Emergency is a series of real-time strategy simulation video games by German developer Sixteen Tons Entertainment, designed by Ralph Stock.
Each mission requires players to carefully choose which units to deploy to effectively handle the incident.
All events of a campaign, multiplayer, or free play mode can be attended in one game session without loading screens.
Emergency HQ lacks a multiplayer mode, instead having clan-like rescue alliances where players can communicate via in-game chat and help each other by loaning units for their missions.
Some games have introductory missions set in the past, such as in the Middle Ages where the player must handle witch-hunts and plague outbreaks.
The missions ranging from a train accident at a rail crossing to airplane crashes and an alien invasion.
In addition there are 20 new missions, as well as two new game-modes; Endless and Challenge, where the player handles an infinite amount of everyday emergency situations.
Tech units are, however, always referred to as "technical assistants", as the German term "THW" would have created trademark violations.
This inspired a growing modding community to create modifications based on different cities and countries emergency services.
Known as 911: First Responders in North America, released April 2006, the game's campaign now feature mandatory interludes and objectives before players can proceed to the next large-scale operation.
The deluxe release includes three extra missions, support for voice commands, plus some additional game features.
The abilities of the TEC forces have been extended since their addition in Emergency 3: fire department bulldozers have returned from Emergency 2 as Tech wheel loaders for obstacle removal, while the new recovery helicopter and its winch allows engineers to access and rescue people in unreachable, grounded locations.
A new graphics engine built upon OGRE was introduced in Emergency 5 to replace its predecessor's, aimed to add more detail and create a more realistic atmosphere.
[4][1] The main theme of Emergency 5 was composed by Benny Oschmann from Dynamedion, a German music composition and production company.
The style of the score is a mix of a classic orchestral melody played on strings, accompanied by modern rock sounds.
[6] Emergency 2012 is the first installment of a spin-off series which was developed by Quadriga Games, published by Deep Silver, and uses Trinigy's Vision Engine.
4Players December 7, 2012 — 56% ″A washing up of the predecessor, which offers too little new content.″[8] Emergency 2014 is the third and final installment of the spin-off series which was developed by Quadriga Games, published by Deep Silver.
Emergency 2014 was released 15 November 2013. spieletest.at April 14, 2014 – 70% ″Despite slight operational weaknesses, it is simply fun to keep order on the scene of major disasters or small accidents with the large vehicle fleet under enormous time pressure.″ This is a new version of Emergency 5, containing several new vehicles, 5 new missions, as well as a medieval mission featuring plague doctors.
Some new mechanics are added in the game as well, for instance, police officers are equipped with pistols unlike the original Emergency 5 version, which limited this firearm to be exclusively for SWAT operatives.
[11] In Emergency for mobile devices, the player controls 18 different units of firefighters, ambulance, police and technical service.
[14] In the missions, the player calls the needed rescue units and gives them orders via tapping a button in their ring menu and selecting a target.
Typically for a Free-to-play game, waiting times for upgrades can be decreased with a premium currency that can be purchased with real money.