Worst Sci-Fi Games In History

[Ganidirsii O'Flynn]

After reading 'Havoc's "Some People Don't Get Traveller" thread, I had to ask:

IYHO, What is the worst sci-fi game ever published and why.

(Note to students: This is an essay question and grades will be awarded based on the ability to defend your point and the use of complete sentances.)

I confess to having a split decision in my judgement. Morrow Project was pretty awful. Still, taken in the context of the times, and taking into consideration the state of game design at the time, I suppose it could be called a fair to good idea with truely awful execution. And I confess to having a fair mount of fun in Littleton...

No, my all time worst Sci-Fi RPG would have to be RIFTS

. Implausably ignorant, monumentally stupid, RIFTS chose not to rise to the mediocre heights of Paranoia. Vehicles designs that have no design (beyond gun tubes per square meter), characters that were so munchkin'ed up that SJG hasn't made cards for them yet (ala the Munchkin Card Game), plots that could only be derived by adolescent boys with no socialization beyond PS2, RIFTS has it all (if having it all is like having icing with no cake). What is hysterical is that there are VARIANTS to RIFTS. I mean really, what else could they do but add the Aftermath! combat rules to it???

So, gas up your Juicer-Borg GlitterBoy, fellahs! Kevin Siembieda's comin' down the Ley Line with a new batch of Coalition Crack!

 

[jchurchill]

The born troublemaker in me is tempted to name GURPS Traveller or TNE just to see the havoc and gnashing of teeth. I took my medication awhile ago and the urge passed.

 

[EvilDrGanymede]

I can't really think of any *bad* sci-fi games. I don't understand the appeal of the new 'Spaceship Zero' RPG, but most RPGs were good for the time. There's things like 'Senzar', 'Synnibar', and 'Waste World' though, which I think are universally reviled, but I dunno if those are sci-fi or fantasy...

I thought T4 utterly sucked in its execution though, what with the lousy editing. I'm not in a position to say whether the setting was good or bad though, since I only have some of the supplements.

 

[daryen]

How about the game responsible for kicking Traveller out of Dragon magazine: Star Frontiers? It has been ages since I have seen it, but I distinctly remember being thoroughly disappointed by it.

 

[Ran Targas]

The best/worst Sci-Fi game(s) ever is HOL and and its suppliment Buttery HOLsomeness. If you haven't read these and enjoy the satirical, find a copy and enjoy!

The bonus game of NARC, stapled to the crease of HOL, is an awesome RPG in its own right!

 

[outrider11]

what about star ace and the time travel game by pacesetter?

 

[FlightCommanderSolitude]

*shudders*

 

[alanb]

Originally posted by Ganidiirsi O'Flynn:
RIFTS chose not to rise to the mediocre heights of Paranoia.

I wish to register my dissent at this point.

Paranoia was a classic. Sure, nobody ever actually ran it by its written rules, or, if they did, they regretted it, but it was a really fun game.

RIFTS on the other hand, is simply rubbish.

Alan B

 

[Traveller]

I tended to stay away from bad science-fiction games, but I did encounter some clunkers in the cabinet.

Cosmic Enforcers was just such a clunker, being essentially a superheroes in space game. Then there were the two Amazing Engine games that I didn't keep: Kromosome and The Galactos Barrier. A watered down version of Shadowrun and an absolutely pathetic attempt to re-create Spelljammer? No no no no no.

Rifts? Ugh. The Mechanoid Trilogy was far better and took far less space, which reminds me to convert my copies to PDF while the newsprint paper is still supple!

I won't touch the time travel games. I actually found them to be really playable and even fun. Though I find it humorous as to how you translate yourself into game stats for TimeLords.

And then there was the ultimate one, and one someone already mentioned: The World of Synnibarr. The most munchkinist game in existence. I owned it simply so I could say that I owned the worst roleplaying game in existence. 473 pages of mind-shattering drivel (please roll sanity checks now).

Most of the others out there that some would label as clunkers were at least usable for ideas. Interstellar Elite: Combat at least had a monetary system, with pictures, that could be dropped lock, stock, and barrel into a Traveller game, if you wished to go that route.

