<s>
4X	B-Application
(	O
abbreviation	O
of	O
Explore	O
,	O
Expand	O
,	O
Exploit	O
,	O
Exterminate	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
subgenre	O
of	O
strategy-based	B-Application
computer	O
and	O
board	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
include	O
both	O
turn-based	O
and	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
involves	O
building	B-Application
an	I-Application
empire	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
earliest	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
borrowed	O
ideas	O
from	O
board	O
games	O
and	O
1970s	O
text-based	B-Application
computer	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
4X	B-Application
computer	I-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
turn-based	O
,	O
but	O
real-time	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
common	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
4X	B-Application
computer	I-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
published	O
in	O
the	O
mid-1990s	O
,	O
but	O
were	O
later	O
outsold	O
by	O
other	O
types	O
of	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
is	I-Application
an	O
important	O
example	O
from	O
this	O
formative	O
era	O
,	O
and	O
popularized	O
the	O
level	O
of	O
detail	O
that	O
later	O
became	O
a	O
staple	O
of	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
new	O
millennium	O
,	O
several	O
4X	B-Application
releases	O
have	O
become	O
critically	O
and	O
commercially	O
successful	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
board	O
(	O
and	O
card	O
)	O
game	O
domain	O
,	O
4X	B-Application
is	O
less	O
of	O
a	O
distinct	O
genre	O
,	O
in	O
part	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
practical	O
constraints	O
of	O
components	O
and	O
playing	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Civilization	B-Application
board	O
game	O
that	O
gave	O
rise	O
to	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
,	O
for	O
instance	O
,	O
includes	O
neither	O
exploration	O
nor	O
extermination	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
term	O
"	O
4X	B-Application
"	O
originates	O
from	O
a	O
1993	O
preview	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
in	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
by	O
game	O
writer	O
Alan	O
Emrich	O
where	O
he	O
rated	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
XXXX	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
pun	O
on	O
the	O
XXX	O
rating	O
for	O
pornography	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
February	O
1994	O
,	O
another	O
author	O
in	O
the	O
magazine	O
said	O
that	O
Command	O
Adventures	O
:	O
Starship	O
"	O
only	O
pays	O
lip	O
service	O
to	O
the	O
four	O
Xs	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
game	O
commentators	O
adopted	O
the	O
"	O
4X	B-Application
"	O
label	O
to	O
describe	O
similar	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
4X	B-Application
game	I-Application
genre	O
has	O
come	O
to	O
be	O
defined	O
as	O
having	O
the	O
four	O
following	O
gameplay	O
conventions	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
Space	B-Application
Empires	I-Application
series	I-Application
and	O
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Avatar	I-Application
have	O
a	O
long	O
expansion	O
phase	O
,	O
because	O
players	O
must	O
make	O
large	O
investments	O
in	O
research	O
to	O
explore	O
and	O
expand	O
into	O
all	O
areas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emrich	O
later	O
expanded	O
his	O
concept	O
for	O
designing	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
3	I-Application
with	O
a	O
fifth	O
X	O
,	O
eXperience	O
,	O
an	O
aspect	O
that	O
came	O
with	O
the	O
subject	O
matter	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
modern-day	O
usage	O
,	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
different	O
from	O
other	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
such	O
as	O
Command	B-Application
&	I-Application
Conquer	I-Application
by	O
their	O
greater	O
complexity	O
and	O
scale	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
complex	O
use	O
of	O
diplomacy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
have	O
also	O
said	O
that	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
feature	O
a	O
range	O
of	O
diplomatic	O
options	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
they	O
are	O
well	O
known	O
for	O
their	O
large	O
detailed	O
empires	O
and	O
complex	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
particular	O
,	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
offer	O
detailed	O
control	O
over	O
an	O
empire	B-Application
's	O
economy	O
,	O
while	O
other	O
computer	B-Application
strategy	I-Application
games	I-Application
simplify	O
this	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
combat-focused	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
computer	O
and	O
board	O
games	O
are	O
a	O
subgenre	O
of	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
and	O
include	O
both	O
turn-based	O
and	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
involves	O
building	B-Application
an	I-Application
empire	I-Application
,	O
which	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
