MoonBase Commander

Lore & Background

MoonBase Commander was built on a custom engine, not the LucasArts SCUMM engine. The game is turn-based, with players spending energy points per turn to attack opponents or expand their base. Units are launched from a hub, with the launch power determined by how long the player holds the button; wind affects accuracy. Maps wrap around at the edges, preventing corner camping. The four factions—NiceCo, DeWulf, System7, and Team Alpha—are functionally identical, differing only cosmetically.

Reader's Guide

The game includes a Skirmish mode for up to three computer opponents and a Challenge Mode with sixteen premade missions, four per faction. Challenges are graded with Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals based on completion time. Multiplayer was initially limited to LAN, with Internet play requiring third-party software like GameSpy or the later Moonbase Commander Console. In 2013, the console's source code was released under the MIT License. The game was re-released on Steam in early 2014 in its complete form, including both single-player campaigns and LAN multiplayer. In 2024, it was made compatible with ScummVM, removing the Windows-only restriction.

Did You Know?

• MoonBase Commander was built on a custom engine, not the LucasArts SCUMM engine.
• The game's cords cannot overlap or land in water, and all units must be launched from their originating hub.
• In 2006, Atari's intellectual property valuation estimated MoonBase Commander's worth between $0 and $100,000.
• The rights to the franchise were sold at auction to Rebellion Developments following Atari's bankruptcy.