<s>
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
–	I-Application
The	I-Application
Great	I-Application
War	I-Application
,	O
known	O
as	O
Conflict	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
–	O
The	O
Great	O
War	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
is	O
a	O
1998	O
space	O
combat	O
simulation	O
IBM	O
PC	O
compatible	O
computer	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Volition	O
,	O
when	O
it	O
was	O
split	O
off	O
from	O
Parallax	O
Software	O
,	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Interplay	O
Productions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2001	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
platform	I-Device
as	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Great	I-Application
War	I-Application
by	O
Hyperion	B-Operating_System
Entertainment	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
was	O
well-received	O
as	O
a	O
single-player	O
space	O
simulation	O
that	O
integrated	O
all	O
the	O
desired	O
features	O
of	O
its	O
genre	O
,	O
from	O
competent	O
AI	O
wingmen	O
,	O
to	O
the	O
presence	O
of	O
large	O
capital	O
ships	O
that	O
dwarf	O
the	O
fighters	O
piloted	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
and	O
explode	O
spectacularly	O
when	O
destroyed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
was	O
criticised	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
was	O
plagued	O
by	O
lag	B-Application
and	O
inaccurate	O
tracking	O
of	O
statistics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
expansion	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
less	O
well-received	O
,	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
in	O
1998	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
,	O
and	O
focuses	O
on	O
events	O
after	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
's	O
campaign	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
working	O
for	O
an	O
intelligence	O
branch	O
of	O
the	O
Terrans	O
 '	O
armed	O
forces	O
that	O
later	O
attempt	O
to	O
overthrow	O
the	O
Terran	O
government	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
to	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
entitled	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
1999	O
to	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
features	O
two	O
modes	O
of	O
play	O
;	O
a	O
single	O
player	O
campaign	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
matches	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
menu	O
designed	O
around	O
the	O
interior	O
of	O
a	O
ship	O
's	O
quarterdeck	O
,	O
with	O
various	O
elements	O
(	O
mostly	O
doors	O
)	O
leading	O
to	O
different	O
options	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
starting	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
,	O
configuring	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
reviewing	O
the	O
crafts	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
various	O
story	O
elements	O
,	O
and	O
replaying	O
completed	O
single	O
player	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
additional	O
third-person	O
camera	O
viewpoints	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
interface	O
-	O
the	O
head-up	B-Application
display	I-Application
(	O
HUD	B-Application
)	O
-	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
viewed	O
from	O
the	O
primary	O
viewpoint	O
,	O
and	O
can	O
be	O
customised	O
with	O
different	O
colours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
the	O
flexibility	O
in	O
the	O
control	O
scheme	O
,	O
some	O
have	O
categorised	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
being	O
a	O
flight	B-Operating_System
simulator	I-Operating_System
,	O
since	O
it	O
has	O
more	O
controls	O
and	O
commands	O
than	O
a	O
typical	O
arcade	O
game	O
,	O
yet	O
its	O
flight	O
model	O
is	O
simple	O
,	O
and	O
incorporates	O
some	O
elements	O
of	O
Newtonian	O
physics	O
such	O
as	O
precise	O
collision	O
physics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
conducting	O
a	O
match	O
or	O
a	O
single-player	O
mission	O
,	O
players	O
rely	O
on	O
the	O
HUD	B-Application
of	O
their	O
craft	O
to	O
provide	O
information	O
for	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
includes	O
:	O
the	O
state	O
of	O
their	O
craft	O
