For sale on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BACKLASH-ASSAULT-ON-O … =item2a2ef94dd7

Interesting... Though I've no money to spend on such things, I was really curious if anyone at VOGONS played this at all, it's basically Wing Commander except you're a turret on a ship that you're not piloting.

It might have gone Freeware at some point. It's a liberated game on Atomic Gamer.

The game has been released as freeware by the developers, and the download was available from their official website. The Wayback Machine has preserved that page:
http://www.sancsoft.com/galSoftware.asp

Sanctuary Software Studio has developed a broad spectrum of multimedia software applications. We have delivered software ranging […]
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Sanctuary Software Studio has developed a broad spectrum of multimedia software applications. We have delivered software ranging from shrink-wrapped applications to aircraft avionics. In our earlier days, we developed a 3D action game for Microsoft DOS computers known as BACKLASH. BACKLASH is a space combat game featuring rasterized 3D models and real-time simulation.

BACKLASH was developed and published as shareware in 1994. In 1995, Madacy Entertainment published and distributed a retail version of BACKLASH worldwide. While rapidly changing computer technology has rendered much of the BACKLASH software obsolete, it still stands as an interesting example of the combination of software development, graphic design and audio production that comprise successful multimedia development.

BACKLASH is now available as freeware. It may be downloaded from this site or from mirror locations on the Internet.

Requirements

• Microsoft DOS 5.0 or above
• IBM Compatible 386 computer, 486-33MHz or above recommended
• 2MB RAM, EMS or XMS support
• Microsoft compatible mouse or joystick recommended
• VGA Graphics

Download BACKLASH
The full release version of BACKLASH is now available for download.

ZIP Archive (5.2 MB)

It is my understanding that the freeware release is identical to the floppy version which could be ordered directly from Sanctuary Software Studio. What is not clear is when exactly the game was made freeware though, as there is no formal announcement preserved on the site.

They mention Madacy Entertainment as the publisher, however it appears that Beaucomm Interactive also planned to distribute the game, and even had a shareware download (backlash.zip) which the Wayback Machine did not preserve.

DracoNihil wrote:

I have the shareware of this on a shovelware CD

Which version do you have? There are at least three: 1.10, 1.20 and 1.30, and also presumably 1.00. The file names are bl110sw.zip, bl120sw.zip and bl130sw.zip respectively.

The CD didn't have it contained in a ZIP. All the games were in folders numbered after the program you run to browse the games. The CD's themselves are pretty scratched up so I need to somehow rebuff these and see if it makes them more readable or not. I think it was 1.10, but I'm not sure...

Have you tried unstoppable copier?
http://www.roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=29

DracoNihil, thanks for the info! If the CD is no longer reliable please don't bother. I just asked in case there was some rare version out there.

If you're interested, here are download links for shareware v1.10 and v1.20.

Hallfiry's gaming magazine cover CD index shows instances of shareware v1.10 and v1.30, and also the registered v1.30 installer.

I'd give unstoppable copier a try if I had a windows system to muck about in.

I do have information on the CD's though, this is what's on the back of the jewel case:
"THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GAMES"
2 CD's, solid black labelling.
"SUPER VALUE SOFTWARE"
"Microforum"
Year 1995

There's a screenshot of a old version of Nitemare 3-D's shareware episode on here as well as a fighting game that I don't know the name of.

If you enjoy playing games on your computer, do not miss the opportunity to own one of the largest and most complete collection of games in the world.

With over 1,000 games including old-time favorites and hundreds of commercial demos on 2 CD-ROMs, The Complete Encyclopedia of Games is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of computer games in the world!

2 CD-ROMS
AN INCREDIBLE VALUE!
YOU CAN FINALLY BUY ONE OF THE LARGEST HIGH-QUALITY COLLECTIONS OF GAMES THAT WILL KEEP YOU PLAYING FOR MONTHS!

EVERY GAME YOU NEED
I S  R I G H T  H E R E !
ON THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GAMES

PACKAGE CONCEPT AND DESIGN BY: MICROFORUM ART & DESIGN
©1995 Microforum Inc, All rights reserved. All trademarks and registered trademarks are of their respective companies. MADE IN CANADA

There's this weird serial like number next to the barcode:
INS2643

And the numbers on the barcode:
0 61297 12643 9

DracoNihil wrote:

"THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GAMES"

Internet Archive has it. 😎

No, it doesn't. The closest "encyclopedia" they have is a relabeled Game Empire II, one disc only, also by Microforum and it lacks Backlash.

They have The Complete Encyclopedia of Games on two discs.

oh I see it now, it's in their unsorted full-of-warez-and-movies "Open Source Software" section. 🙄

DracoNihil wrote:

I do have information on the CD's though, this is what's on the back of the jewel case: "THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GAMES" 2 C […]
Show full quote

I do have information on the CD's though, this is what's on the back of the jewel case:
"THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GAMES"
2 CD's, solid black labelling.
"SUPER VALUE SOFTWARE"
"Microforum"
Year 1995

I have the same set. It also has Chasm: The Shadow Zone and Z.A.R. on it.

Why did these series of replies suddenly give me déjà vu...?

I bought a copy of Backlash: Assault On Omicron Station.

Freeware is version 1.30 Full Release
CD is version 1.30 LCR Release
Both include all 3 campaigns.

The CD has an extra BEAUCOMM.FLM file. Another 8 files have different MD5 checksums.

Do the files have differing sizes? More\less stuff in them? Does the music and sound effects sound any different?

I also wonder where the "Assault On Omicron Station" subtitle came from.

SKARDAVNELNATE wrote:

I bought a copy of Backlash: Assault On Omicron Station. […]
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I bought a copy of Backlash: Assault On Omicron Station.

Freeware is version 1.30 Full Release
CD is version 1.30 LCR Release
Both include all 3 campaigns.

The CD has an extra BEAUCOMM.FLM file. Another 8 files have different MD5 checksums.

Thanks for the info! I wonder what LCR stands for? The READ.ME files supplied with both shareware and registered versions all have a line like this:

09FEB96 - MJT - LCR/Full/Shareware Release 1.30

For whatever reason, archived snapshots of Beaucomm Interactive's website have no mention of Backlash.

DracoNihil wrote:

I also wonder where the "Assault On Omicron Station" subtitle came from.

Omicron Station is where the player character is assigned at the beginning of the game:

INSTRUCT.TXT wrote:

STARDATE 1422.332 : ORDERS […]
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STARDATE 1422.332 : ORDERS

Effective immediately, you are assigned to the System Defense Craft SD-2707
in Sector M as Turret Gunner 1st class. Proceed to Omicron station,
quadrant M01.01 where you will report to Captain Masters.

Dirian activity in Sector M is high and although peace talks are about to
begin on Zhinda III, loss of this sector would be a major blow to the war
effort.

Admiral Horn

End Transmission

That's not what I meant by my inquiry MrFlibble. I mean why did they change the subtitle from "A Turret Gunner Simulation" to "Assault On Omicron Station".

Perhaps it was done specifically to differentiate between the two releases (registered vs. retail)? To the best of my knowledge, this was not an entirely uncommon practice.

Or maybe the publisher decided that the original subtitle sounded bland.