Editing MoonBase Commander

{{Short description|2002 video game}}
{{About|the 2002 video game on Microsoft Windows|the 1990 video game for MS-DOS and Amiga platforms|Moonbase (video game)}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = MoonBase Commander
| image = Moonbase cover.png
| developer = [[Humongous Entertainment]]
| publisher = [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Infogrames]]{{efn|The [[Steam (service)|Steam]] re-release was published by [[Rebellion Developments]].}}
| engine = [[SCUMM]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]
| released = {{Video game release|NA|August 13, 2002}}
| genre = [[Turn-based strategy]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| designer = Rhett Mathis
| composer = Stuart Ellison
}}
'''''MoonBase Commander''''' is a strategy video game released in 2002 by [[Humongous Entertainment]]. In the game, the player controls a main hub, which can send out other hubs, attack enemy structures, create defensive buildings, and collect energy for further expansion; this is accomplished through launching buildings and/or weapons from a hub. Each building is connected to its parent hub by a cord, which cannot overlap with other cords. The game features both single-player and multiplayer formats. It won the "Best of 2002: The Game No One Played" award from ''[[IGN]]''.<ref name="IGNAward">{{cite web|url=http://m.ign.com/articles/382922 |title=Best of 2002: The Game No One Played |publisher=IGN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217070133/http://m.ign.com/articles/382922 |archive-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
The game is [[turn-based strategy|turn-based]], allowing the player to spend a limited number of energy points per turn. The player can spend these energy points by attacking their opponents and/or adding more buildings to their base. Most units are ground-based and are attached by a cord to the unit that created them. Cords cannot overlap or land in water. Regardless of whether a unit is ground-based, all units need to be launched from their originating unit, similar to many [[artillery game]]s. The power of a shot is not preset, but determined by how long the player holds down on the launch button. The longer it is held down, the further the unit launches. Wind can also affect the accuracy of launching units. Game maps [[wraparound (video games)|wrap around]] at the edges, meaning that no player is ever in a corner.

''MoonBase Commander'' has four factions that can be played: NiceCo, DeWulf, System7, and Team Alpha. The factions are functionally identical with only cosmetic differences.

The Skirmish mode allows the player to fight up to three computer players of varying difficulty levels. The goal of a skirmish is to destroy all opposing players.

Challenge Mode consists of sixteen premade missions, four for each faction. Each challenge has different goals, enemies, and settings. The player earns a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal upon completing a challenge, based mainly on how long it took them to complete it. The challenges progress linearly and when one challenge is complete, the next is unlocked. The credits are played when all the challenges have been completed.

===Multiplayer===
Although the game has built in LAN functionality, Internet play is only accessible through third-party software. Initially Internet play was only available through ''[[GameSpy]]'', but the Moonbase Commander Console was created shortly after the release of the original game to overcome this limitation and eventually became the most common method for fans to play online. In 2013, the source code to the Moonbase Commander Console was released under the [[MIT License]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/michaelbarlow7/moonbase-console|title=Moonbase Commander Console|website=[[GitHub]]}}</ref> There is another utility called MoonbaseIP that also bypasses the need for GameSpy along with MBCImport which allows for custom maps and export/import maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zauron.net/utilities.php|title=Zauron's Lair|last=Millet)|first=Z-Ware (Taron|website=www.zauron.net|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref>

==Development==
''MoonBase Commander'' was developed on the [[SCUMM]] engine, best known for its use in [[LucasArts adventure games]].<ref name=scummvm2>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709045657/https://www.pcgamer.com/how-scummvm-is-keeping-adventure-games-alive-one-old-game-at-a-time/ | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-scummvm-is-keeping-adventure-games-alive-one-old-game-at-a-time/ | title=How ScummVM is keeping adventure games alive, one old game at a time | author=Cobbett, Richard | date=December 22, 2017 | work=[[PC Gamer US]] | archive-date=July 9, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==Re-release==
In early 2014, ''MoonBase Commander'' was re-released on [[Steam (service)|Steam]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/254880|title=Moonbase Commander on Steam|publisher=Steam}}</ref> in its complete and unabridged form. It includes the full original gameplay, both single player campaigns and local (LAN) multi-player.

==Reception and legacy==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Aggregators -->
| GR = 77.42%<ref name="GR">{{cite web | title=''Moonbase Commander'' - GameRankings | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/555470-moonbase-commander/index.html | publisher=[[GameRankings]] | date= | access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>
| MC = 77<ref name="MC">{{cite web | title=''Moonbase Commander'' reviews at Metacritic.com | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/moonbase-commander/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | publisher=[[Metacritic]] | date= | access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>
<!-- Reviewers -->
| IGN = 8/10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/games/moonbase-commander/pc-477995 |title=''Moonbase Commander'' Review |author= |date= |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>
<!-- Awards -->
| award1Pub = [[IGN]]
| award1 = "Best of 2002: The Game No One Played"<ref name="IGNAward"/>
}}
''MoonBase Commander'' received mostly positive reviews on [[GameRankings]] and [[Metacritic]].<ref name="GR"/><ref name="MC"/> It was praised by Tycho of [[Penny Arcade (webcomic)|''Penny Arcade'']] at the 2002 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.penny-arcade.com/2002/6/10/|title = Penny Arcade - News - Quote News Unquote}}</ref> Despite this, sales of the game were low, such that when an [[intellectual property]] valuation for [[Atari Interactive]] was performed in 2006, ''Moonbase Commander'' was estimated to be worth somewhere between $0 and $100,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.secinfo.com/dsvr4.tadr.9.htm |title = SEC Info}}</ref> The rights to the ''MoonBase Commander'' franchise were sold at auction to [[Rebellion Developments]] following Atari's bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/21/3380720.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102004546/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/21/3380720.aspx |archive-date=2013-11-02 |title=Game Informer|magazine=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref>

The editors of ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'' presented ''MoonBase Commander'' with their 2002 "Best Budget Game" award.<ref name=cgm12th>{{cite journal | author=Staff | journal=[[Computer Games Magazine]] | title=Best of the Year 2002; 12th Annual ''Computer Games'' Awards |date=March 2003 | issue=148 | pages=58–61}}</ref> It won ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s annual "Best Game No One Played on PC" award.<ref name=bestworst2002>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 | author=''GameSpot'' Staff | date=December 30, 2002 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=February 7, 2003 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/moonbase-commander}}

{{Humongous|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:2002 video games]]
[[Category:Humongous Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Infogrames games]]
[[Category:SCUMM games]]
[[Category:ScummVM-supported games]]
[[Category:Turn-based strategy video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set on the Moon]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]