and	O
its	O
shields	O
,	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
energy	O
for	O
primary	O
weapons	O
and	O
the	O
craft	O
's	O
afterburners	O
(	O
both	O
recharge	O
over	O
time	O
)	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
management	O
of	O
sub-systems	O
and	O
which	O
primary	O
and	O
secondary	O
weapons	O
are	O
being	O
used	O
;	O
overall	O
damage	O
taken	O
on	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
craft	O
and	O
sub-systems	O
(	O
the	O
latter	O
repairs	O
over	O
time	O
,	O
unless	O
destroyed	O
)	O
;	O
information	O
on	O
both	O
allied	O
and	O
hostile	O
craft	O
being	O
targeted	O
,	O
displayed	O
in	O
the	O
lower-left	O
corner	O
of	O
the	O
HUD	B-Application
,	O
including	O
their	O
condition	O
and	O
condition	O
of	O
sub-systems	O
,	O
speed	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
distance	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
own	O
craft	O
;	O
a	O
warning	O
system	O
that	O
alerts	O
the	O
player	O
about	O
incoming	O
enemy	O
missiles	O
;	O
and	O
an	O
in-game	O
radar	O
that	O
tracks	O
all	O
craft	O
in	O
the	O
area	O
around	O
them	O
(	O
green	O
for	O
allies	O
,	O
red	O
for	O
enemies	O
,	O
and	O
blue	O
for	O
craft	O
entering	O
or	O
leaving	O
the	O
area	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
single-player	O
missions	O
,	O
the	O
HUD	B-Application
also	O
displays	O
the	O
condition	O
of	O
any	O
wingmen	O
the	O
player	O
has	O
supporting	O
them	O
,	O
represented	O
by	O
a	O
circle	O
that	O
changes	O
to	O
a	O
darker	O
colour	O
when	O
the	O
craft	O
has	O
taken	O
critical	O
damage	O
and	O
becomes	O
an	O
outline	O
when	O
the	O
wingman	O
has	O
either	O
departed	O
or	O
be	O
killed	O
in	O
action	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
an	O
"	O
Escort	O
"	O
list	O
that	O
keeps	O
track	O
of	O
notable	O
vessels	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
either	O
must	O
escort	O
or	O
destroy	O
,	O
the	O
number	O
next	O
to	O
the	O
vessel	O
's	O
name	O
indicating	O
how	O
much	O
hull	O
integrity	O
they	O
have	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
a	O
flexible	O
targeting	O
system	O
that	O
works	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
the	O
HUD	B-Application
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
track	O
any	O
craft	O
around	O
them	O
or	O
in	O
front	O
of	O
them	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
hostiles	O
and	O
any	O
craft	O
marked	O
in	O
the	O
Escort	O
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
objectives	O
are	O
not	O
listed	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
given	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
directives	O
in	O
their	O
HUD	B-Application
,	O
detailing	O
what	O
they	O
must	O
do	O
(	O
i.e.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
standard	O
campaign	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
may	O
also	O
make	O
their	O
own	O
missions	O
and	O
campaigns	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
a	O
free	O
editor	O
bundled	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
-	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
Editor	O
(	O
FRED	O
for	O
short	O
)	O
-	O
which	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
have	O
the	O
same	O
capabilities	O
as	O
Volition	O
's	O
development	O
team	O
in	O
making	O
their	O
own	O
missions	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
import	O
personal	O
audio	O
and	O
3D	O
animation	O
files	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
players	O
compete	O
in	O
multiplayer	O
matches	O
online	O
or	O
over	O
a	O
local	B-General_Concept
area	I-General_Concept
network	I-General_Concept
(	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
)	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
they	O
can	O
band	O
together	O
to	O
complete	O
cooperative	O
missions	O
,	O
or	O
split	O
up	O
into	O
teams	O
to	O
battle	O
against	O
one	O
another	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
time	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
online	O
gameplay	O
was	O
free	O
over	O
the	O
services	O
offered	O
by	O
Parallax	O
Online	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
kept	O
track	O
of	O
players	O
 '	O
statistics	O
and	O
rankings	O
,	O
while	O
voice	O
chat	O
