Dinosaur sightings: Build an empire with Master of Orion

By Mark W. Kaelin November 29, 2006, 10:50 PM PST

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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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Now you are ready to play.

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

By Mark W. Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.

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