For as long as home computers have been around Sci Fi Games have been created. Dating back to the first arcades and consoles developers have cited certain games as the moment when they decided their future careers. Here we overview some games that were the most inspirational.
The first arcade game to be a success around the world was the Japanese invented Space Invaders. Released in 1978 by Taito in an era when the younger generation were looking up at the sky and asking the most questions. This 2D fixed shooter game resulted in a shortage of 100 yen coins. Within pop culture the pixelated image of the alien spacecrafts have become a popular retro image.
In the early 1980s computers were only starting to be used at home. Elite was a hugely popular space trading game that also introduced flight simulation and wireframe combat. The game was improved through the decade and a second version was released for more powerful computers, such as the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. Recently the developers have announced plans to develop a modern version.
Elite launched the first wave of people purchasing computers for their homes. At the time computers were only used lightly at work places and most schools only had small labs. This game inspired a generation of youngsters to impress on their parents the advantages of having a computer at home. Once they had the computer many also explored what else could be done. This is generally considered to be what inspired many developers to choose their career. One of the two lead designers of Elite, David Braben, recently went on record calling for curriculum changes to encourage the next generation.
Sports simulation was also very popular and was taken into the future by Speedball. With inspiration from both handball and ice hockey it instantly got the thumbs up from sports fans. It combined fast action, power ups, and, of course, elements of skill and luck. The game was as inspirational as it was successful and new versions continue to be made.
Another popular science fiction gaming genre was first person shooters. Quake gained a huge amount of popularity but that was by its successor Half Life, the most successful game of its type in the era. Using a greatly enhanced version of the same engine. The central character was Gordon Freeman, a scientist with poor time keeping ability at the Black Mesa research facility. A huge explosion knocks him unconscious, he comes around to find the facility infested with hostile aliens.
Sid Meier's Civilization series was brought into the future with Alpha Centauri. Using the same engine it added a science fiction twist to the classic series. As with Civilization it's based around idealistically different settlements, this time on an alien world. Each faction makes friends and enemies with their rivals until one is dominant. Short videos are played as breaks in the game, some of the quotes are memorable enough to be used in films just often enough for fans of the game to notice them. Since the late nineties it has become the standard for strategy games.
As long as there have been home computers and arcades there have been Sci Fi Games. As a genre they have been amongst the most popular and the most inspirational for generations of developers. Every time a great new game is invented another generation is inspired.
The first arcade game to be a success around the world was the Japanese invented Space Invaders. Released in 1978 by Taito in an era when the younger generation were looking up at the sky and asking the most questions. This 2D fixed shooter game resulted in a shortage of 100 yen coins. Within pop culture the pixelated image of the alien spacecrafts have become a popular retro image.
In the early 1980s computers were only starting to be used at home. Elite was a hugely popular space trading game that also introduced flight simulation and wireframe combat. The game was improved through the decade and a second version was released for more powerful computers, such as the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. Recently the developers have announced plans to develop a modern version.
Elite launched the first wave of people purchasing computers for their homes. At the time computers were only used lightly at work places and most schools only had small labs. This game inspired a generation of youngsters to impress on their parents the advantages of having a computer at home. Once they had the computer many also explored what else could be done. This is generally considered to be what inspired many developers to choose their career. One of the two lead designers of Elite, David Braben, recently went on record calling for curriculum changes to encourage the next generation.
Sports simulation was also very popular and was taken into the future by Speedball. With inspiration from both handball and ice hockey it instantly got the thumbs up from sports fans. It combined fast action, power ups, and, of course, elements of skill and luck. The game was as inspirational as it was successful and new versions continue to be made.
Another popular science fiction gaming genre was first person shooters. Quake gained a huge amount of popularity but that was by its successor Half Life, the most successful game of its type in the era. Using a greatly enhanced version of the same engine. The central character was Gordon Freeman, a scientist with poor time keeping ability at the Black Mesa research facility. A huge explosion knocks him unconscious, he comes around to find the facility infested with hostile aliens.
Sid Meier's Civilization series was brought into the future with Alpha Centauri. Using the same engine it added a science fiction twist to the classic series. As with Civilization it's based around idealistically different settlements, this time on an alien world. Each faction makes friends and enemies with their rivals until one is dominant. Short videos are played as breaks in the game, some of the quotes are memorable enough to be used in films just often enough for fans of the game to notice them. Since the late nineties it has become the standard for strategy games.
As long as there have been home computers and arcades there have been Sci Fi Games. As a genre they have been amongst the most popular and the most inspirational for generations of developers. Every time a great new game is invented another generation is inspired.
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