Star Control: October 2015 update

from StarControl Forums

Greetings!

Another month has come and gone and here is the monthly update -- just in a nick of time.

The Star Control team has continued to staff up as we've hired more animators and artists. 

Here are the topics to lead us into November:

Topic #1: The Founder's Program

Yes. The Founder's Program will get going within the next month or so.

If you are interested in joining, please fill out this survey: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VCQQG7D

 

Topic #2: The Tech

The game will be using the same graphics engine as Ashes of the Singularity.  That means it'll be both state of the art but also (Because we're not having to deal with 30,000+ units at once) be able to run on relatively modest hardware (it'll still require a 64-bit OS, DirectX 11 or later but you should be able to run it fine on an Ultrabook). 

The visuals are already quite stunning. Remember,. Nitrous's claim to fame (the engine)_ is that it renders similar to how CGI in movies is done except in real-time.  You can see that already in Ashes despite it having relatively simple 3D models.  Wait till you see what we can do with the aliens. 

 

Topic #3: Lore Update

Since this is a reboot, the game will take place before the events of the original Star Control 1. Without giving too much away, something happens in 2085 leading the Humans to form Star Control to begin exploring space and making contact with alien worlds.  The story will unfold from there.

 

Topic #4: Core elements

The founders will get a lot more information on all of this but below are the essential elements in the new Star Control.

  • Super Melee.  Without spoiling it, Super Melee will take place within a solar system, not around a single planet. It will support Internet multiplayer and will likely be the first component released to Founders (2016).
  • Planet Exploration.  This part is actually pretty far along and one of the coolest looking things I've ever seen and, after you see, it, it's "duh, of course that's how it should be done".
  • Encounters.  This is the most complex part of the game (or at least expensive).  Combining Nitrous with real-time emoting (not just lip syincing) is definitely proving worth it.  For the record, I was originally against this because I thought it would be cheesy. I've now seen it in action and it's really amazing.
  • Ship Customizer.  You wlll have a flag ship which will also pick up fleets of ally ships.  However, this time around, you'll be able to visually customize the ship such that everyone's ship will look different (which should prove fun in multiplayer and when exploring the multiverses created by others).  Think GalCiv III level customization combined with Nitrous fidelity.  This part of the game is already working (though primitively).
  • Exploration.  This part is working minus non-programmer art. 
  • Music.  We scored a real win getting Riku back after 25 years to score the new Star Control music. It's part of the charm of the original series.
  • Writing.  Chris Bucholz of cracked.com is in charge of the writing.  The aliens are, well, pretty awesomely insane and ridiculous already.  There are already some catchy memes that have spread across the office.  It'll be interesting whether they spread once others are exposed to them.
We're basically moving at full force.  We are still looking to hire more engineers though. Must be willing to locate to Towson Maryland.
 
Topic #5: Road Map
 
Here's the near-term road map:
  1. Founders Program begins (4Q2015). This will be access to our vault and a private forum where we can bounce ideas off those passionate, like us, about the Star Control reboot.
  2. Founders Prototype (1Q2016): Founders under NDA will start to be able to give feedback and try out some of our tools and early prototypes of what we're working on to give feedback and suggestions.
  3. Founders Alpha (2Q2016): Founders, under NDA, start getting Alpha builds.
  4. Early Access (4Q2016).
  5. 2017: 25th anniversary of Star Control 2.

Topic #6: Bonus Topic
 
Because of the heavy emphasis on player created universes (hence all the work on tools and editors), we'll be using the term "Multiverse" a lot going forward.
 
Broadly speaking, if someone uses the tools to create a Star Trek universe that players visit in the game that is full of Klingon and Federation ships (obviously, WE won't be releasing that but the tools will let people create any universe they want with their own ships, stories, aliens, etc. of varying qualities) that universe will have an Earth also. Similarly, if someone creates a Babylon 5 universe, that one has Earth in it too.  And needless to say, I suspect many people will use the tools to recreate Star Control 2 based stories with their ships and aliens -- and Earth is in that too.
 
So we can't obviously call these mods different galaxies or different parts of the milky way galaxy. They're different dimensions.  Hence, the multiverse concept. 
 
That there are other dimensions is not news to Star Control *campers* of course.
 
Once people have completed our main story-arc, they will have endless different stories to go to without having to wait for us to create sequels.  They just pop into their ship and choose a dimension to visit.
 
Let me know what questions you have.   There's already plenty of spoilers in this post but we'll be reserving most of the details for the Founder's vault.
 
 

 

230,698 views 73 replies
Reply #1 from StarControl Forums Top

Awesome news. Very enthusiastically looking forward to more!

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

All looks good. One question though. Please, tell me, there will be no Earth in the game. Since we don't get Spathi, Pkunk and Ur-Quan we shouldn't get Earth.

It'd be better if we got something like Lave in original Elite.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

That's a great bit of info to digest! Thanks for the update and all the effort to bring this labor of love to life.

 

The Orz said it best, "If you are *campers* you will enjoy *the change*, but maybe not yet."

Reply #4 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 2

All looks good. One question though. Please, tell me, there will be no Earth in the game. Since we don't get Spathi, Pkunk and Ur-Quan we shouldn't get Earth.

