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{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Article issues|cleanup =February 2009|refimprove =October 2008|original research =October 2008}}
{{Infobox video game

| title = Starsiege: Tribes
{{Infobox VG
| image = StarsiegeTribesBox.jpg
|title = Starsiege: Tribes
| developer = [[Dynamix]]
|image = [[Image:StarsiegeTribesBox.jpg|256px]]
|developer = [[Dynamix]]
| publisher = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| director = Tim Gift
|publisher = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| producer = Ken Embery
|designer = Scott Youngblood
| designer = Scott Youngblood
|license = [[Freeware]]
| writer = Blake Hutchins
|engine = Darkstar
| programmer = Mark Frohnmayer
|released = November 30, 1998<br />2004 (freeware)
| artist = Barry Drew<br />Shawn Sharp<br />Gerald Harrison<br />Mark Brenneman<br />K. Maren Wyatt
|version = 1.11
| composer =
|genre = [[First-person shooter]]
|modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer game|multiplayer]]
| series = ''[[Tribes (video game series)|Tribes]]''
| engine =
|ratings = [[ESRB]]: Teen (T)<br />[[ELSPA]]: 12+
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|23 December 1998<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-releases/1100-2465925/ |title=New Releases [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"] |author=GameSpot staff |date=23 December 1998 |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000608223826/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_12/23_pc_release/index.html |archive-date=8 June 2000 |url-status=live |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>|UK|14 May 1999<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-10 |title=Gone Gold : EuroGold |url=http://www.gonegold.com/golden/eurogold99.shtml |access-date=January 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210220535/http://www.gonegold.com/golden/eurogold99.shtml |archive-date=February 10, 2001 }}</ref>}}
|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]
|media = [[CD-ROM]]
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Multiplayer]]
|requirements = Windows 95/98/NT, Pentium 166 MHz or equivalent, 32 MB RAM 3D accelerator video card, 4x CD-ROM, [[DirectX]] compatible sound card, mouse and keyboard
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]
|input =
}}
}}
[[Image:Sshot0028.png|thumb|256px|right|Starsiege: Tribes screenshot]]
'''''Starsiege: Tribes''''' (commonly referred to simply as '''''Tribes''''') is a [[sci-fi]] [[first-person shooter]] [[video game]]. It is the first of the [[Tribes (video game)|Tribes]] video game series and follows the story from [[Earthsiege]] and [[Starsiege]]. It was developed by [[Dynamix]] and published by the company now known as [[Sierra Entertainment]] in 1998.

''Tribes'' was one of the first [[online]]-only games of its kind and sported several [[multiplayer]] features that other games have only recently included (32+ player support, 128 players max, troop transport vehicles, several different [[player class]]es). Most of the standard maps were outdoors in a variety of climates, from sunshine to snow and hail. In general, bases were scattered throughout the map depending on the gametype. The outdoor environments were and still are relatively huge, extending for several kilometers in any direction, but "jetting" and "skiing" gave ''Tribes'' a fast-paced feel.

On July 16, 2007, Sierra Entertainment announced that they would cease online support of Tribes starting on August 16, 2007. However, the master server was still active after this date. As of November 2007, the Sierra Master Server is no longer active, and has been replaced by a community-run master server.


'''''Starsiege: Tribes''''' is a [[first-person shooter]] [[video game]]. It is the first of the ''[[Tribes (video game series)|Tribes]]'' video game series and follows the story from ''[[Metaltech: Earthsiege]]'' and ''[[Starsiege]]''. It was developed by [[Dynamix]] and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] in 1998. An expansion pack, ''Tribes Extreme'', was cancelled; it was supposed to add [[single-player]] missions, multiplayer maps, and bot [[Artificial intelligence|AI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/15/tribes-extreme-interview |title=Tribes Extreme Interview |last=Blevins |first=Tal |date=14 October 1999 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=28 November 2013}}</ref>
March 17, 2009, GarageGames announced<ref>http://blog.instantaction.com/2009/03/tribes-and-instantaction.html</ref> they have purchased the [[Intellectual property|IP]] and source code for Starsiege: Tribes and will be releasing an update through the browser based game service, [[InstantAction]]. It was announced on May 14th, 2009, that they would soon be accepting email addresses for [[beta]] invites.


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
[[Image:Sshot0028.png|thumb|256px|right|''Starsiege: Tribes'' screenshot]]
Each player has armor, the amount depending on armor type. When damage is dealt to the player (by falling or being hurt by a weapon), armor is lost. Loss of all armor results in the player's death. After dying, the player "respawns" at the team's base (or somewhere in the field). Players also have an energy cell, which is drawn on for jetting, firing some kinds of weapons, and activating packs. Mods have expanded these basic capabilities by adding various features that did not come with the basic game. An example of basic functionality that has been built upon is the turret. The basic turret that came with the game was easily destroyable, and only deployable in the upright position. There was only one turret that was available with the original "base mod". With the addition of mods to the Tribes community an almost innumerable number of turrets have been added. These turrets ranging in functions such as targeting incoming enemies, deployable in any position, various sizes & functions, some remain hidden underground or cloaked until a player comes near. Many of these following pieces of information vary by the different mods.
''Tribes'' is a squad-based [[multiplayer]] [[online]] game. The story is set in the 40th century, after humanity has settled across the galaxies via jumpgates. Conflict has broken out between several factions of humans, the four largest of which are the Children of the Phoenix, who descend from people isolated from the Great Human Empire during the "jumpgate diaspora", Blood Eagle, a force of imperial knights originally sent from the Empire to subdue Humans who have gone 'tribal' over time, and Diamond Sword and Starwolf, who are of secondary importance, with innumerable other splinter tribes constantly fighting for territory. The player assumes the role of a warrior loyal to one of the four major tribes battling in the front lines of the conflict.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}


The battles take place in one of 40 levels. Most of the standard maps are outdoors environments in a variety of climates, from sunshine to snow and hail. In general, bases are scattered throughout the map depending on the game type. The outdoor environments can extend for several in-game kilometers.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}
Three armor types are available, and can be accessed at an inventory station. Heavier armors supply larger amounts of armor, energy, and ammunition as well as more weapons and equipment.


