Software:Battlecruiser 3000AD
| Battlecruiser 3000AD | |
|---|---|
 European cover art | |
| Developer(s) | 3000 AD |
| Publisher(s) | Battlecruiser 3000AD v2.0
3000 AD Millennium Gold DreamCatcher Interactive |
| Designer(s) | Derek K. Smart |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS, Windows |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Space trading and combat simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Battlecruiser 3000AD is a space trading and combat simulator video game developed by 3000 AD. It was designed by 3000 AD president and lead developer Derek Smart as the studio's first project.
Announced in 1992, the game underwent a lengthy and troubled development history. It was first released against Smart's wishes in 1996 by publisher Take-Two Interactive for MS-DOS and Windows and negatively received for its incomplete nature. A patched version was later released for Windows by publisher Interplay Entertainment in 1998. Smart designed and self-published a sequel entitled Millennium, which was released in 2001, and an updated version was released by publisher DreamCatcher Interactive in 2003. A compilation pack entitled Battlecruiser Generations, including both versions of 3000AD and Millennium, was released in 2021 on Steam.
Story
The game takes place in the year 3000 AD, centuries after mankind has developed advanced spacecraft, and discovered new worlds and intelligent life-forms within and beyond the Solar System. However, space travel is described as restricted to military personnel and scientists despite its conveniences. The story goes on to describe an interplanetary war, started in 2041AD, with Earth involved. In 2044AD, Galactic Command (GALCOM) is formed to maintain law and order amongst planets. The Gammulan race opposes the alliance and war is waged between GALCOM and Gammulans.
The player takes the role of a recruit assigned to defend the GALCOM consortium of planets against Gammulans. The events of the game begin with GALCOM diplomatic craft developing a navigational malfunction and straying into Gammulan territory. GALCOM supreme commander Stranix reports a Sphinx class battlecruiser intentionally destroyed by a Gammulan orbital defence system, with no survivors; meanwhile, a team of Renegade class interceptors ambushes a Gammulan starfighter in GALCOM space.
Gameplay
- Free Flight: Player freely cruises the galaxy and learns the large array of controls and computer interfaces without fear of attack by alien craft or pirates.
- Advanced Campaign Mode: In this mode the game is dynamic, and changes can occur rapidly and often through political and military influences.
- Xtreme Carnage Combat Simulator: It is a combat simulator that allows the player to gain experience in combat operations, both planetbound and in free flight.[5]
Development
Derek Smart began his game development career in the late 1980s, with a vision of creating an all-encompassing space simulation game, featuring strategy elements along with space, planetary, air and ground combat.[6] According to Smart, he began work on Battlecruiser 3000AD in 1989.[7] Smart became a notable personality in the video game world during the early 1990s, even before releasing his software debut. Smart became known to the then-nascent online gaming world through discussions taking place on Usenet about the game, his development efforts, and many other topics.
The game first appeared on the cover of Strategy Plus in 1992. A release date of April 1993 was announced.[7] Shortly afterwards, Three-Sixty Pacific obtained the rights. It held the rights for a year and went out of business shortly afterwards. 3000AD, Inc. then signed the rights with Mission Studios. Mission Studios also signed a distribution deal with Interplay Productions for its products. The game was showcased in 1994 winter and 1994 summer in CES under the Interplay Affiliated label brand. However, due to financial constraints, an agreement was reached which allowed 3000AD, Inc. to seek a new publisher. Intracorp bid for the rights to publish the game; with a disagreement over source code release, the deal never progressed beyond a letter of intent. The game appeared in E3 1995, then Intracorp went bankrupt shortly afterwards. Take-Two Interactive bought the publishing rights to the game from Mission Studios in 1995, and released v1.00 of the game,[8] with GameTek (UK) publishing the game in 1997.