The first RTS game isn't what you think! History of RTS #1

Dune II is often cited as the first real-time strategy game, but it was inspired by over a decade of progress towards modern real-time strategy throughout the 1980s. This is the history of real-time strategy you haven't heard before.

Video sources:
TeslaOldgamesGameplay - Balance of Power Gameplay    • Balance of Power gameplay  
Doug C – Waterloo Part 1    • Waterloo part 1  
GatherTogethergames – How to Play Catan    • How To Play Catan  
Retro Recipes – Atari 400 Refurb! Part 1 – with #ASMR segment    • Atari 400 Refurb! Part 1 - with #ASMR...  
Chris Crawford – Chris Crawford’s The Dragon Speech 1992 CGDC    • Chris Crawford's  The Dragon Speech 1...  
Alexander Grebenkov – Torpedo Fire (1981) by SSI gameplay    • Torpedo Fire (1981) by SSI gameplay  
Vault 1541 – Sea Battle: The First RTS? [Intellivision]    • Sea Battle: The First RTS? [Intellivi...  
Vault 1541 – Let’s Play Utopia [Intellivision]    • Sea Battle: The First RTS? [Intellivi...  
Robert Obrien - Sea Battle The Ultimate 80’s Video Game    • Sea Battle The Ultimate 80's Video Game  
Highretrogamelord – Legionnaire for the Atari 8-bit family    • Legionnaire for the Atari 8-bit family  
Highretrogamelord – Combat Leader for the Atari 8-bit family    • Combat Leader for the Atari 8-bit family  
Highretrogamelord – NATO Commander for the Atari 8-bit family    • NATO Commander for the Atari 8-bit fa...  
Rev3Games - Sid Meier on His Legacy, Game Design, & the Appeal of Turn-Based Strategy:    • Sid Meier on His Legacy, Game Design,...  
Arcade Punks – Decision in the Desert 1985    • Видео  
Major Thriftwood – The Ancient Art of War (PC/DOS) 1984, Broderbund, Evryware    • The Ancient Art of War (PC/DOS) 1984,...  
Highretrogamelord - The Ancient Art of War at Sea for DOS    • The Ancient Art of War at Sea for DOS  
Ludophiles – The Ancient Art of War in the Skies – Official Trailer    • The Ancient Art of War in the Skies -...  
The MSX Channel [MSX2] Herzog – Longplay    • [MSX2] Herzog - Longplay  
Levan – Herzog Zwei gameplay    • Herzog Zwei gameplay  
Major Thriftwood – Populus (PC/DOS) 1989, Bullfrog Productions    • Populous (PC/DOS) 1989, Bullfrog Prod...  
Dcoates – Populus (Amiga)    • Populous (Amiga)  
Major Thriftwood – PowerMonger (PC/DOS) 1992, Bullfrog Productions    • PowerMonger (PC/DOS) 1992, Bullfrog P...  
ZetaPlays - Let's Briefly Play Populous II - Trials of the Olympian Gods - Drowning People!    • Let's Briefly Play Populous II - Tria...  
Frank Klepacki - Westwood Studios Digital Turf Episode 1997 -    • Westwood Studios Digital Turf Episode...  
KailoKyra - Interview de Brett Sperry - Westwood Studios - "Generation Jeux Videos" - Canal + Multimedia 1999 -    • Interview de Brett Sperry - Westwood ...  
Jason’s Macintosh Museum – Apple Macintosh Classic (1990) Start Up and Demonstration -    • Apple Macintosh Classic (1990) Start ...  
RMC – The Cave - Amiga 500 Trash to Treasure Pt.4 | The Finished Amiga    • Amiga 500 Trash to Treasure Pt.4 | Th...  Bottom of Form
ByeByeAnotherDay - Peter Molyneux talking about his dream game, Fable -    • Peter Molyneux talking about his drea...  
KalioKyra - Interview de Peter Molyneux - "Generation Jeux Videos" - Canal + Multimedia 1999 -    • Interview de Peter Molyneux - "Genera...  
DOS Game: Genewars – zirkoni88 -    • DOS Game: Genewars  

Text and web sources:
Computer Gaming World Vol 1. Num 1. – The Future of Computer Wargaming by Chris Crawford - http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/in...
The Ancient Art of War (fan site): http://ancient-art-of-war.0fees.net/t...
Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games by Sid Meier and Jennifer Noonan
Gamespot – The Genesis of Real-Time Strategy: https://web.archive.org/web/200105041...
Edge – The Making of… Dune II: https://archive.vn/20121208185911/htt...
Above the Garage – The Origin of Realtime Strategy Games on the PC: https://web.archive.org/web/201111220...

Image sources:
Why did kids code in the 80s? By Michael Sparks: http://www.sparkslabs.com/michael/blo...
Ancient Art of War game manual: https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/S...