Since the invention of the first arcades Sci Fi Games have been incredibly popular. Early home computers and gaming consoles inspired developers to take the next wave of games further. Certain games were particularly inspirations, we overview some of the key moments.
Modern pop culture idolizes the alien spacecraft image that originated from Space Invaders. This 1978 Japanese classic was so popular that it resulted in a shortage of 100 yen coins. A decade after man first walked on the moon inspired a generation with thoughts in the stars inspired by a plethora of movies on the subject. It was the first two-dimensional fixed shooter game to become internationally successful.
The space trading game Elite was the most popular and addictive simulation game for early home computers. It combined a basic trading game with wireframe combat, which was at that time a new concept. A second version of the game was released for more powerful 16-bit computers later in the decade and there are plans to re-visit the franchise.
Elite was the game that made the BBC and Acorn computers famous. During the early 1980s these computers were primarily used as teaching computers however this game was so hugely popular that many people purchased them just to play it. It also inspired many younger users to consider software development as a career so it could be said it inspired a generation. More recently the the lead designer, David Braben, called for changes in education to inspire a new generation of developers.
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.
War simulation games were fronted by the hugely popular Civilization series, one sci fi version was made titled Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. This popular strategy simulation was based around a colonial ship from Earth that has colonized an alien planet. Leaders with personalities based on diametrically opposed personalities form different types of military and diplomatic relationships that varied form vendetta through truces through to pact alliances until one faction is dominant. Futuristic strategies are often compared against this production in the late 90s.
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.
Modern pop culture idolizes the alien spacecraft image that originated from Space Invaders. This 1978 Japanese classic was so popular that it resulted in a shortage of 100 yen coins. A decade after man first walked on the moon inspired a generation with thoughts in the stars inspired by a plethora of movies on the subject. It was the first two-dimensional fixed shooter game to become internationally successful.
The space trading game Elite was the most popular and addictive simulation game for early home computers. It combined a basic trading game with wireframe combat, which was at that time a new concept. A second version of the game was released for more powerful 16-bit computers later in the decade and there are plans to re-visit the franchise.
Elite was the game that made the BBC and Acorn computers famous. During the early 1980s these computers were primarily used as teaching computers however this game was so hugely popular that many people purchased them just to play it. It also inspired many younger users to consider software development as a career so it could be said it inspired a generation. More recently the the lead designer, David Braben, called for changes in education to inspire a new generation of developers.
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.
War simulation games were fronted by the hugely popular Civilization series, one sci fi version was made titled Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. This popular strategy simulation was based around a colonial ship from Earth that has colonized an alien planet. Leaders with personalities based on diametrically opposed personalities form different types of military and diplomatic relationships that varied form vendetta through truces through to pact alliances until one faction is dominant. Futuristic strategies are often compared against this production in the late 90s.
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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