It'd be better if we got something like Lave in original Elite.

 

Yes. The Earth is here.  And while the spathi won't appear in the game, the lore doesn't imply that they're not in this universe, you simply don't encounter them During the course of this story which, again, takes place before the events of the original star control 1.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

^ Will the galactic map around Sol be completely different then (for one reason or another that's coherently explained in-game)?

Personally, I'd not wanna visit Gamma Krueger I and not find Pkunk there.

Reply #6 from StarControl Forums Top

Forgive me, but if this new star control game does NOT come out on a gaming console platform, I'm going to be sad and then pissed.

 

I want this game crazy bad, but not enough to run out and get it on PC.

 

I hate pc gaming. I cannot emphasize that enough.

 

Having said that....

I will run out and purchase it for ANY gaming console it was on without hesitation.

 

Hopefully, they make it for PC gamers and ANY console that's available.

 

You'll know what version I be getting. Lol

 

BTW, love the new info updates.

 

Customizing the ship.

Absolutely awesome!

 

Thank you, Frog.

Reply #7 from StarControl Forums Top

we plan on An XBox One release. Ps4 later.

Reply #8 from LittleTinyFrogs Forums Top

Looks exciting.  I still am currious how it will be explained that any races in this prequel dont exist in the main games.  Maybe the Kohr-Ah get them?  Good luck to everyone applying to be founders.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

This is it! This is IT! For the love of Our Lady of Guadalupe, this is ITTTTT!! Count me in. Filling out an application as soon as I get home form work and can do the computer diagnostic part!! THIS IS IT!!! 20+ years of waiting!

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Kralizec9, reply 8

Looks exciting.  I still am currious how it will be explained that any races in this prequel dont exist in the main games.  Maybe the Kohr-Ah get them?  Good luck to everyone applying to be founders.

My understanding is that they simply won't be referenced. You don't run into them in the course of this game.  

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top



Topic #3: Lore Update

Since this is a reboot, the game will take place before the events of the original Star Control 1. Without giving too much away, something happens in 2085 leading the Humans to form Star Control to begin exploring space and making contact with alien worlds.  The story will unfold from there.

 


 

As I understand it Star Control 1 Timeline was in the 27th Century, and the SC reboot timeline will begin sometime around 2085 doesn't make sense.  Won't this narrow the scope of the game, I mean mankind isn't going to develop hyperspace tech in 2085 or develop tech to explore the galaxy by that time, hell we won't even get out of our own solar system by that time in real life.  The only thing I can see fitting with the 2085 timeline is if humans make first contact with an alien race that gives them a plethora of tech to explore the galaxy, which kind of would be lame. 

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Uhh... the Precursors?!? In SC2, they gave TONS of aliens tech that boosted them! Same with the Melnorme!

Can we all just stop nay-saying everything and move forward? So what if it doesn't match up with exactly how each individual wants the game's story to go. This is the reality of the situation, let's help where we can to get the best game made possible.

I don't want to see this meaningful and spoileriffic thread derailed like the September Update one (which is still raging).

Reply #14 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Or they could somehow stumble upon an intact fully functioning spaceship.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Exactly, Rhonin!! Hahahah!

Reply #16 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting groqstrong87, reply 12


Quoting ,
quoting post


Topic #3: Lore Update

Since this is a reboot, the game will take place before the events of the original Star Control 1. Without giving too much away, something happens in 2085 leading the Humans to form Star Control to begin exploring space and making contact with alien worlds.  The story will unfold from there.



As I understand it Star Control 1 Timeline was in the 27th Century, and the SC reboot timeline will begin sometime around 2085 doesn't make sense.  Won't this narrow the scope of the game, I mean mankind isn't going to develop hyperspace tech in 2085 or develop tech to explore the galaxy by that time, hell we won't even get out of our own solar system by that time in real life.  The only thing I can see fitting with the 2085 timeline is if humans make first contact with an alien race that gives them a plethora of tech to explore the galaxy, which kind of would be lame. 

Star Control classic started in the 22nd century, not 27th.

In the classic timeline, the Androsynth leave Earth and soon after the humans come into contact with what became the Alliance of Free Stars.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
2080 - 2085 - The organisation known as Star Control is formed.  It is the military wing of the U.N., and encompasses all army, navy, air force and space fleet units.  Star Control headquarters are established in Geneva.
2085 - The Clone Revolt - a world-wide rebellion of Androsynth.   Assisted by a sympathetic human underground, they captured nearly every spaceflight facility on the planet.  Close to a thousand ships carry the Androsynth off-planet.   Orbital facilities captured by Androsynth.  The UN prepares to deploy weapons of mass destruction, but before they are deployed, the orbital facilities - modified for spaceflight - head out of the Sol system.  A passing cargo freighter reports that on reaching the edge of the system, the ships entered "a great red hole over 500 meters across."  The Androsynth establish fledgling colonies in the Vulpeculae star systems.

http://www.star-control.com/hosted/scwc/timeline.shtml

 

So Androsynths got their hands on the hyperspace tech from somewhere (Arilou?..)

