Dinosaur sightings: Build an empire with Master of Orion

Master of Orion from Microprose is a strategy game for strategy gamers. It was one of the first games to follow what is known as the 4X method of game play: eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate. It is also highly addictive. Most campaigns take almost 40 hours to complete, so playing MOO, as it is affectionately known, takes real commitment.

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Mark W. Kaelin

I always liked the front of the Master of Orion box. A very loud pronouncement of what the game was and that it was indeed a strategy game. Because, believe it or not, some people don’t like turn-based strategy games. I know it’s sad, but it’s true.

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Mark W. Kaelin

The back of the box describes in a nutshell what the game is all about. Sounds like lots of fun to me.

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Mark W. Kaelin

In a time before CD-ROM there was the lowly floppy. Master of Orion shipped on four 3.5 floppy disks.

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Mark W. Kaelin

I had forgotten about this little gem from the past. MOO came with a pay-per-use phone number you could use for hints. The World Wide Web put these people out of business. Nowadays, if you want some hints on a game, google it. Invariably, someone will have a complete strategy guide and possibly cheats ready for you.

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Mark W. Kaelin

In the dark ages of 1994, when this game was released, you could tell a game was turn-based stragegy by the size of the manual that came with it. In MOO’s case, 86 pages complete with weapon damage tables, etc.

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Mark W. Kaelin

The opening flashes on the screen to the sound of a complete MIDI score. Like a movie, MOO started with the credits and a brief opening visual sequence to set the stage for the game.

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Mark W. Kaelin

Microprose was the publisher, a famous name in computer gaming circles. The developer was Simtex — not so well known.

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Mark W. Kaelin

Before you start playing you first have to be shown what is at stake. Aliens are invading and attacking your base.

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Mark W. Kaelin

Your base will be forced to retaliate with missle defenses. Planning and strategy will determine the victor.

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Mark W. Kaelin

Now you are ready to play.

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Mark W. Kaelin

Choose the size of your galaxy and how many opponents you will face. Winning is close to impossible at the highest level of difficulty.

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Mark W. Kaelin

When you start a new game, Master of Orion gives you a brief rundown of the imformation presented to you on the screen. Who needs an 86 page manual?

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Mark W. Kaelin

Production is adjusted for maintenance, spying and trade. Adjusted how? Where is that manual?

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Mark W. Kaelin

To add a level additional complexity, MOO added diplomacy as one option for dealing with other expanding races in the galaxy.

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Mark W. Kaelin

To emphasize the need for technological advances, MOO gives you the opportunity to design your own ships. I remember designing a ship for the specific purpose of destroying enemy colony building ships. Destroying the colony ship in the enemy armada meant the aliens could not completely remove you from a planet — no matter how much stronger their forces. I love strategy.

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Mark W. Kaelin

Here is the actual opening screen of a new game. You have one planet and few ships. But it is good enough to start your empire.

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Mark W. Kaelin

This is where you manage your planetary resources and defenses in MOO. During the course of a game you’ll be looking at a screen like this quite often.

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Mark W. Kaelin

The map of the galaxy. Which star do you visit first?

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Mark W. Kaelin

I claim this planet in the name of Kaelinus Prime. Who’s next.

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Mark W. Kaelin