Editing Starsiege: Tribes

{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Starsiege: Tribes
| image = StarsiegeTribesBox.jpg
| developer = [[Dynamix]]
| publisher = [[Sierra On-Line]]
| director = Tim Gift
| producer = Ken Embery
| designer = Scott Youngblood
| writer = Blake Hutchins
| programmer = Mark Frohnmayer
| artist = Barry Drew<br />Shawn Sharp<br />Gerald Harrison<br />Mark Brenneman<br />K. Maren Wyatt
| composer = 
| series = ''[[Tribes (video game series)|Tribes]]''
| engine = 
| 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>}}
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]
}}

'''''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>

==Gameplay==
[[Image:Sshot0028.png|thumb|256px|right|''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|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}}

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"/>

===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>

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>

==Development==
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>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| 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>
| 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>
| 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>
| 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>
}}

The game received "favorable" reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[GameRankings]].<ref name="GameRankings"/>

''[[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"/>

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>

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>

{{clear}}

==Sequels==

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>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20000815053945/http://www.tribesplayers.com/tribesplayers/}} (archived)
* {{moby game|id=/windows/starsiege-tribes}}

{{Tribes series}}
{{Dynamix}}

[[Category:1998 video games]]
[[Category:Dynamix games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[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 games]]