Warcraft: Orcs & Humans

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is a real-time strategy game (RTS).{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p3_01.html |title=GameSpot Presents: A History of Real-Time Strategy Games – The First Wave |last=Geryk |first=B. |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120052650/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p3_01.html |archive-date=November 20, 2009}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/index.html |title=GameSpot Presents: A History of Real-Time Strategy Games – Introduction |last=Geryk |first=B. |access-date=November 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011144145/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/index.html |archive-date=October 11, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/the-past-present-and-future-of-rts-gaming-634983?src=rss&attr=newsgaming |title=The past, present and future of RTS gaming – TechRadar UK |last=Cobbett |first=R. |date=September 27, 2006 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |access-date=November 23, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928061215/http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/the-past-present-and-future-of-rts-gaming-634983?src=rss&attr=newsgaming |archive-date=September 28, 2009 }} The player takes the role of either the Human inhabitants of Azeroth, or the invading Orcs.{{cite web|url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p1.html |title=IGN Presents the History of Warcraft – Dawn of Azeroth |last=Fahs |first=T. |date=August 18, 2009 |website=IGN |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830184920/http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p1.html |archive-date=August 30, 2009 }}Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), pp. 17–20 In the single player campaign mode the player works through a series of missions, the objective of which varies, but usually involves building a small town, harvesting resources, building an army and then leading it to victory. In multiplayer games, the objective is always to destroy the enemy players' forces. Some scenarios are complicated by the presence of wild monsters, but sometimes these monsters can be used as troops.{{Cite web|url=http://www.csoon.com/issue2/WARCRAFT.HTM |title=Warcraft: Orcs and Humans – PC Review – Coming Soon Magazine! |year=1994 |publisher=Coming Soon Magazine! |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103063553/http://csoon.com/issue2/WARCRAFT.HTM |archive-date=January 3, 2010 }}Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), pp. 31–34Warcraft 1 Manual: Orcs (Mac), pp. 31–34 The game plays in a medieval setting with fantasy elements. Both sides have melee units and ranged units, as well as spellcasters.

Gameplay of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans expands the Dune II "build base, build army, destroy enemy" paradigm to include other modes of game play. These include several new mission types, such as conquering rebels of the player's race, rescuing and rebuilding besieged towns, rescuing friendly forces from an enemy camp and then destroying the main enemy base, and limited-forces missions, in which neither side can make further units, and making efficient use of one's platoon is a key strategy element.{{Cite web|url=http://www.justgamesretro.com/PC/warcraft.html |title=Just Games Retro – Warcraft: Orcs and Humans |date=May 26, 2008 |publisher=Just Games Retro |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422024214/http://www.justgamesretro.com/PC/warcraft.html |archive-date=April 22, 2009 }} In one mission, the player has to kill the Orc chief's daughter.{{Cite web|url=http://www.macgamer.com/features/?id=626|title=Warcraft: Orcs and Humans (Mac Gamer)|last=Wrobel|first=J.|date=May 1996|access-date=November 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030509172627/http://www.macgamer.com/features/?id=626|archive-date=May 9, 2003}}

The game allows two players to compete in multiplayer contests by dialup modem or local networks,Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), p. 3 and enables gamers with the MS-DOS and Macintosh version to play each other. Multiplayer and AI skirmishes that are not part of campaigns were supported by a random map generator. The game also allowed spawn installations to be made.

Warcraft requires players to collect resources, and to produce buildings and units to defeat an opponent in combat. Non-combatant builders deliver the resources to the Town Center from mines, from which gold is dug, and forests, where wood is chopped. As both are limited resources which become exhausted during the game, players must collect them efficiently, and also retain forests as defensive walls in the early game when combat forces are small.

The lower-level buildings for Humans and Orcs have the same functions, but different sprites. The Town Hall stores resources and produces units that collect resources and construct buildings. Each Farm provides food for up to four units, and additional units cannot be produced until enough Farms are built.Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), pp. 27–30Warcraft 1 Manual: Orcs (Mac), pp. 27–29 The Barracks produces all non-magical combat units, including melee, ranged, mounted, and siege units. However all except the most basic also need assistance from other buildings, some of which can also upgrade units.

