Escape Velocity (abbreviated EV) is a Macintosh computer game by Matt Burch, published by Ambrosia Software. It is the first game in the Escape Velocity series. It is also available as a Total Conversion mod for EV Nova, the third game in the series.
The game is set in the future, in space. The player assumes the role of an independent star-ship Captain making their way through the galaxy.
EV's primary setting is a cold war between two human factions: the Confederation and the Rebellion. However, the player is not obligated to involve themselves in this war and is free to fly their spaceship where they please, doing missions and assisting or harming factions that are completely unrelated to the main conflict. In this way, EV is an example of an open world game.
Governments[]
The Rebellion is one of two main governments in Escape Velocity. According to the game documentation, after winning a deadly war with "enigmatic alien marauders" the Confederation did not relinquish its naval power, and, according to the game's introduction, began exploiting the resources of the outer worlds. Those worlds eventually seceded, provoking a civil war. The Rebellion is in turn criticized for its aggressive nature, support of quasi-criminal organizations, and attacks on civilian shipping and liners. The Rebellion uses four ships in their campaign against the Confederation including Rebel Manta, Rebel Destroyer, Rebel Cruiser and Escort Carrier.
The Confederation is one of two main governments in the game. According to the game, as humanity expanded into the Milky Way Galaxy, the new colonies operated independently of each other. However, an invasion by an unknown alien race forced the colonies to unify under Earth's leadership. This became known as the Confederation. The Confederation and the aliens fought a bloody war, with millions of humans being killed. Eventually the Confederation prevailed. Years after the war ended, many in the outer worlds felt that the Confederation was becoming corrupt and oppressive. They seceded from the Confederation and became known as the Rebellion. At the start of the game, the two sides are locked in a bloody stalemate. The Confederation uses four ships in its military including Confed Patrol Ship, Confed Gunboat, Confederate Frigate and Confederate Cruiser.
External links[]
Extant links:
- EV EVO EVN Plugin Complete Collection - Archive of all Escape Velocity Plugins from ambrosiasw.com on archive.org.
- A searchable, sortable library that supposedly contains every EV add-on available on Ambrosia's site, for every EV game at appcraft.
Extinct links:
- Escape Velocity's page on Ambrosia Software's Site [dead link]
- Guy's EVC port for Nova on Ambrosia Software's add-on files for EV Nova [dead link]
Portal | Intro • Universe • Ships | |
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Technical | Missions • Stellar Objects • Stellar Types • Outfits • Pictures • Spritesheets • Wallpapers • Tech Levels • Ranks • Descriptions • Sounds • Persons • Scan Masks | |
Trade Ships | Shuttlecraft (i) 10k, Scoutship (i) 80k, Courier (i) 180k, Light Freighter (i) 280k, Clipper (i) 400k, Argosy (i) 750k | |
Combat Ships | Defender (i) 100k, Hawk (i) 250k as carried ship only, Lightning (i) 1M, Rapier (i) 1.2M, Corvette (i) 2.5M, Kestrel (i) 10M | |
Unavailable Ships | Executive Transport (i), Bulk Freighter (i), Luxury Liner (i) | |
Confederate Ships | Confed Patrol Ship (i) 700k, Confed Gunboat (i) 900k, Confederate Frigate (i) 5M, Confederate Cruiser (i) 20M | |
Rebel Ships | Manta (i) 180k, Rebel Destroyer (i) 2.8M, Rebel Cruiser (i) 14M | |
Alien Ships | Alien Fighter (i), Alien Cruiser (i) | |
Extras | Word of Burch |
Novaverse Mods | PlugPack • ARPIA2 (2007) • Anathema (2007) • Brave New Void (2022) Novaverse Total Conversion: White Dwarf (2023) | |
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In Development | You're Not Special, Haiku | |
Tools for Plugin Creation | Mac: MissionComputer • ResEdit • NovaTools Windows: EVNEW • RezEditor | |
Bugs | Patch Notes • Dithering Bug • Exponential Beam Bug | |
Guides | Nova Bible • Windows Plugin Conversion Tutorial • Nova Control Bits • Pilot File | |
Total Conversions | Major Completed: Polycon EV (2002), Ashen Galaxy (2008), Colosseum (2008) Official: Escape Velocity, Escape Velocity Override Minor Completed: EVN Paintball, Miners, Teacup Blank Slate: Absolute Minimum Released Incomplete: Acheron, Starfleet Adventures Vaporware: Delphi, Aftermath, APOPHIS, EVN: Eon, EV Noir, EVN: United Galactic Federation, EVN: Phoenix, EVN: Starcraft, Firefly, Frozen Heart 2, Genesis, KFL, Open Source TC, Retribution, Sephil Saga, Space Opera, Stargate Nova, STN: The Final Frontier, A-Ram-Kar, Star Wars Nova |