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History

The Empire series can now look back on a 30-year history. For a computer game that is an incredibly long period of time. It is a turn-based strategy game that lasts many hours, depending on the settings and also as a post-game or in the " hot seat "mode can be played.

Empire

Empire 1.31, MS-DOS Version, 1986 (2000 neu kompiliert)

Empire 1.31, MS-DOS version, 1986 (2000 recompiled)

Creation and version 1: The result is the "original" in the mid-70s Empire, where it was developed by Walter Bright for the mainframe computer at Caltech's PDP-10. After conversion to the DEC VAX , it quickly spread to the mainframes. The former technical capabilities according to the playing field with the ASCII character was portrayed. Sun symbolized a point a discovered marine field and a plus sign in the country. The units were represented by their initials. Since then, the computer-side could represent the lack of graphics capability, no colors, custom units with large and hostile were displayed in small letters. The early 80's version of the Empire for the then slowly emerging "home computer market" has been rewritten. The Empire of the IBM PC was the first commercial version was marketed by "Northwest Software" from the year 1984 and received the number "1.0".

Empire "derivatives"

Derivatives: The Empire was converted to the VAX, came about in a roundabout way. So in the early days of computers was widespread belief far, the computer programs are exempt from copyright. The version of Walter Bright has been stolen from there with a hack of the Caltech computer and went with - exempt from copyright notices - from machine to machine. On the assumption Empire is a "public domain" program was then ported to the VAX several times and the DECUS (DEC Users Group) distributed. From there developed many variations.

These variants exhibited a variety of enhancements and additions. For example, could the versions of the "BSD Empire" already multiplayer with up to 256 players, huge maps with up to 1024 x 1024 fields, new units (nuclear weapons, satellites, markets, commercial vessels to generate an income) and sophisticated military power levels. In other versions of ships also had a limited range, before they had to re-enter a port. The best-known Empire Empire BSD derivatives are here, PSL Empire, Old Empire, Empire Amiga, GS Empire, Empire C, VMS Empire, Empire Master Empire and XDE be called.

Empire - The Wargame of the Century

Empire - The Wargame of the Century, MS-DOS Version, 1988

Empire - The Wargame of the Century, MS-DOS version, 1988

Version 2.0: In the mid '80s, the company wanted to bring a more commercialized Interstel Empire version on the market. This company decided to deliberate for the simple-structured version of Walter Bright, as it promised the most fun. Interstel got the programmer Mark Baldwin on board, rewrote the Empire, a graphical user interface and integrate the operation using the mouse and menus in the game. There were also small changes in the gameplay (it's since this version is no longer possible to move armies into the sea with them "resolve").

This Empire, the first for the Atari ST had been programmed, launched in 1987. The versions for Amiga , MS-DOS and Apple II were released in 1988. One of the Empire on Unix derivatives, according to reports at that time CompuServe and GEnie was compatible version of this Empire. Furthermore, it was back then screenshots and announcements in the press on a regular C64 version. A release is not known to me.

Empire Deluxe

Empire Deluxe, Windows Version, 1993

Empire Deluxe, Windows version, 1993

Version 3.0 to 3.12: With a still unchanged turn-based gameplay, however, including improved graphics and sound was followed in March 1993, the third version of the Empire Series. "Empire Deluxe" was published, but only for the operating system MS-DOS . With version 3.11 there was also need a Windows version, which was at the time of MS-Windows or an add-on for MS-DOS. Also, Empire Deluxe was released in version 3.11 in German. This version can be purchased from some shareware vendors today. Other improvements include the possibility of a game included with up to six players to play.

Despite the many improvements of Entwicklerduo Mark Baldwin and Bob Rakosky (he is also the port of the Empire to the Amiga version 2.x) made sure that Empire Deluxe is as simple as possible: No unnecessary types of units, no new technologies WWII were not developed performance levels, etc. Empire Deluxe is the intent "to be a game and not a simulation" on.

"We added new rules to the advanced game in a very selective manner. In other words, each addition rules had to add a great deal to the game. The reason behind this was that I still wanted a very clean game, even when playing by the Advanced Game rules. Adding things like machine gunners would have added much more complexity than value in my humble opinion "-. Mark Baldwin

Empire II - The Art of War

Empire II - The Art of War, Windows Version, 199x

Empire II - The Art Of War, Windows version, 199x

Empire II: Another version that was produced by quite independent of the company "White Wolf" and "New World Computing" has had some mistakes in gameplay and overall usability. In particular, the principle of simplicity of the game was heavily violated: Para troops, technology level and the roads and bridges were introduced, abolished the discovery of the world and the "hot seat" mode.

Was this disregard for the years collected by Mark Baldwin wishes and opinions of the Empire player here licensed by a quickly cobbled together attempt follow-up program to make money and thus more or less failed.

In addition, Empire II, only for the operating system Windows 95 released. By a defective version of this game could check on the following versions of Windows will not start. The popularity of the previous version "Empire Deluxe" version that could harm over the years.

Empire Deluxe Internet Edition (EDIE)

Version 3.5: Mark Kinkead in early 2003 acquired the license for the development and distribution of the Empire Series. Mark corrected the network components of the now no longer in use NetBIOS - on the TCP / IP protocol, which were possible directly from Empire out "live" games over the Internet. Many other improvements in gameplay and usability have been added to the game, the graphics have improved again (even now have their own graphic templates available) and several bugs have been fixed.

The basic principles of "clear and simple" game by Walter Bright, Mark Baldwin and Bob Rakosky remained faithful to this version. This upgrade is very successful on the web by Mark Kinkead available for purchase.

Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition (EDEE)

Version 4.0: In contrast to the 'Internet Edition' version of this empire largely a technical program development by Mark Kinkead. This version has been added to include nuclear weapons, missiles, satellites, etc. road. Currently, even by those who love the classic "simpler" Empire Series overview of the patrol units, which automatically measures functioning pier and many other features soft, which had many new possibilities.

This version is also available on the website of Mark Kinkead available for purchase.