Each side can construct two types of magical buildings, each of which produces one type of spellcaster and researches more advanced spells for that type. These advanced buildings can be constructed only with assistance from other buildings.Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), pp. 21–23Warcraft 1 Manual: Orcs (Mac), pp. 21–23 The Human Cleric and Orc Necrolyte can both defend themselves by magic and also see distant parts of the territory for short periods.Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), pp. 24–26Warcraft 1 Manual: Orcs (Mac), pp. 24–26 The Cleric's other spells are protective, healing the injured and making troops invisible, while the Necrolyte raises skeletons as troops and can make other units temporarily invulnerable, at the cost of severely damaging them when the spell dissipates. The Human Conjurer and Orc Warlock have energy blasts, wider-range destruction spells and the ability to summon small, venomous monsters. The Conjurer can summon a water elemental, while the Warlock can summon a demonic melee unit.

File:Warcraft Orcs v Humans 01.png, which shows all the territory fought over, mostly not yet discovered by the player, and enables the player to select a part of the territory to view.]]

The main screen has three areas: the largest, to the right, is the part of the territory on which the player is currently operating; the top left is the minimap; and, if a building or unit(s) is selected, the bottom left shows their status and any upgrades and the actions that can be performed. The status details include a building's or unit's health, including its progress if being constructed, and any

upgrades the object has completed. The Menu control, at the very bottom on the left, provides access to save game, load game and other menu functions.

Initially most of the main map and minimap are blacked out, but the visible area expands as the player's units explore the map. The mini-map shows a summary of the whole territory, with green dots for the player's buildings and units and red dots for enemy ones. The player can click in the main map or the minimap to scroll the main map around the territory.

All functions can be invoked by the mouse. Keys can also invoke the game setup, some of the menu options and some gameplay functions including scrolling and pausing the game.Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac), pp. 5–15 Players can select single units by clicking, and groups of up to four by shift-clicking or bandboxing. To move units, players can shift the mouse to select units on the main map, move to the unit menu to select an action, and then back to the main map or minimap to specify the target area; shortcut keys can eliminate the middle mouse action in this cycle.

The Orcs originate from another world. A warlike species, they conquered everyone else around them, and eventually, the various Orc clans started scheming against one another. The Warlock clan, noticing these developments, tried to find a solution and prevent the Orcs from turning on one another. The Warlocks noticed a rift between the dimensions and, after many years, opened a small portal to another world. One Warlock explored and found a region, called Azeroth by its Human inhabitants, from which the Warlock returned with strange plants as evidence of his discovery.Warcraft 1 Manual: Orcs (Mac), pp. 17–20

The Orcs enlarged the portal until they could transport seven warriors, who massacred a Human village. The raiding party brought back samples of good food and fine worksmanship, and a report that the Humans were defenseless. The Orcs' raiding parties grew larger and bolder, until they assaulted Azeroth's principal castle. However, the Humans had been training warriors of their own, especially the mounted, heavily armed Knights. These, assisted by Human Sorcerers, gradually forced the Orcs to retreat through the portal, which the Humans had not discovered.

For the next fifteen years, one faction of Orcs demanded that the portal be closed. However a chief of exceptional cunning realized that the Humans, although out-numbered, had prevailed through the use of superior tactics, organization, and by magic. He united the clans, imposed discipline on their army and sought new spells from the Warlocks and Necromancers. Their combined forces were ready to overthrow the Humans.

Several important characters are introduced in WarCraft: Orcs and Humans. The two campaigns center around unnamed player characters in positions of high importance. WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness reveals the player character of the orc campaign to be Orgrim Doomhammer, who begins the game as a lieutenant of the ruling Warchief, Blackhand the Destroyer. The human player character begins as a regent over a small section of Azeroth, appointed by King Llane Wrynn. Other characters present in the game include Garona, a half-orc spy who is ostensibly a diplomat to the humans, Medivh, the most powerful magician of Azeroth, and Anduin Lothar, one of the greatest champions of Azeroth.

