MPS Labs

MPS Labs at a Glance

MPS Labs operated as an internal development division of MicroProse Software from 1989 until 1997. During this eight year span the studio released fifteen games under its own name while never publishing titles for other developers. The bulk of their work appeared in the 1990s with thirteen releases compared to just two games in the late 1980s. Their catalog shows a clear preference for strategy and simulation titles which together account for sixteen entries. They also produced six adventure games alongside several turn based strategy and point and click experiences. The platform reach of MPS Labs was heavily tied to older hardware. Thirteen of their fifteen games supported DOS while eleven worked on Microsoft Windows. Mac users found eight compatible titles and the Amiga had five options. You can also find their software on Atari ST systems, Linux machines, Sega Mega Drive consoles, and various rare platforms like the PC 9800 Series and Sharp X68000. Quality varies across their portfolio but leans toward the higher end of average. The eleven rated titles hold a mean score of 67.6 out of 100. Two games achieved great status with scores over 80 while six others landed in the good range between 60 and 79. Three titles received mixed reviews in the 40 to 59 bracket and none fell into the poor category below 40. The highest rated works include Sid Meier's Civilization from 1991 which scored 91 and Pirates! Gold from 1993 at 89.7. Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon and Darklands also performed well with scores above 70. Later years saw a shift in output quality. Releases like CivNet in late 1995 dropped to a score of 65 while 1942: The Pacific Air War from late 1994 scored just 50. Dragonsphere appeared early in 1994 with a score of 63. Even their final release in December 1997 as Civilization II: Multiplayer Gold Edition did not reach the heights of their earlier hits. MPS Labs produced solid work for strategy fans during its active years but the studio's output dwindled and ratings fluctuated as they moved toward the end of their run.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution