Sci Fi Games have been part of computing as long as computers have existed. From the early arcades to modern computers and game consoles every game developer cites an inspiring moment. We look at some of the influential games that inspired generations of programmers.
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.
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 also promoted sales of educational computers, especially the BBC model B and Acorn Electron. This helped youngsters justify the purchase as it was the same system used at their schools, in reality they only wanted to play the popular game. The great side effect of this is that to effectively use the systems some programming knowledge was required and it inspired a whole generation. Recently one of the lead designers, David Braben, made a call for education to make changes to the curriculum due to the skills pool drying up.
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.
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.
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 also promoted sales of educational computers, especially the BBC model B and Acorn Electron. This helped youngsters justify the purchase as it was the same system used at their schools, in reality they only wanted to play the popular game. The great side effect of this is that to effectively use the systems some programming knowledge was required and it inspired a whole generation. Recently one of the lead designers, David Braben, made a call for education to make changes to the curriculum due to the skills pool drying up.
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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