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{{for|the composer|Joseph Achron}}
{{Infobox video game
{{Infobox video game
| title = Achron
| title = Achron
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| platforms = [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]]
| platforms = [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]]
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{{for|the composer|Joseph Achron}}
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{{promo}}


'''''Achron''''' is a [[real-time strategy]] computer game. It is considered to be the first "meta-time strategy game" ([[Real-time strategy]] with time travel),<ref name="RPS">{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Rossignol |title=Epochal: Achron, Meta-Time Strategy| work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=March 27, 2009|accessdate=15 July 2009 |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/03/27/epochal-achron-meta-time-strategy/}}</ref> notable for being the first game with free-form multiplayer [[time travel]]<ref name="Offworld">{{cite web |first=Brandon |last=Boyer |title=The unreal-time strategy of experimental gameplay darling Achron|work=Boing Bong: Offworld|date=March 31, 2009|accessdate=15 July 2009|url=http://offworld.boingboing.net/2009/03/31/the-unreal-time-strategy-of-ex.html}}</ref> and its subtle handling of temporal paradoxes such as the [[grandfather paradox]].<ref name="Achron paradoxes"/> Achron was released on August 29, 2011.<ref name=release>{{cite web | url=http://www.achrongame.com/site/news.php | work=AchronGame.com | title=Achron News | date=2011-08-29 | accessdate=2011-08-29}}</ref>
'''''Achron''''' is a [[real-time strategy]] computer game. It is considered to be the first "meta-time strategy game" ([[Real-time strategy]] with time travel),<ref name="RPS">{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Rossignol |title=Epochal: Achron, Meta-Time Strategy |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=March 27, 2009 |accessdate=15 July 2009 |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/03/27/epochal-achron-meta-time-strategy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901190044/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/03/27/epochal-achron-meta-time-strategy/ |archive-date=1 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> notable for being the first game with free-form multiplayer [[time travel]]<ref name="Offworld">{{cite web|first=Brandon|last=Boyer|title=The unreal-time strategy of experimental gameplay darling Achron|work=Boing Bong: Offworld|date=March 31, 2009|accessdate=15 July 2009|url=http://offworld.boingboing.net/2009/03/31/the-unreal-time-strategy-of-ex.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330071926/http://offworld.boingboing.net/2009/03/31/the-unreal-time-strategy-of-ex.html|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and its themes of concepts like the [[grandfather paradox]].<ref name="Achron paradoxes"/> Achron was released on August 29, 2011.<ref name=release>{{cite web | url=http://www.achrongame.com/site/news.php | work=AchronGame.com | title=Achron News | date=2011-08-29 | accessdate=2011-08-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901235006/http://www.achrongame.com/site/news.php | archive-date=2011-09-01 | url-status=live }}</ref>

