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Space trading and combat simulation games
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:This article is about the video game genre. Space trading and combat simulation games are a genre of video games which is characterized by trading, combat and exploration while in a space ship in a simulated space environment. The modern Space trading and combat simulation genre emerged at the point when home computers became sufficiently powerful to draw basic wireframe graphics in real time. The game Elite is widely considered to be the breakthrough game of the genre, although it did have some precursors. Popular examples of the genre include Elite, Wing Commander: Privateer, Freelancer and X3. Overview The Space trading and combat game is a sub-genre of the Space Simulation. The general formula of the genre, which has changed little since the genesis of the genre is for the player to begin in a small outdated ship with little money or status and for the player to work his way up, gaining in status and power through trading, exploration, combat or a mix of different methods. Plot tends to play only a limited role and only a loose narrative framework tends to be provided. Gameplay All Space Trading and Combat Games feature the core gameplay elements of directly controlling the flight of some sort of space vessel, generally armed, and of navigating from one area to another for a variety of reasons. As technology has improved it has been possible to implement a number of extensions to gameplay, such as dynamic economies or newtonian physics, but the core gameplay has changed little over the years in relation to the progress other genres have undergone. One area where the Space trading and combat game has begun to involve is in being converted for massively multiplayer online play, although this has yet to be fully realised to the standard that many players expect Conventions Control systems Keyboard and mouse Most modern Space Trading and Combat games on the PC allow a player to utilise a combination of the WASD keys of the keyboard and mouse as a means of controlling the game (commonly referred to as "WASD/Mouse"). Games such as Microsoft's Freelancer use this as their only conrol system. Joysticks By far the most popular conrol system for Space trading and combat games is the joystick, and most users prefer to use this input method whenever possible, although expense and practicality mean that many are forced to use the keyboard and mouse combination. History Elite was the first to be published creating the space trading simulation genre. The future List of notable titles and development houses Selected list of Space trading and combat simulation developers *Egosoft *Frontier Developments Selected important games in Space Trading and combat simulation game development * *Frontier: Elite 2 *Frontier: First Encounters *Evochron Renegades *Evochron Alliance *Freelancer *Darkstar One *Infinity: The Quest for Earth *Space Force: Rogue Universe *Wing Commander: Privateer *Riftspace *X: Beyond The Frontier *X-Tension *X2: The Threat *X3: Reunion 
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