New Order (game)
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''New Order'' is a space-based,
science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
play-by-mail A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, turn-based game, turn based distance game, or an interactive strategy game.) is a game played through postal mail, email, or other digital media. Correspondence chess and Go (game), Go wer ...
(PBM) game run by C2 Simulations. The game was closed-end and computer-moderated. Playtest began in 1987. 30 players vied for control of a galaxy comprising 210 star systems in a game of space exploration centering on colonies. Games lasted about 35 turns, ending when a player achieved about 2,000 victory points. The game received generally positive reviews in gamer magazines in the late 1980s and early 1990s.


History and development

This space-based science fiction game was designed and published by Carl Carpenter from C2 Simulations of
Huntington Beach, California Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County, California, United States. The city was originally called Pacific City, but it was changed in 1903 to be named after American businessman Henry E. Huntington. The population was 198,711 as of ...
. Sullivan 1987 p. 9. Playtesting began in March 1987. It was a closed-ended, computer-moderated PBM game. Sullivan 1987 pp. 9–10.


Gameplay

30 players per game vied for control of a galaxy comprising 210 systems and 800 planets. Reviewer Hank Helley stated that the game was about "space exploration, development and conquest". Helley 1989 p. 13. Colonies were central to gameplay. Plourde 1987 p. 19. Players options for victory points related to colonies were "establishing, controlling, claiming and destroying". Points scored for these actions depended on the society type a player chose: Crusaders, Imperialist, Pioneers, and Xenophobes. The game's purpose was to achieve about 2,000 victory points. Games lasted about 35 turns.


Reception

Tim Sullivan reviewed the game in the Winter 1987 issue of ''Flagship''. He stated, "If you're searching for a computer moderated victory-potential space game with a high degree of realism and detail, but which does not require a fanatical devotion of time or effort to play, then New Order is tailor-made for you. Be forewarned, however, that this game requires a commitment of a year or two to see it through to its conclusion." Sullivan 1987 p. 10. Chris Arnold reviewed ''New Order'' in the May 1990 issue of ''Flagship''. He stated, "If you're looking for shoot-'em-up space opera, or lucky rolls of the dice, you won't find them here ... but if you're looking to test your skills at planning and expanding a viable galactic empire, try New Order." Arnold 1990 p. 10. Hank Helley reviewed ''New Order'' in '' White Wolf'' #16 (June/July, 1989) and stated that "Complex? Yes. Worthwhile? All I can say is that this game showed this old war gamer the joys of PBM. I have been hooked ever since."


See also

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List of play-by-mail games This is a list of play-by-mail (PBM) games. It includes games played only by postal mail, those played by mail with a play-by-email (PBEM) option, and games played in a turn-based format only by email or other digital format. It is unclear what t ...


References


Bibliography

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Further reading

* {{Play-by-mail games American games American role-playing games Multiplayer games Play-by-mail games Role-playing games based on Star Trek Role-playing games introduced in 1995 Science fiction role-playing games Star Fleet Universe Strategy games based on Star Trek 20th-century role-playing games