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==Plot==
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Hundreds of years in the future, humans have begun colonizing other worlds, however they have been reliant on conventional propulsion systems that may take hundreds of years to reach their destination. This all changed when alien ruins were discovered in the Remnant system. Technology present in the ruins led to the development of instantaneous teleportation. Within a few decades, all colonies were linked by a network of gates, and new colonies could be constructed in significantly less time. However, humans never came across another intelligent race, until communications with a border colony suddenly stopped. Several other colonies followed, and an enormous alien fleet was found laying waste to one of the colonies. A huge fleet was called to the Remnant system to meet the invaders; however, they were outthought and outmaneuvered at every turn, despite the invader's inferior firepower. As discipline broke down, the data feed from the Remnant gate went dark. Being trapped on the other side of the gate and as one of the survivors, they must piece together what happened and unravel the mysteries of the alien invasion and the Remnant system itself.<ref name="Achron story">{{Cite web |url=http://achrongame.com/site/achron-backstory.php |title=Achron's official page: backstory |access-date=2010-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529165147/http://www.achrongame.com/site/achron-backstory.php |archive-date=2010-05-29 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
The unique aspect of gameplay in Achron is the fact that the game proceeds not only in many instances of space, but also in many instances of [[time]]. Players can simultaneously and independently play in the [[past]], [[present]], or [[future]].<ref name="RPS"/><ref name="GDN">{{cite web |first= |last= |title=Hazardous Software Unveils Achron|work=Gamer's daily news|page= |date=|accessdate=15 July 2009 |url=http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-9953-Hazardous-Software-Unveils-Achron.html| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090601232526/http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-9953-Hazardous-Software-Unveils-Achron.html| archivedate= 1 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="Shacknews">{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Faylor |title=Time travel RTS Achron revealed|work=Shack News |date=March 27, 2009<!-- 5:12pm CST-->|accessdate=15 July 2009 |url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57911| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090622041748/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57911| archivedate= 22 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The player can only travel a certain distance into the past - after a while, the timeline becomes permanent.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=[[Spiegel Online]] | last=Fahrenbach | first=Achim | title =Dancing on the timeline | language=German | url=http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/games/0,1518,690063,00.html | date=2010-04-25 | accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref>
The main aspect in Achron is the use of "chronoporters" that allow the equipment or troops to be transported to certain instances of [[time]].<ref name=NCSU>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Zack|work=[[North Carolina State University]]|title=Time Traveler|accessdate=December 21, 2019|url=https://projects.ncsu.edu/project/newsletter-int/archive/2010/03/03-25/time-traveler.php}}</ref> Players can simultaneously play in the [[past]], [[present]], or [[future]].<ref name="RPS"/><ref name="GDN">{{cite web|title=Hazardous Software Unveils Achron|work=Gamer's daily news|accessdate=15 July 2009|url=http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-9953-Hazardous-Software-Unveils-Achron.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601232526/http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-9953-Hazardous-Software-Unveils-Achron.html|archivedate=1 June 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Shacknews">{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Faylor |title=Time travel RTS Achron revealed|work=Shack News |date=March 27, 2009<!-- 5:12pm CST-->|accessdate=15 July 2009 |url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57911| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090622041748/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57911| archivedate= 22 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status=live}}</ref> Only a certain distance can be traveled in the past. After a while, the time-waves will occur, bringing along every change from the past into the present.<ref name=Herald/> Because the changes aren't instant, that gives the players a chance to react to the opponents' moves before they become irrevocable and directly linked to the present.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>


For instance, if the player is attacked at an unexpected spot, they can travel to the past and move their army towards the spot where they now know the attack will occur. Or if the player waged a battle which ended in defeat, they can jump to the past and prevent the battle from ever happening.<ref name="GDN"/> That said, the opponent may alter the course of events as well in order to counter any changes in history the player made. Chris Hazard states that "the gameplay tends to be a race to the past."<ref>{{cite news |first=Derrick J. |last=Lang |title=Experimental games get play at conference |agency=Associated Press |work=[[MSNBC]] |page= |date=<!-- 7:23 p.m. --> March 27, 2009|accessdate=10 July 2009 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29921546/wid/17621070/}}</ref> Entire battles may take place in the speculative future as well, and players may take a look into the future to know what the results of their actions will be.
For instance, if the player is attacked at an unexpected spot, they can travel to the past and move their army towards the spot where they now know the attack will occur. Or if the player waged a battle which ended in defeat, they can jump to the past and prevent the battle from ever happening.<ref name="GDN"/> That said, the opponent may alter the course of events as well in order to counter any changes in history the player made. Entire battles may take place in the speculative future as well, and players may take a look into the future to know what the results of their actions will be. Any opponent's unit can be "infected" with nanites, which allows the player to take control over it and see from its line of sight.<ref name=GamePro>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[GamePro]]|last=Chick|first=Tom|title=Review: Achron (PC)|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/222574/review-achron-pc/|date=September 1, 2011|accessdate=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202185421/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/222574/review-achron-pc/|archive-date=December 2, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Additionally, apart from the player being able to view and command his forces in the past and the future, individual units may travel through time as well, with a process called "chronoporting".<ref name="Achron gameplay">{{cite web | url=http://achrongame.com/site/gameplay.php | title=Achron: Gameplay |work=AchronGame.com | accessdate=2011-08-30}}</ref> When it takes place, the player must be cautious to avoid "chronofragging" their units - that is, having units collide with previous or future instances of themselves (or other units) after traveling through time because they occupy the same [[space|physical space]] at the same time. Thus the player must move their units to deliberately free spaces in the time zone they want to send them to in order to avoid this; otherwise, the weaker of the two units ends up destroyed, with the stronger surviving but receiving certain damage.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>
Additionally, apart from the player being able to view and command his forces in the past and the future, individual units may travel through time as well, with a process called "chronoporting".<ref name="Achron gameplay">{{cite web | url=http://achrongame.com/site/gameplay.php | title=Achron: Gameplay | work=AchronGame.com | accessdate=2011-08-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902060530/http://www.achrongame.com/site/gameplay.php | archive-date=2011-09-02 | url-status=live }}</ref> When it takes place, the player must be cautious to avoid "chronofragging" their units - that is, having units collide with previous or future instances of themselves (or other units) after traveling through time because they occupy the same [[space|physical space]] at the same time. Thus the player must move their units to deliberately free spaces in the time zone they want to send them to in order to avoid this; otherwise, the weaker of the two units ends up destroyed, with the stronger surviving but receiving certain damage.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/> However, if one of the instances of the unit that originally time-traveled no longer does so, all the instances after it will cease to exist.


