User:Kizor/MOO

Sequels

Simtex's next release was the fantasy 4X Master of Magic (1993). Its most conspicuous influences are Civilization and Magic: The Gathering, but it does have a tactical combat system, rare among 4X games.

Master of Orion II (1996, DOS, Windows 95) is an expansion and modernization of the original. The two games share their setting and goals, and superficially most of their game mechanics, but the sequel

The first game's planet model is abandoned for a food/production/research

The result is much more like Civilization with some concepts taken from Master of Magic, and was warmly relieved despite concerns about its increased cumbersomeness. The game has a GameRankings rank of 84%. The first game's simple production model is abandoned for a food/production/research split, all technologies are available but presented as groups of one to three, only one of which can be chosen. The backstory is only expanded by naming the Ancients "Orions" and introducing an ancient evil race as their nemesis. Additions include governments, new and custom races, multiple planets per system and leaders who give bonuses to star systems or ships.

Master Of Orion II supports online multiplayer.

uses the now-defunct TEN for TCP/IP (outside local networks) play but with some effort can be made to work with LAN emulators. [1]

Master of Orion III (2003, Windows) was produced by Quicksilver Software, involving none of the original developers. Quicksilver reinvented the wheel to create an elaborate and very different game meant to resemble managing a real interstellar empire. The end result was panned for its cumbersome interface, poor AI and lack of the charm of its predecessors; it is generally considered an ambitious failure. The game has a GameRankings rank of 59.4%. The game's extensive backstory makes sweeping changes to the galaxy, states that both of the previous games happened and makes the younger races the results of the older ones' experiments.

So far there have been 2 "sequels", Master of Orion II and Master of Orion 3. Despite the similar names, the differences in gameplay between the 3 games are about as significant as the similarities. And despite the sequels' more sophisticated graphics, sound and gameplay, some players prefer the original Master of Orion.