There are eight weapons available in ''Tribes''.
There are five distinct "default" game types:
* [[Capture the flag]] (CTF) - Each team (up to eight, normally less than three on any given mission) has one or more bases and a single flag. Each team tries to take an opposing team's flag and touch it to their own, which "captures" the flag and awards the capturing team a point. If a flag carrier is killed, the flag is dropped; the flag can be picked up by a teammate to finish the capture, instantly returned to its base by a member of the flag's team, or returned after a certain interval of time. Stalemates often occur when multiple teams' flags are taken at the same time; a team's flag must be at its base to accomplish a "cap". Capture the Flag is a popular mode, with 75 percent of servers running this game type.<ref name="gamespot"/>
* [[Deathmatch (gaming)|Deathmatch]] (DM) - It can be played with or without teams; in both cases, players must get the highest number of kills to win.
* Capture and hold (C&H) - Teams must seek out capturable bases or other assets, sometimes complete with turrets and stations, throughout the map. Points are given based on the amount of time an asset is "owned".
* Defend and destroy (D&D) - Players on a team must destroy certain items in an enemy's base before the enemy does the same to their base. Subsequent team-based [[First-person shooter]] games, however, did use variations of the concept (such as with the later ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'' and its "Assault" game type). Defend and Destroy is the second-most popular game type.<ref name="gamespot"/>
* Find and retrieve (F&R) - A number of flags are scattered across the mission area. Team members must find and bring them back to their base. The flags can be captured from the enemy as well. The team to capture all the flags wins.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}


Each player wears either light, medium, or heavy armor. Heavier armors supply larger amounts of armor, energy, and ammunition. Different armor types support different weapons and equipment; for example, only the heavy armor supports the heavy mortar but only light armor supports the sniper rifle.<ref name="gamespot"/> When damage is dealt to the player (by falling or being hurt by a weapon), armor is lost. Loss of all armor results in the player's death. After dying, the player respawns at the team's base (or somewhere in the field). Players also have an energy cell, which is drawn on for jetting, firing some kinds of weapons, and activating packs. The different armor types can be accessed at an inventory station. There are various items of equipment usable by the players, including vehicles, eight weapons, and "Packs" which alter the abilities of the player. On some maps, bases include various defense mechanisms and other tools to assist the team: Generators, turrets, stations, and sensors. Generators provide power to systems. Destroying them can disable an entire team's defense by deactivating turrets and stations. Weapons include the heavy mortar, sniper rifle, explosive disc launcher, short-range gatling gun, grenade launcher, blaster, plasma rifle, and laser rifle.<ref name="gamespot"/>
==Packs==
A very important aspect of ''Tribes'' is the ability to wear "packs", which alter the abilities of the player. Only one can be worn at a time, so it is important to know what advantage the player will need in order to succeed. Packs can be dropped and recovered by other players on the field.


==Vehicles==
===Movement===
In addition to running and jumping, players are equipped with a jetpack which allows them to accelerate into the air until the armor's energy is used up. In addition to straight-line movement, the jetpack has other versatile uses. It can be used to make short hops whilst zig-zagging to make a player harder to target in open areas. An upward thrust can help the player evade oncoming enemies armed with short-range weapons.<ref name="cheats">{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=69365 |title=PC Cheats: Starsiege Tribes |last=Lambert |first=Kornel |website=[[Computer and Video Games]] |publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070121083557/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=69365 |archive-date=21 January 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
''Tribes'' was one of the first games with team-oriented vehicles. They normally are not the focus of the game (unlike the sequel), but just a convenient feature. It is possible to use the vehicles in [[kamikaze]] fashion often to great effect, although this is looked down upon by many players.


Another method of movement is known as "skiing", and relies on an exploitation of the game's physics engine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/05/tribes-vengeance |title=Tribes: Vengeance |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=5 October 2004 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref> If a player taps the jump button with the correct timing whilst descending a hill, their momentum will accumulate. High speeds can be achieved this way, and if this momentum takes the player to the crest of another hill, the jetpack can be used to rapidly propel them across the map.<ref name="cheats"/> This technique was later developed into a game feature by Dynamix for ''Tribes 2''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tribes-2-review/1900-2705268/ |title=Tribes 2 Review |last=Parker |first=Sam |date=5 April 2001 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
The scout, while initially overlooked due to its stiff flying controls, was reborn with Writer's scout sensitivity script. This allowed for switching of mouse sensitivity in-game, providing a super-sensitive setting for flying.


==Development==
There were numerous bugs related to scouts, and the most famous "skipping flag" bug was never completely corrected.
The game was announced in May 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dynamix.com/pr/tribes-pr.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980627112625/http://www.dynamix.com/pr/tribes-pr.html|title=Starsiege Tribes|website=dynamix.com|archivedate=June 27, 1998|date=May 28, 1998|accessdate=April 24, 2022}}</ref>

==Base equipment==
In some gametypes and on certain maps, bases include various defense mechanisms and other tools to assist the team.

===Generators===
Generators provide power to systems. Destroying them can disable an entire team's defense by deactivating turrets and stations. They were also among the objectives in the game's "Defend & Destroy" gametype.

===Turrets===
There are five kinds of permanent turrets. They can all be destroyed by sustained fire, but their shields are very strong, so mortars are often the fastest way to destroy them. Their shields can also be drained by an ELF.

===Stations===
These are where players get equipment or monitor the base.

===Sensors===
Sensors are often overlooked in ''Tribes''. They scan a radius for enemies and allow players to view troop movements in the PDA ([[Personal Digital Assistant]]). There are large and small varieties.

==Jetpacks==
One of the defining elements of the ''Tribes'' series is the jetpack. With a press of a button, the player is accelerated upwards (or in whatever direction is pressed), "jetting" into the air until the armor's energy is used up. This ability is absent from nearly any other popular first-person shooter to date (with the notable exceptions of 1996's ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'' and April 1998's ''[[Outwars]]''). The incorporation of this third dimension gives some ''Tribes'' players the satisfaction of believing that they are playing [[Descent (computer game)|one]] of the only truly [[3D computer graphics|3-D]] [[computer game]]. Use of the jetpack is crucial to crossing large amounts of terrain when vehicles are scarce or unavailable. Jumping an instant before firing the jetpack is crucial to getting the most height out of the boosted jump before the armor's energy is drained. Without jumping, firing the jets with heavy armor will not even boost the player off the ground.

