Escape Velocity (computer game)

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. Peter Cartwright wrote the scenario for Override, and the Australian company ATMOS created the scenario of Nova; both originated as plug-ins for the game before being picked up by Ambrosia as sequels.

Although there has been much speculation, the developers make a specific point that there will be no fourth release of Escape Velocity (while it should be noted that for many years, the developers denied that a third release would be forthcoming, the circumstances are rather different in this instance as 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.

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 for EV Nova.

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. After that period they will be hampered (especially in the new games) until the player buys a registration code which will unlock the entire game again. In EV Nova, plug-ins will not work until the game is registered; this particular restriction is not present in the two earlier titles, though there are some other limitations. Ambrosia forbids distribution of 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 makes use of the Macintosh resource fork, 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 destroys any resource fork it sees, a conversion system was devised in the porting process.

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 different 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 involves disputes between the Confederation government and Rebellion. As noted earlier the player can pick sides based on who they believe is right or who they believe is better off.

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.

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 also