Gold box
| Gold box series | |
|---|---|
| developer | SSI |
| Publisher | SSI |
| First title | Pool of Radiance (1988) |
| Last title | Unlimited Adventures (1993) |
| Platform (s) | various, including Amiga , C64 , DOS , PC-98 , Mac OS Classic |
| Licenses | Dungeons and Dragons |
| Genre (s) | Computer role playing game |
| information | The name is derived from the originally gold-colored game packaging and also describes the shared game engine . |
The Gold Box series is a collective name for several computer role-playing game series and individual titles by the American game developer and publisher Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). All titles are based on a computer-adapted version of the role-playing game rules Dungeons & Dragons and are based on the same game engine (gold box engine).
history
Although not all games were linked in terms of content and there were technical differences between the individual titles, they were grouped under the name Gold Box mainly due to the game engine common to all titles . The name comes from the game packaging of the games, the box of which was mainly kept in a shiny gold tone. These games have been ported to all major systems. They are to be distinguished from the Eye of the Beholder , Dark Sun and other D&D single titles that were published by SSI in the same period or afterwards and each used its own game engine.
In 1988 SSI published the first part of this series, Pool of Radiance . The game used the pre-drawn pseudo-3D optics, which were often used at the time, in which one explored the world step by step. This was supplemented by a strategic combat system that was fought out from the cavalier's perspective . Each figure could be controlled individually here. The player led a group of up to eight people, including a maximum of six characters, and was able to take on simpler tasks (quests) and solve puzzles. The AD&D license, on which most parts were based , was particularly interesting for the players .
In the course of time, four series and some individual titles were created. Within the series, the characters could be carried over from one part to the next. In 1993 SSI introduced the new Dark Sun engine with the release of Dark Sun: Shattered Lands , which replaced the gold box engine in the development of the following titles.
On August 20, 2015, GOG.com released many Goldbox games as three "Forgotten Realms: The Archives" collections after years of non-availability in digital distribution .
Scenarios
Forgotten rich scenarios
The events of this series take place in the campaign world of the Forgotten Realms . Pool of Radiance from 1988 marked the beginning of the very successful game series . It also opens the longest story arc. In Pool of Radiance , the player is supposed to free the city of New Phlan, located on Lake Mondsee, from the threat of large hordes of monsters in the area around the city. The title is considered one of the most influential computer role-playing games by game journalists.
After the very successful start, Curse of the Azure Bonds was immediately launched in 1989 . This game was also very successful and had an even more dense background story than the first part, since u. a. the locations have been expanded significantly.
With Secret of the Silver Blades , the next part was published in 1990, but it was the worst received by the players so far. The barely existing plot, which in comparison with the hunt for the Bond-causers in the second part looked very pale, and the very desolate surroundings put off many. Secret of the Silver Blades is the first gold box game in which the size of the maps for cities and dungeons is not limited to 16 × 16.
In 1991 the Forgotten Realms series was completed with Pools of Darkness . Even by today's standards, this degree is still one of the most important games in the field of role-playing games, both in terms of depth and duration.
Dragon lance scenarios
The second series started in 1990 with Champions of Krynn . This time, the basis was the campaign world of the dragon lance , Krynn , which caused some differences to the games already published. In addition to the influence of the moons and the gods on the magic of the characters, there are also several slightly changed and a new race (kender) and added classes to choose from.
Death Knights of Krynn , the second game in the series, was released in 1991 and sent players on the hunt for Lord Soth. Otherwise there were hardly any changes to the predecessor.
Dark Queen of Krynn from 1992 was no longer developed by SSI, but by MicroMagic. The third part formed the end of the series. Although graphically more modern and more complex in content than its predecessor, it received more negative reviews than the previous games, especially with regard to the story told.
Savage Frontier scenarios
While SSI was already concentrating on the development of a new engine for the Dark Sun series, in 1989 the company commissioned Stormfront Studios with the development of further D&D games based on the Gold Box engine.