==Skiing==
During [[Development stage|beta testing]] of ''Tribes'', several players seemed to [[cheat]] in order to slide down hills without slowing and picked up enormous speed. The players had in fact discovered "skiing", the act of rapidly pressing the jump button to avoid friction. (Later on scripts were introduced that automated this action simply by holding down the jump button.) This technique may have been adapted from [[Bunny hopping]] in [[Quake]].

This was originally an unintended side effect of the physics system implementation that caused players to encounter less friction with the ground when going down hillsides than on level terrain. The reduced friction was put in to make it harder for snipers to take out enemies. The reduction of friction was proportional to the slope of the hill; this meant that the steeper the terrain, the faster players could travel. Skiing allowed players to traverse ''Tribes''<nowiki>'</nowiki> massive game maps in under 15 seconds in some cases instead of minutes.

Skiing, although somewhat angering to new players and to purists (initially), has become an integral part of the game. Both sequels (''[[Tribes 2]]'' and ''[[Tribes: Vengeance]]'') have made special arrangements to allow for easier skiing by modifying the physics and providing tutorials for new players. Skiing has also passed onto a few other multiplayer games; including [[Enemy Territory: Quake Wars]] [http://www.splashdamage.com/index.php?name=pnPHPbb2&file=viewtopic&t=15211].

==Other features==
''Tribes'' includes too many team-oriented features to number. These are buried deep within the game and are difficult to use. In fact, most players can play without even realizing the entire command system (called the PDA or [[Personal Digital Assistant]] in game) exists. The PDA is intended to provide information to commanders and give detailed information on the team's situation. Among other things, players can issue commands to teammates, view equipment status, monitor enemy activity (with sensors or hidden cameras), watch teammates in a miniature screen, and control turrets (although this must be done at a command station [Unless the Command Laptop is used. Thereby allowing the control of turrets on the field.]).

==HUDs, Scripts==
[[Head-up display|HUD]]s, or ''[[HUD (computer gaming)|head-up display]]s'', and their associated scripts have added additional features that were not available with the original game. The above screen shot shows a Flag caps hud, and a simple stats hud showing the number of mines and grenades the player has left. Huds and scripting can also be used maliciously; there have been several huds/scripts released that allow players to cheat in various ways.

Some scripts change the look and feel of the game. Unlike mods which are server side and usually makes changes to gameplay, scripts are client side and allow players to perform a variety of tasks such as bunny-hopping. Voice packs allow players to execute additional sounds with optional animations that were not included with the game. Voice Packs usually include custom sounds from a variety of sources such as movies, music, television, or even recorded audio.


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
{{Expand|section|date=October 2008}}
| GR = 85%<ref name="GameRankings">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/132861-starsiege-tribes/index.html |title=Starsiege Tribes for PC |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530133845/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/132861-starsiege-tribes/index.html |archive-date=30 May 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
{{VG Reviews
| GSpot=8.6 out of 10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/starsiegetribes/review.html |title=Starsiege Tribes Review |author=Michael E. Ryan |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=1999-01-22 |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref>
| Allgame = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15330&tab=review |title=Starsiege: Tribes - Review |last=House |first=Michael L. |website=[[AllGame]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114112052/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15330&tab=review |archive-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
| CNG = 8 out of 10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2408,00.html |title=Starsiege: Tribes |last=Schuytema |first=Paul |date=14 January 1999 |website=Gamecenter |publisher=[[CNET]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001009113809/http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2408,00.html |archive-date=9 October 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
| GamePro=8 out of 10<ref name="GameRankings"/>
| CGSP = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/119/tribes_review.html |title=Starsiege Tribes |last=Mayer |first=Robert |date=5 January 1999 |website=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030518211037/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/119/tribes_review.html |archive-date=18 May 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
| GameZone=9 out of 10<ref name="GameRankings"/>
| GR=84%<ref name="GameRankings">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages4/132861.asp |title=Starsiege Tribes Reviews |publisher=[[Game Rankings]] |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref>
| CGW = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_177.pdf |title=Go Team! (''Starsiege: Tribes'' Review) |last=Lynch |first=Jim |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=177 |date=April 1999 |page=181 |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
| GamePro = (D.E.) {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/GameProIssue117April1999_201712/GamePro%20Issue%20117%20April%201999%20page%20050.jpg |title=Starsiege: Tribes |author=Dan Elektro |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG Entertainment]] |issue=127 |date=April 1999 |page=50 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref><br />(J.S.) {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/761.shtml |title=Starsiege: Tribes Review for PC on GamePro.com |last=Strauch |first=Joel |date=2 April 1999 |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923191415/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/761.shtml |archive-date=23 September 2005 |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.6 out of 10<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/starsiege-tribes-review/1900-2533218/ |title=Starsiege Tribes Review |last=Ryan |first=Michael E. |date=22 January 1999 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306133204/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/starsiegetribes/review.html |archive-date=6 March 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2017 |quote=Tribes is an ambitious game that successfully delivers a rich and addictive multiplayer gaming experience. Any team-minded action fan will love this game, and I suspect that more than a few freelance types will also.}}</ref>
| GameZone = 9 out of 10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r11985.htm |title=Starsiege TRIBES |author=Kemuel |date=1 July 1999 |publisher=GameZone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010630181107/http://www.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r11985.htm |archive-date=30 June 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
| IGN = 9.3 out of 10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/16/tribes-3 |title=[Starsiege] Tribes |last=Ward |first=Trent C. |date=15 January 1999 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
| NGen = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="NGen">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_51/page/n87/mode/2up |title=Starsiege: Tribes |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |issue=51 |date=March 1999 |page=87 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
| PCA = (ToT) 10 out of 10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL10Jun1999/page/n91/mode/2up |title=The Test of Time |author=PCA staff |magazine=[[PC Accelerator]] |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=10 |date=June 1999 |page=93 |access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref><br />9 out of 10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL07Mar1999/page/n81/mode/2up |title=[Starsiege:] Tribes |last=Egger |first=Dan |magazine=PC Accelerator |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=7 |date=March 1999 |pages=82–83 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 92%<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer199904/page/n111/mode/2up |title=Starsiege: Tribes |last=Poole |first=Stephen |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=6 |issue=4 |date=April 1999 |pages=100–1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991013174734/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1255.html |archive-date=13 October 1999 |url-status=live |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/tribes.html |title='Tribes' puts the emphasis on teamwork |last=Bortorff |first=James |year=1999 |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010428144338/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/tribes.html |archive-date=28 April 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{clear}}