is	O
available	O
,	O
although	O
reviewers	O
advised	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
used	O
only	O
on	O
broadband	O
or	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
beginning	O
,	O
humanity	O
(	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
Terrans	O
)	O
formed	O
the	O
Galactic	O
Terran	O
Alliance	O
(	O
GTA	O
)	O
as	O
the	O
central	O
power	O
of	O
all	O
of	O
their	O
systems	O
 '	O
governments	O
and	O
military	O
,	O
and	O
became	O
engaged	O
in	O
a	O
war	O
over	O
systems	O
and	O
resources	O
against	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
of	O
the	O
Parliamentary	O
Vasudan	O
Empire	O
(	O
PVE	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
time	O
the	O
story	O
begins	O
,	O
this	O
war	O
has	O
entered	O
its	O
fourteenth	O
year	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
third	O
species	O
,	O
dubbed	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
makes	O
an	O
unprovoked	O
attack	O
on	O
the	O
Terran	O
system	O
of	O
Ross	O
128	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vasudans	B-Application
are	O
represented	O
as	O
carbon-based	O
biped	O
,	O
who	O
are	O
taller	O
than	O
humans	O
,	O
and	O
have	O
a	O
durable	O
biological	O
system	O
and	O
a	O
skeletal-looking	O
physical	O
appearance	O
,	O
while	O
Shivans	B-Application
appear	O
insect-like	O
in	O
appearance	O
,	O
with	O
multiple	O
legs	O
and	O
eyes	O
and	O
the	O
capability	O
of	O
walking	O
on	O
walls	O
and	O
ceilings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
fourth	O
race	O
,	O
dubbed	O
"	O
The	O
Ancients	O
"	O
,	O
is	O
not	O
shown	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
but	O
referenced	O
during	O
the	O
single-player	O
story	O
as	O
having	O
lived	O
thousands	O
of	O
years	O
ago	O
and	O
having	O
once	O
held	O
an	O
empire	O
in	O
the	O
systems	O
controlled	O
by	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
and	O
Terrans	O
,	O
before	O
they	O
were	O
driven	O
to	O
extinction	O
by	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
aftermath	O
of	O
the	O
attack	O
,	O
both	O
sides	O
call	O
a	O
ceasefire	O
to	O
contend	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
race	O
,	O
dubbed	O
as	O
"	O
Shivans	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finding	O
that	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
have	O
two	O
distinct	O
advantages	O
–	O
their	O
ships	O
cannot	O
be	O
tracked	O
by	O
current	O
sensor	O
systems	O
,	O
while	O
their	O
smaller	O
craft	O
withstand	O
current	O
weapon	O
system	O
through	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
a	O
shielding	O
system	O
–	O
the	O
GTA	O
and	O
PVE	O
launch	O
an	O
ambitious	O
raid	O
on	O
Shivan	O
cargo	O
depots	O
to	O
rectify	O
this	O
,	O
acquiring	O
components	O
and	O
data	O
that	O
allow	O
them	O
to	O
even	O
the	O
odds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
ceasefire	O
coming	O
into	O
effect	O
after	O
the	O
operation	O
,	O
a	O
Vasudan	O
death	O
cult	O
called	O
"	O
The	O
Hammer	O
of	O
Light	O
"	O
(	O
HoL	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
worship	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
launches	O
attacks	O
against	O
both	O
GTA	O
and	O
PVE	O
forces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
the	O
shock	O
of	O
the	O
new	O
alliance	O
,	O
the	O
Lucifer	O
is	O
found	O
to	O
possess	O
a	O
powerful	O
shield	O
system	O
that	O
makes	O
it	O
immune	O
to	O
all	O
conventional	O
weaponry	O
,	O
thus	O
allowing	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
to	O
spearhead	O
its	O
invasion	O
towards	O
the	O
homeworlds	O
of	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
and	O
Terrans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Having	O
obliterated	O
all	O
opposition	O
,	O
the	O
Lucifer	O
subsequently	O
bombards	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
 '	O
home-planet	O
,	O
causing	O
several	O
billion	O
casualties	O
in	O
the	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
now	O
beginning	O
to	O
encroach	O
on	O
the	O
Terrans	O
 '	O
homeworld	O
in	O
the	O
Sol	O
system	O
,	O
the	O
alliance	O
receives	O
unexpected	O
news	O
of	O
a	O
discovery	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
made	O
in	O
the	O
Altair	O
system	O
,	O
by	O
a	O
refugee	O
