Ceci est une ancienne révision du document !
Gratuitous Space Battles is a space-based RTS made by Positech Games. It is unusual in that there is no resource exploitation, and, once ships are issued orders, the player has no control over the outcome of the battle. This sounds like a simple concept, but, in execution, the game is phenomenally difficult at times.
Players can create their own ships from the ground up. There are pre-built ship designs if you want to use them, but it behooves you to learn how the ship design mechanism works. Every empty hull is a blank slate that allows you to create ships as fast or as powerful as you think you'll need.
Each battle starts simply: you are given a certain amount of resources and pilots, and can create a fleet within those guidelines. Your opponent also has the same limitations. Once you lay out your fleet and give orders, you press the fight button and the fleet is deployed.
You can watch the battle take place, but you can't intervene. It's incredibly fun to watch your ships follow their orders, and the 2D graphics are incredibly well done. At the top of the screen is a communications panel which displays messages about the battle from the point of view of the pilots. Sometimes these messages are humorous, and it's worth looking up to see what's being said. If you’re impatient, you can speed the battle up to 4 times the normal speed.
Each battle is different, and it'll take a lot of trial-and-error before you figure out exactly how to design and deploy a fleet in order to emerge victorious. For each victory, you win honor points which can be used to unlock components and new playable races. You can replay battles and win even more honor by using fewer ships and pilots.
This game is not for the casual game player. It requires a lot of thought and planning in order to win each battle, especially as the game advances. Gratuitous Space Battles is certainly not for everyone. If you're a fan of strategy games, though, you should definitely check it out. My only complaint about the game is the repetitiveness. After you master ship design, the game becomes easier and easier.
Currently, the Linux version is available from Steam and Desura for $14.99. Unfortunately, none of the downloadable content (DLC) is available for Linux. (The Positech Forums do have discussions on how to make the DLC work in Linux. Your mileage may vary).
Pros: Great 2D graphics, fun battles, decent background music. Cons: Repetitive Game Play