Epic Universe- um, what is it?

Well, you might be wondering that. Epic Universe is the, ahem, universe which pretty much all of my games are based within. A bit like Star Wars is set within it's own universe, as well as Star Trek etc. Obviously mine doesn't compete with them, but it's basically a long history of events, ranging from the Apocalyptic War (guess which game stars in it), to the great battles between the Alliance, Terran Empire and pretty much everyone else.

When I make my games, 95% are experimental games. So, they were not designed to be finished. Rather, just to test out new ideas, or simply to have some fun. Apocalyptic is not one of those, for it is the first I plan to finish- someday. Anyway, here's a interesting timeline of games I have developed in the past (which oddly begins with the first game I ever created)...

Space Conquest

The original game. In fact, my first game I ever made. And really, it isn't worth sharing, except for that it was the game that started all this. The concept of Space Conquest was simple- a small universe, with two planets at either end, each spawning ships from each side. The player can fly about in his cruiser, blasting away at aliens and collecting the remains to gain credits.

It was basic, yet for some reason I enjoy playing it. Perhaps it was the unintentional simplicity- but I won't really ever know. I also created the Alliance and Orizon factions, although I didn't realise it then.

It wasn't finished, but playable.

Star Marine 

Star Marine was a simple top down shooter that put the player in the shoes of a Wolf- cybernetically enhanced warriors that fought for the Terran Empire. The game put the player in an invasion of a unnamed planet. Once again, the game was unbearably plain and simple, but still oddly fun.

The game taught me a lot about AI, although it was simply just turret style combat with spawning areas to give the sensation that the battle was moving.

I finished the menus, and the first level, but I stopped developing after that.

Epic Universe (Project FREEDOM)

The first of the actual series- Epic Universe was a ambitious game that was meant to be a giant open world world simulator with dynamic empires and lots of, well, freedom. Safe to say, it became fairly obvious pretty quickly that I wasn't going to be able to finish the game. I did learn a fair deal however, and it was the first of my experimental releases.

The game wasn't finished, but included AI that could colonize planets and then send patrol ships. The combat never worked well.

Star Marine II

Technically this game was finished- and, also, technically it wasn't "Star Marine II". The game was a basic sort of tower defense, with the player controlling a Wolf. Zombie style characters then approached from the East, and the player could construct turrets and stuff to stop them. It was dull, not interesting, and didn't really teach me anything I didn't know.

Still, it was the first game I technically finished, so yeah.

Space Conquest II

It was meant to include all my new ideas and knowledge to create the game I always wanted to. However, a frustrating issue with AI led me to cancel it. I did learn a hell of a lot though- the player could buy new ships, mine asteroids, a working tractor beam system and cargo holds, and even a dynamic economy that changed by itself, meaning that a basic sort of "trading" was possible.

With my knowledge now, I could actually move to finish the game. However, it is old, and I figure that my new projects will simply become better quality anyway.

Apocalyptic

Yep. It may be a zombie survival game, but it's still set in the time of Epic Universe. Actually, it's set before any of that space ship stuff, but still plays a pivital role in the story. I won't reveal anything more now...

The game is still in active development by me, and I hope to finish it soon.

Pixel Space

It's also a game that doesn't really suit the Epic Universe style. It's still early, but the concept is that the player builds his own ship from blocks rather than buying whole ones. The rest is still undecided. Oh yeah, it's also a platformer.

It's also still in development.


Space Conquest REMIX

My latest test game, REMIX is a direct remake of the first. Rather than making a whole new game, I'm attempting to remake the first with better graphics, effects, sounds and new features/gameplay, while still keeping the original style of quick blast everything in sight style gameplay. First I was simply replacing graphics, but now it has gone further than that, and I'm adding lot's of extra gameplay so that it may possibly come into par with my dream of Epic Universe.

I've only just started this project, and as an experimental game, I doubt I'll actually finish it. But you never know.