The game's two campaigns are exclusive to each other.

After several battles against the Human forces, the Orcish campaign culminates with the Orc commander killing Blackhand and overthrowing him, sacking Stormwind, killing King Llane and becoming victorious as the new Warchief.{{cite video game|title=WarCraft: Orcs and Humans |developer=Blizzard Entertainment |year=1994 |platform=PC |level=Human, mission 12: "Stormwind Keep"}}

The Human campaign involves the rescue of the trapped Anduin Lothar, and the killing of Medivh, who has become insane. King Llane is killed by Garona, but before his death, wishes that the player character becomes the commander of the Human forces. The player character marches on Blackrock Spire and destroys the Horde. After the Human victory, the player character becomes the new King of Stormwind.{{cite video game|title=WarCraft: Orcs and Humans |developer=Blizzard Entertainment |year=1994 |platform=PC |level=Human, mission 12: "Black Rock Spire"}}

In WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness, it was revealed that the canonical campaign was the Orcish one, though many events from the Human campaign were confirmed to be canonical in later games, such as the assassination of Llane by Garona and the death of Medivh.

Though the earliest real-time strategy games appeared in the 1980s,{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/700/700747p1.html |title=The State of the RTS |last=Adams |first=D. |date=April 7, 2006 |website=IGN |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316161721/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/700/700747p1.html |archive-date=March 16, 2011 }} notably the multiplayer RTS game Herzog Zwei,[https://devgameclub.libsyn.com/dgc-ep-24-interview-with-bill-roper DGC Ep 24: Interview with Bill Roper], Dev Game Club (August 18, 2016) and others followed in the early 1990s,{{Cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/february02/strategy1/ |title=Strategy Gaming: Part I – A Primer |last=Walker |first=M.H. |year=2004 |publisher=GameSpy Industries |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030004519/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/february02/strategy1/ |archive-date=October 30, 2007 }} the pattern of modern RTS games was established by Dune II, released by Westwood Studios for DOS in 1992. Inspired by Dune II and Herzog Zwei,{{cite web |title=Warcraft Anniversary Interview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/23/warcraft-anniversary-interview?page=2 |website=IGN |date=November 23, 2009}} Blizzard Entertainment was surprised that no additional RTS games appeared in 1993 and early 1994 – although in fact Westwood had quietly been working on Command & Conquer since the completion of Dune II.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p3_02.html |title=GameSpot Presents: A History of Real-Time Strategy Games – Command & Conquer |last=Geryk |first=B. |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125080320/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p3_02.html |archive-date=November 25, 2009 }} Seizing on this lull in RTS releases, Blizzard produced Warcraft: Orcs & Humans by copying all artwork from Dune II and then redesigning each asset, though it accidentally retained the font of Dune II.{{Cite book |last=Schreier |first=Jason |title=Play Nice |date=October 2024 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |isbn=9781538725429 |location=New York City |pages=18}}

According to Patrick Wyatt, the producer of Warcraft, Warhammer was a huge inspiration for the art-style of Warcraft, as the game was originally meant to be an RTS adaptation of Warhammer, but Blizzard was unable to receive a license from its IP owner Games Workshop, and so decided to make its own IP.{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/how-warcraft-was-almost-a-warhammer-game-and-how-that-5929161 |title=How Warcraft Was Almost a Warhammer Game (and how That Saved WoW)|date=July 26, 2012 }} According to Bob Fitch, the theme for Warcraft was inspired by the Vikings of The Lost Vikings, combined with masses of creatures under their automated control similar to Lemmings, and adding the multiplayer element of having these opposing masses of Vikings meet up and fight each other.{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/warcraft-was-conceived-in-part-thanks-to-lost-vikings-and-lemmings |title=WarCraft Was Originally Conceived in Part as "Lost Vikings Meets RTS"... And Lemmings |first=Kat |last=Bailey |date=August 15, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017 |work=US Gamer |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170906105422/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/warcraft-was-conceived-in-part-thanks-to-lost-vikings-and-lemmings |url-status=dead }}

