Software:Homeworld: Cataclysm

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 video game
Homeworld: Cataclysm
Developer(s)Barking Dog Studios
Publisher(s)Sierra Studios
Composer(s)Paul Ruskay, Greg Sabitz
SeriesHomeworld
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • NA: September 1, 2000[1]
  • PAL: September 29, 2000
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Homeworld: Cataclysm is a 2000 real-time strategy video game developed by Barking Dog Studios and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It is the second entry in the Homeworld series and was originally developed as an expansion for Relic Entertainment's Homeworld, but was ultimately released as a stand-alone sequel. Set fifteen years after the events of the first game, Cataclysm follows the Kuun-Lan, a Kushaan mining starship that attempts to counter "the Beast", a destructive nanobot virus, while combatting the imperialist remnants of the Taiidan Empire, who seek revenge on the Kushaan and control of Hiigara.

The game was released on September 1, 2000 in North America and September 29, 2000 in Europe to positive critical reception, and was nominated for numerous strategy game of the year awards. In June 2017, the game was rereleased on GOG.com as Homeworld: Emergence, as the name "Cataclysm" was trademarked by Blizzard Entertainment for its third expansion of World of Warcraft.[2] Talks of a remake by Gearbox Software were reportedly conducted around the mid-2010s, but as of 2025 little news has surfaced since.

Gameplay

Though it uses the same engine and similar gameplay as its predecessor, several changes were made, such the ability to toggle time compression between normal speed and eight times faster; ship upgrades (improving armor and adding new abilities); Command Ships and Carriers receiving the ability to add external modules for ship research and fleet support; Command Ships having attack capabilities; fuel being removed from gameplay; and the sensor display could be used to issue attack orders to units. The player's Command Ship is now capable of dealing powerful attacks. The game also introduced new 3D features such as moving parts and transforming ships.

Notable unit changes include the Processor, Cataclysm's adaptation of the Resource Controller, which has medium-strength weapons to defend itself, automated repair beams to heal nearby ships and four pads to dock with Workers harvesting resources. The game's resource collectors perform the same functions that they did in the original Homeworld, however, when upgraded they can be used to capture enemy vessels, harvest crystals and repair friendly vessels; functions that were carried out by separate, single-function ships in the first game.

In general, the main difference is the scale of fleets. Where Homeworld was biased towards large fleets (as the player's main ship was a full-fledged mothership and the opposition was an empire of galactic scale), Cataclysm down-scales the fleets (as the player's main ship is a simple mining vessel and the adversaries are all limited in resources).

Plot

Fifteen years after the events of Homeworld, the Kushaan people have established themselves on Hiigara and are now governed by a council formed from the leaders of their clans, or "kiith." The Taiidan Empire has collapsed, though Imperialist remnants and their allies, the Turanic Raiders, still threaten the Hiigarans and the new Taiidani Republic.

The story begins with Kuun-Lan, a mining vessel belonging to the minor kiith Somtaaw, joining ships from several other kiith to repel an Imperialist attack on Hiigara, but being ignored when the other kiith are thanked for their help. While helping another fighter defend itself against a Turanic Raider assault, the Kuun-Lan finds a derelict beacon pod that does not resemble any known technology. Their kiith-Sa (clan leader) insists that the find be kept secret due to the political advantage it might provide and sends the science ship Clee-San to help study it. However, as research begins, a strange virus begins to overtake the ship, and the Kuun-Lan is forced to jettison the affected section to avoid being completely overrun. When the Clee-San attempts to investigate further, it is infected by the virus, which soon spreads to a nearby group of Turanic Raider ships. The infected ships attack and attempt to assimilate the Kuun-Lan, forcing it to flee.

Kuun-Lan discovers that the pod they picked up was contaminated with techno-organic nanobots that can subvert both machinery and organic tissue, which they code-name "the Beast." As the Beast continues to spread and infect more ships, it grows more intelligent and strategic in its tactics, speeding its growth further and threatening to overwhelm Hiigaran and Taiidani Republic forces trying to hold it at bay. Kuun-Lan traces the source of the Beast to the Naggarok, an alien vessel from another galaxy whose crew disabled their own ship in order to contain the Beast after encountering it in hyperspace. However, the ship fired off an infected distress beacon which was eventually discovered by the Kuun-Lan, unleashing the Beast on the galaxy.

