Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space
Encyclopedia
Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space, the sequel to Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
, is a hybrid strategy
/adventure
computer game created by the independent game development group
, Digital Eel
. In the game players explore a "plausibly implausible" (fictional) region of the Milky Way
galaxy
called "The Purple Void".
Like its predecessor, Weird Worlds creates a new starmap each time the game is played. Stars, black holes, planets, nebulae, artifacts, alien patrols, gadgets, lifeforms and dozens of events and encounters are randomized intelligently for each game session.
Unlike Strange Adventures, Weird Worlds allows the player to travel to black holes, using a device that protects the player (and the fleet) from the effects of intense gravity. One special mission even allows the player to enter a black hole to fight a nearly-indestructible battlestation. Also, the "Void" is now more "alive" than before - most races encountered have a homeworld which also allows item trade.
Weird Worlds features 3 mission types (scientist, pirate, military captain), 3 starmap sizes, 30 starship
types and adversaries, dozens of different weapons, star drives, shields, shipboard systems, alien artifacts and lifeforms, realistic star and planet types, 10 unique alien races and a robust combat simulator.
Weird Worlds was released for Microsoft Windows
on November 4, 2005 by Digital Eel
and Shrapnel Games
. A Macintosh port was released on April 26, 2006.
Weird Worlds won the Independent Games Festival
Innovation in Audio award in 2006http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html.
A board game adaptation of Weird Worlds titled Eat Electric Death! was planned for release in 2007 by Shrapnel Games
but nothing has been produced as of January 2011. There have been no updates from the production team since May 2009. Fans now consider the project to be officially dead.
Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
Strange Adventures In Infinite Space is a hybrid strategy/adventure computer game. It was created by the independent game development group Digital Eel. In the game players explore a "plausibly implausible" region of the Milky Way galaxy called The Purple Void.Unlike "one time through" story...
, is a hybrid strategy
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
/adventure
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
computer game created by the independent game development group
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
, Digital Eel
Digital Eel
Digital Eel is a self-funded independent video game development team located in the Seattle, Washington area. The group was formed in 2001 by Rich Carlson , Iikka Keränen and Bill "Phosphorus" Sears .-Developers:*Rich Carlson - design, sound, music and art*Iikka Keränen - design, code and...
. In the game players explore a "plausibly implausible" (fictional) region of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
galaxy
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
called "The Purple Void".
Like its predecessor, Weird Worlds creates a new starmap each time the game is played. Stars, black holes, planets, nebulae, artifacts, alien patrols, gadgets, lifeforms and dozens of events and encounters are randomized intelligently for each game session.
Unlike Strange Adventures, Weird Worlds allows the player to travel to black holes, using a device that protects the player (and the fleet) from the effects of intense gravity. One special mission even allows the player to enter a black hole to fight a nearly-indestructible battlestation. Also, the "Void" is now more "alive" than before - most races encountered have a homeworld which also allows item trade.
Weird Worlds features 3 mission types (scientist, pirate, military captain), 3 starmap sizes, 30 starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
types and adversaries, dozens of different weapons, star drives, shields, shipboard systems, alien artifacts and lifeforms, realistic star and planet types, 10 unique alien races and a robust combat simulator.
Weird Worlds was released for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
on November 4, 2005 by Digital Eel
Digital Eel
Digital Eel is a self-funded independent video game development team located in the Seattle, Washington area. The group was formed in 2001 by Rich Carlson , Iikka Keränen and Bill "Phosphorus" Sears .-Developers:*Rich Carlson - design, sound, music and art*Iikka Keränen - design, code and...
and Shrapnel Games
Shrapnel Games
Shrapnel Games is an independent American video game publisher that specializes in the strategy and role playing genres, particularly turn-based strategy games. It was founded in 1999 by Tim Brooks in Cary, North Carolina...
. A Macintosh port was released on April 26, 2006.
Weird Worlds won the Independent Games Festival
Independent Games Festival
The Independent Games Festival is an annual festival at the Game Developers Conference, the largest annual gathering of the indie video game industry. It was founded in 1998 to assist and inspire innovation in video game development and to recognize the best independent video game developers...
Innovation in Audio award in 2006http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html.
A board game adaptation of Weird Worlds titled Eat Electric Death! was planned for release in 2007 by Shrapnel Games
Shrapnel Games
Shrapnel Games is an independent American video game publisher that specializes in the strategy and role playing genres, particularly turn-based strategy games. It was founded in 1999 by Tim Brooks in Cary, North Carolina...
but nothing has been produced as of January 2011. There have been no updates from the production team since May 2009. Fans now consider the project to be officially dead.
Screenshots
External links
- Official site at Shrapnel GamesShrapnel GamesShrapnel Games is an independent American video game publisher that specializes in the strategy and role playing genres, particularly turn-based strategy games. It was founded in 1999 by Tim Brooks in Cary, North Carolina...
(publisher) - Developer site
- Weird Worlds Modmaker's Guide to the Galaxy
- MacWorld Article on Mac OS X port
- Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space Forum - Shrapnel Games
Reviews
- MacGamer review
- Eurogamer review: 8/10
- GameShark review: B
- Game Industry News review: 4.5/5
- Gamers with Jobs review
- Out of Eight review: 7/8
- GGL Review: 85%
- Inside Mac Games review: 7.5/10
- GamerDad review: 10+
- Videolamer review
- Diamond Games review: 4/5
- Metacritic Page: 79/100 metascore based on 6 reviews (March 10/2007)
- GameSpot Player Reviews