Outlaws is a first-person shooter Doom clone released by Lucasarts in 1997 using an enhanced version of the Star Wars: Dark Forces graphics engine. It is one of the very few FPS games with a Wild West setting. It is also commonly written as "OuTLaWs".

Although not a huge economic success it does enjoy a strong cult-like following that is still strong eight years after the initial release.

Storyline and Single Player

James Anderson, a retired lawman, comes home after a trip to the general store to find his wife murdered and his daughter kidnapped by an evil railroad baron named Bob Graham. To get her back, Anderson hunts down each prominent member of Graham's gang of outlaws. Anderson's quest takes him through old western towns, canyons, Spanish villas, moving trains, and abandoned mines, finally leading to Graham's person estate. Full-screen, hand-drawn animation sequences play between each mission and set up the action in the next area.

The game however is not widely admired for its single player missions, despite its beautiful cinematic sequences between each level. A few fan-made missions however, have been made. Some of the most notable ones have been, "The Taco Saga" (created by: Sir_Taco) and the "Marshall Adventures" (created by Dr2_Scott aka DrDeath2) and the "Zombie" (created by Dr2_Scott aka DrDeath2) adventure in which the game has been edited so the enemies are blood thirsty zombie cowboys.

Multiplayer Online Outlaws Community

It is the fast-paced action packed Multiplayer game in which Outlaws is most popular for. The player assumes the role of 1 of 6 characters from the main game. Those being "Dr.Death" "Bloody Mary" "James Anderson" "Two-Feathers" "Bob Graham" and "Spittin Jack Sanchez". Each character having their own advantages and disadavantages. From 1997-2000 the IRC channel dedicated to Outlaws hosted a tournament every Sunday, sometimes with prizes and sometimes without.

Hundreds (if not a thousand) of custom multiplayer maps have been created since Outlaws was released. New maps continue to be released even now (2005).

Many feel that the Outlaws Online community was one of the most honorable gaming communities in online gaming history. Almost all players agreed not to use items deemed unfair (weapons like the Sawed Off Shotgun or the Invisiable Lotion) that could be found in the original multiplayer maps (very few custom maps included these). The community was very close-nit especially on IRC and KALI networks. Many players joined "Posse's" or "Gangs" such notable ones were the "Rough Riders RR" or "USMarshalls".

Decline in Popularity

Unfortunately Outlaws and its Dark Forces engine has become quite dated in terms of gaming technology. Thus very few players are found playing it on MSN Gaming Zone or IRC and its small community on the KALI program is basically extinct. Tournaments are no longer held in the IRC channel or on MSN gaming zone. There are still very few players found playing on IRC and MSN's gaming Zone. The community is barely a shadow of its former glory days from 1997-99. Other reasons for the decline in multiplayer is that it has become less and less compatiable with newer versions of the Windows Operating System. Outlaws was originally intended to be played on Windows 95. Win 98 brought compatibility issues which Lucasarts issued a patch for, but still problems persisted. Windows XP brought further problems that have made online play almost impossible.

Expansion

In 1998, LucasArts released a set of 4 unconnected single-layer missions, called Handful of Missions. The package includes several new multiplayer missions, and a patch to update the game to version 1.1. The single-player missions take place outside of the orignal game's storyline.

Sequel?

A petition has been made by the fans to get Lucasarts to consider making a sequel for Outlaws but so far no plans have been made. The petition has recieved over 2000 signatures so far. In interviews Lucasarts Hi-staff have claimed that they consider Outlaws one of its best classic games, however it seems unlikley it will get a sequel, much to the dismay of its fanbase.

External links

• Paleface's Outlaws Site
• OBG OL HQ
• Outlaws Dad Website
• Lucasarts Official Website (no longer updated)
• Taco's Mexico Cantina
• DrDeath2's (Dr2_Scott's) Outlaws Site
• #Outlaws's_Players On the Undernet