Star Control Origins

''Star Control: Origins'' is an action-adventure game developed and published by Stardock Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, released September 20, 2018.

Gameplay

''Star Control: Origins'' begins in the year 2088, where the human space agency Star Control launches Earth's first interstellar-capable ship to investigate an alien distress signal. The player assumes the role of the captain of that ship. The game follows the template of original ''Star Control'' series as an action-adventure game, combining planetary exploration, diplomacy with alien races, and ship-to-ship space battles. The one-on-one "Fleet Battles" take place in a 2D top-down arena, with each type of ship having two different abilities. Through the game's story, characters provide quests that direct the player to explore different places in the galaxy. Players can send a planetary lander to explore planets and gather resources, and the game adds a new planetary-landing minigame. The game allows players to upgrade their ships, including abilities that automate combat, planetary resource-gathering, and piloting between destinations. There is also a Fleet Battles multiplayer mode, which can be played against other people online, or against an AI opponent.

Development

In 2013, Atari filed for bankruptcy, and auctioned its assets in the dormant ''Star Control'' franchise. That summer, Stardock became the highest bidder on the "Star Control" trademark and the copyright in the original material of ''Star Control 3'', though Atari's assets did not include the copyright to other games in the franchise.

Stardock built their game using the Nitrous Engine, with the style of writing and visual art inspired by ''Star Control II''. By 2017, they announced delays and changes in plans, forcing them to cancel their planned ''Defense of the Ancients''-style combat system, while still allowing players to play a public beta of their one-on-one Super Melee system in November. The reported budget for ''Star Control: Origins'' was $10 million, with additional costs for marketing and promotion.

In 2014, Stardock initially told Ars Technica that they would create ''Star Control: Origins'' as a prequel, taking place 43 years before the events of ''Star Control''. Stardock CEO Brad Wardell sought to involve creators of the original ''Star Control'' series. When both Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III declined, the game was set in a separate universe from the original series.

Reception

''Star Control: Origins'' has a Metacritic score of 75, indicating "generally favorable reviews". IGN's Dan Stapleton gave ''Star Control: Origins'' a review score of 6.9/10 praising the game's combat system and humorous dialogue, but criticizing the repetitive gameplay of planetary resource gathering. Windows Central suggested that "If you enjoy space games, exploring the unknown, establishing communications with potential allies and enemies, as well as shooting stuff out of space, you'll enjoy Star Control: Origins". Stardock reports that ''Star Control: Origins'' received 10,000 pre-orders, leading to sales of 50,000 copies after one week of distribution.

References

External links

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{{Stardock

2018 video games
Action-adventure games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Science fiction video games
Star Control
Stardock games
Video games set in the 2080s
Video games developed in the United States
Video game sequels
Video game prequels
Unauthorized video games
Video games involved in plagiarism controversies
Windows games
Windows-only games
Fiction set in 2088