fleet	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
forced	O
to	O
land	O
on	O
an	O
uncharted	O
planet	O
within	O
the	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Investigating	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
alliance	O
uncover	O
remnants	O
of	O
a	O
long-extinct	O
alien	O
civilisation	O
on	O
the	O
planet	O
,	O
dubbed	O
"	O
the	O
Ancients	O
"	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
amassed	O
a	O
vast	O
galactic	O
empire	O
several	O
thousands	O
of	O
years	O
ago	O
,	O
before	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
wiped	O
them	O
out	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Uncovering	O
data	O
within	O
the	O
remains	O
of	O
this	O
civilisation	O
,	O
the	O
Alliance	O
discovers	O
that	O
,	O
prior	O
to	O
their	O
destruction	O
,	O
the	O
Ancients	O
had	O
developed	O
the	O
technology	O
to	O
track	O
ships	O
in	O
subspace	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
discovered	O
that	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
shield	O
technology	O
does	O
n't	O
work	O
in	O
subspace	O
,	O
a	O
flaw	O
that	O
also	O
exists	O
within	O
the	O
Lucifers	O
own	O
shields	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
epilogue	O
,	O
a	O
narrator	O
speculates	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
were	O
not	O
necessarily	O
evil	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
"	O
great	O
destroyers	O
but	O
also	O
the	O
great	O
preservers	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
their	O
role	O
was	O
to	O
exterminate	O
other	O
species	O
who	O
advanced	O
beyond	O
their	O
ordained	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
cosmic	O
order	O
;	O
the	O
Ancients	O
were	O
targeted	O
as	O
they	O
subdued	O
or	O
annihilated	O
countless	O
other	O
species	O
in	O
building	O
their	O
vast	O
empire	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
narrator	O
postulates	O
that	O
had	O
it	O
not	O
been	O
for	O
the	O
Shivan	O
's	O
intervention	O
,	O
the	O
Ancients	O
would	O
have	O
likely	O
grown	O
too	O
powerful	O
for	O
the	O
Terrans	O
and	O
Vasudans	B-Application
to	O
survive	O
against	O
,	O
and	O
thus	O
theorises	O
that	O
the	O
Terrans	O
 '	O
expansion	O
would	O
have	O
made	O
them	O
a	O
threat	O
to	O
any	O
other	O
fledgling	O
species	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
engagements	O
,	O
a	O
science	O
vessel	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
recorded	O
as	O
being	O
officially	O
destroyed	O
during	O
the	O
war	O
with	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Einstein	O
,	O
turns	O
up	O
during	O
an	O
operation	O
to	O
protect	O
Vasudan	O
craft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
GTA	O
and	O
PVE	O
launch	O
further	O
attacks	O
on	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
it	O
is	O
quickly	O
discovered	O
that	O
what	O
is	O
left	O
is	O
unorganised	O
,	O
leading	O
the	O
alliance	O
to	O
co-ordinate	O
a	O
full	O
invasion	O
of	O
their	O
main	O
strongholds	O
,	O
as	O
other	O
systems	O
they	O
occupied	O
slowly	O
return	O
under	O
Terran	O
and	O
Vasudan	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
But	O
as	O
the	O
last	O
remaining	O
threat	O
from	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
is	O
crushed	O
,	O
officers	O
in	O
the	O
highest	O
echelons	O
of	O
the	O
GTI	O
effect	O
an	O
attempt	O
to	O
cover-up	O
plans	O
for	O
a	O
coup	O
against	O
the	O
GTA	O
by	O
going	O
after	O
the	O
Krios	O
,	O
the	O
only	O
ship	O
aware	O
of	O
the	O
plot	O
and	O
thus	O
a	O
threat	O
to	O
their	O
plans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pilots	O
sent	O
out	O
by	O
the	O
Krios	O
during	O
the	O
final	O
fight	O
with	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
return	O
early	O
,	O
arriving	O
in	O
time	O
to	O
discover	O
the	O
treason	O
and	O
alert	O
GTA	O
command	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Investigations	O
into	O
its	O
origins	O
reveals	O
that	O
the	O
GTI	O
had	O
known	O
about	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
much	O
earlier	O
than	O
the	O
GTA	O
and	O
PVE	O
during	O
the	O
"	O
Great	O
War	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
Einstein	O
was	O
officially	O
declared	O
as	O
destroyed	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
observe	O