setting	O
such	O
as	O
Earth	O
,	O
a	O
fantasy	O
world	O
,	O
or	O
in	O
space	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
player	O
takes	O
control	O
of	O
a	O
different	O
civilization	B-Application
or	O
race	O
with	O
unique	O
characteristics	O
and	O
strengths	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
represent	O
these	O
racial	O
differences	O
with	O
a	O
collection	O
of	O
economic	O
and	O
military	O
bonuses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
typically	O
feature	O
a	O
technology	O
tree	O
,	O
which	O
represents	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
advancements	O
that	O
players	O
can	O
unlock	O
to	O
gain	O
new	O
units	O
,	O
buildings	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
capabilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Technology	O
trees	O
in	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
typically	O
larger	O
than	O
in	O
other	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
featuring	O
a	O
larger	O
selection	O
of	O
different	O
choices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
the	O
main	O
prerequisite	O
for	O
researching	O
an	O
advanced	O
technology	O
is	O
knowledge	O
of	O
earlier	O
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
non-4X	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
where	O
technological	O
progress	O
is	O
achieved	O
by	O
building	O
structures	O
that	O
grant	O
access	O
to	O
more	O
advanced	O
structures	O
and	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Research	O
is	O
important	O
in	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
because	O
technological	O
progress	O
is	O
an	O
engine	O
for	O
conquest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
is	O
an	O
important	O
part	O
of	O
4X	B-Application
gameplay	O
,	O
because	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
allow	O
a	O
player	O
to	O
win	O
by	O
exterminating	O
all	O
rival	O
players	O
,	O
or	O
by	O
conquering	O
a	O
threshold	O
amount	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
,	O
resolve	O
battles	O
automatically	O
,	O
whenever	O
two	O
units	O
from	O
warring	O
sides	O
meet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
other	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
,	O
that	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
manage	O
battles	O
on	O
a	O
tactical	O
battle	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Even	O
in	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
with	O
more	O
detailed	O
control	O
over	O
battles	O
,	O
victory	O
is	O
usually	O
determined	O
by	O
superior	O
numbers	O
and	O
technology	O
,	O
with	O
battle	O
tactics	O
playing	O
a	O
smaller	O
part	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
differ	O
from	O
other	O
combat-focused	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
by	O
putting	O
more	O
emphasis	O
on	O
research	O
and	O
economics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
even	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
research	O
different	O
unit	O
components	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
more	O
typical	O
of	O
space	B-Application
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
where	O
players	O
may	O
assemble	O
a	O
ship	O
from	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
engines	O
,	O
shields	O
,	O
and	O
weaponry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
allow	O
rival	O
players	O
to	O
engage	O
in	O
diplomacy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
some	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
may	O
offer	O
shared	O
victory	O
and	O
team	O
play	O
,	O
diplomatic	O
relations	O
tend	O
to	O
be	O
restricted	O
to	O
a	O
binary	O
choice	O
between	O
an	O
ally	O
or	O
enemy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
often	O
allow	O
more	O
complex	O
diplomatic	O
relations	O
between	O
competitors	O
who	O
are	O
not	O
on	O
the	O
same	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
victory	O
through	O
conquest	O
,	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
offer	O
peaceful	O
victory	O
conditions	O
or	O
goals	O
that	O
involve	O
no	O
extermination	O
of	O
rival	O
players	O
(	O
although	O
war	O
may	O
still	O
be	O
a	O
necessary	O
by-product	O
of	O
reaching	O
said	O
goal	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
a	O
4X	B-Application
game	I-Application
may	O
offer	O
victory	O
to	O
a	O
player	O
who	O
achieves	O
a	O
certain	O
score	O
or	O
the	O
highest	O
score	O
after	O
a	O
certain	O
number	O
of	O
turns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
award	O
victory	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
player	O
to	O
master	O
an	O
advanced	O
technology	O
,	O
accumulate	O
a	O
large	O
amount	O
of	O
culture	O
,	O
or	O
complete	O
an	O
awe-inspiring	O
achievement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
award	O
"	O
diplomatic	O
victory	O
"	O
to	O
anyone	O
who	O
can	O
win	O
an	O
election	O
decided	O
by	O
their	O
rival	O
players	O
,	O
or	O
maintain	O
peace	O
for	O
a	O
specified	O
number	O
of	O
turns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
has	O
a	O
diplomatic	O
victory	O
which	O
involves	O
having	O
alliances	O
with	O
at	O
least	O
four	O
