Pax Imperia Eminent Domain
Encyclopedia
Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain is a real-time strategy
computer game. The game emphasizes empire building
and customization. Instead of using a single large map as do most of the current real-time strategy games, Pax Imperia revolves around star systems connected by wormhole
s or jump points, which connect a system of star systems in a large web.
The game allowed for the player to customise the species that they were to play to a high degree. Players could focus on construction, reproduction, research, espionage, or the acquisition of money. Players could select special qualities, such as having psychic powers or an aquatic physiology, and could tailor their species to be better at peaceful colonisation or conquest.
Different planets had different types of atmosphere, so that certain species could more easily colonise some than others, and each planet additionally had different quantities of natural resources, similar to the Space Empires
series of games.
Unlike the Master of Orion
series of games, Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain is not a turn based strategy game, but is instead real time. The game speed can be adjusted during the game, to speed up moments and slow down important parts in which a lot of interaction is needed.
Pax Imperia is a Latin
term, meaning peace from empire. See also: Pax Romana
, in association with Changeling Software, announced the development of the sequel to Pax Imperia
, Pax Imperia 2, for release upon both the Macintosh and PC platforms for Christmas 1995.
In August 1996, Blizzard Entertainment announced the sale of the game rights to THQ
, and Heliotrope Studios
continued to finish its development. In 1997, Pax Imperia 2 was released under the name of Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain, exclusively on the PC and Macintosh platforms.
Unlike the original the only way to travel between star systems is through wormholes.
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
computer game. The game emphasizes empire building
Empire Building
The Empire Building at 71 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City is a 21 story steel framed curtain-wall skyscraper designed by Kimball & Thompson and built by Marc Eidlitz & Son in 1895. It is one of the earliest skyscrapers built on pneumatic caissons and one of the oldest still standing today. It...
and customization. Instead of using a single large map as do most of the current real-time strategy games, Pax Imperia revolves around star systems connected by wormhole
Wormhole
In physics, a wormhole is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that would be, fundamentally, a "shortcut" through spacetime. For a simple visual explanation of a wormhole, consider spacetime visualized as a two-dimensional surface. If this surface is folded along a third dimension, it...
s or jump points, which connect a system of star systems in a large web.
The game allowed for the player to customise the species that they were to play to a high degree. Players could focus on construction, reproduction, research, espionage, or the acquisition of money. Players could select special qualities, such as having psychic powers or an aquatic physiology, and could tailor their species to be better at peaceful colonisation or conquest.
Different planets had different types of atmosphere, so that certain species could more easily colonise some than others, and each planet additionally had different quantities of natural resources, similar to the Space Empires
Space Empires
The Space Empires series is a long-lasting series of 4X turn-based strategy games by Malfador Machinations that allows the player to assume the role of the leader of a space-faring civilization.-Gameplay summary:...
series of games.
Unlike the Master of Orion
Master of Orion
Master of Orion is a turn-based, 4X science fiction computer strategy game released in 1993 by MicroProse on the MS-DOS and Mac OS operating systems. The purpose of the game is to lead one of ten races to dominate the galaxy through a combination of diplomacy and conquest while developing...
series of games, Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain is not a turn based strategy game, but is instead real time. The game speed can be adjusted during the game, to speed up moments and slow down important parts in which a lot of interaction is needed.
Pax Imperia is a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
term, meaning peace from empire. See also: Pax Romana
Pax Romana
Pax Romana was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Since it was established by Caesar Augustus it is sometimes called Pax Augusta...
History
In 1995, Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher founded on February 8, 1991 under the name Silicon & Synapse by three graduates of UCLA, Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce and currently owned by French company Activision Blizzard...
, in association with Changeling Software, announced the development of the sequel to Pax Imperia
Pax Imperia
Pax Imperia is a 4X game for the Apple Macintosh, released in 1992. Pax Imperia is a Latin term, meaning "imperial peace". The game won praise for its complex gameplay, real-time mode and ability for up to 16 players to join a single game using AppleTalk....
, Pax Imperia 2, for release upon both the Macintosh and PC platforms for Christmas 1995.
In August 1996, Blizzard Entertainment announced the sale of the game rights to THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
, and Heliotrope Studios
Heliotrope Studios
Heliotrope Studios was a video game developer active in the 1990s. Heliotrope was started as Changeling Software, a Macintosh developer, by Andrew and Peter Sispoidis, then changed its name when it began cross-platform development. The company developed Pax Imperia and Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain....
continued to finish its development. In 1997, Pax Imperia 2 was released under the name of Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain, exclusively on the PC and Macintosh platforms.
Game Play
- Customize galaxy size and its characteristics
- Customize your own race
- Customize your ship designs
Unlike the original the only way to travel between star systems is through wormholes.