X (computer game series)
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X is a science fiction space simulator series created by German Developer Egosoft. These games are set in the X Universe. The games mix free roaming gameplay with trading, combat, empire building and missions; leading to the series' phrase Trade, Fight, Build, Think.
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[edit] Games
The X games are economically driven space simulators. The player pilots their ship around space, docking at stations, trading wares, fighting ships, building stations, undertaking missions and exploring sectors. A story line is usually provided but the games are designed to be free roaming with or without the player taking part in the story line. The games are set in the X Universe gate network, 900 years in the future.
[edit] X: Beyond the Frontier (1999)
X: Beyond the Frontier aka X:BTF, was the first game in the X series. The story is set in 2912, centred around Kyle Brennan, a human test pilot from Earth, who is flung into the unknown X Universe when his advanced ‘’X-Perimental’’ jumpship malfunctions during the initial test. He finds himself stranded, surrounded by alien ships in a seemingly busy and commercial part of space. His arrival has alerted a destructive machine race, the Xenon to the existence of Earth. During his search for a way home, he finds historical links to Earth and a horrible truth about the Xenon.
[edit] X-Tension (2000)
X-Tension aka X-T, was a stand alone expansion pack for X: Beyond the Frontier. It was technically a new game based on X:BTF as it was not savegame compatible due to the vast changes. A prolouge explains events centuries before and weeks after X: Beyond the Frontier. While X-Tension did not have a story line, many missions were added as well as The Perseus Mission in version 2 which was a series of missions.
[edit] X-Gold (2001)
X-Gold was a double pack of X: Beyond the Frontier and X-Tension.
[edit] X2: The Threat (2003)
X2: The Threat aka X2 is the sequal to X: Beyond the Frontier and X-Tension. It is set in 2934. Julian Brennan, son of Kyle Brennan from Earth is saved the fate of a penal colony when an Argon Federation capital ship enlists him for help. Julian, whom has been raised by Pirates most of his life finds that his father has gone missing just as a dangerous new enemy, the Kha’ak, have started an invasion of the X Universe. With many of the allied alien forces buckling under the pressure of this new foe, it is up to Julian and his friends to find his father, the only person who may know what the Kha’ak want.
[edit] X3: The Reunion (2005)
X3: Reunion aka X3 is the sequel to X2: The Threat. Set a few months after X2: The Threat.
[edit] The X Universe
The X Universe is a collection of sectors connected by a system of two-way jumpgates. The total number of sectors has increased per game, starting with 50 in X: Beyond the Frontier and ending with about 162 in X3: Reunion version 2. Each sector is vast in dimensions but the central area usually contains the stations and gates. It is theorised that all sectors in the X Universe are contained within the Milky Way, with some being cosmically close but not directly linked to each other by a jump gate. Likewise, sectors which are linked to each other by jumpgates could be on opposite sides of the galaxy, with many sectors in between. Due to the ease of use of the jumpgates and the prospects of many more undiscovered gates leading to new sectors, many of the races have not progressed much with interstellar travel technologies.