factions	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
factions	O
outside	O
of	O
one	O
's	O
alliance	O
;	O
there	O
are	O
two	O
ways	O
to	O
accomplish	O
this	O
:	O
ally	O
with	O
all	O
factions	O
,	O
or	O
ally	O
with	O
at	O
least	O
the	O
minimum	O
number	O
of	O
factions	O
and	O
destroy	O
the	O
rest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
known	O
for	O
their	O
complex	O
gameplay	O
and	O
strategic	O
depth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
other	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
focus	O
on	O
combat	O
,	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
also	O
offer	O
more	O
detailed	O
control	O
over	O
diplomacy	O
,	O
economics	O
,	O
and	O
research	O
;	O
creating	O
opportunities	O
for	O
diverse	O
strategies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
experience	O
a	O
detailed	O
model	O
of	O
a	O
large	O
empire	B-Application
,	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
designed	O
with	O
a	O
complex	O
set	O
of	O
game	O
rules	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
often	O
model	O
political	O
challenges	O
such	O
as	O
civil	O
disorder	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
senate	O
that	O
can	O
oust	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
political	O
party	O
or	O
force	O
them	O
to	O
make	O
peace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Such	O
complexity	O
requires	O
players	O
to	O
manage	O
a	O
larger	O
amount	O
of	O
information	O
than	O
other	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
designers	O
often	O
organize	O
empire	B-Application
management	O
into	O
different	O
interface	B-Application
screens	O
and	O
modes	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
separate	O
screen	O
for	O
diplomacy	O
,	O
managing	O
individual	O
settlements	O
,	O
and	O
managing	O
battle	O
tactics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
most	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dune	B-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
which	O
arguably	O
established	O
the	O
conventions	O
for	O
the	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
genre	O
,	O
was	O
fundamentally	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
flat	O
interface	B-Application
"	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
additional	O
screens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
involve	O
managing	O
a	O
large	O
,	O
detailed	O
empire	B-Application
,	O
game	O
sessions	O
usually	O
last	O
longer	O
than	O
other	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
a	O
small-scale	O
game	O
in	O
Sins	B-Application
of	I-Application
a	I-Application
Solar	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
can	O
last	O
longer	O
than	O
twelve	O
hours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Turn-based	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
typically	O
divide	O
these	O
sessions	O
into	O
hundreds	O
of	O
turns	O
of	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
repetitive	O
actions	O
and	O
long-playing	O
times	O
,	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
have	O
been	O
criticized	O
for	O
excessive	O
micromanagement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
early	O
stages	O
of	O
a	O
game	O
this	O
is	O
usually	O
not	O
a	O
problem	O
,	O
but	O
later	O
in	O
a	O
game	O
directing	O
an	O
empire	B-Application
's	O
numerous	O
settlements	O
can	O
demand	O
several	O
minutes	O
to	O
play	O
a	O
single	O
turn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
began	O
to	O
offer	O
AI	B-Application
governors	O
that	O
automate	O
the	O
micromanagement	O
of	O
a	O
colony	O
's	O
build	O
orders	O
,	O
but	O
players	O
criticized	O
these	O
governors	O
for	O
making	O
poor	O
decisions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Commentators	O
generally	O
agree	O
that	O
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
succeeds	O
,	O
which	O
GamingNexus.com	O
attributes	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
use	O
of	O
programmable	O
governors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sins	B-Application
of	I-Application
a	I-Application
Solar	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
reduce	O
the	O
incentives	O
for	O
micromanagement	O
,	O
and	O
reviewers	O
found	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
interface	B-Application
made	O
empire	B-Application
management	O
more	O
elegant	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
other	O
hand	O
,	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
III	I-Application
reduced	O
micromanagement	O
by	O
limiting	O
complete	O
player	O
control	O
over	O
their	O
empire	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
4X	B-Application
and	O
similar	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
feature	O
multiple	O
possible	O
ways	O
to	O
win	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
in	O
Civilization	B-Application
,	O
players	O
may	O
win	O
through	O
total	O
domination	O
of	O
all	O
opposing	O
players	O
by	O
conquest	O
of	O
their	O
cities	O
,	O
but	O
may	O
also	O
win	O
through	O
technological	O
achievements	O
(	O
being	O
the	O
first	O
to	O
launch	O
a	O
spacecraft	O
to	O
a	O
new	O
planet	O
)	O
,	O
diplomacy	O
(	O
