01 What is Netrek?
Description
This article is from the netrek FAQ, by Tom Holub doosh@best.com with numerous contributions by others.
01 What is Netrek?
The short version: Netrek is a 16-player two-dimensional graphical
real-time battle simulation with a Star Trek theme. A game is divided
into two teams of 8 players (or fewer), who dogfight each other and
attempt to conquer each other's planets.
The long version: Netrek is the probably the first video game which
can accurately be described as a "sport." It has more in common with
basketball than with arcade games or Quake. Its vast and expanding
array of tactics and strategies allows for many different play styles;
the best players are the ones who think fastest, not necessarily the
ones who twitch most effectively. It can be enjoyed as a twitch game,
since the dogfighting system is extremely robust, but the things that
really set Netrek apart from other video games are the team and
strategic aspects. Team play is dynamic and varied, with roles
constantly changing as the game state changes. Strategic play is
explored in organized league games; after 6+ years of league play,
strategies are still being invented and refined.
The game itself has existed for over 10 years, and has a solid
playerbase, including some people who have been playing for nearly as
long as the game has existed.
All netrek clients and servers are completely free of charge, although
there are several people working on commercial netrek variants or
derivatives.
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