 

[vutpakdi]

The Rifts talk reminded me. Now, I know that this might scare some of you, but, I have to say it.

Someone is actually wanting to make a Rifts movie .

Run away now.

Ron

 

[Granpafishy]

ACK!!!!

 

[BluWolf]

Dollars to donuts this never gets made.

Hollywood will option a good loud fart if it thinks people will shell out money to see it. Alot of the optioning done is sort of pre-emptive. If you they are reasonably interested and think it could pan out with cross marketing, DVD sales and a toy line, they try and get it before it becomes too hot.

"Hey boss, this looks interesting and I think we can get the rights for a song."

"Do it. Schedule a pre-pre production meeting some time in late 2005."

 

[vegascat]

Actually, Rifts is just the kind of schlock that does get made into straight to video movies. The toy product line alone will cause some Hollywood producer to salivate.
This is not something I am ready for.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Kevin Seimbeda is an unadulterated buffooniak...

I thought RIFTS sucked. No... it redefined sucked... not only does Kevin's "These RPG losers will buy anything" attitude show glaringly from his "work", but it is clear from the many sourcebooks that if you're an Artist, and show up at Palladium with a case of amstel light, Kevin will turn your meagerest scribblings into full blown character classes for his crappy games...
Metzlas, anyone? Splugorth Slavers? Me niether...

The whole principle behind his fecal "Mechanoids" (which has been rehashed ad nauseum...) is that the "Snot Robots" are Sad because Man Rejected them. I would have rejected them too... and did.

If you are going to base a culture on Nazism, like the "Crapalition" how come the Youth Culture of "Chi-Town" (arg...) is all individualistic and cybergothed out? Wouldn't those bad Totalitarian guys Force the kids into nazi school, learning them how to make bombs and swords, instead of running around playing an infantile version of "Akira" ?

Rifts sucked so bad, it made Shadowrun read like "War and Peace"

I often scream out in the Marketplace... "Forward, Skelebots!!!" but no one gets the joke... lucky bastards...

I have already ranted elsewhere on how lame the whole "Post-Apocalyptic Circus" Concept was, but that was only the tip o the berg...

Vampires, oh please!
A.R.C.H.I.E., read mechanoids rantlet above...
Atlanteans, feh!
Tattoo men, Arg!!
"Glitter Boys", freudian slip?
and my favorite,

The Bottweiler...

Kevin touts getting Jerry Bruckheimer to make his movie as a good thing... which is very, very sad... and very indicative that he is a total hack with no ideas...

Rifts is not fit to wipe my unmentionables with...

Bah!

 

[WarriorKnight]

Originally posted by Ganidiirsi O'Flynn:
After reading 'Havoc's "Some People Don't Get Traveller" thread, I had to ask:
IYHO, What is the worst sci-fi game ever published and why.
I confess to having a split decision in my judgement. Morrow Project was pretty awful. Still, taken in the context of the times, and taking into consideration the state of game design at the time, I suppose it could be called a fair to good idea with truely awful execution. And I confess to having a fair mount of fun in Littleton...

I mean really, what else could they do but add the Aftermath! combat rules to it???

I think your mixing up your games.Littleton was Aftermath & Riverton was Morrow Project.Love Morrow but could never stand Aftermath.

I've played the Riverton module several times w/diffent groups & I still have a blast.

 

[siefertma2]

Originally posted by daryen:
How about the game responsible for kicking Traveller out of Dragon magazine: Star Frontiers? It has been ages since I have seen it, but I distinctly remember being thoroughly disappointed by it.

Hey! Star Frontiers will have always have a place in my heart. It's the first RPG I had ever purchased and played. Sure the system and background were kind of simplistic. But I was sure a lot of fun.

 

[Nurd_boy]

anyone remmember 'Other Suns'?
or
SPI's 'universe'? (sci-fi version of dragon guest)
or
'Space Opera'?

would 'Spelljammer' be considered sci-fi?

