War Games Defcon 1
↗ 37%
(Playstation - US, Strategy)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Complete
$12.99
Loose $6.74
Manage Collection
Developed_By:
Interactive Studios Ltd.
Published_By:
MGM/UA
Released On:
01 May 1998
War Games Defcon 1 is a strategy game set during a fictional Cold War, where players take on the role of the President of the United States and must navigate the complexities of international relations to prevent a global catastrophe.
The gameplay involves managing resources, building military units, and making strategic decisions to outmaneuver your opponent. As the game progresses, events unfold that challenge your leadership skills, forcing you to adapt to changing circumstances and make tough choices.
UPC-A:
5030932017437 (Germany)
Part #:
SLES-00978 (Germany)
YouTube
Reddit
Twitch
Wikipedia
DB
IGDB
RG
RAWG
M
Metacritic
HowLong
GF
GameFAQs
Prices as of 30 Jul 2026
Typical $12.99–$13.78 (last 90 days)
New
Complete
Loose
Box
Manual
Smoothed
Log · Auto
Medians
Market activity: active · about 57 sales a year
Activity is a 12-month sales count. Dashed segments rest on two sales a year or fewer.
More Playstation Strategy
Very Common
Yu-Gi-Oh Forbidden Memories
$32.42 (Complete)
Mar 2002
Common
Command and Conquer Red Alert Retaliation
$26.95 (Complete)
Aug 1998
Common
😊 7.8/10
SimCity 2000
$14.50 (Complete)
Jul 1996
Common
Warcraft II The Dark Saga
$50.00 (Complete)
Aug 1997
Uncommon
😊 8.3/10
Ogre Battle
$144.50 (Complete)
Nov 1997
Uncommon
😊 7.5/10
Monster Rancher 2
$35.08 (Complete)
Aug 1999
Uncommon
🙂 6.9/10
Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena
$163.75 (Complete)
Oct 1998
Uncommon
😊 8.0/10
Civilization II
$25.00 (Complete)
Dec 1998
Uncommon
Command and Conquer
$26.99 (Complete)
Feb 1997
Uncommon
Command and Conquer Red Alert
$29.99 (Complete)
Oct 1997
Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a real-time strategy game where players build and manage a base with various defensive structures and facilities. The core gameplay involves coordinating defenses, repairing units, and launching attacks to protect your base from enemy forces.
Story
Laser Outpost
A logical step up from the Guard Tower, the Laser Outpost offers completely automated ground and airborne defense capabilities. Any enemy units straying into range will be attacked with high-power lasers.
Command Center
The Command Center plays a vital role in any campaign. It is from here that battles are coordinated. Hacking for power-ups is also possible at these facilities.
Anti-Missile Turret
Primarily intended for shooting down "Cruise" and "Scud" missile types, the Anti-Missile Turret also does an admirable job of destroying flying enemy units.
Radar Station
The Radar Station is an early-warning system designed to pick up and track enemy aircraft within a significant radius. The radar station is relatively weak and relies on protective forces.
WOPR Facilities
Robot Maintenance Facility
The Robot Maintenance Facility is where damaged Drones are brought for repairs.
Landing Pad
The Landing Pad is an essential center of activity for any base. It is around here that any ground units will gather.
Hangar
The aircraft Hangar serves as a base for airborne units.
Docks
The Docks are where the majority of sea-based vehicles can be found.
Defense Post
Defense Posts are often constructed as an initial line of defense for a base or other battlefield structure.
Laser Turret
The Laser Turret offers completely automated ground and airborne defense capabilities. It will automatically attack any enemy units within range with its high-power lasers.
SAM Turret
Armed with high-velocity, multiple-launch SAM missiles, this automated defense system is invaluable against enemy aircraft.
Command Center
The Command Center plays a vital role in any campaign. It is from here that battles are coordinated. Hacking for power-ups also takes place at these facilities.
Listening Post
The Listening Post is an early-warning system designed to pick up and track enemy aircraft within a significant radius. However, it is relatively weak.
Missile Silo
The Missile Silo gives WOPR forces long-range ground-attack capabilities. These missiles are relatively slow, but if they hit the target unit, it has little chance of surviving.
How to Play
Setting Up Your PlayStation
Set up your PlayStation game console using its Instruction Manual. Ensure the power is off before inserting or removing a compact disc.
•
Insert the WARGAMES™ DEFCON 1 disc and close the Disc Cover.
•
Insert game controllers and turn on the PlayStation game console.
•
Follow on-screen instructions to start a game.
PlayStation Components
•
RESTART BUTTON
•
POWER BUTTON
•
POWER INDICATOR
•
DISC COVER
•
CONTROLLER PORT
•
OPEN BUTTON
Session Log
This section simulates a connection to Protovision's private BBS, offering updates and utility programs.
•
Initiate call...
•
Dialing...
•
Connect at 28.8 Kbps.