the	O
species	O
without	O
interference	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Hades	O
was	O
planned	O
for	O
the	O
war	O
against	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
until	O
the	O
ceasefire	O
was	O
put	O
into	O
effect	O
by	O
the	O
GTA	O
and	O
the	O
PVE	O
;	O
thus	O
the	O
GTI	O
assisted	O
in	O
the	O
war	O
,	O
only	O
to	O
eliminate	O
the	O
Shivan	O
threat	O
while	O
utilising	O
the	O
race	O
's	O
technology	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
uncovered	O
to	O
further	O
enhance	O
the	O
super-destroyer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
rebellion	O
was	O
designed	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
overthrow	O
the	O
GTA	O
government	O
and	O
dissolve	O
the	O
treaty	O
with	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
;	O
the	O
Krios	O
destruction	O
was	O
because	O
the	O
head	O
of	O
Special	O
Operations	O
had	O
unearthed	O
the	O
plot	O
after	O
managing	O
to	O
get	O
details	O
from	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
crew	O
of	O
the	O
Einstein	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
was	O
Volition	O
's	O
first	O
project	O
after	O
the	O
split	O
from	O
Parallax	O
Software	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
spawned	O
Outrage	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
not	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
canon	O
of	O
the	O
Descent	B-Application
video	O
game	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
contained	O
none	O
of	O
its	O
ideas	O
and	O
only	O
small	O
portions	O
of	O
its	O
code	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
only	O
prefixed	O
with	O
Descent	B-Application
to	O
avoid	O
trademark	O
issues	O
with	O
Mijenix	O
Corporation	O
's	O
"	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
"	O
,	O
a	O
disk	B-General_Concept
compression	I-General_Concept
utility	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Volition	O
also	O
used	O
the	O
term	O
"	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
"	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
initially	O
describe	O
what	O
became	O
later	O
known	O
as	O
subspace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
games	O
TIE	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
and	O
Wing	B-Application
Commander	I-Application
were	O
their	O
primary	O
inspirations	O
,	O
and	O
those	O
influences	O
made	O
their	O
way	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
flight	O
model	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
influence	O
of	O
historical	O
World	O
War	O
II	O
dogfights	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Themes	O
from	O
the	O
fiction	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
Space	O
:	O
Above	O
and	O
Beyond	O
,	O
and	O
Ender	O
's	O
Game	O
form	O
a	O
part	O
in	O
shaping	O
the	O
background	O
and	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
chaotic	O
battles	O
between	O
masses	O
of	O
ships	O
commonly	O
found	O
in	O
science	O
fiction	O
anime	O
became	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
features	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
code	O
incorporated	O
small	O
portions	O
of	O
Descent'''s	O
code	O
for	O
specific	O
functions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mike	O
Kulas	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
several	O
versions	O
of	O
Flight	B-Operating_System
Simulator	I-Operating_System
and	O
Descent	B-Application
,	O
brought	O
his	O
experience	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
also	O
suffered	O
the	O
same	O
fate	O
of	O
cuts	O
due	O
to	O
budgetary	O
and	O
time	O
concerns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apogee	O
Software	O
announced	O
on	O
December	O
12	O
,	O
1997	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
publishing	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
for	O
the	O
first	O
three	O
months	O
before	O
handing	O
the	O
publishing	O
rights	O
back	O
to	O
Interplay	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
part	O
of	O
their	O
agreement	O
with	O
Interplay	O
for	O
the	O
latter	O
's	O
purchase	O
of	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
Descent	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Apogee	O
