• America Online Top Picks (over 25,000 downloads!)
• Public Brand Software (Ziff Net) gave Capture the Flag their TROPHY AWARD.
• Shareware Magazine (SW) gave Capture the Flag their EDITORS CHOICE award.
• PsL (Public software Library) gave Capture the Flag their ONE OF THE BEST NEW PROGRAMS OF 1992 award.
• Made THE AMISH OUTLAW'S 10 MOST WANTED list in early 1993.

"Another very popular shareware game is Carr Software's Capture the Flag. Based on the traditional outdoor diversion by the same name, this game pits the player against an opponent (human or computer) in an effort to capture the other's flag. The goal is simple enough -- capture the enemy's flag before one's own flag is taken.

Unlike most wargames, Capture the Flag is primarily a non-violent offering with a brief learning curve. There is no death or destruction; no one is ever killed. Like its namesake, enemy players are captured (in a cute animated, cartoon-style scuffle) and sent to "prison," a waiting zone, where they remain for the duration of the game (or a set number of turns). By nature of its design, this is an excellent game for children or adults who normally bypass computer wargames due to their predominantly complex and violent nature.

Capture the Flag is very easy to play. Two small teams are deployed over an extensive battleground. Play is turn-based, each player moving his or her characters and assigning them individual commands until available movement points have been expended. The player's turn is then ended and the opponent's begins. Play continues in this fashion until one team captures the opponent's flag.

The playing field itself is comprised of several well designed and varied terrain types, ranging from flat grasslands to forests, and even rocky badlands. In addition, a terrain editor is provided for constructing one's own battlegrounds. Graphics are of very good quality and provide an enjoyable gaming environment (the appearance is similar to that of a Windows-based product). Character animation during movement is smooth. Sound effects enhance the playing experience. The icon-driven interface is simple and very intuitive, so much so that what little instruction is needed for play is available through a built-in help feature. Overall, it is evident that care was taken in the development of this product, its presentation being of commercial quality.

As it stands, Capture the Flag is an enjoyable diversion worthy of consideration, especially for budding computer strategists. It requires a 286 or better PC compatible system, VGA graphics (640 x 480 in 16 colors) and 530K RAM. Ad Lib and Sound Blaster are supported, and a mouse is recommended."

"We used to call it 'Run Outs' when I was a kid; that game where two teams of scruffy urchins maraud around fields and woodlands in search of each other's home base. A harmless enough pastime but not one I thought would be worth basing a computer game on. This game convinced me otherwise.

As the title suggests, the idea is to capture the flag of the other player (computer or human). To do this each player deploys a small team of characters, each of whom is evaluated for his or her Agility, Movement, Stealth and Vision, over a large playing field. The 'battleground' consists of several excellently rendered terrain types ranging from woodlands to flat grass, and these affect both line of sight and movement. In other words this is a typical tactical level wargame.

What's atypical about it is its potential appeal to non-wargamers. Not only is the subject matter essentially non-violent, but also the interface is incredibly easy to use and there is no rule book - all pertinent information is provided on a tutorial and pop-up help menus.

The screen display is divided into two windows, one for the map and one for the character control and status panels. The map window can be scrolled in any direction simply by moving the mouse to the screen edge. Alternatively a zoom-in option, a la Silent Service, is available for more rapid navigation and is effected by placing a cursor on the global overview map and clicking. The global map also has several other uses. For instance, whilst those parts of the playing field not yet discovered are automatically blacked out (as one would expect), it is also possible to black out those parts of the field not currently visible to team members even if they have been previous explored. This is an invaluable aid in plotting movement (do aircraft carrier simulations have this feature, I wonder?), as are the small question marks which feature on the map in the last known location of an enemy unit.

Inputting orders is ridiculously easy. First, move the cursor to the sidebar and click on a character icon. The main map will immediately zoom to that character's current location whilst the sidebar will display the character's remaining movement points and other skill ratings. Secondly, move the cursor to that character's desired destination and click. The computer automatically works out the quickest route, although sometimes it is preferable to choose an alternative route to avoid being seen.

Usually each team will be divided into defenders and attackers. The attackers explore enemy territory while the defenders protect the flag which, once situated, cannot be moved. Although all the character skills are useful for both attacking and defending my attackers tend to have high movement factors (for exploring lots of territory and running away from pursuers) and reasonable stealth (to assist in sneaking past look-outs). Defenders need high agility ratings to capture opponents and good vision to spot enemies approaching.

Captured characters have to return to their own territory and this may take several turns if they are caught deep in the opposition half. Although combined attacks are not possible, a succession of individual attacks will reduce the target's movement factor on his or her next turn, thereby limiting their ability to escape. The earlier in the movement phase characters attempts a capture, the more likely they are to be successful, so it is important to limit the prey's ability to run away.

My only criticisms stem from the inflexibility of the set-up options at the game start. There is no opportunity to alter the computer's choice of flag location and neither is it possible to alter the skill profiles of the team members. However, I was only playing the shareware version of the game and it is possible that the full version of the software will address these problems, as it offers several other advanced features such as a map builder.

Despite the absence of traditional whiz-bang wargame features like artillery, paratroops, or mutant camels, Capture the Flag offers a surprising number of tactical options which are, perhaps, more akin to football (aka soccer) than war.

My own preferred strategy is to leave my best players in defense to capture opponents and then to launch a counter-attack whilst several opposition members are in limbo. This is known in football circles as 'hitting them on the break'.

Whilst I would not claim it is a game that will keep the player up until the early hours of the morning, it is one which will fill many a lunch hour."

In most newspapers it appeared during the Christmas week of 1992.

"Childhood outdoor games tend to end when having dignity becomes more important than roughhousing. It's a process called growing up, and it's generally thought to be terminal.

By the time most of us realize that occasional wild fun -- maybe a game of flag football -- might be nice, doctors, insurance agents and spouses often cause us to rethink the idea.

But if you won an IBM PC, there's an alternative for one outdoor game at least.

Richard Carr of Carr Software has a shareware version of Capture the Flag that should bring back memories of your youth. (Shareware is a way of marketing software that lets you see if you like it before paying full price for it.)

For those who skipped childhood or were never picked for field games, in Capture the Flag each team has a flag it tries to protect while trying to capture the opponent's flag. The game is played outdoors and involves running, jumping, hiding, plotting, tackling, torn clothes, skinned knees, bruises and other genuinely fun stuff.

The software version needs a VGA color monitor and should be run on an AT - or better IBM PC or compatible. It supports a mouse and SoundBlaster audio cards. You can play against human or silicon opponents. Programming is top of the line, with thoughtful help and dialogue boxes and widely varied terrain.

Team members have different strengths and weaknesses, and using them properly to accomplish the mission is an interesting exercise in light infantry tactics with no fatalities."

"Capture the Flag: Awesome "Lemmings" like game with really smooth animation that mimics the popular outdoor game of the same name. This is a turn-based game but the mouse control and animation are outstanding. Balance your tactics and control your players wisely in this soon-to-become-a-favorite game."