Hardwar

Infobox VG
title = Hardwar


caption=
developer = The Software Refinery
publisher = Gremlin Interactive
Interplay
designer =
engine =
released = 1998
genre = Futuristic flight simulation
modes = Single player
Multiplayer over serial, TCP/IP or DirectPlay
ratings = ELSPA: 11 and above
ESRB: T (Teen)
platforms = PC (Windows/DirectX 5)
media = 2 CD-ROMs
requirements = P166 (MMX supported), 16 MB RAM, Direct3D or 3Dfx compatible accelerator card
input =

"Hardwar" (sometimes stylized "HardW [a] r" or given the full name "Hardwar: The Future Is Greedy") is a 1998 science fiction flight simulation computer game developed by The Software Refinery and published by Gremlin Interactive. In the USA, the game was distributed by Interplay under license. The box artwork and styling for game was created by The Designers Republic, who also worked on the "Wipeout" series. The music was created by artists signed to the Warp Records label.

Overview

"Hardwar" places the player in the role of a freelance "Moth" pilot in the city of Misplaced Optimism, a space colony located on Saturn's moon, Titan. The colony was once a profitable mining outpost, but the major corporations backed out, leaving the inhabitants without the capability of space travel. During two hundred years of isolation, neo-feudal systems took precedent on Titan, with a corrupt and inefficient police force maintaining little law and order.

It is at the discretion of the players as to how they will earn their living on Titan. They can trade honestly, having to be wary of pirates. They can choose to hunt Titan's outlaws, collecting bounties from the various police stations. Players may also be lowly scavengers like many AI moths, picking at the dropped cargo of panicked traders, or players can become pirates themselves.

Many AI moths flit about with valuable cargo, should the players decide to take this path; however, stolen cargo in the players' hands can be confiscated by the police, or they could become the target of other outlaws now that they are carrying valuable cargo.

Players may even attract the unwelcome attention of one of the main factions in the game due to their piracy.

Gameplay is against the backdrop of a plot involving the warring power groups on Titan, including the large factions of Klamp-G and Lazarus, and the player's eventual escape. The world is set inside craters on the moon's surface, joined together by a network of tunnels.

Players are able to buy many of the available hangars around Titan, making storage of goods and repairs much simpler. This also allows them to store extra "Moths" safely in one location, to set up trade facilities in different craters, and even purchase and install Clones, to ensure the players' continuance should they meet an untimely demise in the skies.

Alternatively, players can use a public hangar, such as one of the various businesses around the city to trade and repair their moths.

Players are able to trade goods from their hangar(s), and based on market forces such as supply and demand, as well as distance to the supply, players can set their own prices. Based on how good a deal the players make, AI moths will line up in droves to purchase goods, or fly on by for a better deal elsewhere. Players can even set up manufacturing facilities in their hangars with the purchase of relevant equipment, to turn scrap metal into ship parts, to turn water and chemicals into alcohol, or any number of other products.

The atmosphere of the game is furtive, as the players' solar-powered "Moth" craft hovers underneath an energy well to recharge, the players must quickly plan the next leg of their route. Even when on the side of the law, players must be wary of enemies made along the way...and the ultralight moths are definitely not meant for long flights whilst being under Laser fire, Missile attack and other special weapons.

Individuals can set up home servers so that client players can play together in a single environment, and there are multiple persistent online games that are being run by members of the community.

tatus after developer's demise

Since 2002, when "The Software Refinery" went into voluntary liquidation, "Hardwar" is no longer officially supported by its creators. During two years the game was no longer improved except for independent player-developers. However, since November 2004 one of the members of the original team reappeared and started correcting some of the original bugs. The only customer service to be found is in an online forum dedicated to the game.

As of August 2006, the Software Refinery has been formally dissolved, as indicated by Companies House records. Some consider "Hardwar" to be abandonware, but it is still sold in bargain-bins at some small software stores.

Trivia

* Referencing the movie "Hackers", Four of the pilots that appear in the Police's Wanted List are named "Zero Cool", "Acid Burn", "Lord Nicon" and "Crash Override".
* Designer and producer, Ade Carless, also plays the Police Uber-Clerk in several FMV clips.
* The GMTV presenter Ben Shephard plays Syd in the game.
* The Software Refinery was located in the northern England city of Leeds, and several hangars in-game are based upon actual buildings near to where the company had its offices.

External links

* [http://zedo.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi#general_cat Main "Hardwar" forum]
* [http://www.capsu.org/hardwar/faq/ A detailed FAQ for "Hardwar"]
* [http://Hardwar.ktsdesign.com Another "Hardwar" site offering a download to the latest UIM patch]
* [http://zedo.hardwar.org.uk/ A community "Hardwar" site]
* [http://www.hardwar.wikispaces.com A whole Wiki site for Hardwar]