decided	O
to	O
release	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
as	O
shareware	B-License
,	O
with	O
themselves	O
as	O
the	O
merchant	O
of	O
the	O
registered	O
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interplay	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
bought	O
the	O
full	O
rights	O
to	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
from	O
Apogee	O
in	O
late	O
April	O
1998	O
,	O
keeping	O
the	O
ownership	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
solely	O
to	O
themselves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Volition	O
aimed	O
for	O
a	O
quality	O
release	O
,	O
and	O
promised	O
to	O
deliver	O
a	O
product	O
without	O
major	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minor	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
would	O
be	O
fixed	O
in	O
a	O
prompt	O
manner	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
underwent	O
four	O
patches	O
,	O
which	O
resolved	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
,	O
and	O
improved	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
performance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
patch	O
allowed	O
EAX	O
capability	O
to	O
be	O
enabled	O
for	O
Creative	O
Sound	B-Application
Blaster	I-Application
sound	B-Device
cards	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interplay	O
played	O
its	O
part	O
in	O
drumming	O
up	O
the	O
community	O
's	O
interest	O
by	O
holding	O
contests	O
,	O
and	O
expanding	O
material	O
for	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interplay	O
hired	O
science-fiction	O
writers	O
such	O
as	O
Fred	O
Saberhagen	O
,	O
Simon	O
Hawke	O
,	O
and	O
Jeff	O
Grubb	O
to	O
write	O
weekly	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
stories	O
for	O
two	O
months	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Preparing	O
for	O
Silent	B-Application
Threats	I-Application
release	O
,	O
Interplay	O
held	O
a	O
contest	O
from	O
July	O
28	O
to	O
August	O
25	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
submitted	O
fan-designed	O
missions	O
could	O
win	O
their	O
authors	O
prizes	O
such	O
as	O
free	O
copies	O
of	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
,	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
apparel	O
,	O
and	O
gaming	O
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Entries	O
were	O
judged	O
by	O
a	O
panel	O
from	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
,	O
and	O
qualified	O
entries	O
constituted	O
half	O
of	O
the	O
missions	O
in	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
14	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
Hyperion	B-Operating_System
Entertainment	I-Operating_System
made	O
acquisition	O
of	O
the	O
license	O
to	O
port	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
to	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hyperion	O
had	O
stated	O
they	O
would	O
port	O
over	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
if	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
port	O
sold	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
date	O
,	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
has	O
yet	O
to	O
be	O
ported	O
over	O
to	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
platform	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Data	O
,	O
which	O
tracked	O
computer	O
game	O
sales	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
reported	O
that	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
earned	O
nearly	O
$4	O
million	O
and	O
sold	O
around	O
100,000	O
copies	O
by	O
October	O
1999.Next	O
Generation	O
reviewed	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
rating	O
it	O
four	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
,	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
overall	O
,	O
despite	O
a	O
few	O
minor	O
lapses	O
,	O
Descent	B-Application
Freespace	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Great	O
War	O
is	O
definitely	O
a	O
keeper	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
splits	O
included	O
comparisons	O
between	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
that	O
of	O
Wing	B-Application
Commander	I-Application
:	O
Prophecy	O
and	O
X-Wing	O
vs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