Though subsequent Warcraft games are famous for having complex stories presented lavishly, the first installment of the series had no script and the plot was improvised in the recording studio by producer and sole voice-actor Bill Roper.{{cite web|url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p3.html |title=IGN Presents the History of Warcraft – The Lost Chapter |last=Fahs |first=T. |date=August 18, 2009 |website=IGN |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826171709/http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p3.html |archive-date=August 26, 2009 }} The contract composer Gregory Alper wrote music that Blizzard staff found reminiscent of Holst's The Planets.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/interviews/blizzard_composers_c.shtm |title=Masters of the Craft: Blizzard's Composers |last=Kelly |first=R.K. |publisher=GameSpy Industries |access-date=December 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706032024/http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/interviews/blizzard_composers_c.shtm |archive-date=July 6, 2010 }} Demos in mid-1994 whetted appetites for the completed game, released for MS-DOS in November 1994 and for the Macintosh in 1996. The game was published by Blizzard in North America and by Interplay Entertainment in Europe,Warcraft 1 Manual: Humans (Mac) copyright page and Sold-Out Software republished the MS-DOS version in March 2002.

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans was originally intended to be the first in a series of Warcraft-branded war games in fictional and real settings (such as a proposed Warcraft: Vietnam). Blizzard executives considered that customers would think that a brand with many similar games on shelves was serious and well-supported. The name "Warcraft" was proposed by Blizzard developer Sam Didier, and was chosen because "it sounded super cool", according to Blizzard co-founder Allen Adham, without any particular meaning attached to it.{{cite news |last1=Menegus |first1=Bryan |title=How Warcraft Got Its Name |url=https://kotaku.com/how-warcraft-got-its-name-1838669881 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |work=Kotaku |date=October 1, 2019}}

The game was remastered along with Warcraft II in November 2024.{{Cite news |author1=Wes Fenlon |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Blizzard surprise launches Warcraft 2 and Warcraft 1 remasters today with 'hand-drawn visuals, UI improvements,' and more |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rts/warcraft-1-2-remastered-announced-release-date/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Matt Wales News |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Blizzard's Warcraft 1 & 2 remasters are official and out now on PC |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/blizzards-warcraft-1-2-remasters-are-official-and-out-now-on-pc |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Warcraft 1 and 2 Remasters Shadow-Dropped With Improved Graphics, Quality-of-Life Improvements, and Other New Features |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/warcraft-1-and-2-remasters-shadow-dropped-with-improved-graphics-quality-of-life-improvements-and-other-new-features |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=IGN |language=en}}

{{Video game reviews

| CGW = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Lombardi |first=Chris |date=January 1995 |title=War Crime in Real Time |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_126/page/n233 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=126 |pages=228–232}}

| Dragon = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite magazine|title=Eye of the Monitor |author=Jay & Dee |magazine=Dragon |issue=219 |date=July 1995 |pages=57–60, 65–66}}

| GameRev = A−

| rev1 = Mac Gamer

| rev1Score = 92% (MAC)

| NGen = {{rating|4|5}} (MAC)

| rev3 = Abandonia

| rev3Score = 4.0{{Cite web|url=http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/422/Warcraft+-+Orcs+and+Humans.html |title=Warcraft – Orcs and Humans – Abandonia |access-date=November 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306201554/http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/422/Warcraft%20-%20Orcs%20and%20Humans.html |archive-date=March 6, 2010}}

| rev4 = Just Games Retro

| rev4Score = 78%

| rev5 = Secret Service

| rev5Score = 90%{{Cite magazine|author=Berger |date=February 1995 |title=Warcraft |url=https://archive.org/details/secretservicemagazine-1995-02/page/n63 |magazine=Secret Service Magazine |language=pl |volume=22 |pages=64–65}}

