Egosoft
Encyclopedia
Egosoft is a computer game developer
founded in 1988 and based in Würselen
, Germany
. It became a commercial company in 1990. Its first products were for the Amiga
, but it later became a PC game
developer.
Egosoft is best known for its X game series, a series of space simulator games noted for combining open-ended gameplay, dynamic market-driven
economy and compelling storyline. The series began in 1999 with X: Beyond the Frontier
. Since then, the series has expanded with two sequels and two standalone expansions; the latest being X3: Terran Conflict in 2008.
Linux versions of the X Series were developed by Linux Game Publishing
. Mac OS X versions were developed by Virtual Programming. Ltd
Several of the X series have been released multiple times in special bundle packs or when a major update to the game was released. Notable releases include:
called Online Universe or X Online. This project was intended to be "the next step in the evolution of Egosoft's X universe." Egosoft has since released a number of games, yet has given little indication of the progress of this project. In 2003 Egosoft staff were working on a later version - codenamed X2OL - which Egosoft Director Bernd Lehahn described as "our long term goal." There is still no official information on the Online Universe, though there has been speculation that X2 and X3's 2007 uplink feature may be a positive spin-off of the project.
In Q4 of 2009 Egosoft announced that Terran Conflict completed the story started in X:Beyond The Frontier - taken by some to mean the end of the franchise - however in March 2011 they announced on their X-Universe forums that they would be attending FedCon XX in Düsseldorf on April 28th 2011, and would show preview footage of their current project, previously only referred to by the codename TNBT (The Next Big Thing). However, on April 20th 2011, they released a trailer officially announcing X Rebirth, slated for a Q4 2011 release. X Rebirth will take place in the X Universe after a major catastrophe, thus starting a new chapter in the X Universe separate from the original plot line.
.
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
founded in 1988 and based in Würselen
Würselen
Würselen is a town in the district of Aachen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Coat of arms:The coat of arms show the eagle of the coat of arms of Aachen in the topleft corner. The second quarter shows the coat of arms of the Rhine Province, however the bend also represents the river Wurm which...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It became a commercial company in 1990. Its first products were for the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, but it later became a PC game
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
developer.
Egosoft is best known for its X game series, a series of space simulator games noted for combining open-ended gameplay, dynamic market-driven
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
economy and compelling storyline. The series began in 1999 with X: Beyond the Frontier
X: Beyond the Frontier
X-Tension was released as an expansion to X:BTF; however, many gamers and reviewers consider it more a "sequel" than an "add-on". It follows on after the story in X: BTF, with "the evil Xenon vanquished" and the player "still stranded light years from home." The player once again takes control of...
. Since then, the series has expanded with two sequels and two standalone expansions; the latest being X3: Terran Conflict in 2008.
Releases
Egosoft has released the following products:- Hotel Detective (1988) for the AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, published by Euroline software. - Fatal Heritage (1990) for the Amiga, published by FunSoft and Softgold.
- UGH (1992) for the Amiga, Published by Playbyte and Bluebyte.
- Flies Attack on Earth (1993) for Amiga and PCIBM PC compatibleIBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
(MS-DOSMS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
). - Imperium Romanum (1996) for MS-DOS.
- X Series
- X: Beyond the FrontierX: Beyond the FrontierX-Tension was released as an expansion to X:BTF; however, many gamers and reviewers consider it more a "sequel" than an "add-on". It follows on after the story in X: BTF, with "the evil Xenon vanquished" and the player "still stranded light years from home." The player once again takes control of...
(1999) for WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.- X-Tension (2000) for Windows - X: Beyond the Frontier expansion packExpansion packAn expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
.
- X-Tension (2000) for Windows - X: Beyond the Frontier expansion pack
- X2: The Threat (2003) for Windows and LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
(2006). - X3: Reunion (2005) for Windows, Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
(2008).- X3: Terran Conflict (2008)
- X RebirthX RebirthX Rebirth is a single-player space trading and combat game being developed by Egosoft, published by Deep Silver. It is the fifth installment in the X universe adventure video game series, following X³: Terran Conflict , as the new sequel to the last game title...
(2012) for Windows
- X: Beyond the Frontier
Linux versions of the X Series were developed by Linux Game Publishing
Linux Game Publishing
Linux Game Publishing is a software company based in Nottingham in England. It ports, publishes and sells video games running on Linux operating systems. As well as porting games, LGP also sponsors the development of Grapple, a free software network library for games...
. Mac OS X versions were developed by Virtual Programming. Ltd
Several of the X series have been released multiple times in special bundle packs or when a major update to the game was released. Notable releases include:
- X-Gold (2000), which features X: Beyond the Frontier and X-Tension
- X3-Gold (2009), which features X3: Reunion 2.5 and X3: Terran Conflict 2.0
- X-Superbox (2010), featuring all 5 X-Series games
Future releases
In 2000, Egosoft planned a multiplayer online gameOnline game
An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...
called Online Universe or X Online. This project was intended to be "the next step in the evolution of Egosoft's X universe." Egosoft has since released a number of games, yet has given little indication of the progress of this project. In 2003 Egosoft staff were working on a later version - codenamed X2OL - which Egosoft Director Bernd Lehahn described as "our long term goal." There is still no official information on the Online Universe, though there has been speculation that X2 and X3's 2007 uplink feature may be a positive spin-off of the project.
In Q4 of 2009 Egosoft announced that Terran Conflict completed the story started in X:Beyond The Frontier - taken by some to mean the end of the franchise - however in March 2011 they announced on their X-Universe forums that they would be attending FedCon XX in Düsseldorf on April 28th 2011, and would show preview footage of their current project, previously only referred to by the codename TNBT (The Next Big Thing). However, on April 20th 2011, they released a trailer officially announcing X Rebirth, slated for a Q4 2011 release. X Rebirth will take place in the X Universe after a major catastrophe, thus starting a new chapter in the X Universe separate from the original plot line.
DevNet
Egosoft runs a Developer Network - DevNet - which members may be able to join. It provides an opportunity to test new software and create the scripts for it. Submiting personal information to Egosoft is enough for mere testing, however, access to pages of the higher level requires signing a non-disclosure agreementNon-disclosure agreement
A non-disclosure agreement , also known as a confidentiality agreement , confidential disclosure agreement , proprietary information agreement , or secrecy agreement, is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties...
.