Universe (computer game)

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Universe
Developer(s)	Omnitrend Software
Publisher(s)	Omnitrend Software
Designer(s)	Thomas Carbone, Bill Leslie
Engine	valFORTH
Release date(s)	1983
Genre(s)	computer role-playing game
Mode(s)	single player
Rating(s)	N/A
Platform(s)	Atari 8-bit
Media	floppy disk
System requirements	Atari 8-bit computer with 48K, disk drive
Input	keyboard

Universe is a science fiction video game by Omnitrend Software. It was written by Thomas Carbone and Bill Leslie in valFORTH on an Atari 800. It was Omnitrend's first game.

[edit] Plot

The player starts off on the planet Axia within the Local Group, a settlement that took place centuries ago thanks to the discovery of an alien hyperspace booster. This technology allowed the Local Group to be settled with supplies being sent from Earth using the booster.

However the supplies have stopped arriving and the player must now search for a second hyperspace booster that was reported in the area. The game starts with a loan from the bank to finance a spaceship to be used to find this second booster. The player then travels to different planets and engages in trading, mining or even piracy.

[edit] Details

The game comes on 4 disks and an 80 page manual.

Universe is an involving game, like requiring the player to calculate hyperjump coordinates for the navigation computer and calculate minimum orbits for planets in order to launch shuttles. The speed of the game tended to bog down when graphics were involved and when the game performed calculations involving orbital mechanics. On the Atari, having only one disk drive resulted in numerous disk swaps.

There is another game called Universe developed by Core Design.[1]