While searching for a way to combat the Beast, the Kuun-Lan discovers that the Imperialist Taiidani have allied themselves with the Beast and are attempting to use it as a weapon. Using stolen data from the Taiidani experiments and a massive derelict siege cannon, the Kuun-Lan builds a weapon they hope will be effective against the Beast. Their first attempt to use it is a failure, and they are again forced to flee before the Beast can assimilate them.

The Kuun-Lan tracks down the Naggarok in the hope that a sample from the original source of the Beast will help improve their weapon and discover that the Imperialists are repairing the Naggarok, having allied with the Beast in exchange for half of the galaxy and revenge against the Hiigarans for toppling their empire. The Kuun-Lan succeeds in analyzing the Beast, but fails to stop the Imperalists. The fully repaired Naggarok escapes, and the Kuun-Lan races to find the Bentusi, the original creators of the siege cannon, in order to improve it further. With their anti-Beast weapon complete, they lure the infected Clee-San and former section of their ship into a trap and successfully destroy both.

Kuun-Lan follows the Naggarok to a Taiidani Republic battle station, which the Beast has infected and is using to shield the Naggarok. The Kuun-Lan refuses the Beast's offer of an alliance and destroys the station, rendering the Naggarok vulnerable. The Imperialists renege on their bargain with the Beast, prompting it to reveal that it always intended to assimilate them once they were no longer useful to it. The Imperialists flee, and the Kuun-Lan destroys the Naggarok.

With the Naggarok destroyed, the Beast fleet's capabilities are greatly reduced, and the remainder of the Beast-infected ships are destroyed. A vaccine against the Beast is also discovered, ensuring it will never return again. Thanks to the Kuun-Lan's role in defeating the Beast, kiith Somtaaw gains great prestige in Hiigaran society and its members are honored with the title of "Beastslayers".

Ships

Since Homeworld: Cataclysm takes place only 15 years after, and uses essentially the same game engine as Homeworld, several ships make a return, notably in the 'new' Hiigarans/Kushan, and the Taiidan forces (both Imperialist and Republic). Some new features in this game not previously seen are ship upgrades and Support Units- the latter of which put a lower cap on the player's fleet size as opposed to the maximum fleet size of 300 in Homeworld.

While the Kushan and Taiidan fleets remain almost identical to their Homeworld counterparts, the player's clan, Kiith Somtaaw, is forced to scratch its own fleet specs based on salvaged technologies. The player's own ships are all new and superior to both Taiidan and Kushan counterparts and are only matched by the main adversary, the Beast and its own fleet (which is composed of assimilated Taiidan, Kushan, Somtaaw and Turanic Raider ships).

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic89/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarStarStar[5]
Eurogamer8/10[7]
Game Informer8/10[8]
GameSpot8.9/10[9]
GameSpy91%[10]
GameZone8.5/10[11]
IGN9.2/10[12]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[13]
PC Gamer (US)91%[14]

The game received "generally favorable reviews", just one point shy of "universal acclaim", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] Samuel Bass of NextGen called it "one of those rare sequels in which more of the same is definitely a good thing."[13] Brian Wright of GamePro's website-only review said that the game "shows what can happen when developers listen to the fans and make changes according to their suggestions and complaints. While the gameplay remains the same, the new features and improvements make Homeworld: Cataclysm even more enjoyable the original."[15][lower-alpha 1]

The staff of Computer Gaming World nominated it as the best strategy game of 2000, although it lost to Sacrifice.[16] The game was also nominated for the "Strategy Game of the Year" award at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards, which went to Software:Shogun: Total War.[17] It was also nominated for the "Best Graphics in a PC Game" and "Best Strategy Game for PC" awards at The Electric Playground's Blister Awards 2000, both of which also went to Sacrifice.[18][19]

Legacy

Homeworld: Cataclysm works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, and 7 after being patched to version 1.01. However, as with its predecessor, graphical glitches frequently occur when not using the software renderer. OpenGL may be enabled by running the game in compatibility mode of Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 5). The game is locked at a 4:3 aspect ratio, however, Widescreen resolutions may be applied by editing the registry.[20]

The Remastered Edition from Gearbox Software, the new owners of the Homeworld IP, has been updated to be fully compatible with all versions of Windows and includes both updated and original copies of both games. This collection does not include Homeworld: Cataclysm as it has been reported that the source code for this game has been lost,[21] while others report that potentially former developers have a backup[22] and that the audio assets are available.[23] In February 2015, Gearbox announced that they are still interested in remaking Cataclysm, if the source code would be found.[24] In a February 18, 2015 Twitch interview, former Cataclysm developers stated that a remake should be possible even without the Cataclysm source code but with the Homeworld Remastered engine.

