Enemy Nations

Infobox VG
title = Enemy Nations


developer = http://www.windward.net/
publisher = Head Games Publishing
distributor =
designer = Windward Studios [http://www.windward.net/]
engine =
version =
released = US: April 15, 1997 [http://pc.ign.com/objects/003/003061.html#news]
genre = Real-time strategy
modes = Single player, Multiplayer(TCP/IP, IPX...)
ratings =
platforms = PC
media =
requirements =
input = keyboard, mouse

"Enemy Nations" is a real-time strategy game, created by Windward Studios. Enemy Nations is of the same genre as "" and "StarCraft". The game received very high rankings in video game magazines, [http://www.enemynations.com/reviews/index.htm] but the slated publisher went out of business shortly after the game's release, forcing developer Windward Studios to sell the game exclusively from its website. [http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/68043.html] Enemy Nations was originally to be distributed by Viacom New Media, but Windward was left seeking a new distributor after the distributor was shut down.Fact|date=February 2007

The game is now available to download free online. [http://www.windwardreports.com/enemy_nations.htm]

Plot

The development of the Hyperspace-Drive triggers a gold rush-like colonization attempt by Earth governments, only to find that habitable (the game takes these as Earth-like) planets are either homeworlds for other sapient species, or colonies of early-evolved species.

Years of build-up and exploration bears fruit: A habitable, rich and lush world with no sentient race is found. However, almost every race intends to colonize it, and soon a full-scale Galactic war will erupt. To solve the bloodshed, the sapient races agree to a competition:

Every race would dispatch a Rocket Ship with a pre-determined size, mass and equipment, stocked with materials, personnel and equipment to create a city analogous of modern Earth technology and infrastructure. Then without interruption from outer space, the base-cities would engage in conflict, with the victor being granted the ownership of the planet. Of course, it is your duty to ensure a new world for your species to claim.

Reviews

Unfortunately all but 1 of the sites checked no longer have reviews up for games this old. The following is from each review.

Home of the Underdogs - 9/10 [http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?name=Enemy+Nations] - "Enemy Nations is one of the best and most sophisticated real-time strategy games ever made. ... It's neither a simple action strategy game, nor is it a straightforward god game with token battle elements. Rather, it's an isometric strategy game which takes influences from half a dozen existing games and tries to blend them into something new, and in most aspects, succeeds admirably."

PC Games - A - "I'm absolutely gaga over the detail: steel frames rising slowly from foundations to create gorgeous buildings, rich smoke coming from stacks, industry-specific sound effects, trucks ambling along the roads, multiple levels of visible damage, fog of war, research, and diplomacy. Better yet, I don't think I've seen it all - not by a long shot."

Games Domain - Gold - "Enemy Nations is a visual treat, and one which is extremely playable. It has the city-building appeal to draw in the god-sim fans and the military conquest aspect to give armchair generals their kicks. Enemy Nations is a rare thing - a strategy game which pushes the technology envelope. ... If you just want pure action, stick with Red Alert, but if you want a deeper and more attractive offering give Enemy Nations a shot. If you can play it multiplayer, all the better."

Computer Games - 4 Stars - "...it is a solid source of fun, excitement, and great visuals. If you want to lose sleep, strain your relationships, and succumb to a new addiction, then play Enemy Nations."

PC Gamer - 86% - "...have created a labor of love that should please every fan of world building and science fiction strategy games. Finding new resources and new places to expand calls to mind the best world conquest games, while sending armies to engage in real-time combat mines the current trend towards faster-paced strategy titles. There's a little bit of everything here, but all of it is well-balanced and well-integrated: it never overwhelms. ...we need more games like this."

Gamespot- 47% "Enemy Nations is a complex game with poor AI and even worse pathing. Increases in game difficulty amount to your opponents having more stuff when they begin, not acting more intelligently. The tutorial is an exercise in frustration, the manual reads like postmodern deconstructionism, and it will only run well on truly exceptional hardware."

Legal Dispute

After the publisher Head Games went out of business, Windward Studios said Enemy Nations grossed more than $500,000, and hadn't paid Windward royalties. Winward took Head Games to arbitration and won. Activision acquired Head Games in the middle of the arbitration.

In 1999 Windward stated on their webpage that it had been nine weeks since the ruling and Activision still had not paid them. Windward Studios 1999 website also warned consumers:

::"If you are an independent developer or if you purchase games from Head Games, be aware that you are dealing with and/or supporting a publisher that, at least in this case, refuses to pay the developer anything for a game that grossed over half a million dollars and that an arbitrator has ruled must pay. Hopefully, this is not a standard 'industry practice' for Head Games and Activision." [http://pc.ign.com/articles/071/071090p1.html]

Head Games did finally pay.

External links

*cite web
author =
year = 2007
url =http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/games/enations.htm
title =Free download of Enemy Nations from Lauppert.ws
format =
work =
publisher =
accessdate =July 30
accessyear =2008
*cite web
author =
year = 2007
url =http://www.windwardreports.com/enemy_nations.htm
title =Free download of Enemy Nations (torrent file)
format =
work =
publisher =
accessdate =December 26
accessyear =2005
*cite web
author =
year =
url =http://www.enemynations.com/index.htm
title =Official Enemy Nations website "The best game you never played"
format =
work =
publisher =
accessdate =March 26
accessyear =2006
*cite journal
first =Martin E.
last =Cirulis
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =1997
month =October
title =Limited vision; Headgames Interactive's Enemy Nations wargame; Enemy Nations Is Just Another Lukewarm Entrant Into the Real-Time Arena
journal =Computer Gaming World
volume =159
issue =
pages =276
id =
url =http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/68206.html