Xpace - a PBEM massive/massively multiplayer space 4X - now recruiting
Benjamin S
players. Game turns will be one a day and submitted via email (due by
11:59 PM CST; GMT -6:00). We will start as soon as I can find a couple
more players.
Xpace - a tribute and online archive of the PBeM strategy game
http://xpace.awardspace.com/index.html
And, yes, the download link has finally been fixed. (The original file
host changed their policies and subsequently deleted the file!) For
those still having trouble, here's an alternate (mirror) download link:
http://www.electronicfiles.net/files/5672/Xpace/XPACE602.ZIP
Also, I recently set up an Xpace Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xpace-pbem
If you are interested, then contact me by email or send a message via
Yahoo IM/chat.
Xpace is a large-scale, PBEM space exploration and strategy game
developed in the late '90s and which, unfortunately, has been abandoned.
This innovative game was created by Xoftware Innovations. Developed in
their spare time, the "Pre-Release Beta" version of Xpace was released
in November of '96. It was intended to become a shareware venture,
probably being inspired by other games of the genre like Stars! and VGA
Planets. However, sometime around 2002 they sold their website and
namesake to an Italian Internet consultation service.
Potentially, it is a massive game since the universe can consist of up
to 50,000+ stars, and each star system can contain multiple planets! It
could almost be considered massively-multiplayer since (in theory) it
supports up to 200 players each of which may leave or join at any time!
Also, nearly unlimited ships, orbital stations, and planet facilities
can be built. Resources can be mined from mineral-rich planets via
mining facilities, or from orbit via mining stations or mining ships.
Alternatively, minerals can be 'synthesized' by using a large amount of
energy to replicate them. Using minerals is usually much more
economical, but the use of energy to substitute for a lack of
construction materials is quite feasible.
At the start of a new empire, the player chooses whether to use "Jump
Drive" or "Thrust" type propulsion. This choice is final. However, while
each system has its advantages and drawbacks, the game is balanced such
that either propulsion system is quite playable. The Thrust drive is
generally slower and more energy/fuel efficient while the Jump drive is
an energy hog but instantaneous (while distance is limited by fuel
capacity). However, higher technology levels make the differences less
noticable.
Another innovative feature is the communication relay/delay simulation.
Depending on communication technology, there is a certain range in which
empire orders and ship communications are relayed in 1 turn (FTL).
Beyond this range, it will take 2 or more turns for communications to be
relayed. Improved technology from research will improve this range. This
adds a degree of realism.
Each colonized world has a moral value and a "membership status."
Membership can range from Colony, to Autonomy, Military Base, Industrial
World, Resort, or Full Membership. But if the moral gets too low then
trouble will result. Also, the player is literally represented by an
"Emperor" located on his/her homeworld. This Emperor can be transported
and relocated to a different star system to adjust the communication
relay range or for strategic purposes. However, should the Emperor be
destroyed, it's Game Over...
Some innovative fleet and empire management features are included to
make it easier to manage a vast galactic empire. But since the game's AI
was never finished, it only becomes interesting when played against/with
other human players.
About 4 years ago the web domain that offered this game was sold off to
a third party and the game developers seemed to disappear off the face
of the Earth. With no website and nowhere to download the game, it
slowly began to fade from memory.
Well, I thought Xpace was a truly unique and amazing game.
Groundbreaking in several ways, actually. I was saddened by how it
seemed to disappear and how difficult it is to find players to
participate with. So, I set up my own website with a complete archive of
the original Xpace homepage.