Endless Space

Endless Space
Developer(s)	Amplitude Studios
Publisher(s)	Iceberg Interactive[1]
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release date(s)	Microsoft Windows July 4, 2012 Mac OS X August 31, 2012
Genre(s)	Turn-based strategy, 4X
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Endless Space is a turn-based strategy, science fiction 4X game^[2] developed by Amplitude Studios^[3] released on July 4, 2012 for Microsoft Windows^[4] and August 31, 2012 for Mac OS X.^[5] It sold over 500,000 units.^[6]

Overview

In Endless Space the player chooses one of ten unique civilizations, or can choose to create their own, to expand their interstellar empire and conquer the galaxy. To win, the player must be the first to meet the requirements for certain victory conditions, such as Economic, Diplomatic, Expansionary, and Supremacy victories.^[7]

The game plays out on a randomly generated galaxy map with room for up to eight players/AI per game. Players colonize different star systems, which in turn contain up to six planets. Star systems are connected via a series of cosmic strings which allow ships to travel rapidly between neighbouring systems. In addition, hero units can be recruited to act as system administrators or fleet admirals, which provide bonuses depending on their traits that can further be leveled up. Battles take place in a quasi-real-time environment, similar to rock-paper-scissors.^[8]

The game features full modding and multiplayer compatibility as well.^[9]

Gameplay

Endless Space is a turn-based strategy game set in 3000 AD, where each player (up to a maximum of eight per game) represents the leader of one of nine unique interstellar empires.^[10] A player may also choose to create their own unique civilization by selecting from a number of different traits that correspond to military, science, diplomacy, hero units and so on. Each player is to guide their empire over hundreds, if not thousands, of years to diplomatic, scientific, or military conquest, attempting to meet requirements for several different victory conditions.^[7] The game takes place in a randomly generated galaxy, which can change in size and shape, depending on how the host player chooses to generate it. Every player begins with one colonised capital system which is connected to further systems via cosmic links, which act as travel routes for starships. Players can also research new technologies from four different research trees, representing military, science, expansion/exploration and diplomacy. Research unlocks new ship types, planetary improvements, stat modifiers (either for heroes or planets), new travel methods which do not rely on cosmic links and more. As players expand their empire, they will gain access to strategic and luxury resources, which can be used to upgrade ships, build improvements and trade with other players. Strategic resources are primarily used to upgrade components of your empire, while luxury resources are primarily used for trade and maintaining your empire's approval rating.

The game uses four basic resources to manage its economy: food, industry, dust and science, or FIDS. Dust is a substance that was leftover from an extremely powerful, ancient, extinct civilization only known as the Endless. Players must balance FIDS in order to rapidly expand their empire, build ships and research advanced technologies. In addition, a lower or imbalanced FIDS across your empire results in a low approval rating.^[7] A high approval rating provides bonuses to production efficiency, while a low approval rating can drastically lower efficiency making it incredibly difficult to advance. A tax rate slider can also be adjusted to change approval rating, but lower taxes result in a lower revenue stream of Dust.

Hero units can be recruited using the game's currency, Dust, to act as either fleet commanders or system administrators. Each hero unit is unique and provides two unique bonuses, which can be further leveled up. Three hero units are randomly selected from a pool unique to each empire and new hero units are available for purchase every fifty turns.

Space combat

Interstellar fleet battles take place in a quasi-real-time environment, similar to a complex game of rock-paper-scissors. Each battle scene takes place in three engagement stages: long-range, medium-range, and melee-range engagements, with different types of weapons and ship systems performing better or worse as the fleets increase in physical proximity over time. Fleets are issued up to three different 'cards', one for each stage of combat, which represent fleet-wide general orders, from categories such as attack, defend, tactics, sabotage, and engineering. Each card has a certain function, such as increasing the fleet's weapons damage by a certain amount (an 'attack' card), however some cards can counter opposing cards, as in the case of an 'attack' card played against an enemy's 'tactics' card during long-range engagement, where the attack card gives a straight damage improvement while the tactics card provides a damage improvement but weakens the fleet's defences correspondingly - the attack card's increased damage counters the tactics card's weakened defences, and the attacking fleet thus gains a sizable additional bonus to damage during long-range engagement. No traditional combat micromanagement takes place during these battles, though the player instead is engaged in terms of understanding fleet composition and attempting to predict and counter likely 'card' plays by the enemy fleet based on how the engagement has unfolded so far. More advanced or specialised cards may also be unlocked through research or through advanced training available to experienced commanders. Fleet size and composition play a very important role, such as determining combat effectiveness (when, per se, the attack card is played) and ability to maneuver. Fleets with hero units assigned to them may also experience bonuses. During battles, the camera is by default placed in a cinematic mode, but a free camera mode is also available.^[7]

