Outpost (1994 video game)

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{{Short description|1994 sci-fi game}}
{{About|the 1994 Sierra On-Line game|other video games|Outpost (disambiguation)#Video games{{!}}Outpost (video game)}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2018}}

{{Infobox video game
| title = Outpost
| image = Outpost 1 cover.jpg
| developer = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| publisher = Sierra On-Line
| designer = Bruce Balfour
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Dan Brotherton|Randy MacNeill|Michael Lytton}}
| artist = {{Unbulleted list|Jon Bock|Richard Powell}}
| composer = {{Unbulleted list|Jay Usher|[[Mark Seibert]]}}
| released = 1994
| platforms = [[Windows 3.1x]], [[Macintosh]]
| genre = [[Construction and management simulation]]
| modes = [[Single player]]
}}

'''''Outpost''''' is a [[video game]] developed and published by [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra On-Line]] in 1994. The game was noteworthy for having a [[hard science fiction]] approach, with one of the main designers being a former [[NASA]] scientist.

''Outpost'' was released for [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.1]] and the [[Macintosh]]. It was followed by a loosely related sequel, ''[[Outpost 2: Divided Destiny]]''.

==Story==
A massive [[asteroid]] named Vulcan's Hammer is detected to be on a collision course with [[Earth]], and all attempts to divert it from this path have failed. The last attempt, firing a large nuclear warhead at the asteroid, actually ended up splitting it not into five chunks (which would have averted disaster) as humanity hoped, but rather two asteroids. Now, instead of [[Risks to civilization, humans and planet Earth|destroying]] the earth, it will simply wipe out nearly all life on Earth's surface. [[Human extinction|Extinction]] is not an option, and so a mission is organized to create a [[colony]] on a world elsewhere in the [[galaxy]] as the last hope for mankind's survival. The player is in charge of that mission.

==Reception==
Initial reviews of ''Outpost'' were enthusiastic about the game. The American version of [[PC Gamer]] rated the game at 93%, one of its highest ratings ever for the time.

James V. Trunzo reviewed ''Outpost'' in ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #49 (Nov., 1994), rating it a 5 out of 5 and stated that "''Outpost'' excels in every way. It plays like a great science fiction novel reads. The graphics, sound and game play are state-of-the-art. I am extremely impressed with the game's depth and variety of approaches to problem solving. The game is also educational without being intrusive. I learned amazing (almost frightening) facts about our space program's capabilities. It was almost like looking into the future."<ref name="WW49">{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo |first=James V. |date=November 1994|title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=49 |page=55-56 |url=https://imgur.com/a/lRb2w0Y}}</ref>

Following the release of the game, the game's general [[software bug|bugginess]] and perceived mediocre gameplay, along with the lack of features described in most of the game's reviews and the game's own documentation, led to a minor backlash against the computer game magazines of the time by consumers who bought the game based on their reviews. In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' stated "the design was so incomplete that many of the actions you took made no difference in the game’s outcome. Poor documentation forced players to buy the strategy guide—conveniently authored by the game’s designer—and the interface design was no help either" and also claimed that the game had been "vilified as 'the greatest screen saver of all time'". The same issue declared ''Outpost'' was the worst computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>
{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=84 | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_148/page/n87/mode/2up }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[SimMars]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.outpost2.net/ Outpost Universe] - The Outpost Universe is a community for the Outpost series games by Sierra/Dynamix.
*{{moby game|id=/outpost|name=''Outpost''}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1994 video games]]
[[Category:City-building games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Fiction about near-Earth asteroids]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games|Outpost]]
[[Category:Sierra Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about impact events]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games with isometric graphics]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

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Outpost (1994 video game)