Marrow Project had some neet ideas..the fixed E-factor on guns..with the location determining the wound damage was pretty cool...and with the skill suppliment (a BRS/chaosium) the game was actually playable....

 

[EvilDrGanymede]

I quite like Rifts actually, it's quite fun in a mindlessly violent, crazy kinda way. But then I just have the basic book and the conversion book, I can well imagine it getting utterly crazy if you have all the supplements.

 

[Scarecrow]

I actually liked the idea behind the rifts setting. I bought the rule book when it first came out (though nothing else) and I felt a lot of it made for a fascinating anything-goes setting. The trouble is, that was also it's weakness for me. It felt too patchy and disperate. Instead of completley designing a setting that used ideas and concepts from all other genres they simply tore bleeding chunks from those genres and just sat them next to each other. I distinctly remember there being a series of full page fantasy paintings used throughout the book and despite being quite obviously tolkienesque/medieval fantasy they were discribed as 'cyber-orks' in 'nu-Canada' or some such and it just gave it a 'cobbled-together-from-whatever-we-could-get-our-hands-on' feel.
That was before I got to the rules. Ye gods! It's the stuff of numerical nightmares! It's just a game. It doesn't need to be this complicated! However that's how I feel about GURPS, D20 and all versions of Traveller beyond CT so I'm not about to slag it for that reason and in the same way that all those systems are great for some people, RIFTS had it's appeal for others I just wish it could have been more elegantly designed and a lot more rules-light.

What was my point again?

ho-hum

Crow

 

[Gallowglass]

Originally posted by Nurd_boy:
anyone remmember 'Other Suns'?
or
SPI's 'universe'? (sci-fi version of dragon guest)
or
'Space Opera'?

would 'Spelljammer' be considered sci-fi?

Marrow Project had some neet ideas..the fixed E-factor on guns..with the location determining the wound damage was pretty cool...and with the skill suppliment (a BRS/chaosium) the game was actually playable....

You leave Other Suns alone! And Space Opera was... was... erm... less intimidating for a 13 year old SF gamer than the LBB's!

Seriously, what makes a game great is an elusive mix of referee, rules, setting, players and plot. If those gel, especially the first few times you experience a set of rules or a particular setting, then you will always see more possibilities in those rules or setting than someone whose first encounter was less than positive.

Hence I have a soft spot for Rifts, despite the awful rules and combat obsessed supplements because my firsy (and only game, telling in itself) game of Rifts is a good memory. With the right rules and approach, Rifts _ought_ to work: sort of like all the second string series from 2000 AD, enourmous fun but no pretentions of grandeur...

Space Opera had a huge advantage for me in that it was immediately and clearly modelled on Star Wars et al, whereas the LBB's stark simplicity was a little daunting (I was only thirteen as I said). I still have a soft spot for Space Opera (especially the gloriously daft Starships...) but it is probably the worst example after AD&D of the "a differnt rule (and type of die and table) for _every_ occasion" school of RPG design.

Other Suns, on the other hand is IMO a great rule system (hey, I like BRP!) hampered by too involved maths and an obsession with Furry aliens that gets in the way of quite a nice, non-humanocentric setting. And the ships are at least as daft as Space Opera's without the charm...

Universe and the Morrow Project I can't comment on, beyond noting that Universe still has an active fan base (and IIRC its rules are not _that_ close to DQ) and to suggest that you be careful what you say about The Morrow Project as I believe it is an old favourite of the QLI line editor's...

Really though the Evil Dr Ganymede is right: the truly awful games are the ones that are just plain broken (usually because of flawed production). And sadly the Traveller name is associated with two: T4 wasn't technically broken (it was possible to play T4) but rapidly began to feel that way from what I can tell as frankly less than perfect prouduction standards dropped fairly rapidly. And the one game that was definetly broken? Traveller:2300, the combat system of which IIRC didn't (as originally published) work.

Whilst only marginally SF, I've never managed to finish reading Freedom Fighters, let alone work out whether or not it's actually playable...

Cheers,

Nick Middleton