Millennium 2.2
Encyclopedia
Millennium 2.2 is a resource management
computer game by Ian Bird
, released in 1989 for Atari ST
, Amiga
and DOS
. The DOS version of the game was released as Millennium: Return to Earth. It is the forerunner to Deuteros
, which is in many ways a similar resource management game but many times larger and harder than Millennium 2.2.
has collided with Earth
, making it uninhabitable. All that is left of humanity is a small, self-sufficient colony on the surface of the Moon
, and a race of mutant humans on Mars
. As the commander of Moonbase, it is your job to ensure the survival of humankind by exploring the Solar System
for other habitable planets and moons, and ultimately re-establish life on Earth. However, the Martian
mutants consider themselves the superior race and want Earth for themselves. A war is inevitable.
The core of the game is spent in resource management and researching new technologies for space ships and base improvements. A typical game involves manufacturing probes, managing each colony's solar power energy generation, and mining for resources on various planets and their moons.
The player needs to balance manufacturing output with the available solar power, and many minerals are only available from certain planets or asteroids. Depending on planetary orbits, colony ships and probes can take longer to reach their destinations. As time progresses, colonists will adapt to different atmospheres, and eventually secede from the player's control, stranding any ships that may be docked.
Each game begins with the planets in random orbital positions, however the types of resource were always the same for each planet. A certain hard to find mineral is always on the same planet, and that planet only.
The only break from the resource management simulation comes when the player is under attack by Martians. Combat is represented with a space ship fighting mini-game with basic 3D
graphics.
Resource management
In organizational studies, resource management is the efficient and effective deployment of an organization's resources when they are needed. Such resources may include financial resources, inventory, human skills, production resources, or information technology...
computer game by Ian Bird
Ian Bird (software developer)
Ian Bird is a game programmer and game designer. Along with other game credits, Bird wrote the computer games Millennium 2.2 and Deuteros.-Games:*1985 - Theatre Europe*1989 - Millennium 2.2*1991 - Deuteros: The Next Millennium*1993 - Campaign II...
, released in 1989 for Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
, Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
. The DOS version of the game was released as Millennium: Return to Earth. It is the forerunner to Deuteros
Deuteros
Deuteros: The Next Millennium is the sequel to the sci-fi strategy video game Millennium 2.2, published by Activision for the Amiga and Atari ST...
, which is in many ways a similar resource management game but many times larger and harder than Millennium 2.2.
Gameplay
In the game, a 20 trillion ton asteroidAsteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
has collided with Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, making it uninhabitable. All that is left of humanity is a small, self-sufficient colony on the surface of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, and a race of mutant humans on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. As the commander of Moonbase, it is your job to ensure the survival of humankind by exploring the Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
for other habitable planets and moons, and ultimately re-establish life on Earth. However, the Martian
Martian
As an adjective, the term martian is used to describe anything pertaining to the planet Mars.However, a Martian is more usually a hypothetical or fictional native inhabitant of the planet Mars. Historically, life on Mars has often been hypothesized, although there is currently no solid evidence of...
mutants consider themselves the superior race and want Earth for themselves. A war is inevitable.
The core of the game is spent in resource management and researching new technologies for space ships and base improvements. A typical game involves manufacturing probes, managing each colony's solar power energy generation, and mining for resources on various planets and their moons.
The player needs to balance manufacturing output with the available solar power, and many minerals are only available from certain planets or asteroids. Depending on planetary orbits, colony ships and probes can take longer to reach their destinations. As time progresses, colonists will adapt to different atmospheres, and eventually secede from the player's control, stranding any ships that may be docked.
Each game begins with the planets in random orbital positions, however the types of resource were always the same for each planet. A certain hard to find mineral is always on the same planet, and that planet only.
The only break from the resource management simulation comes when the player is under attack by Martians. Combat is represented with a space ship fighting mini-game with basic 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
graphics.