The main resource of the game is chronoenergy.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/> It exists as a limitation to the interference with time.<ref name=ABC>{{cite web|last=Walker|first=Alex|work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|title=Frag Reel Friday: Multiplayer time travel in Achron|date=May 27, 2011|accessdate=December 22, 2019|url=https://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2011/05/27/3228611.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104223809/http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2011/05/27/3228611.htm|archive-date=November 4, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Issuing commands in the past costs chronoenergy,<ref name="GDN"/> in order to prevent players from continually and endlessly countering the other's changes in the past and indiscriminately undoing all their mistakes. The deeper in the past modifications are and the more units being given the command, the more chronoenergy the orders will cost. It gets to regenerate faster the closer the player is to the present.<ref name=Herald>{{cite web|website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|last=Jackson|first=Craig|title=Your Turn: Time is on your side|url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/your-turn-time-is-on-your-side-20101122-182s9.html|date=November 22, 2010|accessdate=December 22, 2019}}</ref>
Chronoporting is useful as different instances of a unit may battle alongside themselves, resulting in a way of easily building large armies of [[time clone]]s. However, if one of the instances of the unit that originally time-traveled no longer does so, all the instances after it will cease to exist.


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Chronoporting may lead to the [[grandfather paradox]].<ref name=Herald/> In order to solve this, the game's engine automatically switches between the two possible outcomes until one of them falls out of the boundaries of the timeline and the other becomes the absolute outcome.<ref name="Achron paradoxes">{{Cite web |url=http://achrongame.com/site/achron-and-the-grandfather-paradox.php |title=Achron's official page: paradoxes |access-date=2010-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429090610/http://achrongame.com/site/achron-and-the-grandfather-paradox.php |archive-date=2010-04-29 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The main, most notable resource of the game is chronoenergy.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/> It exists as a limitation to players' interference with time. Issuing commands in the past costs chronoenergy,<ref name="GDN"/> in order to prevent players from continually and endlessly countering the other's changes in the past and indiscriminately undoing all their mistakes. The deeper in the past modifications are and the more units being given the command, the more chronoenergy the orders will cost. Chronoenergy is regenerated as long as no commands are being made.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>


There are three different races, each with different abilities: Vecgir, skilled in [[teleportation]], Grekim, experts in time travel, and the humans, who have the firepower advantage.<ref name=Ars>{{cite web|website=[[Ars Technica]]|last=Thompson|first=Michael|title=Achron: indie RTS where time is your plaything, and enemy|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2010/05/achron-the-rts-where-time-keeps-on-slipping/|date=May 10, 2010|accessdate=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223002315/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2010/05/achron-the-rts-where-time-keeps-on-slipping/|archive-date=February 23, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Just as there is a [[mini-map]] to guide through, the game requires that there also be a [[timeline]] for orientation through time. All attacks occurring in the past or in the future are displayed on the timeline, as well as what point in time opponents are currently viewing and managing.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>
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Chronoporting may lead to the [[grandfather paradox]]. In order to solve this, the game's engine automatically switches between the two possible outcomes. For instance, if a tank travels to the past and destroys the factory that created it, the tank survives and the factory is destroyed with the passing of a time-wave, vice versa with the passing of another, and so on until one outcome falls out of the boundaries of the timeline and the other becomes the absolute outcome.<ref name="Achron paradoxes">[http://achrongame.com/site/achron-and-the-grandfather-paradox.php Achron's official page: paradoxes]</ref>

