.gif)
Space (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Space is a text-based
computer role-playing game franchise
for the Apple II
that was originally designed
by Steven Pederson and Sherwin Steffin of Edu-Ware Services
, and then expanded upon in a sequel by David Mullich
, in 1979
.. These games
were notable for not only being one of the first science fiction
RPG's to appear on personal computers, but also for providing a level of realism not found in other games of the time.
Players begin by creating characters to play in a futuristic interstellar society and then enrolling them in one of the military services: Navy, Army, Scouts, Merchant Marines, and other Services. While in the service, players choose their character's training, provided they qualify for it. Depending upon characters' physical and mental abilities, they may learn such skills as brawling, bribery, swordsmanship, computers, interstellar navigation, spaceship piloting, and so on. Through training and study, characters can also increase their base physical and mental abilities.
Characters have a choice to leave the service after every four years of enlistment, provided that they have not been killed or suffered serious injury. After retiring from the service, characters can engage in one of the scenarios that are included with each version of the game. Scenarios can increase a character's wealth or grant possessions, but with the exception of the Psychodelia scenario in Space II, they cannot voluntarily alter a character's abilities. However, most character traits degrade over time as the character ages during gameplay. If a character dies during any of the scenarios, the text file defining the character is immediately erased from the game disk.
The game system was based upon the Traveller
role-playing-game, created by Game Designers Workshop, which sued Edu-Ware for copyright infringement in 1982
.. In an out-of-court settlement, both Space and Space II were removed from the market.
the first game of the series, which features the following scenarios::
created Space II, an expansion pack
for the role-playing game, his first game for Edu-Ware. It consists of the character creation module and two additional game scenarios:
, a computer store that sold Edu-Ware games through its mail order catalog, to provide Pederson with an Apple II
in exchange for receiving product at cost. When Pederson and Steffin learned that Rainbow had announced Space in its catalog before the game was completed, the two spent twenty-four straight hours debugging the game without the benefit of Edu-Ware even owning a printer at the time.
Mullich wrote the sequel, Space II, as an exercise in risk-benefit analysis, as the player's character is presented with dangerous options throughout the game, and the player must determine whether the potential rewards are worth the possible risks.
Peelings II review.
Game Designers Workshop successfully sued Edu-Ware for copyright infringement of their Traveller
pen-and-paper role-playing game. In an out of court settlement, EduWare suspended publication of Space and Space II, but the company had already replaced both games with the Empire space trilogy, based on an original role-playing game system.
Text-based
Usually used in reference to a computer application, a text-based application is one whose primary input and output are based on text rather than graphics or sound. This does not mean that text-based applications do not have graphics or sound, just that the graphics or sound are secondary to the...
computer role-playing game franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
for the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
that was originally designed
Game design
Game design, a subset of game development, is the process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in a game as...
by Steven Pederson and Sherwin Steffin of Edu-Ware Services
Edu-Ware
Edu-Ware Services, Inc. was an educational and entertainment software publisher established in 1979 by Sherwin Steffin and Steven Pederson It was known for its adventure games, role-playing video games, and flight simulators for the Apple II family of computers.-History:Edu-Ware founders Sherwin...
, and then expanded upon in a sequel by David Mullich
David Mullich
David Mullich is an American game producer and designer best known for creating the cult classic 1980 adventure game The Prisoner, producing the 1995 adaptation I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, and developing many games in the Heroes of Might and Magic franchise...
, in 1979
1979 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* Richard Garriott creates Akalabeth, a computer role-playing game for the Apple IIe. It launches Garriott's career and is a precursor to his highly successful Ultima series....
.. These games
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
were notable for not only being one of the first science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
RPG's to appear on personal computers, but also for providing a level of realism not found in other games of the time.
