Universe is a 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...

 role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

 that was published by board game manufacturer Simulation Publications, Inc. (SPI) in March, 1981. It was designed by John H. Butterfield and co-developed by John H. Butterfield and Gerard Christopher Klug. The first edition of Universe, published in 1981, was released in a boxed set. This received a generally favorable review in the Dragon

Dragon

A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...

magazine issue #55, published by TSR, Inc.

TSR, Inc.

Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....

in November, 1981. The second edition of the game was published as a soft-backed book. SPI went bankrupt in 1982, and the following year its assets were acquired by TSR, thus ending development of the game.