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==Story==
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Hundreds of years in the future, humans have begun colonizing other worlds, however they have been reliant on conventional propulsion systems that may take hundreds of years to reach their destination. This all changed when alien ruins were discovered in the Remnant system. Technology present in the ruins led to the development of instantaneous teleportation. Within a few decades, all colonies were linked by a network of gates, and new colonies could be constructed in significantly less time. However, humans never came across another intelligent race, until communications with a border colony suddenly stopped. Several other colonies followed, and an enormous alien fleet was found laying waste to one of the colonies. A huge fleet was called to the Remnant system to meet the invaders, however they were outthought and outmaneuvered at every turn despite the invader's inferior firepower and as discipline broke down the data feed from the Remnant gate went dark. The player is trapped on the wrong side of the gate and as one of the survivors, they must piece together what happened and unravel the mysteries of the alien invasion and the Remnant system itself.<ref name="Achron story">[http://achrongame.com/site/achron-backstory.php Achron's official page: backstory]</ref>

==Interface==
Just as there is a [[mini-map]] for the player to guide themselves through space, the game's gameplay requires that there also be a [[timeline]] for orientation through time. Attacks occurring in the past or in the future are displayed on the timeline, as well as what point in time opponents are currently viewing and managing.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>

Changes in history -that is, the past- do not instantly affect the present. Instead, alterations are propagated via "timewaves", in order to give players a chance to react to opponents' changes in the past before they become irrevocable and directly linked to the present.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>

==Races==
There are three different species (races) in Achron (two are [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]] and one is human): the Vecgir, who master [[teleportation]], the Grekim, who master time travel, and the humans, who master offense.<ref name="Achron gameplay"/>


==Development==
==Development==
In 1999, Chris Hazard came up with a time travel video game concept during a conversation with his friend about [[Homeworld]]. It eventually led to the start of the development two years later.<ref name=Kotaku>{{cite web|last=Totilo|first=Stephen|work=[[Kotaku]]|title=A Game Called Achron and the Theory That Games Would be Better With Time Travel|date=July 11, 2011|accessdate=December 21, 2019|url=https://kotaku.com/a-game-called-achron-and-the-theory-that-games-would-be-5820164}}</ref> During that time, it was concluded that the current technology wasn't strong enough to handle the planned content.<ref name=Tech>{{cite web|last=Lepore|first=Rich|work=[[Technician (newspaper)|Technician]]|title=A tale of two indies - Time-traveling with Hazardous Software|date=July 11, 2011|accessdate=April 29, 2019|url=http://www.technicianonline.com/article_b83ad65e-4e73-5f72-8812-1bef9cb98bc9.html}}</ref> The project was restarted around 2006/2007,<ref name=Kotaku/> and Hazard brought his friend Mike Resnick to work together on it. They split the production tasks while working full-time - Hazard coded the Resequence Engine which powered the game, while Resnick integrated the art assets and designed the units logic.<ref name=Tech/> Achron was ready to be shown at the [[Game Developers Conference]] 2009.<ref name=NBC>{{cite web|last=Lang|first=Derrick|work=[[NBC News]]|title=Experimental games get play at conference|date=March 27, 2009|accessdate=December 21, 2019|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29921546|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225135125/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29921546|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> Every [[game tester]] was able to use the time travel option right at the beginning, with a design choice to slowly introduce the players to the mechanics by facing them with increasingly more difficult situations.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Joe |work=[[bit-tech]] |title=Achron Interview: Your Head Will Explode |date=April 14, 2009 |accessdate=10 July 2009 |url=https://bit-tech.net/reviews/gaming/pc/achron-interview-your-head-will-explode/1/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820023747/http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2009/04/14/achron-interview-your-head-will-explode/ |archive-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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Achron was first announced on March 9, 2009,<ref name="Achron debut">[http://achrongame.com/#announcement Game first announced by developers]</ref> and a full release was planned for the first quarter of 2011. The release plan<ref name="Achron release calendar">[http://achrongame.com/site/development-calendar.php Current timeline of releases]</ref> allowed pre-ordering customers to access alpha and beta versions of the game, as well as later-developed features such as level editing and ports to Mac OS and Linux. Multiplayer was added on February 15, 2010, and the first official tournament was held during March 2010.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} The game was released on August 29, 2011.<ref name=release/>


