Echelon (2001 video game)

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For other uses, see Echelon (disambiguation).
Echelon
Developer(s)MADia Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • RU: March 21, 2001
  • NA: May 11, 2001[1]
  • UK: September 28, 2001
Wind Warriors
  • RU: October 24, 2002
  • UK: November 14, 2003
  • NA: February 9, 2004
Genre(s)Action, simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Echelon (Russian: «Шторм») is a 3-D science fiction flight simulator video game developed by Saint Petersburg developers MADia Entertainment. It was published in Russia by Buka Entertainment, and in all other territories by Bethesda Softworks.

Gameplay[edit]

Screenshot of gameplay

It involves flying futuristic fighters in combat scenarios. The game can be played locally or on a local area network with up to 32 players. The Russian version of the game is called "Шторм" ("Storm"). Operation: Matriarchy (also developed by MADia) takes place in the same continuity as Echelon.

Plot[edit]

In the game, you decide the fate of the entire Galactic Federation. The aggressors from the planet Velian, having new weapons that make them almost invincible, are trying to destroy the Federation and capture all of its colonies. The Velians are ruthless to those who are trying to get in their way. They calmly burn entire planets if they show resistance. The player will have to go from the cadet of the Training Center of the Air Force of the Federation to one of the best Air Force aces, who is assigned the most difficult tasks.

Development[edit]

The game went gold on April 26, 2001.[2] The game was originally called Storm but that name later proved unavailable. Pete Hines (Bethesda's director of marketing and public relations) and Bethesda's Todd Vaughn were given the task of renaming the game. One morning Todd came to Hine's desk and said, 'How about Echelon?' They liked the military reference and it just sounded cool, so they went with it, hoping there would be no conflicts. The name idea was sent to Brent Erickson, who was VP of development at Bethesda West the company's subsidiary that developed the Bethesda racing titles for a number of years. Erickson liked the name.[3]

Reception[edit]

Echelon received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4] Steve Butts of IGN said, "In all Echelon is a very welcome addition to the flight sim genre. It takes an approach that most other developers have neglected. Still, the execution and design aren't entirely up to the possibility of the concept. You'll play it, you'll enjoy and, ultimately, put it aside for more traditional games that offer a lot more sparkle."[13] GameSpot said, "In spite of its problems, Echelon does hit close enough to the mark to offer some fast and flashy, but ultimately shallow, thrills."[9] However, Jim Preston of NextGen said of the game, "Credit to Buka for trying to combine two genres, but predictably it neither soars nor crashes."[15]

Awards[edit]

The game was a runner-up for "Sci-Fi Simulation Game of the Year" at GameSpot's Readers' Choice Awards 2001.[17]

The game was awarded game of the month by the company Matrox.[citation needed]

Sequel[edit]

A sequel, Echelon: Wind Warriors, was released in 2002-2004.[24] The game received mixed reviews according to Metacritic.[18]

Controversy[edit]

Further information: Bethesda_Softworks § Controversies

There was controversy regarding the U.S release of the game in which Bethesda refused to pay MADia for boxed sales of the game.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Walker, Trey (May 11, 2001). "Echelon ships". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 9, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  2. ^ IGN staff (April 26, 2001). "News Briefs". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Geryk, Bruce (July 24, 2000). "Echelon Preview". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 29, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Echelon". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Berg, Gordon (September 2001). "Mixed Emotions (Echelon Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 206. Ziff Davis. p. 90. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Taylor, Martin (October 11, 2001). "Echelon Review". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 25, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Brogger, Kristian (July 2001). "Echelon". Game Informer. No. 99. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Sanders, Shawn (June 2001). "Echelon Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Osborne, Scott (May 23, 2001). "Echelon Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 11, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Harms, William (June 11, 2001). "Echelon". GameSpy. GameSpy Industries. Archived from the original on June 30, 2001. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  11. ^ "Echelon". GameStar (in German). Webedia. July 2001.
  12. ^ Lafferty, Michael (May 30, 2001). "Echelon Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Butts, Steve (June 28, 2001). "Echelon Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2003.
  14. ^ pilou (September 13, 2001). "Test: Echelon". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Preston, Jim (August 2001). "Echelon". NextGen. No. 80. Imagine Media. p. 90. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Echelon". PC Gamer. Vol. 8, no. 9. Imagine Media. September 2001.
  17. ^ GameSpot staff (2002). "GameSpot's 2001 Readers' Choice Awards (Sci-Fi Simulation Game of the Year)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on February 10, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Echelon: Wind Warriors". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Osborne, Scott (May 28, 2004). "Echelon: Wind Warriors Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 26, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Echelon: Wind Warriors". GameStar (in German). Webedia. February 2004.
  21. ^ Lafferty, Michael (March 18, 2004). "Echelon: Wind Warriors - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Superpanda (December 9, 2003). "Test: Wind Warriors : Echelon II [sic]". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webebia. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  23. ^ Mahood, Andy (May 2004). "Echelon: Wind Warriors". PC Gamer. Vol. 11, no. 5. Future US. p. 66. Archived from the original on July 9, 2006. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  24. ^ IGN staff (August 2, 2001). "Echelon: Wind Warriors in Development". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2024.

External links[edit]

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