}}

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans became a success, and for the first time made the company's finances secure. Within one year of release, its sales surpassed 100,000 units.{{Cite web|url=http://www.blizzard.com:80/blizz-anniversary/frank.shtml|title=Blizzard Entertainment – 10th Anniversary Feature|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010211120109/http://www.blizzard.com/blizz-anniversary/frank.shtml|archive-date=February 11, 2001|access-date=November 22, 2021|url-status=live}} It ultimately sold 300,000 copies.{{cite book|author=Goldberg, Harold |title=All Your Base Are Belong to Us: How Fifty Years of Videogames Conquered Pop Culture |date=April 5, 2011 |publisher=Crown Archetype |isbn=978-0307463555 |page=[https://archive.org/details/allyourbasearebe00gold_0/page/172 172] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/allyourbasearebe00gold_0/page/172 }} In November 1995 Entertainment Weekly reported that the game ranked 19th out of the top 20 CDs across all categories.{{Cite magazine|date=November 3, 1995 |title=Battle Access |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=299 |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,299382,00.html |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425194817/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C299382%2C00.html |archive-date=April 25, 2009 }} 5 of the 20 titles are non-gamer products by Microsoft.

The game was released in November 1994.{{Cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/mac/rpg/worldofwarcraftwrathofthelichking/news.html?sid=6241378 |title=Spot On: 15 years of Warcraft |last=Magrino |first=T. |date=November 26, 2009 |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc |access-date=November 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014133036/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/spot-on-15-years-of-warcraft-6241378 |archive-date=October 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Although reviews did not appear until months later, in Dragon Paul Murphy described the game as "great fun – absorbing and colorful",{{Cite magazine| title=Eye of the Monitor |author-link1=Ken Rolston |author1=Rolston, Ken |author2=Murphy, Paul |author-link3=David Cook (game designer) |author3=Cook, David |magazine=Dragon |issue=220 |date=August 1995|pages=63–68}} and Scott Love praised its solid strategy, simple interface, and fantasy theme. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans won PC Gamer's Editors' Choice Award, Computer Life{{'}}s Critics' Pick, and the Innovations Award at the Consumer Electronics Show, Winter 1995. It was a finalist for Computer Gaming World{{'}}s Premier award, PC Gamer{{'}}s Strategy Game of the Year, and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences's Best Strategy award.{{Cite web|url=http://us.blizzard.com/en-gb/company/about/awards.html |title=Blizzard Entertainment: Awards |publisher=Blizzard Entertainment |access-date=November 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130084055/http://us.blizzard.com/en-gb/company/about/awards.html |archive-date=January 30, 2010}} In 1996, Computer Gaming World declared Warcraft the 125th-best computer game ever released.{{cite magazine|author=Staff |title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1996 |issue=148 |pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98 }}

James V. Trunzo reviewed Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in White Wolf Inphobia #56 (June, 1995), rating it a 4.5 out of 5 and stated that "Overall, WarCraft is a challenging and admirably designed product. If you enjoy the dynamics of a game like this, humans and orcs deliver all the excitement you want. It's a unique experience to play things from the orc perspective, even if the thought of sympathizing with the ugly green creatures makes Tolkien turn over in his grave!"{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo |first=James V. |date=June 1995|title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= White Wolf Inphobia |number=56 |page=87-88}}

S. Love of MacWEEK found the play to be hard work, as two or three of the player's units would often attack without orders, while the rest still did nothing, and buildings could also lie idle without orders.{{Cite journal|last=Love |first=S. |date=December 4, 1995 |title=Warcraft: Orcs and Humans |journal=MacWEEK |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-17810302/warcraft-orcs-and-humans.html |access-date=November 26, 2009}}

In a retrospective review, the J-Man of Just Games Retro said the game is overly slow, as the player must produce a few basic buildings and peasants to gather resources, and then start building combat units, while the enemy starts with more buildings and the ability to immediately send out offensive units to undo the player's efforts. He also criticized that the basic units of the two sides are essentially identical and that the interface is clunky, but praised the resource system and effective enemy AI.

