Line #20 VideoGame/SpacewardHo


1	[[quoteright:190:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SpacewardHo_5525.gif]]
2	[[caption-width-right:190:This...isn't actually what we meant by "PlanetOfHats."]]
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4	''Spaceward Ho!'' is a TurnBasedStrategy FourX game in which you compete with human and/or computer players to [[GalacticConqueror dominate the galaxy]]. It was conceived in TheSeventies, designed in TheEighties, born on the Platform/{{Macintosh}} in 1990, and has been refined and ported ever since. (UsefulNotes/{{iOS\|Games}} and {{UsefulNotes/Android\|Games}} versions are now available.)
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6	The game's developers see its streamlined simplicity as its key strength. Depending on initial settings such as galaxy size, games typically last from ten minutes to an hour.
7
8	!! Tropes featured include:
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10	* BlackAndGreyMorality: Each planetary conquest involves complete eradication of the biosphere, from innocent colonists to the last single-celled lifeform. Backed into a corner? [[DoomsdayDevice Invoke Armageddon]] and randomly destroy half the planets in the galaxy, not even sparing your own citizens!
11	* ConfusingMultipleNegatives: "Aren't you sure you really don't want to have nothing to do with not launching the armageddon device?" (Your options are "Unsure?" and "Not Unsure?")
12	* EasterEgg: There are special joke messages if you abandon planets called "Hope" or "Ship", christen a tanker "Valdez", or use [[Film/WarGames "Falken" and "Joshua"]] as your name and password.
13	%%* ElaborateEqualsEffective
14	* GameplayAutomation: You can have the computer play in your stead for any length of time, and even configure its play style to your liking.
15	* HolidayMode: Planets can be seen wearing Santa hats on Christmas and pilgrim hats on Thanksgiving.
16	* IdleAnimation: The planet on the title screen will tap its foot and [[GunTwirling twirl its gun]].
17	%%* LivingShip: Biologicals.
18	* NoFairCheating: The computer will rat you out to your opponents if you've hacked the game to cheat at multiplayer.
19	* PlayableEpilogue
20	--> When you kill all enemy colonies, you win. You're free to keep playing, but there won't be any resistance from the bad guys, since they're dead.
21	* ReferenceOverdosed: Planet names include Literature/{{Barsoom}}, [[Franchise/{{Dune}} Arrakis]], [[Literature/EndersGame Ender]], [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gollum]], [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Krypton]], [[Franchise/StarWars Yavin]], [[Franchise/StarTrek Cardassia]], [[Film/{{Coneheads}} Remulak]], [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy Zaphod]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}} Dumbo]], [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Tweety]], [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Hobbes]], [[Platform/AppleII Woz]], [[Music/JohnLennon Lennon]]... [[LongList There are more.]]
22	* RockBeatsLaser: One of the higher-level shield technologies, more powerful than sciency-sounding things like "Quark Shell" and "Gluon Field", is "Hide behind a big rock".
23	* RuleOfFun: The developers' justification for EasyLogistics, among other things.
24	--> Fun is our number one goal, and we have sacrificed realism for fun everywhere we could.
25	* SpaceWestern: The game's frontier motif actually came from the idea of putting hats on the planets to convey their status, not the other way around.
26	* SymmetricEffect: The Armageddon device destroys half the planets in the galaxy, chosen randomly. This is extremely devastating and the user is in no way protected from it.
27	* TechTree: There are linear paths for shields, weapons, range, speed, and miniaturization, as well as "radical" research, which might provide a dramatic breakthrough in any of the above (or grant other kinds of boons).
28	%%* {{Terraform}}
29	* VisualPun: Ships can have nosecones shaped like human noses.
30	%%* WarHasNeverBeenSoMuchFun

Context VideoGame / SpacewardHo