Space Empires
Encyclopedia
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
.
Starting out with only a few possible hull
sizes for his ships, on which he can place any number of components to essentially create a unique ship, the player can research new hull sizes and components to use with them, eventually being able to build ships ten times the size of his original hull size.
The components available to the player can vary greatly, from emergency supply components that, when used, will be destroyed but will allow a ship to continue moving for a longer time, ship bridge
s, long-range scanners and shield generators to weapons of various kinds, boarding
parties, cloaking device
s right up to Dyson Sphere
construction material and star
-destroying devices.
Also, the player can meet extraterrestrial
races (which will inevitably happen as the player expands his realm) and conduct diplomacy with them. Treaties
can be signed between two empires, varying from the basic trade agreement to full-blown partnership
s and even protectorate
s. The player can also conduct intelligence operations, also varying greatly, from simple information gathering missions to ship bombs to inciting revolt on a planet.
Interstellar travel in Space Empires is not faster-than-light drive based, but instead relies on anomalies called "warp points
", essentially small wormholes between two star system
s. Warp points are naturally occurring but a player can open and close these warp points if he has the appropriate technologies, which when used in the hands of an experienced player can turn the tide of an entire game.
Malfador Machinations
Malfador Machinations is a small game company based in Santa Rosa, California. They are best known for their Space Empires series.-Brief history:...
that allows the player to assume the role of the leader of a space-faring civilization
Civilization
Civilization is a sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. Primarily, the term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally...
.
Gameplay summary
In Space Empires, the player assumes the role of the single leader of a race of intelligent beings that has recently acquired the technology required to build large fully space-based ships for interplanetary and interstellar travel.Starting out with only a few possible hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
sizes for his ships, on which he can place any number of components to essentially create a unique ship, the player can research new hull sizes and components to use with them, eventually being able to build ships ten times the size of his original hull size.
The components available to the player can vary greatly, from emergency supply components that, when used, will be destroyed but will allow a ship to continue moving for a longer time, ship bridge
Bridge (ship)
The bridge of a ship is the room or platform from which the ship can be commanded. When a ship is underway the bridge is manned by an OOW aided usually by an AB acting as lookout...
s, long-range scanners and shield generators to weapons of various kinds, boarding
Boarding
Boarding may refer to:*Temporarily residing somewhere, as in a boarding school or boarding house*Boarding , a naval term for the forcible attempt at capturing another naval vessel*Boarding , customs, coastguard etc...
parties, cloaking device
Cloaking device
Cloaking devices are advanced stealth technologies still in development that will cause objects, such as spaceships or individuals, to be partially or wholly invisible to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum...
s right up to Dyson Sphere
Dyson sphere
A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure originally described by Freeman Dyson. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting solar power satellites meant to completely encompass a star and capture most or all of its energy output...
construction material and star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
-destroying devices.
Also, the player can meet extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
races (which will inevitably happen as the player expands his realm) and conduct diplomacy with them. Treaties
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
can be signed between two empires, varying from the basic trade agreement to full-blown partnership
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
s and even protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
s. The player can also conduct intelligence operations, also varying greatly, from simple information gathering missions to ship bombs to inciting revolt on a planet.
Interstellar travel in Space Empires is not faster-than-light drive based, but instead relies on anomalies called "warp points
Warp zone
A warp zone is usually an area in a video game where players can go from one place or level to another. They are sometimes used as cheats and sometimes as ways to avoid too much walking...
", essentially small wormholes between two star system
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
s. Warp points are naturally occurring but a player can open and close these warp points if he has the appropriate technologies, which when used in the hands of an experienced player can turn the tide of an entire game.
Games in the series
- Space Empires (1993)
- Space Empires II (1995)
- Space Empires IIISpace Empires III__FORCETOC__Space Empires III is a turn-based 4X space strategy game published by Malfador Machinations in 1997, and is the third game in its Space Empires series.Despite its age the developers still offer it for sale online....
(1997) - Space Empires IVSpace Empires IVSpace Empires IV is a turn-based 4Xstrategy computer game developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Strategy First as part of the Space Empires series in which players control an alien race in an attempt at galactic conquest.- Gameplay :...
(2000) - Space Empires: StarfurySpace Empires: StarfurySpace Empires: Starfury is an action video game developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Shrapnel Games on October 2, 2003.-Gameplay:...
(2003) - Space Empires VSpace Empires VSpace Empires V is a 4X turn based strategy game that was released in 2006. It was developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Strategy First. The game retains many races and technologies from its predecessor, Space Empires IV .-Gameplay:While Space Empires V retains much of its...
(2006)
External links
Official- Space Empires Universe site - Official community homepage
- Malfador Machinations official site - Series developer
- Strategy First official site - Parent company of Malfador MachinationsMalfador MachinationsMalfador Machinations is a small game company based in Santa Rosa, California. They are best known for their Space Empires series.-Brief history:...
(published Star Fury, Space Empires IV Deluxe, and Space Empires V) - Shrapnel Games official site Previous publisher (Space Empires IV, Space Empires IV Gold)
- Interview with Aaron Hall, the creator of Space Empires