⚫
The game was announced on March 9, 2009,<ref name="Achron debut">{{Cite web |url=http://achrongame.com/#announcement |title=Game first announced by developers |access-date=2009-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921233419/http://www.achrongame.com/#announcement |archive-date=2013-09-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a full release was planned for the first quarter of 2011. The release plan allowed pre-ordering customers to access alpha and beta versions of the game,<ref>{{cite web|last=Schramm|first=Mike|work=[[Engadget]]|title=Time-traveling RTS Achron now playable, available for pre-order|date=May 1, 2010|accessdate=December 21, 2019|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/time-traveling-rts-achron-now-playable-available-for-pre-order/}}</ref> as well as later-developed features such as level editing. Multiplayer was added on February 15, 2010, and the first official tournament was held during March 2010.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} The game was released on August 29, 2011.<ref name=release/>
When asked about the deemed overwhelming complexity of the game, designer Chris Hazard replied:

{{quote|text=While there’s been talk about how complex the game appears, all of our play testers have been able to start using the time travel mechanism within a few minutes of game play. We have designed the single-player game to gradually introduce the player to time travel...<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Joe |work=[[bit-tech]] |title=Achron Interview: Your Head Will Explode |date= April 14, 2009 |accessdate= 10 July 2009 |url= http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/pc/2009/04/14/achron-interview-your-head-will-explode/}}</ref>}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
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While popular among the fans that had been closely following its development, Achron received generally mixed reviews from critics. It polarized many critics, receiving scores as high as 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtsguru.com/game/389/features/192/Achron-Review.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-12-27 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027001217/http://www.rtsguru.com/game/389/features/192/Achron-Review.html |archivedate=2011-10-27 |df= }}</ref> and as low as 3/10.<ref>http://www.destructoid.com/review-achron-209987.phtml</ref> On [[Metacritic]] it has a score of 54 out of 100 based on reviews from 11 critics.<ref>http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/achron </ref> It won Best Original Game Mechanic from GameSpot in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2011-special/awards/index.html?page%3D17 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-12-27 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110115621/http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2011-special/awards/index.html?page=17 |archivedate=2012-11-10 |df= }}</ref>
| MC = 54/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/achron/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Achron for PC|website=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211012616/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/achron|archive-date=February 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Destruct= 3/10<ref name=Destruct>{{cite web|last=Pinsof|first=Allistair|date=August 29, 2011|url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-achron-209987.phtml|title=Review: Achron|website=[[Destructoid]]|accessdate=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211021353/https://www.destructoid.com/review-achron-209987.phtml|archive-date=February 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot = 6/10<ref name=Spot>{{cite web|last=VanOrd|first=Kevin|date=August 31, 2011|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/achron-review/1900-6332020/|title=Achron Review|website=[[GameSpot]]|accessdate=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026073320/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/achron-review/1900-6332020/|archive-date=October 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| IGN = 5/10<ref name=IGN>{{cite web |last=Meunier |first=Nathan |date=September 16, 2011 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/09/16/achron-review |title=Achron Review |website=[[IGN]] |accessdate=December 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211021403/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/09/16/achron-review |archive-date=February 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| JXV= 11/20<ref name=JXV>{{cite web|date=October 12, 2011|url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00015830-achron-test.htm|title=Test: Achron|website=[[Jeuxvideo.com]]|accessdate=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113012036/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00015830-achron-test.htm|archive-date=January 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=Escapist>{{cite web|last=Clouse|first=Justin|date=September 2, 2011|url=https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/9102-Achron-Review|title=Achron Review|website=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|accessdate=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130090611/https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/9102-Achron-Review|archive-date=January 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
⚫
Achron received generally mixed reviews from critics. It polarized many critics, receiving scores as high as 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtsguru.com/game/389/features/192/Achron-Review.html |title=Achron Review : Achron Feature at RTSguru.com |accessdate=2012-12-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027001217/http://www.rtsguru.com/game/389/features/192/Achron-Review.html |archivedate=2011-10-27 }}</ref> and as low as 3/10.<ref name=Destruct/> On [[Metacritic]] it has a score of 54 out of 100 based on reviews from 11 critics.<ref name=MC/> It won Best Original Game Mechanic from GameSpot in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2011-special/awards/index.html?page%3D17 |title=Best Original Game Mechanic - GameSpot's Best of 2011 Special Achievements |accessdate=2012-12-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110115621/http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2011-special/awards/index.html?page=17 |archivedate=2012-11-10 }}</ref>