achieving	O
peace	O
agreements	O
with	O
all	O
other	O
nations	O
)	O
,	O
or	O
other	O
means	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
these	O
multiple	O
conditions	O
can	O
also	O
give	O
the	O
computer-controlled	O
opponents	O
multiple	O
pathways	O
to	O
potentially	O
outwit	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
generally	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
over-powered	O
in	O
certain	O
areas	O
over	O
the	O
computer	B-Application
opponents	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
component	O
of	O
the	O
late-game	O
design	O
in	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
is	O
forcing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
commit	O
to	O
a	O
specific	O
victory	O
condition	O
by	O
making	O
the	O
cost	O
and	O
resources	O
required	O
to	O
secure	O
it	O
so	O
great	O
that	O
other	O
possible	O
victory	O
conditions	O
may	O
need	O
to	O
be	O
passed	O
over	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
influenced	O
by	O
board	O
games	O
and	O
text-based	B-Application
computer	O
games	O
from	O
the	O
1970s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cosmic	B-Application
Balance	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
Andromeda	B-Application
Conquest	I-Application
and	O
Reach	B-Application
for	I-Application
the	I-Application
Stars	I-Application
were	O
published	O
in	O
1983	O
,	O
and	O
are	O
now	O
seen	O
retrospectively	O
as	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Andromeda	B-Application
Conquest	I-Application
was	O
only	O
a	O
simple	O
game	O
of	O
empire	B-Application
expansion	O
,	O
Reach	B-Application
for	I-Application
the	I-Application
Stars	I-Application
introduced	O
the	O
relationship	O
between	O
economic	O
growth	O
,	O
technological	O
progress	O
,	O
and	O
conquest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Trade	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
,	O
first	O
released	O
in	O
1984	O
,	O
though	O
primarily	O
regarded	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
multiplayer	O
space	B-Application
trader	O
,	O
included	O
space	B-Application
exploration	O
,	O
resource	O
management	O
,	O
empire	B-Application
building	O
,	O
expansion	O
and	O
conquest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
been	O
cited	O
by	O
the	O
author	O
of	O
VGA	B-Application
Planets	I-Application
as	O
an	O
important	O
influence	O
on	O
VGA	B-Application
Planets	I-Application
4	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1991	O
,	O
Sid	O
Meier	O
released	O
Civilization	B-Application
and	O
popularized	O
the	O
level	O
of	O
detail	O
that	O
has	O
become	O
common	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
board	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Risk	O
and	O
the	O
Avalon	O
Hill	O
board	O
game	O
also	O
called	O
Civilization	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
notable	O
similarity	O
between	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
computer	I-Application
game	I-Application
and	O
board	O
game	O
is	O
the	O
importance	O
of	O
diplomacy	O
and	O
technological	O
advancement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
was	O
also	O
influenced	O
by	O
personal	O
computer	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
city	B-Application
management	I-Application
game	I-Application
SimCity	B-Application
and	O
the	O
wargame	B-Application
Empire	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Civilization	B-Application
became	O
widely	O
successful	O
and	O
influenced	O
many	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
to	O
come	O
;	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
compared	O
its	O
importance	O
to	O
computer	O
gaming	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
the	O
wheel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Armada	B-Application
2525	I-Application
was	O
also	O
released	O
in	O
1991	O
and	O
was	O
cited	O
by	O
the	O
Chicago	O
Tribune	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
space	B-Application
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Armada	B-Application
2526	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1991	O
,	O
two	O
highly	O
influential	O
space	B-Application
games	O
were	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VGA	B-Application
Planets	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PC	O
,	O
while	O
Spaceward	B-Application
Ho	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Macintosh	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
4X	B-Application
space	B-Application
games	O
were	O
ultimately	O
more	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
complexity	O
of	O
VGA	B-Application
Planets	I-Application
,	O
Spaceward	B-Application
Ho	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Spaceward	B-Application
Ho	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
is	O
notable	O
for	O
its	O
similarity	O
to	O
the	O
1993	O
game	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
,	O
with	O
its	O
simple	O
yet	O
deep	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
also	O
drew	O
upon	O
earlier	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
such	O
as	O
Reach	B-Application
for	I-Application
