Allegiance is a unique hybrid of a space simulator and a real-time strategy developed for multiplayer battles. The production was created by Microsoft and released on PC.
Mechanics
The core of Allegiance are cosmic battles between two teams. Each of them has a leader whose duties are reminiscent of those found in classic RTS; however, the spacecraft aren't controlled by AI, but by and the rest of the players.
The game is based on two pillars, the first being a direct participation in battles. The flight system is based on the laws of physics, and the available ships differ in of combat capabilities - Scout and Stealth Fighter are designed for reconnaissance and hidden operations, Interceptor and Fighter are best suited for close encounters with enemy forces. There are also powerful bombers, which have to be manned by operators, and the so-called Capital Ships that can wreak havoc in the enemy ranks.
The foundations of the strategic module are expansion, resources extraction and base management. Over time, we get access to further positions on technological trees - developing them will increase our combat potential. The game takes place on extensive maps divided into sectors connected by wormholes - the key to success is to take over new areas, exploit available resources and develop effective tactics based on the observation of enemy military movements.
Technical aspects
The graphics used in Allegiance weren't spectacular even at its release, especially when compared with the visuals offered by Homeworld released almost a year earlier.
Other
Allegiance debuted in 2000 - in order to enjoy its full potential, players had to pay a monthly subscription fee; playing for free gave them access to limited options. Because the game wasn't successful, its official servers were shut down two years after the release. Nevertheless, fans continued to watch over the development of this project. In 2004, the publisher released its code in the open source version. After years, the game was brought back to life and released in the free-to-play model devoid of microtransactions.
