Silent Service

Tommo purchased the rights to this game and published it online through its Retroism brand in 2015.

• Title — Silent Service • Developer — MicroProse Rare (NES) France Image Logiciel (Thomson) • Publisher — MicroProse Ultra Games (NES) France Image Logiciel (Thomson) • Designer — Sid Meier • Artist — Michael O. Haire • Released — 1985-1987 • Genre — Submarine simulator • Modes — Single-player • Platforms — Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, NES, Thomson MO6, Thomson TO8, Thomson TO9, ZX Spectrum

• Illustration — Atari 8-bit gameplay Silent Service is set in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, with the player assuming control of a U.S. submarine for various war patrols against Japanese shipping. "Silent Service" was a nickname for the US Navy's submarine force in the Pacific during World War II. The player can choose when to attack from a range of realistic tactics, including the End Around and near invisibility at night (if the sub's profile is kept to a minimum). It allows four projectiles concurrently, a challenge when battling multiple destroyers. Real-time is accelerated when not in combat. Sid Meier described several key factors that influenced the design of the game: The size of the theater, the variety of tactical situations, and evolving technology, such as the use of surface radar and torpedoes that did or did not leave trails of bubbles on the surface—only simulations set after their real-life introduction had access to these. Tasks such as navigation, damage repair, and firing were compartmentalized into different screens to allow players access to a great deal of information, but also to focus on the immediate task. The game features three types of missions: Torpedo/Gun Practice, Convoys Actions, and War Patrols. Torpedo/Gun Practice allows players to practice the game mechanics in a controlled environment. Convoy Actions are shorter missions based on individual historical attacks made by submarines. War Patrols are longer missions based around historical war patrols, but with more freedom given to the player to plot their own route.

The game was designed by Sid Meier, with art made by Michael O. Haire. Silent Service was in development for eight months and its creation was inspired by a fractal technological trick. It was the first game for which Meier did not create the artwork; MicroProse cofounder Bill Stealey hired an illustrator whose work persuaded Meier that others' talent was superior.

A sequel to the game was published by MicroProse in 1990 for MS-DOS and other versions in following years.