The game received "favorable" reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[GameRankings]].<ref name="GameRankings"/>
==Community Support==
Since the initial release of ''Tribes'', and even more so since the closing of [[Dynamix]], the many members of the community have made [[Mod (computer gaming)|mods]], [[Level (computer and video games)|maps]], [[Scripting language|scripts]], [[HUD (computer gaming)|HUDs]], new interfaces, and external programs to support the game and provide various other useful functions. Programs like Hudbot<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.team5150.com/~andrew/project.hudbot/ |title=HudBot Website |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref> give Tribes support for 8/24/32-bit [[TGA]] textures, a substantial improvement over the game's existing texture color limit. (''In the area of 128 colors per texture'') Another program, Tribes Live<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tribeslive.com |title=TribesLive Website |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref>, provides players a way of supplementing ''Tribes'' with updates provided by the community.


''[[GameSpot]]'' considered the game to be an almost perfect balance between gameplay, online connectivity, and speedy performance. The multiplayer gameplay drew comparisons with [[NovaLogic]]'s ''[[Delta Force (video game)|Delta Force]]'', with good visuals and customizable weapon loadouts. The maps were highlighted as being wonderfully rendered, with seamless indoor-outdoor transitions. The site's criticisms included the difficulty in conducting long-range combat, a lack of close-combat weapons, and the queues that form at weapon consoles. They felt that ''Tribes'' would have benefited from a stronger training mode and better handling of scores and statistics.<ref name="gamespot"/> The website later chose the game as one of "The Greatest Games of All Time" in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-tribes/1100-6122837/ |title=The Greatest Games of All Time - Tribes |last=Colayco |first=Bob |date=15 July 2005 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' said, "''Tribes'' has the design and the technology to be the next standard in Internet action gaming. There are over 100+ servers available (all free) and more are popping up all the time. This is the first of a new breed of game and we can't recommend it enough."<ref name="NGen"/>
==Competition==
CTF gained great popularity in both public recreational servers and competitive servers. Dynamix ran several servers located in New Jersey and California. WON.net operated "east" and "west" servers as well. Since broadband was in its early stages in the US, players tended to play on servers that offered them the best ping times. As a result, tribes tended to have members who were located in the same timezone. Players sought to compete in a ladder environment, and in the first year, the clear ladder of choice was OGL.org. There were roughly 100 active tribes on the OGL from all over the country, with a few overseas tribes as well. One tribe's primary playerbase hailed from Hawaii. Match scheduling was a touchy subject for many reasons. Lower pings and minimal packetloss made a significant difference in gameplay. Logistics of organizing teams of 10 players on opposing coastlines meant that matches could start at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST and end anywhere from 2-4hours later. After about a year of competitive play, the Tribes playerbase had outgrown OGL.org and OGL's servers were going through a streak of unreliability. A new ladder emerged from Teamplay.net. This ladder would later be replaced by Tribalwar.com. Today's (9/2007) Teamplay.net and Tribalwar.com do not resemble their predecessors.


The game sold 98,840 copies during 1999.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer_April_2000/page/n35/mode/2up |title=PC Gamer Editors' Choice Winners: Does Quality Matter? |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=7 |issue=4 |date=April 2000 |page=33 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> The company expected to sell more than 250,000 copies of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sierra.com/corp/mr/release/0%2C2760%2C135%2C00.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991003041858/http://www.sierra.com:80/corp/mr/release/0,2760,135,00.html|title=Starsiege Tribes Storms Store Shelves With Unprecedented Consumer Support|website=sierra.com|archivedate=October 3, 1999|date=January 4, 1999|accessdate=April 30, 2022}}</ref>
Due to the anonymity of the Tribes engine, "smurfing" was hard to detect and likely prevalent in match play. Smurfing is when one player plays as another. Tribes allowed players to create as many character profiles as they desired. High profile players would often play under a number of different callsigns, and some would even play for other tribes in competitive matches. Ladder competition was fierce, and for a while, it was all that the community desired. After some time, the community developed individual player ranks based on server records and fantasy draft leagues.


