.cinemaware.com/robinhood_main.asp Cinemaware's page for ''Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown'']

*{{abime|id=305}}

* [http://www.cinemaware.com/dotcremaster_main.asp Cinemaware's ''Defender of the Crown: Digitally Remastered Edition'' page]

* [http://www.mobygamesc64sets.com/search/quickset.html?qid=defender+of+the+crown68 MobyGame'sImages entry on theof ''Defender of the Crown'' seriesbox, manual and screen shots] at C64Sets.com

*[http://panda.net.au/dotc/ Panda's Defender of the Crown page]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160619205027/http://www.thelegacy.de/Museum/game.php3?titel_id=4073&game_id=4108 https://web.archive.org/web/20160619205027/http://www.thelegacy.de/Museum/game.php3?titel_id=4073&game_id=4108]

*[http://www.tomergabel.com/dotc.htm Legally distributed recordings of the Amiga version music]

*[http://www.bytecellar.com/archives/000112.php Macintosh Plus game gallery] featuring DotC screenshots

*[https://archive.org/details/Asimovs_v12n06_1988-06/page/n17/mode/2up Review] in ''[[Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine]]''

{{Portal bar|1980s|United States|Video games}}

[[Category:Strategy computer games]]

{{Cinemaware}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Defender of the Crown}}

[[Category:1986 video games]]

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