Players begin by creating characters to play in a futuristic interstellar society and then enrolling them in one of the military services: Navy, Army, Scouts, Merchant Marines, and other Services. While in the service, players choose their character's training, provided they qualify for it. Depending upon characters' physical and mental abilities, they may learn such skills as brawling, bribery, swordsmanship, computers, interstellar navigation, spaceship piloting, and so on. Through training and study, characters can also increase their base physical and mental abilities.
Characters have a choice to leave the service after every four years of enlistment, provided that they have not been killed or suffered serious injury. After retiring from the service, characters can engage in one of the scenarios that are included with each version of the game. Scenarios can increase a character's wealth or grant possessions, but with the exception of the Psychodelia scenario in Space II, they cannot voluntarily alter a character's abilities. However, most character traits degrade over time as the character ages during gameplay. If a character dies during any of the scenarios, the text file defining the character is immediately erased from the game disk.
The game system was based upon the Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
role-playing-game, created by Game Designers Workshop, which sued Edu-Ware for copyright infringement in 1982
1982 in video gaming
-Events:* December 27 - Starcade, a video game television game show, debuts on TBS in the United States.-Notable releases:*October 13 - Mystique releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console....
.. In an out-of-court settlement, both Space and Space II were removed from the market.
Space
Steve Pederson programmedGame programming
Game programming, a subset of game development, is the programming of computer, console or arcade games. Though often engaged in by professional game programmers, many novices may program games as a hobby...
the first game of the series, which features the following scenarios::
- Explore: Characters decide which of several planets to explore, searching for food and minerals to sell back to the Federation.
- First Blood: Characters engage in combat with an adversary controlled by the computer. After a fight to the death, winning characters collect all the wealth of the losing character.
- Trader: Characters owning starships earn money by transport passengers and cargo.
- Defend: As an administrator of a planet far away from Earth, characters must defend colonists from an alien invasion.
- High Finance: Wealthy characters participate in the galactic stock market.
Space II
Later that year game developer David MullichDavid Mullich
David Mullich is an American game producer and designer best known for creating the cult classic 1980 adventure game The Prisoner, producing the 1995 adaptation I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, and developing many games in the Heroes of Might and Magic franchise...
created Space II, an expansion pack
Expansion pack
An 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...
for the role-playing game, his first game for Edu-Ware. It consists of the character creation module and two additional game scenarios:
- Shaman: Characters launch their career as a religious practitioner who is tasked with building a cult on a new world, using an all-terrain vehicle to travel across the planet and accumulate followers.
- Psychodelia: Characters experiment with mind-altering drugs, which may boost or retard various traits, which is the only way they can be altered once a character leaves military service.
Development
Space was conceived by Pederson and Steffin while the former was still attending college at UCLA. The two used the game concept to convince Rainbow ComputingRainbow Computing
Rainbow Computing was an Apple II retailer and software publisher that was established in 1976 in Los Angeles, USA by Gene Sprouse and Glenn Dollar...
, a computer store that sold Edu-Ware games through its mail order catalog, to provide Pederson with an Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
in exchange for receiving product at cost. When Pederson and Steffin learned that Rainbow had announced Space in its catalog before the game was completed, the two spent twenty-four straight hours debugging the game without the benefit of Edu-Ware even owning a printer at the time.
Mullich wrote the sequel, Space II, as an exercise in risk-benefit analysis, as the player's character is presented with dangerous options throughout the game, and the player must determine whether the potential rewards are worth the possible risks.
Reception
Both games were well-received critically, earning an "A-" rating in a 19801980 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* May 22, Namco releases Pac-Man, which is their biggest selling game of all time* December, Nintendo releases the Radar Scope arcade game...
Peelings II review.
Lawsuit
In 19821982 in video gaming
-Events:* December 27 - Starcade, a video game television game show, debuts on TBS in the United States.-Notable releases:*October 13 - Mystique releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console....
Game Designers Workshop successfully sued Edu-Ware for copyright infringement of their Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
pen-and-paper role-playing game. In an out of court settlement, EduWare suspended publication of Space and Space II, but the company had already replaced both games with the Empire space trilogy, based on an original role-playing game system.