The [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] named ''Starsiege: Tribes'' the winner for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Online Game of the Year|Online Action/Strategy Game of the Year]]" at the [[2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]]; it was also nominated for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Action Game of the Year|PC Action Game of the Year]]" and "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year", although it ultimately lost both awards to ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Online |url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_online.html |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991103232837/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_online.html |archive-date=November 3, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer |website=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104003923/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |archive-date=4 November 1999 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game won ''[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''{{'}} 1998 "Online Game of the Year" award. The staff highlighted its "excellent Internet performance, depth of strategies and tactics, and its accessibility and ease of play."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/online_of_year.html |title=The Best of 1998 (Online Game of the Year) |author=CGSP staff |date=11 February 1999 |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210212245/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/online_of_year.html |archive-date=10 February 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> It also won the "Best Online Game of the Year" award at ''[[IGN]]''{{'}}s Best of 1998 Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/29/ignpcs-best-of-1998-awards |title=IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards |author=IGN staff |date=29 January 1999 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990427073933/http://pc.ign.com/news/6665.html |archive-date=27 April 1999 |url-status=live |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> ''[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer US]]'' awarded the game its 1999 "Special Achievement in Innovation" prize; the staff raved that "''Tribes'' re-wrote the rules of online combat", and that it features "airtight networking code and what is still today one of the best self-contained online interfaces we've ever seen."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamerMarch2000/page/n67/mode/2up |title=The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards (Special Achievement in Innovation) |author=PC Gamer staff |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=7 |issue=3 |date=March 2000 |page=62 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> It was a finalist for the magazine's "Best Multiplayer Game" award, as well as ''[[PC PowerPlay]]''{{'}}s "Best Online Only" award, but lost both of them to ''[[Team Fortress Classic]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamerMarch2000/page/n61/mode/2up |title=The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards (Best Multiplayer Game) |author=PC Gamer staff |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=7 |issue=3 |date=March 2000 |page=56 |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-047-2000-04/page/n29/mode/2up |title=Game of the Year 1999 (Part 3) |magazine=[[PC PowerPlay]] |publisher=[[nextmedia|Next Media Pty Ltd]] |issue=47 |date=April 2000 |page=30 |access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>
==Game Types==
There are five distinct "default" gametypes:
* [[Capture the flag]] (CTF) - Each team (up to eight, normally less than three on any given mission) has one or more bases and a single flag. Each team tries to take an opposing team's flag and touch it to their own, which "captures" the flag and awards the capturing team a point. If a flag carrier is killed, the flag is dropped; the flag can be picked up by a teammate to finish the capture, instantly returned to its base by a member of the flag's team, or returned after a certain interval of time. Stalemates often occur when multiple teams' flags are taken at the same time; a team's flag must be at its base to accomplish a "cap". Games have been known to last hours until one of the flags is returned. Server time limits can be set to avoid these prolonged games.
* [[deathmatch (gaming)|Deathmatch]] (DM) - It can be played with or without teams; in both cases players must get the highest number of kills to win.
* Capture and hold (C&H) - Teams must seek out capturable bases or other assets, sometimes complete with turrets and stations, throughout the map. Points are given based on the amount of time an asset is "owned".
* Defend and destroy (D&D) - Players on a team must destroy certain items in an enemy's base before the enemy does the same to their base. Subsequent team-based [[First-person shooter]] games, however, did use variations of the concept (such as with [[Unreal Tournament]] and its "assault" game type).
* Find and retrieve (F&R) - A number of flags are scattered across the mission area. Team members must find and bring them back to their base. The flags can be captured from the enemy as well. The team to capture all the flags wins.
* Practice (Practice) - These types of maps have some of the most creative themes and gameplay which are often linked with teleports to get to various areas of these maps. A practice map can range from the fun to play where there is no specific objective. An example of such a map is VV-3Three which is known for its obstacle course. It is about 2&nbsp;km high (measurable by an in-game weapon called a target laser). Climbing this course can take an experienced player hours (literally) depending on what armor that is used. Another such example is a map called BotPracticeMKiV which has various areas for a player using a sniper class weapon to hone their sniping skills. BotPractiveMKiV also includes an indoor free for all area, and some duel area set high in the sky. Other such examples are Duel maps that are more frequently falling into this category because they include other areas that include bots and other things to do.
* Arena - These usually start the two teams in an enclosed area. The teams fight and when a player dies they are forced into observer mode. The teams fight until there are no players left on one of the teams. When this happens, the team who still has players left wins. This type of map is very exciting and forces teams to try different strategies.


{{clear}}
Note that ''Tribes'' features a scripting language that allows creation of customized mission types. Dozens of new mission types have been released by players. Arena is a good example of this. ''Tribes'' also features an internal mission editor that allows anyone with a desire to make their own playable mission or modify an existing mission.

==AI / Offline Gameplay==
Tribes was one of the first games to cater exclusively to online multiplayer gameplay. As such, there are only a handful of offline training missions available. This made the game much less enticing for players without internet connectivity. One of the first community-based [[AI]] opponents was Spoonbot<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playspoon.com/wiki/index.php?title=Spoonbot |title=Spoonbot |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref>, which is a [[Bot]] capable of using most of the game's weapons and vehicles. However, since it has been written entirely in the game's scripting language and hence has to work within several technical limits, this bot is no real substitute for human opponents. It is possible to enrich online multiplayer games with a number of AI opponents. Spoonbot reached v1.0 in 2001<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribalwar.com/viewnews.php?newsid=2278 |title=Spoonbot 1.0 news on Tribalwar.com |date=2001-06-02}}</ref>, the last version was released in 2003. The Spoonbot codebase can also be found within several other gameplay mods.

==Mods==
Starsiege: Tribes comes with built-in [[Mod (computer gaming)|mod]] support. While the game has never been directly packaged with any kind of [[SDK]], a number of websites offer or have offered downloadable tools to modify existing game scripts, textures and models. A Tribes server can be set to run a mod simply by adding an extra parameter to the command line.

The most common type of mod for Tribes is the "server-side" mod: a mod which requires no content download on the part of the connecting player. These mods can dramatically alter gameplay elements without forcing the mod to lose "server-side" status. Mods can add, remove or alter weapons, turrets, armors, deployables, gameplay mechanics, station behaviors, jetpack energy, even the very game rules themselves and still remain "server-side". It is only with the addition of new models, textures, sounds or other such resources to a mod that the player is required to download anything in order to successfully connect to a server running it.

A number of the mods for Tribes were created by members of the Tribes development team. The Flag Hunters mod was created by game dev ''Kidney Thief'', and was sufficiently well-received that the Hunter gametype was included in the release of [[Tribes 2]]. The Base++ mod, created by game dev Mark Frohnmayer (alias ''Got Milk?''), included a number of additional features, bug fixes, weapon adjustments, and controversially a significant limit on skiing speed. While the Base++ mod was not explicitly included as part of Tribes 2, many of its features and "adjustments" can be found in the game's "Base" mod.

Few client-side total-conversion have been released for Tribes. One of the few examples is the Star Wars Mod, which featured custom vehicles, weapons and deployables set in the [[Star Wars]] universe. Such mods never gathered a significant playerbase.

The sequel to Tribes, [[Tribes 2]], includes mod support similar to that of Tribes, though some types of gameplay modifications are much more difficult to accomplish than in its predecessor, while the subsequent game, [[Tribes: Vengeance]], has no official mod support.

== Tribes RPG ==
Tribes is a very moddable game, as evidenced by mods such as Tribes RPG. Tribes RPG is a mod that completely remade Tribes into a hack and slash multiplayer adventure game, in which players could create one of several player classes and level up gaining new skills, armor, and magic. The Tribes RPG mod also included a feature known as "Remorting" by which a player at level 100-110 could begin again as a level one character with more power than possible on the first playthrough and access to the "Uber Dungeon." Tribes RPG was such a successful mod that it was also modded, creating entirely different worlds, character classes, enemies, and leveling systems depending on the server.

