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Description
Ancient humanity developed a capability for geoengineering and bioengineering far beyond those of any modern civilization. While these were, for the most part, used for the utilitarian purpose of making more human-friendly worlds to ensure that the species as a whole will never go extinct, human creativity and the desire for recreation has led to the creation of less hospitable planets. These are the game worlds, entire planets designed entirely for the purpose of recreational hunting.

Game worlds vary greatly in environment. Some are modeled after the homeworlds of conquered alien empires, their entire once-advanced species reduced to a state of savagery so they may be targets of human hunters. By far, the vast majority are modeled off primeval Earth, because they did not require environment suits and allowed for a more "authentic" experience. These worlds were populated by cloned and genetically engineered animals using DNA from ancient Terran gene banks and amber. From the fearsome tyrannosaurs to the majestic gorillas, these once-extinct animals were brought back to life, so they may be killed properly. Other game worlds crafted their own creatures, to offer a more exotic experience. Some creatures were even intelligent enough to rival humans, although they were always handicapped in some manner.

Game world designers soon introduced primitive human societies onto these planets, to serve as guides, game, or simply to provide atmosphere. These societies were prevented from advancing by planetary authorities, which would confiscate or destroy stolen technology that a primitive society could not reproduce. The soils on these planets would invariably be of poor quality for agriculture, forcing societies to remain in a hunter-gatherer state. Primitive societies on former colonies of the First Empire were imported. New societies and languages were formed via the indoctrination of young children and, later on, by using imprinters on prisoners. These societies were encouraged to war with one another, often by crafting elaborate webs of rivalries that would perpetuate themselves.

Game world hunts eventually became so numerous and popular that even the middle classes could indulge once every few years. Hunters were allowed to bring trophies of their game (for a price, of course). The hunting culture became so prevalent that the Imperial Navy even offered opportunities to "hunt" defeated alien civilizations via orbital bombardment; many an Imperial noble's child celebrated their birthday by wiping an alien city off the map. However, technology would eventually render game worlds obsolete. The hedonic engine could offer everything a game world could, and more, and at a low cost. Some game worlds were converted into processor worlds by corporations desperate to recoup their investment, but most were simply abandoned.

Since they offered little to the Cog Lords, game worlds were passed over by the War of the Cog Lords, allowing thousands of them to survive into the modern era. Without Imperial authorities to manage their development, some game worlds gave rise to advanced civilizations. These civilizations often remained constrained to their homeworld, but others managed to expand into neighboring systems. The most successful game world civilization is the Kerdin Empire. Founded by genetically engineered intelligent saurians, the Kerdin eventually subjugated the other intelligent species on their planet, and then expanded into neighboring space. The Kerdin remain one of the major non-human galactic powers, and a threat to galactic security.

Description
Ancient humanity developed a capability for geoengineering and bioengineering far beyond those of any modern civilization. While these were, for the most part, used for the utilitarian purpose of making more human-friendly worlds to ensure that the species as a whole will never go extinct, human creativity and the desire for recreation has led to the creation of less hospitable planets. These are the game worlds, entire planets designed entirely for the purpose of recreational hunting.

Game worlds vary greatly in environment. Some are modeled after the homeworlds of conquered alien empires, their entire once-advanced species reduced to a state of savagery so they may be targets of human hunters. By far, the vast majority are modeled off primeval Earth, because they did not require environment suits and allowed for a more "authentic" experience. These worlds were populated by cloned and genetically engineered animals using DNA from ancient Terran gene banks and amber. From the fearsome tyrannosaurs to the majestic gorillas, these once-extinct animals were brought back to life, so they may be killed properly. Other game worlds crafted their own creatures, to offer a more exotic experience. Some creatures were even intelligent enough to rival humans, although they were always handicapped in some manner.

Game world designers soon introduced primitive human societies onto these planets, to serve as guides, game, or simply to provide atmosphere. These societies were prevented from advancing by planetary authorities, which would confiscate or destroy stolen technology that a primitive society could not reproduce. The soils on these planets would invariably be of poor quality for agriculture, forcing societies to remain in a hunter-gatherer state. Primitive societies on former colonies of the First Empire were imported. New societies and languages were formed via the indoctrination of young children and, later on, by using imprinters on prisoners. These societies were encouraged to war with one another, often by crafting elaborate webs of rivalries that would perpetuate themselves.

Game world hunts eventually became so numerous and popular that even the middle classes could indulge once every few years. Hunters were allowed to bring trophies of their game (for a price, of course). The hunting culture became so prevalent that the Imperial Navy even offered opportunities to "hunt" defeated alien civilizations via orbital bombardment; many an Imperial noble's child celebrated their birthday by wiping an alien city off the map. However, technology would eventually render game worlds obsolete. The hedonic engine could offer everything a game world could, and more, and at a low cost. Some game worlds were converted into processor worlds by corporations desperate to recoup their investment, but most were simply abandoned.

Since they offered little to the Cog Lords, game worlds were passed over by the War of the Cog Lords, allowing thousands of them to survive into the modern era. Without Imperial authorities to manage their development, some game worlds gave rise to advanced civilizations. These civilizations often remained constrained to their homeworld, but others managed to expand into neighboring systems. The most successful game world civilization is the Kerdin Empire. Founded by genetically engineered intelligent saurians, the Kerdin eventually subjugated the other intelligent species on their planet, and then expanded into neighboring space. The Kerdin remain one of the major non-human galactic powers, and a threat to galactic security.