GameSpot{{'}}s retrospective on real-time strategy history said the game's AI was unintelligent and predictable, and Scott Love said a difficulty setting would have increased the game's longevity. Reviewers found the pathfinding poor.{{Cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9009932|title=WarCraft and the Birth of Real-time Strategy|last=Bailey|first=K.|date=November 16, 2009|publisher=The 1UP Network|access-date=November 18, 2009}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3169774|title=Top 5 Overlooked Prequels|last=Bailey|first=K.|year=2008|access-date=November 18, 2009}} Both Scott Love and the J-Man said the game runs very slowly during large battles.

Some reviewers claimed the stereo sound helped to locate events that occurred outside the current view.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mac/warcraft |title=Warcraft review for the MAC |year=1996 |publisher=Game Revolution |access-date=November 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705050802/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mac/warcraft |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }} K. Bailey of 1UP liked units' speech effects, especially those in response to repeated clicks, while Scott Love and the J-Man found this aspect monotonous. Game Revolution's review of the Mac version complained that its graphics, which were ported from the DOS version's VGA, did not exploit the Macintosh's superior resolution. However, Game Revolution and Mac Gamer agreed that visual shortcomings did not reduce Mac gamers' enjoyment of the engrossing gameplay. Both also complained that the Macintosh was released about a year later than the DOS version. In contrast, a reviewer for Next Generation, while not overlooking the fact that Warcraft II was already out by the time the Macintosh version was released, made no criticism on this point, and asserted that "amazingly easy to pick up and play, Warcraft still manages to offer enough challenge to keep gaming veterans happy for hour after hour. Completed by sharp graphics, and good voice acting, the only thing holding this game back at all is its somewhat limited play options."{{cite magazine |title=Warcraft|magazine=Next Generation|issue=15 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1996|page=96}}

While RTS games date back to the 1980s,{{citation|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/unsung_heroes/sec2_07.html |title=Unsung Heroes: Ground Breaking Games – Modem Wars |last=Baker |first=T. Byrl |publisher=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707141052/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/unsung_heroes/sec2_07.html |archive-date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/700/700747p1.html |title=The State of the RTS |last=Adams |first=D. |date=April 7, 2006 |website=IGN |pages=1–7 |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316161721/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/700/700747p1.html |archive-date=March 16, 2011 }} Dune II, released in 1992, established conventions that most subsequent RTS games followed,All the action appears on a single screen; players developed bases, in which buildings were constructed in a defined sequence; and bases produced combat units. {{Cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/february04/rts/ |title=Top Ten Real-Time Strategy Games of All Time – Dune II |last=Kosak |first=D. |date=February 4, 2004 |work=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc |access-date=November 27, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515125726/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/february04/rts/ |archive-date=May 15, 2010 }} including the "collect resources, build base and army, destroy opponents" pattern. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, two years later, is the subsequent well-known RTS game, and introduced new types of missions, including conquering rebels of the player's race and limited-forces missions, in which neither side could make additional units. It also includes skirmishes which are single-player games that are not part of a larger campaign. To support multiplayer and skirmishes, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans uses a random map generator, a feature previously seen in the turn-based strategy game Civilization.{{Cite book|title=Sid Meier's Civilization – Build An Empire To Stand The Test Of Time|publisher=MicroProse Software |year=1991|pages=16–17|chapter=Pre-Game Options}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1523/the_history_of_civilization.php |title=The History of Civilization |last=Edwards |first=B. |date=July 18, 2007 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=Think Services |access-date=November 28, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109010407/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1523/the_history_of_civilization.php |archive-date=November 9, 2009}} In 1995 Westwood's RTS Command & Conquer series adopted the use of nonstandard mission types and skirmishes,{{Cite web|url=http://www2.worldvillage.com/wv/gamezone/html/reviews/conquer.htm |title=Conquer The World with the Click of a Mouse |last=Murff |first=T. |year=1997 |publisher=InfoMedia, Inc. |access-date=November 18, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504142050/http://www2.worldvillage.com/wv/gamezone/html/reviews/conquer.htm |archive-date=May 4, 2009}}{{Cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/commandconquerredalert/review.html |title=Command & Conquer Red Alert Review for PC – GameSpot |last=Broady |first=V. |date=November 26, 1996 |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc |access-date=November 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117204923/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/commandconquerredalert/review.html |archive-date=November 17, 2009}} and Microsoft's Age of Empires (1997) includes these features and a random map generator.{{Cite book|title=Age of Empires manual|publisher=Microsoft|year=1997|pages=4–5|chapter=Playing the game}}

