OGame
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
| OGame | |
|---|---|
| File:NewOgameLoginScreen.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Gameforge AG |
| Engine | PHP |
| Platform(s) | Web Browser |
| Release | 2002 |
| Genre(s) | Real Time Text-based MMO |
OGame is a text-based, resource-management and space-war themed online browser game with over two million accounts.[1] OGame was created in 2002 and is produced and maintained by Gameforge AG.[2][3]. OGame is available in multiple different languages, while different nationalities have their own communities. The game doesn't differ between the nationality communities except in rare cases. Players are generally informed of news and other things such as changes in rules or new versions through the official forums [4].
As of January 13th 2009, OGame.org has a total of 42 universes and one Beta testing universe that is testing the new redesign. More are being added periodically. OGame.org also hosts the "pr0game" universe listed on OGame.org as Universe 35.
Gameplay
Each player starts with one planet at a randomly assigned coordinate between slots 4 and 12, in a random system and galaxy. The first planet always consists of 163 fields, regardless of the slot in the player's system. The player's empire can consist of up to 9 planets. All construction, research, and missions are performed and launched from a planet or moon. Development is done through using the five resources: metal, crystal, deuterium, energy and dark matter. There are different ways to obtain these resources, including mining and trading. Players are ranked according to their points, one point is awarded for every one thousand resource units invested in a construction, research, or defence. No points are given for unspent resources.
Unlike many other real-time strategy games, OGame does not give the player constant control of his or her spacecraft. Instead, the player tells the ship(s) where to fly (using the game's coordinate system) and what to do when they get there. In OGame, combat is resolved when fleets and/or defenses meet. The combat takes place instantly and consists of 1 to 6 rounds. Fleet attacks are usually aimed to obtain other player's resources, although fleet attacks can also be done to destroy an opponent's fleet and collect the debris field created from the battle. Defenses are built to defend a planet against an attacking enemy fleet.
Alliances
An alliance is a group of people who have banded together and is mostly used for solidarity purposes. Alliances are created for players to protect each other from attacks, join together to raid other planets, or to promote free trade amongst members. Members of an alliance can use the ACS (Alliance Combat System), available in some universes, to synchronize fleet movements and missions with members of the same alliance and temporarily deploy a fleet on an ally's planet.
Purchased effects
All purchased effects are paid with Dark Matter, which can be purchased from Gameforge with real cash. Dark Matter can also be obtained in much lower quantities, through expedition missions.
Commander
The Commander provides improved functionality and user interface to the player. Features include a building queue which allows the player the ability to order the construction of up to 5 buildings at a time. The player also gets an “Empire View” that shows all details on every planet including ships, defenses, resources, and energy. Other benefits include message filters, shortcuts, an improved galaxy view and commands, and no advertisements.
Officers
On February 16, 2007, Officers were introduced to the game. The officer feature gives players a real advantage in the game, for a price, while those who cannot afford it, or have a method of paying for it, go without. It is worth noting that GameForge had previously promised its users it would never introduce pay-to-play options that provided direct benefits, and the change thus caused a large scale of conflict in the community. This also led to the development of Base Zodiac, an OGame clone which offers Officer and Merchant features free of charge.
The 4 officers types are:
- Fleet Admiral: Increases maximum fleet slot by 2.
- Engineer: Reduces the losses of defensive structure during an attack by half and gives 10% more energy.
- Geologist: Increases metal mine, crystal mine and deuterium synthesizer production by 10%.
- Technocrat: Increases the espionage level for espionage probes by 2 and decreases research time by 25%.
Merchants
Players can hire a merchant to trade one resource type for another. The amount of resources traded is limited to the amount of free space in one's storage silos and the amount of dark matter the player has.
Rules
OGame is monitored by Game Operators, Super Game Operators and Game Administrators each of whom have the rights to ban any player suspected of misconduct and violation of the rules. The rules can be different for each OGame universe.[5] Players who have been banned are put into the pillory [6] of their universe. The pillory shows the reason of banning and the administrator who made the decision. It also shows the unbanning of a player when they have clarified the fault. The planets and colonies of players that have received lifelong bans are subject to the one month account deletion due to inactivity.
Awards
OGame won the bronze Superbrowsergame Award in 2006.[7]
References
- ^ OGame
- ^ www.heise.de article (German)
- ^ www.br-online.de article (German)
- ^ Official OGame forum
- ^ Game rules
- ^ Pillory
- ^ "Special: Die Wahl zum Superbrowsergame 2006 hat gewonnen ... - Druckversion" (in German). Gamesdynamite. 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2008-12-23. Template:De icon