Sid Meier's Covert Action

Backwards compatibility

The game seems to crash on modern computers when attempting to break into a building, but it actually does not. Because of bad programming, the code does hang when trying to enter a house - but only for a couple of seconds. After that, it continues. This delay occurs only the first time after running the program. This technical issue can be fixed by running the game with DOSBox. Be sure to set the "Cycles" value in DOSBox.conf to about 5500 for best gameplay.

Copy protection

The set of faces shown before each case is actually the game's copy protection, not a gameplay element.

Development

• Covert Action was first worked on by Bruce Shelley and Sid Meier between the making of Railroad Tycoon and Civilization.
• Sid Meier is quoted as having a rule of game design he calls "The Covert Action Rule," inspired by this game. He found that it was hard to keep track of the story in the midst of all the minigames, so he created this "rule" to prevent himself from making multiple games at once.

References

The Amiga version of Covert Action had a much higher resolution picture of the CIA Director (see screenshots for the PC version). In addition to more facial detail, the Amiga Director had a large "jelly stain" birthmark on his bald head which made him look exactly like former General Secretary of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev.

The main character, Max Remington, is named after graphics artist Max Remington III who worked at MicroProse from 1988-1995.

Awards

• Computer Gaming World
  • November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #12 Most Memorable Game Hero (Max Remington)

Information also contributed by ClydeFrog, EboMike, PCGamer77 and Zack Green