Neptune's Pride Explained

Italic Title:	y
Neptune's Pride
Developer:	Iron Helmet Games
Publisher:	Iron Helmet Games
Series:	Neptune's Pride
Engine:	App Engine
Platforms:	Browser game
Released:	2010
Genre:	4X space trading and combat game
Modes:	Multi-player
Designer:	Jay Kyburz^[1]

Neptune's Pride is a 2010 browser-based 4X video game, created by Australian studio Iron Helmet Games.^[2]

Production

Neptune's Pride was partially designed by Penny Sweetser, whose doctoral thesis focused on emergent play as a design strategy.^[3]

Gameplay

Players can produce, research, explore, and colonize star systems. The goal of the game is to capture a specified percentage of all total stars; a game can last for up to a month, or even longer, with events progressing in real time, even when players are logged out.^[4] Diplomacy is an important part of the game, with alliance-building and betrayal of allies playing a major role.^{[5] [6]}

Reception

PC Gamer UK named Neptune's Pride as Webgame of the Year.^[7]

In 2011, it was listed in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Neptune's Pride: Hardcore Strategy Without Hard Work. January 11, 2010. Cinemablend.com.
2. Web site: 'A brawl and a race': Designing for the long game in Subterfuge. Chris. Priestman. Gamasutra.com. 15 October 2015.
3. Book: MacCallum-Stewart, Esther. Online Games, Social Narratives. 48. June 13, 2014. Routledge. 9781317652236. Google Books.
4. Web site: The Price of Neptune's Pride . Bit-tech.net.
5. Web site: Improving on the promise of Master of Orion. Gamasutra.com. 15 July 2015.
6. Web site: Analysis: The Icy Grandeur of Neptune's Pride. Quintin. Smith. Gamasutra.com. 12 February 2010.
7. Web site: Webgame of the Year - photographic image. JPG. Ironhelmet.com. 21 October 2021.
8. Book: Mott, Tony. 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die: You Must Play Before You Die. December 5, 2011. Octopus. 9781844037155. Google Books.