==Game Firsts ==

Mods to the original game made Tribes one of the most innovative games for years to come. Most of the mods done to the game would be copied later on by other software titles. Some of the most memorable mods would give users items that were mimicked later by other software titles:

*Grav Gun- Made popular by [[Half Life 2]] and thought of as revolutionary, yet was created in Tribes many years earlier

*Ability to build bases and place base items- A first for a 1st person shooter game. Players can deploy things like doors, wall, force fields, turrets, inventory stations, supply stations, sensors, missile launchers, turret control stations, teleporters, jails, amongst many other items.

*The SEX Mod had machine guns that launched self deploying laser turrets, allowing the user to deploy hundreds of automated turrets anywhere on the map, even while fighting

*The original Warzone mod would let the players build their base from scratch (building, turrets, and stations) and then let the players play with their custom bases.

*T-Mail- A serverside mail system which automatically gave connected players a MailBox/InBox/OutBox/SentBox/Contact List/SaveBox and many other options that popular e-mail systems have all within the games Score TAB Menu.

*Demo Drop- Feature that allowed the game to record a first person game play with an automated format type to save it, convert it, store it, watch through the Tribes gaming client, but moreso it made it to where Fraps, or Gamecam or any third party screen capture were not needed to record games. The feature also did not diminish fps or gameplay, making it very easy to run and perform on all systems.

==Piracy==

Tribes was subject to rampant [[Copyright infringement of software|piracy]] shortly after release. The game lacked strong authentication for online play, allowing pirated clients to join and participate alongside legitimate users. Creating illegal copies or distributions of the game for this purpose was an almost trivial matter, as the game also lacked any real form of [[copy protection]].

One of the most widely used illegal distributions was dubbed ''DaJackal''. New players with this release (who had neglected to properly configure the game before going online) could be easily identified by the altered default player name "DaJackal". A few mods (notably Shifter and sub-variants) even included code which would automatically kick any player with this name attempting to connect to a server running the mod. Similar code was included in one of the later official game patches, which would kick the player and then send the following message: "The FBI has been notified. You better buy a legit copy before they get to your house."

The game's developer clearly learned from this experience: [[Tribes 2]] is noted for its integration of authentication for online play.


==Sequels==
==Sequels==
Although sales figures were relatively poor, ''Tribes'' established a large [[cult]] following. [[Dynamix]] decided to try to make the gameplay more easily accessible and improve upon the game's graphics, releasing ''[[Tribes 2]]'' in March 2001. Together, sales totaled almost one million copies.

Since Dynamix was shut down shortly after ''Tribes 2'' was released, Sierra licensed the franchise to [[Irrational Games]] for a third installment; ''[[Tribes: Vengeance]]'' was released in October 2004. Tentatively referred to as ''Tribes: Story'' during development, this sequel promised a full single-player campaign as well as a full-featured multiplayer experience. By March 2005, however, Irrational had abandoned plans for further work on ''Tribes: Vengeance'' at Vivendi's behest in favor of future projects, such as the tactical shooter ''[[SWAT Series|SWAT 4]]''. A combination of poor sales and a gameplay style that did not please hardcore Tribes fans led to the release of only one patch that fixed minor bugs. Retail copies of the game have since been liquidated and the game retains many gameplay balance issues and bugs.

==Re-release==
On April 9, 2004, [[Vivendi Universal]] announced that they would release ''Tribes'' and ''Tribes 2'' for free on May 4, 2004 on a [[DVD|DVD-ROM]] with ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' magazine and on [http://fileplanet.com/ FilePlanet.com]. This was to promote the release of the upcoming sequel, ''Tribes: Vengeance''. It can also be downloaded directly from Vivendi Universal's web-site. However, the installed version of the game is only patched to 1.8, not the most current version, 1.11. The patch can be found in varying locations online, including the official website<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftp.sierra.com/sierra/tribes/updates/tribes18to111.exe |title=Tribes Patch 1.8 to 1.11 from Vivendi Universal |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref> and FilePlanet<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fileplanet.com/filelist.aspx?s=30272&v=0 |title=Tribes Patch 1.8 to 1.11 from FilePlanet |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref>, though the patch program has been known to fail completely on certain systems. There also exists an unofficial "1.30 Last Hope" patch<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.team5150.com/~andrew/project.lasthope/ |title=v1.30 LastHope Patch |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref> which makes the game compatible with all 1.11 (''and previous'') servers, as well as special "Last Hope" servers which employ certain anti-cheat measures. Since the "patch" is simply a replacement of the Tribes executable it can be used in instances where the official patch fails.

The re-release can easily be turned into a portable application by the user. After installation and application of the patch, the whole directory can then be moved or copied for use as a portable app without having to install the game on individual computers the game is played on. Several individuals offered pre-packaged versions containing the game in this installed and patched form<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ayavaron.com/wordpress/index.php/program-downloads/ |title=Ayavaron's Portable Tribes |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref>. Since Sierra Entertainment's master servers have been deactivated, players need to either manually update a configuration file with the new master server data, or download a ready-to-play<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playspoon.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tribes |title=Tribes Ready-To-Play |accessdate=2009-01-06}}</ref> game archive that already contains the new master server addresses to be able to play online.

==2009 Revival - 1998 is Back==
After the March announcement of Garage Games Studios purchase of the Tribes IP, the website [www.playtribes.com] appeared with tribe’s logo and subtitle stating ''1998 is Back'' with links back to Garage Games sites. GGS intention is to update, re-release and revive the game utilising their Instant Action web gaming technology as a platform, though players can opt to play via a client side application. Beta testing of version 1.40 is currently underway.

==Shazbot==
One of the voicechat options in ''Tribes'' to voice frustration is "Shazbot!": which is an allusion to the [[situation comedy]] ''[[Mork & Mindy]]'', in which Mork says the expression during the opening credits. The phrase carried over into the sequels, ''Tribes 2'' and ''Tribes: Vengeance''. It is possible to chain up voice chats, if you selected them faster than the sample played. This led to many interesting variants on the voice chat broadcast function such as the request "I need a shazbot" which was usually complied with by many players.