•
Local time: 03:33:05 PDT -700
•
WELCOME TO PROTOVISION'S PRIVATE BBS. THIS IS YOUR MAIN SOURCE FOR UPDATES AND UTILITY PROGRAMS FROM PROTOVISION'S SOFTWARE EXPERTS. CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS
BBS Options
•
1) Company information
•
2) Patches
•
3) Demos
•
4) Utilities
•
5) Message posts
•
6) E-mail
•
7) Play a game
•
8) Exit
Play a Game Options
•
SO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME, HUH? TRY ONE OF OUR BRAND-NEW DEMOS BELOW.
•
1) Tubular
•
2) Asteroid Attack 2000
•
3) Movie Trivia Tonight
•
4) NEW WAR GAME!
•
5) Exit
New War Game Demo
You've picked NEW WAR GAME!, our latest strategy simulation. Control military vehicles to eliminate a dangerous enemy. Missions take place all over the world.
This unnamed interactive game demo contains only three missions. Use a Jeep, APC, or Tank to initiate your session.
Mission Selection
•
BOSNIA HAS UNDERGONE A DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION SINCE THE US-BACKED U.N. FORCES TOOK OVER THE..
•
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME?
•
1) Iraq
•
2) China
•
3) Bosnia
•
4) Exit
Mission Confirmation
•
1) Yes
•
2) No
•
3) Exit
Mission Initiation
SORRY. YOU CANNOT END THE MISSION AT THIS TIME. INITIATE MISSION ATTACK WILL COMMENCE IN THREE MINUTES.
Weapon Type Selection
•
CHOOSE WEAPON TYPE:
•
1) Conventional
•
2) Nuclear
•
3) Exit
•
CONVENTIONAL IT IS. INITIATE LAUNCH...
Greetings
•
GREETINGS, PROFESSOR FALKEN.
•
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
•
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A GAME?
Introduction
You recently purchased WARGAMES DEFCON 1, an action-strategy game with a unique feature: playing against opponents in real-world scenarios. A flaw connected you to a government simulator, where your in-game actions were echoed in the real world with live ammunition, vehicles, and troops.
This mistake may stem from Joshua Information Systems, Protovision's parent company, providing war strategy programs to the Department of Defense. There must be a link.
Your skill in WARGAMES DEFCON 1 will impact the world. You must stop the opposing WOPR (War Operation Programmed Response) forces across various missions before they destroy major cities and military sites. If you lose, you lose everything. Good luck!
WARGAMES DEFCON 1: An Overview
Twenty years after the WOPR computer nearly started World War III, it has evolved. It now believes nuclear exchange is inefficient, favoring conventional warfare. Its goal is to end all war by destroying the entire human military machine.
You can play WarGames Defcon 1 from either side. Control NORAD (North American Air Defense Command) global forces to defend humanity from WOPR's logic, or command WOPR's advanced mechanized forces to save humanity from itself.
Each side has a campaign of fifteen missions, increasing in complexity and difficulty. Strategy is crucial for success; simply blasting through enemies won't always work. Stealth and cunning are often more effective.
At the start of each mission, you'll receive a briefing explaining the situation and mission objectives. It will also describe the units allocated to your command. Throughout the game, you'll get emails from NORAD headquarters or the WOPR mainframe, depending on your chosen side. These messages provide intermediate objectives and valuable intelligence, so read them carefully.
Multiplayer Games
Multiplayer games feature a revolutionary diagonal split-screen for maximum viewing area. You can play missions cooperatively in two-player mode, sharing units and adding a strategic dimension. Players can fight on two fronts and divide enemy forces.
Deathmatch style gameplay is also available with twists. Standard Deathmatch is a fight to the death. Deathmatch Regeneration allows indefinite play as units regenerate at your base after destruction.
Capture the Flare requires infiltrating the enemy base, stealing their colored Marker Flare, and returning it to your base. Full instructions for these game types are in the manual and in the game.
Title Screen Options
Choose Game Type
Use this option to select a side to play or the type of multiplayer game.
•
1 PLAYER: NORAD MISSIONS
This is the campaign for control of the human NORAD forces against the computer-controlled WOPR forces.
•
1 PLAYER: WOPR MISSIONS
Controls
↑
MOVE FORWARD
↓
MOVE BACKWARD
←
TURN LEFT
→
TURN RIGHT
△
ISSUE COMMAND
○
SECONDARY WEAPON
×
PRIMARY WEAPON
□
TOGGLE THE CAMERA VIEW FROM TOP DOWN TO OVER THE SHOULDER
L1 AND R1
TOGGLE BETWEEN AVAILABLE UNITS
L2 AND R2
MOVE CAMERA UP AND DOWN
SELECT
ACCESS THE BRIEFING SCREEN
START
PAUSE AND ACCESS THE IN-GAME OPTIONS
Search Games
Popular Consoles
By Year
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
© 2026 RetroGold. All rights reserved.