While not the first modem multiplayer RTS game, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans allows two gamers to compete by modem or local networks, which persuaded a wider audience that multiplayer competition was much more challenging than contests against the artificial intelligence (AI), and made multiplayer facilities essential for future RTS games.

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is the first typical RTS to be presented in a medieval setting, and its units included spellcasters as well as melee and ranged units.

The success of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans prompted a sequel, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, in December 1995, and an expansion pack, Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal, in 1996. In late 1995 Westwood had released Command & Conquer, and the competition between these two games popularized and defined the RTS genre.{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/922/922887p1.html |last=Buchanan |first=L. |date=October 22, 2008 |title=Top 10 PC Games That Should Go Console |website=IGN |access-date=November 22, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201061138/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/922/922887p1.html |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }} Blizzard's new game includes these enhancements: naval and air units, supported by new buildings, and the new resource of oil;{{Cite book|title=Warcraft II|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment.|location=Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom|date=1995–1999|edition=Battle.net |pages=31, 42–47, 51–55, 72–74, 78–81}} higher-resolution artwork rendered in SVGA graphics; improved sound, including additional responses from units; a much better AI; and new mechanisms such as patrolling (moving continuously along a route for surveillance or defense).{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p4_01.html |title=GameSpot Presents: A History of Real-Time Strategy Games – The Sequels |last=Geryk |first=B. |access-date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126125456/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/real_time/p4_01.html |archive-date=November 26, 2009 }} A further generation of the Warcraft: Orcs & Humans lineage, called Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, was released in July 2002,{{Cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/WarCraft-III-Cheats-PC-83169.shtml |title=WarCraft III Cheats (PC) |last=Ciabai |first=C. |date=April 11, 2008 |work=Softpedia |publisher=SoftNews NET SRL |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203120711/http://news.softpedia.com/news/WarCraft-III-Cheats-PC-83169.shtml |archive-date=February 3, 2009 }} and gained instant and enduring acclaim with both critics and players.{{cite web|url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p4.html |title=IGN Presents the History of Warcraft – War Heroes |last=Fahs |first=T. |date=August 18, 2009 |website=IGN |access-date=November 28, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826171715/http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p4.html |archive-date=August 26, 2009 }}

