Escape Velocity (computer game)
|
|
Escape Velocity is a single-player, role-playing, space computer game series.
The first game, Escape Velocity, was released in 1996. Two other similarly-themed titles based on the same game engine, EV Override and EV Nova, followed in 1998 and 2002 respectively.
The series was created as a joint effort between several people and groups. Matt Burch programmed it almost entirely, except for the registration system and various libraries. He also devised the scenario for the first game. Ambrosia Software, headed by Andrew Welch, managed marketing, registration, and distribution. Early test versions of the game went by the name "Merc" (short for "mercenary"). Peter Cartwright wrote the scenario for Override and the Australian company ATMOS created the scenario of EV Nova; both originated as plug-ins for the game before being picked up by Ambrosia as sequels. The fighter pilot voices in the original game were provided by Patrick Delahanty. A plug-in of additional phrases was also created and later included as part of EV Override.
Although there has been much speculation, the developers make a specific point that there will be no fourth release of Escape Velocity. This is often countered with the fact that for many years, the developers denied that a third release would be forthcoming, but the circumstances are rather different in this instance; the development of EV Nova was far more complicated, and lasted several years longer than any of the developers anticipated.
Similarly, the developers pay no heed to the near-constant requests for a multi-player version of the game; besides the amount of work that would be required to produce one, they doubt that the end result would even be fun.
| Contents |
Licensing and Technical Features
The first two Escape Velocity games were only available for the Apple Macintosh. The first two are Classic-only, but EV Nova is a hybrid Carbon and Classic application (not solely Carbon as is often claimed), meaning it can run natively on both the original Mac OS and Mac OS X. EV Nova has been ported to Windows, and adapted versions of the scenarios of the first games are available as free plug-ins.
This series follows the general licensing rule for Ambrosia Software. All three games are shareware. Ambrosia's shareware system allows most distribution of unregistered games. These copies will work without limitation for 30 days. During that time, the player is simply reminded at startup that they have not registered, and told how many times they have played the game, and for how many hours. There is also the character called 'Cap'n Hector' (after Ambrosia's office parrot who reminds the player to register. Additionally, in EV Nova the game's story lines cannot be completed, plug-ins cannot be used, and Cap'n Hector attacks the player after the thirty-day trial. Once the game has been registered, Cap'n Hector and all of the other restrictions disappear from the game. For obvious reasons, players are not permitted to share or redistribute their registration codes.
The entire series features what many people consider a very open-ended plug-in architecture. This allows the scenarios to be completely rewritten or significantly added to by those in no way associated with Ambrosia in terms of graphics, plotline, ships, missions, etc. This technology is based on the Macintosh resource fork format, making it possible to develop plug-ins without using any purpose-designed editors (though several editors exist and are popular since they make the task much easier). Since Windows does not support resource forks and it is therefore impossible to preserve them when transferring files to Windows-based computers, an alternate format and a conversion system were devised for the Windows version of the game.
Gameplay
Most of the game takes place in a spaceship shown from third-person. There are various battles to be fought and places to go. The player can make hyperspace jumps between many systems. Many of these systems contain planets that can be landed on for various services like upgrading the ship with gadgets or even buying a new one. Plot-lines progressed through landing on planets and visiting certain places, like mission computers, or the spaceport bar.
Many people consider this series unique in the way that it prescribes very little as to what the player can do. They can choose which missions to follow and which governments to form a good relationship with or to be entirely neutral. They can choose to be a trader or a mercenary or an asteroid miner among a number of things or a combination of several.
The three games are alike in gameplay only; the universe and plot are completely separate and unrelated between the releases. Each release's engine contains improvements on the previous version, although by far the most significant improvements were made in the third release.
Plots
The plot of the original Escape Velocity involves disputes between the Confederation government and a Rebellion against it. As noted earlier the player can pick sides based on who they believe is right, who they believe is stronger, who they believe it is more profitable to support, or any other criteria (or not at all).
The universe and plots of the second title, EV Override, are significantly larger and more complex. The major conflicts are between the humans of the United Earth colonies, and the warlike Voinians to the galactic west. Also present are the peaceful traders, the Miranu, and the warring Strand races: the Igadzra, Zidagar, and Azdgari. See EV Override for more information.
In the third title, EV Nova, there are six unique major factions with which the player may side, along with numerous smaller groups. These factions include the Federation, the Rebellion, the Auroran Empire, the Polaris, the telepathic Vell-os, and the Pirates. See EV Nova for more information.
See also
External links
- Ambrosia Software: Escape Velocity (http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/ev/)
- Ambrosia Software: EV Override (http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evo/)
- Ambrosia Software: EV Nova (http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/)
- EV-Nova.net (http://www.ev-nova.net/)