Escape Velocity (video game)

Escape Velocity (abbreviated EV, English for " escape velocity ") is a computer game series for Mac OS and Mac OS X for the U.S. game developer and publisher's Ambrosia Software Inc.. Published three 1996-2002 Title Escape Velocity, Escape Velocity Override and Escape Velocity Nova are space adventure game in which it operates a single player in a mixture of trading simulation and role-playing game in a sci-fi world with interstellar space.

Escape Velocity is considered classic Mac games. At Nova, a trading card game is available. An active online community develops and maintains numerous modifications.

Game action

The player controls his ship in plan view by a two-dimensional game world with a slightly isometric view of three-dimensional models rendered objects. The game has apparently large similarity to three years older, also developed by Ambrosia title Maelstrom; the game mechanics so that leans ultimately to that of the classic arcade game Asteroids to: The player can rotate his ship and accelerate forward and firing weapons and moves on a two-dimensional field. In the middle of this field, which represents a star system planets are sometimes placed, which can be interacted with, among others, in a comprehensive dialogue system (trade, refueling, refitting, etc.).

The player can be active explorer, merchant and shipper and unsubscribe battles with other ships and defeated hijack ships. The game is non-linear and provides complete freedom of action and (except for Nova more or less) an open, unclear end, on various occasions, orders may be adopted that include several storylines.

Development and sales

Escape Velocity was released on 5 May 1996, Mac OS, Escape Velocity Override 1998 for Mac OS and Escape Velocity Nova in March 2002 for Mac OS and Mac OS X. Contraband Entertainment began in June 2002, a port of the third part for Microsoft Windows to create, which was published in July 2003.

All three titles have been programmed by the US- American Matt Burch in C, who also created the content of the first part. The development of the two successors began each as an extension to its predecessor, which were, however, developed and marketed by Ambrosia to independent games. In the second part override the contents of Peter Cartwright were created, in the third part of the Australian Nova ATMOS Software Productions Pty.. Ltd.. The planetary representations were created with Bryce.

The games were marketed as a time-limited shareware, whose unregistered copies were allowed to be freely distributed and largely after the trial period of 30 days enabled constraints. Today, adapted by the game content of the two versions of older titles are available for free as total conversions for Nova.

Reception

The English edition of the magazine Macwelt praises the " delightful combination " of spaceship battles and adventure game that could prove even in the first two incarnations of the Escape Velocity series, and would also work in the third part. Nova offers " a revised engine with improved graphics and completely new storylines, but Ambrosia was wise enough not to change Functioning " (4/ 5 stars). Mac gamers called Escape Velocity Nova as " compulsory for those who the popular Warcraft / Quake / Diablo / Civilization clones tired " were (98 /100 ). Apple To the left is " based on the amount of plug- ins for Escape Velocity and Escape Velocity Override" ensures that even for the third part, after a short time, new missions and stories to be created (4/ 5 stars).

Movie connections

The similar 1990 published Star Control is probably to see because of his advanced age as a model and builds itself again on the concept of Spacewar! on. Following the example of Escape Velocity, the free play NAEV was rebuilt.

Modifications

To Nova is an active modding community has formed.

The game contents are packaged using ResEdit in Mac resource fork files. There are special editors for the creation and modification of game content ( mission computer, Evone, EVNEW, ResEdit with Nova tools ). The 3D - models from which the graphics were generated by override, are available on the manufacturer's website.