The last and smallest series started in 1991 with Gateway to the Savage Frontier . The system of the first games was used again and the storyline returned to the world of the Forgotten Realms, to the region of the northern Sword Coast called Savage Frontier around the cities of Daggerford and Niewinter. There have been some modernizations both graphically and in terms of content.
The series ended in 1992 with Treasures of the Savage Frontier . It included several newer features. In combat, the weather influenced the combat and movement values, and opponents could suddenly summon reinforcements in combat. The game also enabled a romance between a player character and a group member for the first time in a computer role-playing game.
Single track
In addition to the three series, there were other individual titles in the D&D game worlds that were based on the system of the GoldBox series.
In 1991, Neverwinter Nights, developed by Stormfront Studios, was the first online implementation of the game system and, at the same time, the first graphic online role-playing game. It appeared after the publication of Gateway to the Savage Frontier and, with its location around the city of Niewinter, is also in the region of the Savage Frontier , but is regarded as an independent title due to the different game principle. Neverwinter Nights could only be played via AOL's closed online network and, in addition to the internet connection costs, demanded an hourly fee from players. Despite many limitations in playability and the small number of 500 players at the same time, it was very successful and remained in AOL's range of games until 1997.
When it was realized that other games based on the gold box engine would not have the same success as before, SSI released Unlimited Adventures, a construction kit for the series in 1993 . This made it possible to create and publish your own worlds, as extensive tools for graphics and a well thought-out script system were available.
The Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace , developed by Cybertech Systems in 1992 , used the combat engine of the Gold Box series, but otherwise used a new, self-developed engine. The title is therefore not consistently counted as part of the Gold Box series.
Buck Rogers scenarios
The SF series Buck Rogers did not belong to the D&D games, but SSI also used the gold box engine and the associated D&D set of rules for the games . The first part, Countdown to Doomsday , appeared in 1990 and, as a new feature, primarily offered space combat, which did not exist in fantasy settings, and a combat system dominated by long-range combat, as well as other races and classes.
In 1992 Matrix Cubed appeared , which, as always, offered slightly updated graphics and more scope than its predecessor.
Title overview
Forgotten Realms Fantasy Role-Playing Epic
- Pool of Radiance (1988)
- Curse of the Azure Bonds (1989)
- Secret of the Silver Blades (1990)
- Pools of Darkness (1991)
Dragonlance Fantasy Role-Playing Epic
- Champions of Krynn (1989)
- Death Knights of Krynn (1990)
- Dark Queen of Krynn (1991)
Savage Frontier Fantasy Role-Playing Epic
- Gateway to the Savage Frontier (1990)
- Treasures of the Savage Frontier (1991)
Buck Rogers series
- Buck Rogers - Countdown to Doomsday (1990)
- Buck Rogers - Matrix Cubed (1992)
Further
- Neverwinter Nights - Online Game (1991)
- Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace (1992)
- Unlimited Adventures - Construction Kit (1993)
Web links
- All games of the gold box engine at MobyGames (English)
- All rush: SSI's "Gold Box" series. gamespy.com, August 16, 2004. (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Forgotten Realms: The Archives brings 13 D&D classics to GOG on PC Gamer Jordan Erica Webber (Aug 20 2015, English)
- ↑ Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two on gog.com (English)
- ^ Matt Barton: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part 2: The Golden Age (1985-1993) ( English ) In: Gamasutra . UBM TechWeb. February 23, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ↑ Jon "BuckGB" Birnbaum: Stormfront Studios Interview ( English ) In: Gamebanshee . UGO entertainment. April 16, 2005. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
- ^ Treasures of the Savage Frontier . In: Computer Gaming World . 1992, pp. 52-53.
- ↑ Jonathan Sutyak: Forgotten Realms Archive: Silver Edition ( English ) In: Allgame . Rovi . Retrieved October 10, 2011.