Achron received criticism for its graphics and poor pathfinding.<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/09/16/achron-review</ref> However, the poor pathfinding was due to a bug that was fixed shortly after release.<ref>http://www.achrongame.com/site/press-releases.php</ref>
The game received criticism for its graphics and poor pathfinding.<ref name=IGN/>


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
{{clear}}
* [[List of games containing time travel]]
* [[Real-time strategy]]


==References==
==References==
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* {{Official website|http://www.achrongame.com}}
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[[Category:2011 video games]]
[[Category:2011 video games]]

Latest revision as of 16:24, 3 August 2024

For the composer, see Joseph Achron.
Achron
Developer(s)Hazardous Software, Inc.
Publisher(s)Hazardous Software, Inc.
Designer(s)Chris Hazard and Mike Resnick
EngineResequence
Platform(s)Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseAugust 29, 2011
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, Multi-player

Achron is a real-time strategy computer game. It is considered to be the first "meta-time strategy game" (Real-time strategy with time travel),[1] notable for being the first game with free-form multiplayer time travel[2] and its themes of concepts like the grandfather paradox.[3] Achron was released on August 29, 2011.[4]

Plot

[edit]

Hundreds of years in the future, humans have begun colonizing other worlds, however they have been reliant on conventional propulsion systems that may take hundreds of years to reach their destination. This all changed when alien ruins were discovered in the Remnant system. Technology present in the ruins led to the development of instantaneous teleportation. Within a few decades, all colonies were linked by a network of gates, and new colonies could be constructed in significantly less time. However, humans never came across another intelligent race, until communications with a border colony suddenly stopped. Several other colonies followed, and an enormous alien fleet was found laying waste to one of the colonies. A huge fleet was called to the Remnant system to meet the invaders; however, they were outthought and outmaneuvered at every turn, despite the invader's inferior firepower. As discipline broke down, the data feed from the Remnant gate went dark. Being trapped on the other side of the gate and as one of the survivors, they must piece together what happened and unravel the mysteries of the alien invasion and the Remnant system itself.[5]

Gameplay

[edit]

The main aspect in Achron is the use of "chronoporters" that allow the equipment or troops to be transported to certain instances of time.[6] Players can simultaneously play in the past, present, or future.[1][7][8] Only a certain distance can be traveled in the past. After a while, the time-waves will occur, bringing along every change from the past into the present.[9] Because the changes aren't instant, that gives the players a chance to react to the opponents' moves before they become irrevocable and directly linked to the present.[10]

For instance, if the player is attacked at an unexpected spot, they can travel to the past and move their army towards the spot where they now know the attack will occur. Or if the player waged a battle which ended in defeat, they can jump to the past and prevent the battle from ever happening.[7] That said, the opponent may alter the course of events as well in order to counter any changes in history the player made. Entire battles may take place in the speculative future as well, and players may take a look into the future to know what the results of their actions will be. Any opponent's unit can be "infected" with nanites, which allows the player to take control over it and see from its line of sight.[11]

Additionally, apart from the player being able to view and command his forces in the past and the future, individual units may travel through time as well, with a process called "chronoporting".[10] When it takes place, the player must be cautious to avoid "chronofragging" their units - that is, having units collide with previous or future instances of themselves (or other units) after traveling through time because they occupy the same physical space at the same time. Thus the player must move their units to deliberately free spaces in the time zone they want to send them to in order to avoid this; otherwise, the weaker of the two units ends up destroyed, with the stronger surviving but receiving certain damage.[10] However, if one of the instances of the unit that originally time-traveled no longer does so, all the instances after it will cease to exist.