Victory conditions

A player wins the game when they reach the requirements^[11] for a number of victory conditions, listed below:

• Expansion: conquer 75% or more of the colonized universe
• Scientific: the first player to research the Pan-Galactic Society, the last technology of the Science tree, wins the game. That particular technological wonder is very hard to get, and reaching the ends of the other technology trees will make it easier to finish.
• Economic: the first player to reach a certain level of cumulative revenue (Dust) wins. Only overall revenue matters, so it does not matter if you spent it all.
• Diplomatic: if you manage to survive long enough while being at war the least amount of time, you may be able to impose yourself and win thanks to your wisdom and integrity.
• Supremacy: the first player to own all the original players’ homeworlds will win.
• Wonder: the first player to build five "Endless wonder" structures will win.
• Score: if no one managed to win with one of the previous victory conditions, the player with the highest score wins when the turn limit is reached.

Release

Endless Space was made available for pre-purchase on May 2, 2012 on Steam. Customers who pre-ordered the game would receive access to the current alpha build and later beta builds prior to launch.^[12] In addition, customers who pre-ordered would be allowed to provide input on the game's development, through a feature called Games2Gether.^[13] The game was released on July 4, 2012^[14] on two digital distribution platforms: Steam^[15] and GamersGate.^[16] It came in two special editions: an 'Admiral' edition containing the original soundtrack and a forum badge and an 'Emperor' Special Edition containing the Admiral edition content, as well as a ship skin pack and an Endless hero.^[17]

Updates

• The Rise of the Automatons: Released October 26, 2012, this free add-on added a new community-voted faction "The Automatons," a machine-like race. The add-on also brought in a new trade route and empire management system as well as improvements to the hero system, diplomacy and AI.^[18]
• Echoes of the Endless: Released December 1, 2012, this second free add-on introduces new exploration rewards, interactive random events, natural and 'endless' wonders, and more life on the galaxy map (e.g. black holes, comets, pulsars). The add-on also included new heroes and multiplayer improvements.^[19]
• Lights of Polaris: Released December 19, 2012, the third free add-on for Endless Space added a new Christmas-themed Natural Wonder called "The Polaris Factory", a new hero based on Ebeneezer Scrooge, as well as several combat enhancements, fixes, and new Steam Achievements.^[20]
• Virtual Awakening: Released March 11, 2013, the fourth add-on adds new heroes, technology, star system improvements, exploration events, random events, new anomalies, victory warnings and auto scrap features, among other gameplay fixes.^[21]
• Disharmony: Released on June 26, 2013, the first piece of paid downloadable content, Disharmony introduces a brand new faction - the Harmony. The DLC also includes new ship types, including bombers and fighters, an overhauled ship interface design, battle formations, a new targeting system, redesigned weapon systems and new invasion mechanics.^[22]
• The Search for Auriga: Released on November 14, 2013, this is the first free add-on for Disharmony. It adds two new Heroes, one new Wonder, a unique Planet, and other gameplay enhancements and fixes.^[23]

Reception

Endless Space was met positively by critics, currently with an aggregate score of 77/100 on Metacritic.^[24] IGN reviewed the game with a score of 8/10, praising the game for its accessibility and replay value, while criticizing the sound assets and unclear tool-tips for newer players.^[25] GameSpy gave Endless Space a rating of 3.5/5 stars, praising the game's user interface, but criticizing the game for lacking personality.^[26]

Legacy

The second installment in the series, Endless Space 2 was announced on July 30, 2015. The title is set to be released for Microsoft Windows and Mac.^[27] Then it was delayed to 2016.

References

External links

• Official website