==Alvy Elna==
Scott Youngblood, the Lead Designer of Starsiege: Tribes, created a tribute to his grandparents, who died during the development of the game. He put their names in the terrain of a game level called Broadside. On a hillside it says "Alvy Elna." (This is most easily seen while flying.)


A sequel, ''[[Tribes 2]]'', was released in March 2001. Sierra licensed the franchise to [[Irrational Games]] for a third installment, ''[[Tribes: Vengeance]]'', which was released in October 2004. [[Vivendi Universal]] released ''Starsiege: Tribes'' and ''Tribes 2'' for free on May 4, 2004 on a [[DVD|DVD-ROM]] with ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' magazine and on [[FilePlanet]] in order to promote the release of ''Tribes: Vengeance''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/12832-get-tribes-and-tribes-2-free.html |title=Get Tribes and Tribes 2 free |last=Franco |first=Julio |date=4 May 2004 |website=TechSpot |access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of free first-person shooters]]
* [[Tribalwar]]
* [[Fallen Empire: Legions]]


== References ==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20000815053945/http://www.tribesplayers.com/tribesplayers/}} (archived)
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* {{moby game|id=/starsiege-tribes}} - Game Archive and Review site documenting Credits, Shots and reviews
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* {{dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Shooter/T/Tribes_Games/Starsiege_-_Tribes|''Starsiege: Tribes''}}
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{{Tribes series}}
{{Tribes series}}
{{Dynamix}}


[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:Sierra games]]
[[Category:Dynamix games]]
[[Category:Interactive Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Tribes (video games)]]
[[Category:Freeware games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer video games]]
[[Category:Sierra Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Tribes (video game series)]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only freeware games]]
[[Category:Windows-only freeware games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]

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[[it:Starsiege: Tribes]]

Latest revision as of 14:34, 8 January 2025

Starsiege: Tribes
Developer(s)Dynamix
Publisher(s)Sierra On-Line
Director(s)Tim Gift
Producer(s)Ken Embery
Designer(s)Scott Youngblood
Programmer(s)Mark Frohnmayer
Artist(s)Barry Drew
Shawn Sharp
Gerald Harrison
Mark Brenneman
K. Maren Wyatt
Writer(s)Blake Hutchins
SeriesTribes
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Starsiege: Tribes is a first-person shooter video game. It is the first of the Tribes video game series and follows the story from Metaltech: Earthsiege and Starsiege. It was developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 1998. An expansion pack, Tribes Extreme, was cancelled; it was supposed to add single-player missions, multiplayer maps, and bot AI.[3]

Gameplay

[edit]
Starsiege: Tribes screenshot

Tribes is a squad-based multiplayer online game. The story is set in the 40th century, after humanity has settled across the galaxies via jumpgates. Conflict has broken out between several factions of humans, the four largest of which are the Children of the Phoenix, who descend from people isolated from the Great Human Empire during the "jumpgate diaspora", Blood Eagle, a force of imperial knights originally sent from the Empire to subdue Humans who have gone 'tribal' over time, and Diamond Sword and Starwolf, who are of secondary importance, with innumerable other splinter tribes constantly fighting for territory. The player assumes the role of a warrior loyal to one of the four major tribes battling in the front lines of the conflict.[citation needed]

The battles take place in one of 40 levels. Most of the standard maps are outdoors environments in a variety of climates, from sunshine to snow and hail. In general, bases are scattered throughout the map depending on the game type. The outdoor environments can extend for several in-game kilometers.[citation needed]

There are five distinct "default" game types:

  • Capture the flag (CTF) - Each team (up to eight, normally less than three on any given mission) has one or more bases and a single flag. Each team tries to take an opposing team's flag and touch it to their own, which "captures" the flag and awards the capturing team a point. If a flag carrier is killed, the flag is dropped; the flag can be picked up by a teammate to finish the capture, instantly returned to its base by a member of the flag's team, or returned after a certain interval of time. Stalemates often occur when multiple teams' flags are taken at the same time; a team's flag must be at its base to accomplish a "cap". Capture the Flag is a popular mode, with 75 percent of servers running this game type.[4]
  • Deathmatch (DM) - It can be played with or without teams; in both cases, players must get the highest number of kills to win.
  • Capture and hold (C&H) - Teams must seek out capturable bases or other assets, sometimes complete with turrets and stations, throughout the map. Points are given based on the amount of time an asset is "owned".
  • Defend and destroy (D&D) - Players on a team must destroy certain items in an enemy's base before the enemy does the same to their base. Subsequent team-based First-person shooter games, however, did use variations of the concept (such as with the later Unreal Tournament and its "Assault" game type). Defend and Destroy is the second-most popular game type.[4]
  • Find and retrieve (F&R) - A number of flags are scattered across the mission area. Team members must find and bring them back to their base. The flags can be captured from the enemy as well. The team to capture all the flags wins.[citation needed]

Each player wears either light, medium, or heavy armor. Heavier armors supply larger amounts of armor, energy, and ammunition. Different armor types support different weapons and equipment; for example, only the heavy armor supports the heavy mortar but only light armor supports the sniper rifle.[4] When damage is dealt to the player (by falling or being hurt by a weapon), armor is lost. Loss of all armor results in the player's death. After dying, the player respawns at the team's base (or somewhere in the field). Players also have an energy cell, which is drawn on for jetting, firing some kinds of weapons, and activating packs. The different armor types can be accessed at an inventory station. There are various items of equipment usable by the players, including vehicles, eight weapons, and "Packs" which alter the abilities of the player. On some maps, bases include various defense mechanisms and other tools to assist the team: Generators, turrets, stations, and sensors. Generators provide power to systems. Destroying them can disable an entire team's defense by deactivating turrets and stations. Weapons include the heavy mortar, sniper rifle, explosive disc launcher, short-range gatling gun, grenade launcher, blaster, plasma rifle, and laser rifle.[4]

Movement

[edit]

In addition to running and jumping, players are equipped with a jetpack which allows them to accelerate into the air until the armor's energy is used up. In addition to straight-line movement, the jetpack has other versatile uses. It can be used to make short hops whilst zig-zagging to make a player harder to target in open areas. An upward thrust can help the player evade oncoming enemies armed with short-range weapons.[5]

