Oasis (computer game)

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Oasis
Developer(s)	Mind Control Software
Publisher(s)	PlayFirst
Release date(s)	12 April 2005
Genre(s)	Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	Windows 98
System requirements	128MB RAM, DirectX 7, Pentium 3 600Mhz processor or equivalent
Input	Mouse

Oasis is a computer game for Microsoft Windows developed by Mind Control Software and published by PlayFirst in April 2005. It is a turn-based strategy/puzzle game set in ancient Egypt. Players assume the role of the Scarab King, who wishes to rebuild his nation and prevent marauding barbarians from killing the populace and levelling the nation to the ground. According to a Gamasutra article, Oasis "has been described as Civilization meets Minesweeper."^[1]

1 Gameplay
2 Development
3 Reception
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Gameplay

Players proceed through randomly-generated levels and attempt to obtain twelve glyphs in order to become the Scarab King and win the game. A glyph may be obtained from each level played, however it is not necessary to collect the glyph in order to complete the level. Play continues until all twelve glyphs have been obtained by the player or the player character is defeated by barbarians.

Each level consists of a single screen with a 10x10 grid covered with fog of war, which is removed as the player clicks on the tiles and reveals the terrain beneath. Each click reveals a single tile and takes a turn. After the player uses his or her eighty-five turns, barbarians attack from points of the map marked with cairns and attempt to destroy each city the player has uncovered, slaughtering all defenders before razing the city to the ground.^[1]

The player character is joined by followers in each stage. Some terrain types confer a set amount of followers when revealed. These followers can be used to construct roads or to work in mines uncovered by the player. Each of these activities 'spends' followers as a resource. Connecting cities by road allows the player to distribute citizens amongst all connected cities in order to repel barbarian attacks. Mines yield weapon and armor technologies which increase the combat abilities of all citizens. After the player has depleted their eighty-five turns, all remaining followers move to the first city the player clicks in order to fight the barbarians.

The titular oasis covers several squares of each level, each oasis tile revealed adds scarab power to the Scarab King's staff, which is used to defend the Scarab King against barbarians. One of the oasis tiles is an obelisk which contains a glyph. Uncovering the entire oasis on a level rewards the player with one letter of the word 'oasis'. Completing the word causes the next level of play to be a bonus level, which contains a very large oasis and gives the player a chance to easily obtain a glyph.

Turns can be spent searching cities for weapon upgrades and non-player characters (NPCs) such as the scout. The bonus weapon upgrades only effect the city they were found in. NPCs require a certain amount of cities to be left standing after the barbarian raid before they join the Scarab King. Should enough cities remain standing, the NPC will add beneficial abilities to the player for a number of levels before departing.

[edit] Development

Oasis took eight full-time developers two years and five months to make.^[1]

[edit] Reception

As an independent download-only game, Oasis received limited coverage from the mainstream gaming press, however it was very well-received by the independent gaming community.

Gamespot UK awarded the game 8.5 out of 10 and described Oasis as having depth despite being easy to pick-up and play.^[2]

Website Game Tunnel's founder Russell Carroll rated the game 10 out of 10 overall, summing-up the review by stating "The game is flawlessly designed to create a wonderful experience in strategy/world-building that even those who don't really get into the genre can enjoy" and "Oasis is one of the best gaming experiences I've had this year".^[3] Oasis also received the website's 2005 "Game of the Year" and "Strategy Game of the Year" awards as well as coming second in the "Game of the Year: Innovation" category of the same year.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Oasis won the Independent Games Festival’s 2004 "Seumas McNally Grand Prize" and "Innovation in Game Design" awards in the web/downloadable category.^[7]