Deflektor
Deflektor is a puzzle video game developed by Vortex Software and published by Gremlin Graphics in December 1987. The game was followed by a 1989 sequel, Mindbender.
The game was also ported to the Sharp X68000 by Bullet-Proof Software and the Atari 8-bit computers developed by Atari Corporation in 1988, but was not published. According to Deflektor X4 remake programmer Ignacio Pérez Gil, Deflektor developer Costa Panayi endorsed the creation and distribution of the non-commercial open-source freeware in the 2000s.
Deflektor has been well received by reviewers. Critics emphasized its high appeal and originality. The game also received positive feedback for its graphics, difficulty, and in-depth exploration.
Gameplay
[Image:Deflektor ingame.png|left|thumb|The beam is transferred by fibre optics.|187x187px]Deflektor is a real-time puzzle game that takes place in an optical circuit. The player must rotate mirrors to deflect a beam in order to destroy all the cells of each level. There are also other devices which the player cannot touch with the beam for too long because it will make the system overload. The player only has a certain amount of time to complete each level. There are also various other items on each level which can be collected and a practise mode.Development
Costa Panayi was the principal programmer, game designer and artist for Vortex Software, when Panayi was programming primarily on the ZX Spectrum. He developed and released Revolution, which later influenced the creation of Deflektor. The game was based on a simple physical phenomenon which was further modified in terms of game mechanics. Panayi was inspired to create the game by observing scientific software that worked with lasers. The development was carried out with the idea of being different from existing trends in the gaming industry.The development of the original game for the ZX Spectrum was handled by Panayi himself and was published by Gremlin Graphics. A month before its release date, the game was announced in magazines.