Ever since AOE Microsoft's games have steadily cut a share into the market. Using these skills they are entering online-only gaming in a big way with some seriously cool games. Allegiance , due first quarter 2000, is a massively multiplayer online-only team based space shooter. Scouts have great visual range and can help on the command screen. Fighters naturally are the best at dogfighting.
Bombers are terrible at fighting but are the only ships which can destroy bases.
Capital ships are the giant slow bosses, virtually helpless with a single pilot but powerful if you can get your teammates to turret on you. The quality of your ships, weapons, and specials are determined by a technology tree which you travel along by spending credits gained from kills. As this is a team game, all technology investment helps the whole team. You can choose to donate your credits to someone who will purchase for the whole team, or can buy things yourself. Technologies are divided into categories, such as pure science or bases.