The main resource of the game is chronoenergy.[10] It exists as a limitation to the interference with time.[12] Issuing commands in the past costs chronoenergy,[7] in order to prevent players from continually and endlessly countering the other's changes in the past and indiscriminately undoing all their mistakes. The deeper in the past modifications are and the more units being given the command, the more chronoenergy the orders will cost. It gets to regenerate faster the closer the player is to the present.[9]

Chronoporting may lead to the grandfather paradox.[9] In order to solve this, the game's engine automatically switches between the two possible outcomes until one of them falls out of the boundaries of the timeline and the other becomes the absolute outcome.[3]

There are three different races, each with different abilities: Vecgir, skilled in teleportation, Grekim, experts in time travel, and the humans, who have the firepower advantage.[13] Just as there is a mini-map to guide through, the game requires that there also be a timeline for orientation through time. All attacks occurring in the past or in the future are displayed on the timeline, as well as what point in time opponents are currently viewing and managing.[10]

Development

[edit]

In 1999, Chris Hazard came up with a time travel video game concept during a conversation with his friend about Homeworld. It eventually led to the start of the development two years later.[14] During that time, it was concluded that the current technology wasn't strong enough to handle the planned content.[15] The project was restarted around 2006/2007,[14] and Hazard brought his friend Mike Resnick to work together on it. They split the production tasks while working full-time - Hazard coded the Resequence Engine which powered the game, while Resnick integrated the art assets and designed the units logic.[15] Achron was ready to be shown at the Game Developers Conference 2009.[16] Every game tester was able to use the time travel option right at the beginning, with a design choice to slowly introduce the players to the mechanics by facing them with increasingly more difficult situations.[17]

The game was announced on March 9, 2009,[18] and a full release was planned for the first quarter of 2011. The release plan allowed pre-ordering customers to access alpha and beta versions of the game,[19] as well as later-developed features such as level editing. Multiplayer was added on February 15, 2010, and the first official tournament was held during March 2010.[citation needed] The game was released on August 29, 2011.[4]

Reception

[edit]

Achron received generally mixed reviews from critics. It polarized many critics, receiving scores as high as 9/10[26] and as low as 3/10.[21] On Metacritic it has a score of 54 out of 100 based on reviews from 11 critics.[20] It won Best Original Game Mechanic from GameSpot in 2011.[27]

The game received criticism for its graphics and poor pathfinding.[23]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Rossignol, Jim (March 27, 2009). "Epochal: Achron, Meta-Time Strategy". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  2. ^ Boyer, Brandon (March 31, 2009). "The unreal-time strategy of experimental gameplay darling Achron". Boing Bong: Offworld. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Achron's official page: paradoxes". Archived from the original on 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  4. ^ a b "Achron News". AchronGame.com. 2011-08-29. Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  5. ^ "Achron's official page: backstory". Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  6. ^ Smith, Zack. "Time Traveler". North Carolina State University. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "Hazardous Software Unveils Achron". Gamer's daily news. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  8. ^ Faylor, Chris (March 27, 2009). "Time travel RTS Achron revealed". Shack News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  9. ^ a b c Jackson, Craig (November 22, 2010). "Your Turn: Time is on your side". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Achron: Gameplay". AchronGame.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  11. ^ Chick, Tom (September 1, 2011). "Review: Achron (PC)". GamePro. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Walker, Alex (May 27, 2011). "Frag Reel Friday: Multiplayer time travel in Achron". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on November 4, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Thompson, Michael (May 10, 2010). "Achron: indie RTS where time is your plaything, and enemy". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Totilo, Stephen (July 11, 2011). "A Game Called Achron and the Theory That Games Would be Better With Time Travel". Kotaku. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Lepore, Rich (July 11, 2011). "A tale of two indies - Time-traveling with Hazardous Software". Technician. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  16. ^ Lang, Derrick (March 27, 2009). "Experimental games get play at conference". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  17. ^ Martin, Joe (April 14, 2009). "Achron Interview: Your Head Will Explode". bit-tech. Archived from the original on 20 August 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Game first announced by developers". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  19. ^ Schramm, Mike (May 1, 2010). "Time-traveling RTS Achron now playable, available for pre-order". Engadget. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Achron for PC". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  21. ^ a b Pinsof, Allistair (August 29, 2011). "Review: Achron". Destructoid. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  22. ^ VanOrd, Kevin (August 31, 2011). "Achron Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  23. ^ a b Meunier, Nathan (September 16, 2011). "Achron Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  24. ^ "Test: Achron". Jeuxvideo.com. October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  25. ^ Clouse, Justin (September 2, 2011). "Achron Review". The Escapist. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  26. ^ "Achron Review : Achron Feature at RTSguru.com". Archived from the original on 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  27. ^ "Best Original Game Mechanic - GameSpot's Best of 2011 Special Achievements". Archived from the original on 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
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