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Star Control: Origins

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Star Control: Origins
Developer(s)Stardock Entertainment
Publisher(s)Stardock Entertainment
Producer(s)Brad Wardell
Designer(s)Brad Wardell
Artist(s)Akil Dawkins, Paul Boyer
Writer(s)Chris Bucholz
Composer(s)Riku Nuottajärvi, Dan Nicholson, Mason Fisher, Michael Curran
EngineNitrous
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseSeptember 20, 2018
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

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

Gameplay

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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.[1] The game follows the template of original Star Control series as an action-adventure game,[2][3] combining planetary exploration, diplomacy with alien races, and ship-to-ship space battles.[4] The one-on-one "Fleet Battles" take place in a 2D top-down arena, with each type of ship having two different abilities.[5] Through the game's story, characters provide quests that direct the player to explore different places in the galaxy.[2] Players can send a planetary lander to explore planets and gather resources, and the game adds a new planetary-landing minigame.[5] The game allows players to upgrade their ships, including abilities that automate combat, planetary resource-gathering, and piloting between destinations.[4] There is also a Fleet Battles multiplayer mode, which can be played against other people online, or against an AI opponent.[2]

Development

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In 2013, Atari filed for bankruptcy, and auctioned its assets in the dormant Star Control franchise.[6] 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.[7][8]

Stardock built their game using the Nitrous Engine,[9] with the style of writing and visual art inspired by Star Control II.[10] 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.[11] The reported budget for Star Control: Origins was $10 million, with additional costs for marketing and promotion.[12]

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.[10] Stardock CEO Brad Wardell sought to involve creators of the original Star Control series.[13] When both Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III declined,[14][15] the game was set in a separate universe from the original series.[16]

Reception

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Star Control: Origins has a Metacritic score of 75, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17] 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.[2] 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".[18] Stardock reports that Star Control: Origins received 10,000 pre-orders,[12] leading to sales of 50,000 copies after one week of distribution.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Hutchinson, Lee (October 18, 2016). "A first look at Star Control: Origins gameplay—prequel due for release in 2H17". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Dan Stapleton (September 20, 2018). "Star Control: Origins Review". IGN. Archived from the original on September 20, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  3. ^ Peter Parrish (October 18, 2016). "Star Control: Origins announced by Stardock". PC Invasion. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Ian Birnbaum (September 28, 2018). "Star Control: Origins Review". PC Gamer. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  5. ^ a b David Wildgoose (September 20, 2018). "Star Control: Origins Review - Space Oddity". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 20, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  6. ^ Kyle Hilliard (July 21, 2013). "Wargaming And Stardock Entertainment Obtain Atari Franchises At Bankruptcy Auction". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013.
  7. ^ Hutchinson, Lee (July 24, 2013). "Stardock acquires Star Control rights in fire sale, plans reboot". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Hutchinson, Lee (February 22, 2018). "Star Control countersuit aims to invalidate Stardock's trademarks". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  9. ^ Julian Benson (6 December 2017). "Kevin Unangst has left Microsoft's gaming on Windows 10 project to join Stardock". PC Games N. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Lee Hutchinson (January 3, 2014). "Stardock CEO reveals details about new Star Control title in development". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Axon, Samuel (October 19, 2017). "Stardock CEO talks Star Control: Origins' player crafting and upcoming beta". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  12. ^ a b James Batchelor (January 2, 2019). "Star Control creators block Origins release". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  13. ^ Emanuel Maiberg (January 4, 2014). "Stardock CEO confirms Star Control reboot is a prequel, will include multiplayer". PC Gamer.
  14. ^ Alice O'Connor (February 23, 2018). "Star Control lead devs fire back at Stardock lawsuit". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  15. ^ Ahmad, Syed; Perez, Adriana A. (September 26, 2019). "When communications with public relations firms are privileged" (PDF). Westlaw / Thomson Reuters. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  16. ^ Tarason, Dominic (2018-09-20). "Space adventure reboot Star Control: Origins launches into the boundless void today". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  17. ^ "Star Control Origins of PC Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  18. ^ updated, Rich Edmonds last (2018-09-20). "Star Control: Origins PC review — Stardock successfully revives a classic game". Windows Central. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  19. ^ Bradley Wardell (September 28, 2018). "Star Control: Origins - Expansion plans". Stardock. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
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