TIE	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
;	O
while	O
some	O
felt	O
the	O
game	O
combined	O
elements	O
of	O
both	O
with	O
better	O
qualities	O
and	O
a	O
strong	O
story	O
,	O
others	O
felt	O
it	O
had	O
simply	O
taken	O
inspiration	O
from	O
space	O
simulation	O
classics	O
,	O
offered	O
very	O
little	O
in	O
original	O
ideas	O
,	O
lacked	O
depth	O
in	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
suggesting	O
the	O
player	O
could	O
have	O
had	O
a	O
greater	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
outcome	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
simply	O
playing	O
a	O
"	O
very	O
sweet	O
looking	O
arcade	O
title	O
"	O
with	O
considerable	O
detachment	O
from	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
a	O
reviewer	O
giving	O
a	O
glowing	O
praise	O
to	O
it	O
over	O
cable	B-Device
modems	I-Device
,	O
the	O
majority	O
,	O
who	O
played	O
it	O
over	O
dial-up	O
access	O
,	O
roundly	O
condemned	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
chiefly	O
complained	O
about	O
lag	B-Application
in	O
the	O
game	O
;	O
some	O
found	O
themselves	O
facing	O
a	O
similar	O
situation	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
ship	O
's	O
gun	O
fired	O
only	O
seconds	O
after	O
they	O
depressed	O
the	O
trigger	O
and	O
that	O
their	O
ship	O
randomly	O
jumped	O
over	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
battlegrounds	O
,	O
while	O
one	O
reviewer	O
called	O
the	O
mode	O
"	O
bug	B-Error_Name
ridden	O
"	O
after	O
finding	O
many	O
of	O
their	O
shots	O
did	O
not	O
register	O
hits	O
or	O
kills	O
on	O
enemy	O
ships	O
after	O
over	O
40	O
minutes	O
of	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
expansion	O
Silent	B-Application
Threat	I-Application
,	O
received	O
generally	O
less	O
favourable	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
its	O
stand-alone	O
missions	O
were	O
complemented	O
well	O
for	O
being	O
conceived	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
contest	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
developers	O
-	O
Volition	O
put	O
in	O
a	O
call	O
to	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
community	O
to	O
stop	O
creating	O
"	O
Battle	O
of	O
Endor	O
"	O
-type	O
missions	O
through	O
FRED	O
,	O
and	O
instead	O
create	O
missions	O
based	O
on	O
Volition	O
's	O
Jason	O
Hoffoss	O
 '	O
Zen	B-Application
philosophy	O
of	O
accomplishing	O
more	O
with	O
less	O
-	O
the	O
expansion	O
was	O
judged	O
as	O
decent	O
but	O
uninspiring	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
noting	O
that	O
the	O
campaign	O
missions	O
lacked	O
variety	O
than	O
those	O
of	O
standard	O
escort	O
or	O
destroy	O
missions	O
,	O
and	O
offering	O
no	O
new	O
equipment	O
which	O
were	O
unable	O
to	O
compete	O
against	O
the	O
older	O
equipment	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
feeling	O
that	O
the	O
story	O
was	O
worse	O
than	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
"	O
cold	O
and	O
inhuman	O
"	O
briefings	O
and	O
non-player	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
nominated	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
for	O
its	O
1998	O
"	O
Simulation	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
although	O
it	O
lost	O
to	O
Need	B-Application
for	I-Application
Speed	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Hot	I-Application
Pursuit	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
was	O
a	O
finalist	O
for	O
Computer	O
Games	O
Strategy	O
Pluss	O
"	O
Sci-Fi	O
Simulation	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
Computer	O
Gaming	O
Worlds	O
"	O
Best	O
Space	O
Sim	O
"	O
awards	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
both	O
of	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
I-War	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Gamer	O
US	O
nominated	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
year	O
's	O
best	O
action	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
editors	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
Freespace	B-Application
came	O
from	O
nowhere	O
to	O
wrest	O
the	O
3D	O
space	O
combat	O
crown	O
from	O
the	O
Wing	B-Application
Commander	I-Application
series	O
with	O
style	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
