Xpace - a PBEM massive/massively multiplayer space 4X - now recruiting From: Benjamin S <bsperan@mo-net.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 09:28:51 +0000 I am about to host a new Xpace campaign and I'm looking for a few more players. Game turns will be one a day and submitted via email (due by 11:59 PM CST; GMT -6:00). We will start as soon as I can find a couple more players. Xpace - a tribute and online archive of the PBeM strategy game http://xpace.awardspace.com/index.html And, yes, the download link has finally been fixed. (The original file host changed their policies and subsequently deleted the file!) For those still having trouble, here's an alternate (mirror) download link: http://www.electronicfiles.net/files/5672/Xpace/XPACE602.ZIP Also, I recently set up an Xpace Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xpace-pbem If you are interested, then contact me by email or send a message via Yahoo IM/chat. Xpace is a large-scale, PBEM space exploration and strategy game developed in the late '90s and which, unfortunately, has been abandoned. This innovative game was created by Xoftware Innovations. Developed in their spare time, the "Pre-Release Beta" version of Xpace was released in November of '96. It was intended to become a shareware venture, probably being inspired by other games of the genre like Stars! and VGA Planets. However, sometime around 2002 they sold their website and namesake to an Italian Internet consultation service. Potentially, it is a massive game since the universe can consist of up to 50,000+ stars, and each star system can contain multiple planets! It could almost be considered massively-multiplayer since (in theory) it supports up to 200 players each of which may leave or join at any time! Also, nearly unlimited ships, orbital stations, and planet facilities can be built. Resources can be mined from mineral-rich planets via mining facilities, or from orbit via mining stations or mining ships. Alternatively, minerals can be 'synthesized' by using a large amount of energy to replicate them. Using minerals is usually much more economical, but the use of energy to substitute for a lack of construction materials is quite feasible. At the start of a new empire, the player chooses whether to use "Jump Drive" or "Thrust" type propulsion. This choice is final. However, while each system has its advantages and drawbacks, the game is balanced such that either propulsion system is quite playable. The Thrust drive is generally slower and more energy/fuel efficient while the Jump drive is an energy hog but instantaneous (while distance is limited by fuel capacity). However, higher technology levels make the differences less noticable. Another innovative feature is the communication relay/delay simulation. Depending on communication technology, there is a certain range in which empire orders and ship communications are relayed in 1 turn (FTL). Beyond this range, it will take 2 or more turns for communications to be relayed. Improved technology from research will improve this range. This adds a degree of realism. Each colonized world has a moral value and a "membership status." Membership can range from Colony, to Autonomy, Military Base, Industrial World, Resort, or Full Membership. But if the moral gets too low then trouble will result. Also, the player is literally represented by an "Emperor" located on his/her homeworld. This Emperor can be transported and relocated to a different star system to adjust the communication relay range or for strategic purposes. However, should the Emperor be destroyed, it's Game Over... Some innovative fleet and empire management features are included to make it easier to manage a vast galactic empire. But since the game's AI was never finished, it only becomes interesting when played against/with other human players. About 4 years ago the web domain that offered this game was sold off to a third party and the game developers seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth. With no website and nowhere to download the game, it slowly began to fade from memory. Well, I thought Xpace was a truly unique and amazing game. Groundbreaking in several ways, actually. I was saddened by how it seemed to disappear and how difficult it is to find players to participate with. So, I set up my own website with a complete archive of the original Xpace homepage. Up