the	I-Application
Stars	I-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
considered	O
a	O
classic	O
game	O
that	O
sets	O
a	O
new	O
standard	O
for	O
the	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
preview	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
,	O
Emrich	O
coined	O
the	O
term	O
"	O
XXXX	O
"	O
to	O
describe	O
the	O
emerging	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eventually	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
4X	B-Application
"	O
label	O
was	O
adopted	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
industry	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
now	O
applied	O
to	O
several	O
earlier	O
game	O
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
Civilization	B-Application
and	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
,	O
other	O
developers	O
began	O
releasing	O
their	O
own	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1994	O
,	O
Stardock	O
launched	O
its	O
first	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
series	O
for	O
OS/2	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
long-standing	O
Space	B-Application
Empires	I-Application
series	I-Application
began	O
as	O
shareware	B-License
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ascendancy	B-Application
and	O
Stars	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
were	O
released	O
in	O
1995	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
continued	O
the	O
genre	O
's	O
emphasis	O
on	O
strategic	O
depth	O
and	O
empire	B-Application
management	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
and	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
franchises	O
expanded	O
their	O
market	O
with	O
versions	O
for	O
the	O
Macintosh	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sid	O
Meier	O
's	O
team	O
also	O
produced	O
Colonization	B-Application
in	O
1994	O
and	O
Civilization	B-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
1996	O
,	O
while	O
Simtex	O
released	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
in	O
1993	O
,	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Magic	I-Application
in	O
1994	O
and	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
late	O
1990s	O
,	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
began	O
outselling	O
turn-based	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
they	O
surged	O
in	O
popularity	O
,	O
major	O
4X	B-Application
developers	O
fell	O
into	O
difficulties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sid	O
Meier	O
's	O
Firaxis	O
Games	O
released	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Alpha	I-Application
Centauri	I-Application
in	O
1999	O
to	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
game	O
fell	O
short	O
of	O
commercial	O
expectations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Civilization	B-Application
III	I-Application
encountered	O
development	O
problems	O
followed	O
by	O
a	O
rushed	O
release	O
in	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
excitement	O
over	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
its	O
release	O
in	O
2003	O
was	O
met	O
with	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
lack	O
of	O
player	O
control	O
,	O
poor	O
interface	B-Application
,	O
and	O
weak	O
AI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
publishers	O
eventually	O
became	O
risk-averse	O
to	O
financing	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eventually	O
real-time	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
released	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Imperium	B-Application
Galactica	I-Application
in	O
1997	O
,	O
Starships	B-Application
Unlimited	I-Application
in	O
2001	O
,	O
and	O
Sword	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Stars	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
,	O
featuring	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
turn-based	O
strategy	O
and	O
real-time	O
tactical	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
blend	O
of	O
4X	B-Application
and	O
real-time	O
strategy	O
gameplay	O
led	O
Ironclad	O
Games	O
to	O
market	O
their	O
2008	O
release	O
Sins	B-Application
of	I-Application
a	I-Application
Solar	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
as	O
a	O
"	O
RT4X	B-Application
"	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
combination	O
of	O
features	O
earned	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
mention	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
top	O
games	O
from	O
2008	O
,	O
including	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
award	O
for	O
best	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
and	O
IGN	O
's	O
award	O
for	O
best	O
PC	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Total	O
War	O
series	O
,	O
debuting	O
in	O
2000	O
with	O
Shogun	B-Application
:	I-Application
Total	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
combines	O
a	O
turn-based	O
campaign	O
map	O
and	O
real-time	O
tactical	O
battles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2003	O
,	O
Stardock	O
released	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
praised	O
by	O
reviewers	O
who	O
saw	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