In April 1998, Blizzard released StarCraft, an RTS with the concepts and mechanisms of Warcraft but an interplanetary setting and three totally different races.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/818/starcraft/|title=Starcraft Review from GamePro|last=Olafson |first=P.|date=November 24, 2000|publisher=GamePro Media|access-date=November 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021053233/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/818/starcraft/|archive-date=October 21, 2008}} StarCraft and its expansion StarCraft: Brood War were well received by critics and became very successful.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starcraft?q=%20Starcraft|title=Starcraft (pc) reviews at Metacritic.com|publisher=CBS Interactive Inc|access-date=November 26, 2009}} World of Warcraft, released in North America in November 2004{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/worldofwarcraft/news.html?sid=6112390&mode=press |title=Blizzard Entertainment Announces World of Warcraft Street Date – November 23, 2004 |access-date=March 8, 2008 |date=November 4, 2004 |publisher=Blizzard Entertainment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306210215/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/worldofwarcraft/news.html?sid=6112390&mode=press |archive-date=March 6, 2009 }} and in Europe in February 2005, is Blizzard's first massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It uses the universe of the Warcraft RTS games, including characters that first appeared in Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.{{Cite web|url=http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p5.html |title=IGN Presents the History of Warcraft – Taking on the World |last=Fahs |first=T. |date=August 18, 2009 |publisher=IGN Entertainment |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823081920/http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/101/1014622p5.html |archive-date=August 23, 2009 }} WoW received high praise from critics, is the most popular MMORPG of 2008,{{Cite book|last=Glenday |first=Craig |title=Guinness World Records 2009 |editor=Craig Glenday |publisher=Random House, Inc. |year=2009 |edition=paperback |page=241 |isbn=9780553592566 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC&q=most+popular+MMORPG&pg=PA269 |access-date=September 18, 2009 |quote=Most popular MMORPG game(sic) In terms of the number of online subscribers, World of Warcraft is the most popular Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), with 10 million subscribers as of January 2008. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428064910/http://books.google.com/books?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC&pg=PA269&dq=9780553592566 |archive-date=April 28, 2014 }} and in 2007 became the most profitable video game ever created.{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402360/index.htm |title=Spoils of Warcraft |last=Levine |first=R. |date=March 5, 2007 |work=CNNMoney.com |publisher=Cable News Network |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516230314/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402360/index.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2008 }}

Beyond video games, the extended Warcraft franchise includes board games,{{Cite web|url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeksearch.php?action=search&objecttype=boardgame&q=warcraft&B1=Go|title=BoardGameGeek – Gaming Unplugged Since 2000|publisher=BoardGameGeek, LLC|access-date=November 26, 2009}} card games,{{Cite web|url=http://www.rpgrank.com/role-playing-games-864-news.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522052708/http://www.rpgrank.com/role-playing-games-864-news.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2022|title=World of Warcraft : 2009 World of Warcraft-card license meet global challenges in Texas|date=October 22, 2008|publisher=RPGRank.com|access-date=November 26, 2009}} books,{{Cite web |url=http://series.simonandschuster.com/Warcraft/books |title=Books : Warcraft : Warcraft Books |publisher=Simon & Schuster |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206205218/http://series.simonandschuster.com/Warcraft/books |archive-date=December 6, 2009 }} comics{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/comics.html |title=WoW -> Community -> Comics |publisher=Blizzard Entertainment, Inc |access-date=November 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810205228/https://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/comics.html |archive-date=August 10, 2008 }}as well as a 2016 film adaptation

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans was a moderate critical and commercial success, and laid the ground for Blizzard's style of RTS, in which personality was a distinctive element. The increasingly humorous responses to clicking a unit repeatedly became a trademark of the company. The game introduced characters that also appeared in the enormously successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. The company's manuals present detailed backstories and artwork. StarCraft has a futuristic theme, but places the same emphasis on characterization. In all the Blizzard RTS games and in World of Warcraft, units must be managed carefully, rather than treated as expendable hordes. Blizzard has produced fewer expansion packs than Westwood, but integrated the story of each with its predecessors.{{Cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3167691|title=Retronauts Presents: Blizzard vs. Westwood|last=Hoeger|first=J.|publisher=The 1UP Network|access-date=November 18, 2009}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

The manual is organized as two separate books with separate page ranges, but in one binding. Both parts contain common sections such as the technical requirements and game set-up instructions.

• {{cite book|title=Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (Humans)|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|location=Irvine, California|year=1994|ref=refWOHManHumMac}} (Mac version)
• {{cite book|title=Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (Orcs)|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|location=Irvine, California|year=1994|ref=refWOHManOrcMac}} (Mac version)

• {{Wowpedia|Warcraft: Orcs & Humans|Warcraft: Orcs & Humans}}

{{Warcraft universe|state=expanded}}

{{Blizzard games}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warcraft 01}}

Category:1994 video games

Category:Video games about demons

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Category:Classic Mac OS games

Orcs and Humans

Category:Real-time strategy video games

Category:Blizzard games

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Video games about orcs

Category:Video game remasters

Category:Games commercially released with DOSBox