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{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Alien Gate
| image = Alien Gate.jpg
| caption = European cover art
| developer = [[The Vision Factory|SPC Vision]]
| publisher = [[Philips]]
| artist = Niklas Malmqvist
| producer = Franc Beernink<br/>Rob Hormann
| programmer = Stefan Posthuma<br/>Tim Moss
| platforms = [[CD-i]]
| released = 1993
| genre = [[Shoot 'em up#Types|Fixed shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}
'''''Alien Gate''''' is a [[Shoot 'em up#Types|fixed shooter]] developed by [[The Vision Factory|SPC Vision]] and published by [[Philips]] for the [[CD-i]].

==Gameplay==
''Alien Gate'' is a [[Shoot 'em up#Types|fixed shooter]]. Each stage consists of the player's ship facing off against a giant head that spawns several smaller enemies. Once all the required enemies are defeated, the player must defeat the head as a [[boss (video games)|boss]]. The background gives the impression of a [[Vertically scrolling video game#Vertically scrolling shooters|vertically scrolling shooter]], but the attackers stay in position relative to the player's ship. There are 25 stages and 14 different enemy types.<ref name="SG">{{cite magazine | author=Debels, Alfred | date=July–August 1993 | title=''Alien Gate'' | url=https://archive.org/details/software-gids-nr.-20-jul-aug-1993/page/40/mode/1up | magazine=Software Gids | publisher=Uitgeverij Herps | issue=20 | page=40 | issn=0926-0501 | language=nl}}</ref>

==Development==
''Alien Gate'' was developed by Dutch studio [[The Vision Factory|SPC Vision]]. It was co-designed and programmed by Stefan Posthuma and Tim Moss while Niklas Malmqvist provided the [[computer graphics|graphics]].<ref name="ST-News">{{cite magazine | author=Karsmakers, Richard and Posthuma, Stefan | date=July 26, 1996 | title=THE ULTIMATE "ST NEWS" REFERENCE GUIDE | url=https://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-11-issues-1-2/features/the-ultimate-st-news-reference-guide/part-1-1st-word-drinknuts | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121034050/https://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-11-issues-1-2/features/the-ultimate-st-news-reference-guide/part-1-1st-word-drinknuts | archive-date=January 21, 2024 | volume=11 | issue=1–2 | magazine=ST NEWS Disk Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | author=''Software Gids'' staff | date=November–December 1994 | title=''Steel Machine'' | url=https://archive.org/details/software-gids-nr.-28-nov-dec-1994/page/44/mode/1up | magazine=Software Gids | publisher=Uitgeverij Herps | language=Dutch | page=44}}</ref> The [[source code|code]] and graphics were all written using the [[Atari ST]].<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Karsmakers, Richard and Posthuma, Stefan | date=November 15, 1992 | title=EDITORIAL | url=https://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-7-issue-3/regulars/editorial/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926133300/https://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-7-issue-3/regulars/editorial | archive-date=September 26, 2023 | volume=7 | issue=13 | magazine=ST NEWS Disk Magazine}}</ref> The project began as a [[game demo|demo]] provided to publisher [[Philips]] who were so impressed that they commissioned a full release as well as a five-game contract with the developer.<ref name="ST-News"/><ref>{{cite magazine | author=''Retro Gamer'' staff | date=January 2007 | title=Retroinspection: CD-I | url=https://archive.org/details/retro-gamer-raspberry-pi-buenos-aires/Retro%20Gamer%20032/page/44/mode/1up | magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] | publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] | page=44 | issue=32 | issn=1742-3155}}</ref> Moss had come to SPT from a British university as an intern. ''Alien Gate'' was put together during that six week period and Moss was asked to return for a permanent position.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Heiweg, Rom |date=October 1994 | title=Tussen de asbakken en de f lessen limonade: Een kijkje in de keuken van de ‘game boys’ | trans-title=Between the ashtrays and bottles of lemonade: A look into the kitchen of the 'game boys' | url=https://archive.org/details/CD_Interactief_Volume_01_Issue_01_1994-10_Haarlems_Uitgeef_Bedrijf_NL/page/n56/mode/1up | magazine=CD Interactief | publisher=Haarlems Uitgeef Bedrijf | issue=1 | language=nl}}</ref> The group disbanded upon the failure of the CD-i. Posthuma subsequently took a job at the Canadian developer [[Gray Matter (company)|Gray Matter]] while Moss returned to England to work for [[Argonaut Games]].<ref name="ST-News"/>

==Reception==
{{VG Reviews
| JS = 53%<ref name="JS">{{cite magazine | author=Lord Casque Noir | date=September 1993 | title=CD Tests: ''Alien Gate'' |
url=https://archive.org/details/joystick041/page/n169/mode/1up |magazine=[[Joystick (magazine)|Joystick]] | publisher=[[Hachette Filipacchi Médias]] | issue=41 | page=170 | issn=1145-4806 | language=fr}}</ref>
| NGen = {{rating|1|5}}<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=2|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|date=February 1995|page=93|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_02/page/n94/mode/1up|author=''Next Generation'' staff|issn=1078-9693}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Power Unlimited]]''
| rev1Score = 82%<ref name="PU">{{cite magazine | author=Bruinsma, Bjørn | date=July 1993 | title=''Alien Gate'' | url=https://archive.org/details/005_20231030_20231030/001/page/n59/mode/2up | magazine=[[Power Unlimited]] | publisher=[[Nielsen Holdings#Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen|VNU Media]] | issue=1 | pages=60–1 | issn=0929-760X | language=nl | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031022173402/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=DESC&query%5bstart%5d=4000 |archivedate=October 22, 2003}}</ref>
}}
''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' reviewed the CD-i version of the game, rating it one star out of five, and stated that "Those who actually want shooting action from their CD-i will do better to stick with games like ''[[Mystic Midway: Rest in Pieces|Mystic Midway]]'' than to delve into this painfully deficient travesty."<ref name="NG"/> ''[[Power Unlimited]]'' gave the game a score of 82% commenting: "''Alien Gate'' is very difficult. You will have to practice for a long time, because if you don't know the levels by heart, you won't get very far. If you're a stickler this game will have a long shelf life."<ref name="PU"/> Alfred Debels of another Dutch magazine, ''Software Gids'', concurred about the game's difficulty. stating that despite the game cover's advertisement for children ages six and up that it would be challenging even for adults. He recommended using the mouse or joystick, finding the game unplayable with the standard CD-i controller.<ref name="SG"/>


==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/39567/alien-gate/ ''Alien Gate''] at [[MobyGames]]

[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:CD-i games]]
[[Category:CD-i-only games]]
[[Category:Fixed shooters]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the Netherlands]]

Alien Gate - Revision history

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