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the game three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, sound, and fun factor, and 4/5 for control.

References

  1. ↑ Fudge, James (September 1, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm Ships". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/108/hc.html. 
  2. ↑ "Homeworld: Emergence". CD Projekt. https://www.gog.com/game/homeworld_emergence. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Homeworld: Cataclysm". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/homeworld-cataclysm/. 
  4. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (September 15, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm". CNET. http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0%2C6%2C0-4743%2C00.html. 
  5. ↑ McDonald, Thomas L. (December 2000). "Unleash the Beast (Homeworld: Cataclysm Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (197): 130–31. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_197.pdf. Retrieved March 31, 2024. 
  6. ↑ Harris, Neil (September 24, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=3166&full=1#mr_toppy. 
  7. ↑ Carter, Ben (October 10, 2000). "Homeworld Cataclysm". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-hwc. 
  8. ↑ Reppen, Erik (November 2000). "Homeworld Cataclysm". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (91). http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200011/R03.0806.1704.54074.htm. Retrieved June 2, 2022. 
  9. ↑ Chin, Elliott (September 15, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/homeworld-cataclysm-review/1900-2628735/. 
  10. ↑ Timperley, Nate (September 19, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm". GameSpy Industries. http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/september00/cataclysm/. 
  11. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (September 10, 2000). "Homeworld Cataclysm - PS - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/homeworld_cataclysm_pc_review/. 
  12. ↑ Adams, Dan (September 12, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/13/homeworld-cataclysm. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Bass, Samuel (January 2001). "Homeworld: Cataclysm". NextGen (Imagine Media) (73): 112. https://archive.org/details/NextGen73Jan2001/page/n113/mode/2up. Retrieved June 2, 2022. 
  14. ↑ Klett, Steve (November 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 7 (11): 130. http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/homeworld_catac.html. Retrieved June 2, 2022. 
  15. ↑ Wright, Brian (September 18, 2000). "Homeworld: Cataclysm Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/6784.shtml. Retrieved June 2, 2022. 
  16. ↑ CGW staff (April 2001). "The 2001 Premier Awards: Games of the Year (Strategy)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (201): 78. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_201.pdf. Retrieved March 31, 2024. 
  17. ↑ GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Strategy Game of the Year, Nominees)". Ziff Davis. http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2000/p3_17.html. 
  18. ↑ EP staff (2001). "Blister Awards 2000 (PC Games 1)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?article=5130&page=2. 
  19. ↑ EP staff (2001). "Blister Awards 2000 (PC Games 2)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?id=5130&page=3. 
  20. ↑ "Homeworld". https://www.wsgf.org/dr/homeworld. 
  21. ↑ "Gearbox acquires Homeworld IP". April 22, 2013. http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?272081-Gearbox-acquires-Homeworld-IP&p=1045447488#post1045447488. "ÜberJumper:Cataclysm's gone. No backups exist of its sourcecode afaik. Relic didn't consider it canon anyway (so neither should we!)." 
  22. ↑ "Save the Homeworld IP (DD releases)". http://forums.relicnews.com/archive/index.php?t-270821.html. "RadiantMonolith:Regarding the Cataclysm code, I know a guy from the Cataclysm team that might help retrieving the game." 
  23. ↑ Rubin, Brian (July 26, 2013). "What Happened to Homeworld: Cataclysm? (Part One Maybe?)". https://www.spacegamejunkie.com/oped/happened-homeworld-cataclysm-part-maybe/. "It’s possible that stuff still exists on back-ups that went to another Rockstar office, but honestly I doubt it. All music and sound assets (VO, dialogue, etc.) are still archived at Studio X Labs, last I checked, at best quality – theoretically the base Cataclysm, using just a retail copy, could have its sound up-scaled, since it’s no longer constrained to a CD." 
  24. ↑ Shearer, Stew (February 3, 2015). "Gearbox Would "Love" to Re-Release Homeworld: Cataclysm". Gamurs. https://www.escapistmagazine.com/gearbox-would-love-to-re-release-homeworld-cataclysm/. "Gearbox COO Brian Martel says that a re-release of Homeworld: Cataclysm depends on "finding the original source code."" 
  • Official website (archived)
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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