Another method of movement is known as "skiing", and relies on an exploitation of the game's physics engine.[6] If a player taps the jump button with the correct timing whilst descending a hill, their momentum will accumulate. High speeds can be achieved this way, and if this momentum takes the player to the crest of another hill, the jetpack can be used to rapidly propel them across the map.[5] This technique was later developed into a game feature by Dynamix for Tribes 2.[7]

Development

[edit]

The game was announced in May 1998.[8]

Reception

[edit]

The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[9]

GameSpot considered the game to be an almost perfect balance between gameplay, online connectivity, and speedy performance. The multiplayer gameplay drew comparisons with NovaLogic's Delta Force, with good visuals and customizable weapon loadouts. The maps were highlighted as being wonderfully rendered, with seamless indoor-outdoor transitions. The site's criticisms included the difficulty in conducting long-range combat, a lack of close-combat weapons, and the queues that form at weapon consoles. They felt that Tribes would have benefited from a stronger training mode and better handling of scores and statistics.[4] The website later chose the game as one of "The Greatest Games of All Time" in 2005.[23] Next Generation said, "Tribes has the design and the technology to be the next standard in Internet action gaming. There are over 100+ servers available (all free) and more are popping up all the time. This is the first of a new breed of game and we can't recommend it enough."[18]

The game sold 98,840 copies during 1999.[24] The company expected to sell more than 250,000 copies of the game.[25]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences named Starsiege: Tribes the winner for "Online Action/Strategy Game of the Year" at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; it was also nominated for "PC Action Game of the Year" and "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year", although it ultimately lost both awards to Half-Life.[26][27] The game won Computer Games Strategy Plus' 1998 "Online Game of the Year" award. The staff highlighted its "excellent Internet performance, depth of strategies and tactics, and its accessibility and ease of play."[28] It also won the "Best Online Game of the Year" award at IGN's Best of 1998 Awards.[29] PC Gamer US awarded the game its 1999 "Special Achievement in Innovation" prize; the staff raved that "Tribes re-wrote the rules of online combat", and that it features "airtight networking code and what is still today one of the best self-contained online interfaces we've ever seen."[30] It was a finalist for the magazine's "Best Multiplayer Game" award, as well as PC PowerPlay's "Best Online Only" award, but lost both of them to Team Fortress Classic.[31][32]

Sequels

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A sequel, Tribes 2, was released in March 2001. Sierra licensed the franchise to Irrational Games for a third installment, Tribes: Vengeance, which was released in October 2004. Vivendi Universal released Starsiege: Tribes and Tribes 2 for free on May 4, 2004 on a DVD-ROM with Computer Gaming World magazine and on FilePlanet in order to promote the release of Tribes: Vengeance.[33]

References

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  1. ^ "Gone Gold : EuroGold". 2001-02-10. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. ^ GameSpot staff (23 December 1998). "New Releases [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 8 June 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. ^ Blevins, Tal (14 October 1999). "Tribes Extreme Interview". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Ryan, Michael E. (22 January 1999). "Starsiege Tribes Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 6 March 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2017. Tribes is an ambitious game that successfully delivers a rich and addictive multiplayer gaming experience. Any team-minded action fan will love this game, and I suspect that more than a few freelance types will also.
  5. ^ a b Lambert, Kornel. "PC Cheats: Starsiege Tribes". Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 21 January 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  6. ^ Butts, Steve (5 October 2004). "Tribes: Vengeance". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  7. ^ Parker, Sam (5 April 2001). "Tribes 2 Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Starsiege Tribes". dynamix.com. May 28, 1998. Archived from the original on June 27, 1998. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Starsiege Tribes for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. ^ House, Michael L. "Starsiege: Tribes - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  11. ^ Schuytema, Paul (14 January 1999). "Starsiege: Tribes". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 9 October 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  12. ^ Mayer, Robert (5 January 1999). "Starsiege Tribes". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 18 May 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  13. ^ Lynch, Jim (April 1999). "Go Team! (Starsiege: Tribes Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 177. Ziff Davis. p. 181. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. ^ Dan Elektro (April 1999). "Starsiege: Tribes". GamePro. No. 127. IDG Entertainment. p. 50. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  15. ^ Strauch, Joel (2 April 1999). "Starsiege: Tribes Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 23 September 2005. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  16. ^ Kemuel (1 July 1999). "Starsiege TRIBES". GameZone. Archived from the original on 30 June 2001. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  17. ^ Ward, Trent C. (15 January 1999). "[Starsiege] Tribes". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Starsiege: Tribes". Next Generation. No. 51. Imagine Media. March 1999. p. 87. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  19. ^ PCA staff (June 1999). "The Test of Time". PC Accelerator. No. 10. Imagine Media. p. 93. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  20. ^ Egger, Dan (March 1999). "[Starsiege:] Tribes". PC Accelerator. No. 7. Imagine Media. pp. 82–83. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  21. ^ Poole, Stephen (April 1999). "Starsiege: Tribes". PC Gamer. Vol. 6, no. 4. Imagine Media. pp. 100–1. Archived from the original on 13 October 1999. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  22. ^ Bortorff, James (1999). "'Tribes' puts the emphasis on teamwork". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on 28 April 2001. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  23. ^ Colayco, Bob (15 July 2005). "The Greatest Games of All Time - Tribes". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  24. ^ "PC Gamer Editors' Choice Winners: Does Quality Matter?". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 4. Imagine Media. April 2000. p. 33. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Starsiege Tribes Storms Store Shelves With Unprecedented Consumer Support". sierra.com. January 4, 1999. Archived from the original on October 3, 1999. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Online". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on November 3, 1999. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 4 November 1999.
  28. ^ CGSP staff (11 February 1999). "The Best of 1998 (Online Game of the Year)". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 10 February 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  29. ^ IGN staff (29 January 1999). "IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 April 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  30. ^ PC Gamer staff (March 2000). "The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards (Special Achievement in Innovation)". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 62. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  31. ^ PC Gamer staff (March 2000). "The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards (Best Multiplayer Game)". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 56. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Game of the Year 1999 (Part 3)". PC PowerPlay. No. 47. Next Media Pty Ltd. April 2000. p. 30. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  33. ^ Franco, Julio (4 May 2004). "Get Tribes and Tribes 2 free". TechSpot. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
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