Genewars
Genewars is a 1996 real-time strategy video game for MS-DOS. The game includes terrain editing and cross-species breeding.
Also recorded as Gene Wars
Genewars
- Date
- 1996
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Genre
- real-time strategy
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Documentary summary
Genewars is a 1996 real-time strategy video game for MS-DOS. The game includes terrain editing and cross-species breeding.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q762644
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Genewars • Developer — Bullfrog Productions • Publisher — Electronic Arts • Director — Richard Reed • Producer — Andrew Nuttall • Artist — Jonathan Farmer • Composer — Russell Shaw • Engine — Magic Carpet engine • Released — September 2, 1996October 12, 1996 • Genre — Real-time strategy • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer • Platforms — MS-DOS
Gameplay
Gameplay
Players move through a series of worlds using a small number of sentient humanoids to build small bases and to stun, kill, research, and ultimately breed a variety of animals. Plants are also important, as different plants can be grown and harvested for different purposes. Players must use the various plant and animal species available to them (as well as hybrid animals) to deal with different environments, enemies, and tasks. For instance, a crab is a good armored defender, while a mule is a perfect detritus transporter. The two can be bred to form a creature that is well armored, but also suited to mule work. The more a particular species has been studied and created, the more effective future individuals will be. The primary resource of the game is goop, which is derived from all kinds of biomass.
Development
Development
Genewars was developed by Bullfrog Productions. Its working title was "Biosphere". Sean Cooper was brought in to help with the game's development, causing tension between him and Peter Molyneux.
History of the object
Dated record
History of the object
The full dated record · 1 entries
1996
Genewars published.
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Places
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- United Kingdom
Reception
Genewars received average reviews from video game critics upon release. It was given the dubious honor of "Most Disappointing Game" of 1996 by GameSpot. Simon Parkin, writing for IGN, considered the game to be Molyneux's least known creation, noting the game bearing "unmistakable signs of his design influence."
Literature
Scholarly footprint
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Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Future plc. preScreen - Bullfrog. Edge. 22. 26. July 1995.
- 2.Wallis, Alistair. Playing Catch Up: Flood's Sean Cooper. Gamasutra. UBM plc. April 26, 2007.
- 3.Ziff Davis. Review • Gene Wars. Computer Gaming World. 150. 296. January 1997.
- 4.Dulin, Ron. Gene Wars Review. GameSpot. CBS Interactive. October 17, 1996.
- 5.Brooker, Charlie. Gene Wars. PC Zone. Future plc. August 13, 2001.
- 6.Udell, Scott. Gene Wars Review. Computer Games Magazine.
- 7.GameSpot Staff. 1996 Best & Worst Awards: Most Disappointing Game. GameSpot. CBS Interactive.
- 8.Parkin, Simon. Hunting Down Famous Developer's Lost Games. IGN. Ziff Davis. September 6, 2013.
References
Citations
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authority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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