replacement	O
for	O
the	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Civilization	B-Application
IV	I-Application
was	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2005	O
and	O
was	O
considered	O
the	O
PC	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
according	O
to	O
several	O
reviewers	O
,	O
including	O
GameSpot	O
and	O
GameSpy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2008	O
,	O
the	O
Civilization	B-Application
series	O
had	O
sold	O
over	O
eight	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
followed	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Civilization	B-Application
Revolution	I-Application
for	O
game	B-Device
consoles	I-Device
soon	O
after	O
,	O
Civilization	B-Application
V	I-Application
in	O
2010	O
and	O
Civilization	B-Application
VI	I-Application
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Stardock	O
released	O
Galactic	B-Application
Civilizations	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
considered	O
the	O
sixth-best	O
PC	O
game	O
of	O
2006	O
by	O
GameSpy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
French	O
developer	O
Amplitude	O
Studios	O
released	O
both	O
Endless	B-Application
Space	I-Application
and	O
Endless	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
successes	O
have	O
led	O
Stardock	O
's	O
Brad	O
Wardell	O
to	O
assert	O
that	O
4X	B-Application
games	I-Application
have	O
excellent	O
growth	O
potential	O
,	O
particularly	O
among	O
less	O
hardcore	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paradox	O
Interactive	O
specializes	O
in	O
grand	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
a	O
genre	O
that	O
often	O
overlaps	O
with	O
4X	B-Application
,	O
including	O
the	O
Europa	B-Application
Universalis	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Crusader	B-Application
Kings	I-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
Stellaris	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
differ	O
in	O
being	O
"	O
asymmetrical	O
"	O
,	O
meaning	O
that	O
players	O
are	O
more	O
bound	O
to	O
a	O
specific	O
setup	O
and	O
not	O
among	O
equally	O
free	O
factions	O
in	O
exploring	O
and	O
progressing	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Amplitude	O
Studios	O
released	O
Endless	B-Application
Space	I-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
2017	O
,	O
met	O
with	O
mixed	O
to	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
4X	B-Application
genre	O
has	O
also	O
been	O
extended	O
by	O
gamers	O
who	O
have	O
supported	O
free	B-Application
software	I-Application
releases	O
such	O
as	O
Freeciv	B-Application
,	O
FreeCol	B-Language
,	O
Freeorion	B-Application
,	O
Golden	O
Age	O
of	O
Civilizations	O
,	O
and	O
C-evo	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
some	O
aspects	O
of	O
Master	B-Application
of	I-Application
Orion	I-Application
III	I-Application
were	O
drawn	O
from	O
the	O
first	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
board	O
game	O
Twilight	O
Imperium	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Even	O
Sins	B-Application
of	I-Application
a	I-Application
Solar	I-Application
Empire	I-Application
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
adapting	O
the	O
board	O
game	O
Buck	O
Rogers	O
Battle	O
for	O
the	O
25th	O
Century	O
into	O
a	O
real-time	O
video	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Going	O
in	O
the	O
opposite	O
direction	O
,	O
in	O
2002	O
Eagle	O
Games	O
made	O
a	O
board	O
game	O
adaptation	O
of	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
,	O
entitled	O
simply	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Boardgame	O
,	O
significantly	O
different	O
from	O
the	O
board	O
game	O
that	O
had	O
inspired	O
the	O
computer	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
remake	O
based	O
on	O
that	O
series	O
,	O
under	O
a	O
very	O
similar	O
title	O
,	O
Sid	B-Application
Meier	I-Application
's	I-Application
Civilization	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Board	O
Game	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2010	O
by	O
Fantasy	O
Flight	O
Games	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
Civilization	B-Application
:	O
A	O
New	O
Dawn	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Through	O
the	O
Ages	O
:	O
A	O
Story	O
of	O
Civilization	B-Application
is	I-Application
a	O
board	O
game	O
for	O
24	O
players	O
designed	O
by	O
Vlaada	O
Chvatil	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Czech	O
Board	O
Games	O
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
theme	O
is	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
human	O
civilization	B-Application
and	O
the	O
players	O
determine	O
the	O
progress	O
of	O
their	O
own	O
civilization	B-Application
in	O
different	O
fields	O
including	O
culture	O
,	O
government	O
,	O
leadership	O
,	O
religion	O
and	O
science	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
early	O
2021	O
,	O
BoardGameGeek	O
listed	O
close	O
to	O
200	O
board	O
games	O
classified	O
under	O
4X	B-Application
type	O
,	O
including	O
titles	O
such	O
as	O
Eclipse	O
(	O
2011	O
)	O
and	O
Heroes	O
of	O
Land	O
,	O
Air	O
&	O
Sea	O
(	O
2018	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