You are their sympathizer fleeing with them.

Something happens at Eta Vulpeculae II and you disappear into ... another part of the galaxy? other universe?...

It doesn't work with the fact that the Earth is still in the game... :/

Reply #18 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 17

2080 - 2085 - The organisation known as Star Control is formed.  It is the military wing of the U.N., and encompasses all army, navy, air force and space fleet units.  Star Control headquarters are established in Geneva.
2085 - The Clone Revolt - a world-wide rebellion of Androsynth.   Assisted by a sympathetic human underground, they captured nearly every spaceflight facility on the planet.  Close to a thousand ships carry the Androsynth off-planet.   Orbital facilities captured by Androsynth.  The UN prepares to deploy weapons of mass destruction, but before they are deployed, the orbital facilities - modified for spaceflight - head out of the Sol system.  A passing cargo freighter reports that on reaching the edge of the system, the ships entered "a great red hole over 500 meters across."  The Androsynth establish fledgling colonies in the Vulpeculae star systems.


http://www.star-control.com/hosted/scwc/timeline.shtml

 

So Androsynths got their hands on the hyperspace tech from somewhere (Arilou?..)

You are their sympathizer fleeing with them.

Something happens at Eta Vulpeculae II and you disappear into ... another part of the galaxy? other universe?...

It doesn't work with the fact that the Earth is still in the game... :/

I'm afraid you'll just have to live with that. Or not. In 2015 there was supposed to be a nuclear war too.

something is different. You, as the player, will uncover the reasons.

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

^ So, you ARE rewriting a part of the canon... I'm getting a feeling that it's either gonna turn out to be fantastic or a complete failure (like Mass Effect ending)...

Reply #20 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 19

^ So, you ARE rewriting a part of the canon... I'm getting a feeling that it's either gonna turn out to be fantastic or a complete failure (like Mass Effect ending)...

The Star Cntrol universe will evolve over time. The Ur-Quan continuity is a different story. 

 

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

I sent my survey.   

 

I'm excited to see this project going forward!   I'm very interested in the Multiverse construction tools....I'm sure there are a lot of very creative people out there that could do something with the original canon.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Application sent too!

Good luck to everyone applying for the Founder's Program!

Reply #23 from StarControl Forums Top

Star Control classic started in the 22nd century, not 27th.

In the classic timeline, the Androsynth leave Earth and soon after the humans come into contact with what became the Alliance of Free Stars.

This is actually an interesting oddity in the back corners of Star Control lore. SC1's timeline did originally take place in the 2600s (check the manual). With SC2, the story became more important and they decided to retcon it back 500 years.

So, you ARE rewriting a part of the canon... I'm getting a feeling that it's either gonna turn out to be fantastic or a complete failure (like Mass Effect ending)...

The idea is that this is an alternate timeline, with a different version of the SC universe and different races. While I can understand why some people are disappointed with this, it does have its advantages. Since Fred and Paul can't work on this due to their employment with Activision, rebooting the continuity lets Stardock do whatever they want without touching the original storyline (and still leaves the possibility open of Fred and Paul continuing the SC2 storyline one day).

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

^ I don't know if you missed it, but the original timeline is being rewritten (even if ever so slightly) to create this "alternate" one. The problem with that alternate timeline is that it's gonna be like a bastard child of a respected parent. It'll never be fully accepted and embraced by old fans. It won't ever be able to merge harmoniously with the original lore in possible sequels. Basically, Stardock forces 2 different SC universes on us with this decision.

 

It would be much better if original SC2 timeline is left untouched and the new SC just branches out of it into different part of galaxy or even different part of the universe for all I care... In this case if Fred and Paul come back, they can continue with their story and use new stuff that Stardock cradled and raised if they want to. And if someone else is to continue the SC saga there won't be a question to continue Batman with Catwoman, Joker and Riddler or Batman with Villain#1, Villain#2 and Villain#3.

 

I might be fussing over nothing though, since we know such little about how it's done. I really hope to be like: "Wow, that's some clever sh!t you pulled off there, Stardock." in the end. But, for right now, I just thought it would be appropriate to voice my and some other old SC fans concern.

Reply #25 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 24

^ I don't know if you missed it, but the original timeline is being rewritten (even if ever so slightly) to create this "alternate" one. The problem with that alternate timeline is that it's gonna be like a bastard child of a respected parent. It'll never be fully accepted and embraced by old fans. It won't ever be able to merge harmoniously with the original lore in possible sequels. Basically, Stardock forces 2 different SC universes on us with this decision.

 

It would be much better if original SC2 timeline is left untouched and the new SC just branches out of it into different part of galaxy or even different part of the universe for all I care... In this case if Fred and Paul come back, they can continue with their story and use new stuff that Stardock cradled and raised if they want to. And if someone else is to continue the SC saga there won't be a question to continue Batman with Catwoman, Joker and Riddler or Batman with Villain#1, Villain#2 and Villain#3.

 

I might be fussing over nothing though, since we know such little about how it's done. I really hope to be like: "Wow, that's some clever sh!t you pulled off there, Stardock." in the end. But, for right now, I just thought it would be appropriate to voice my and some other old SC fans concern.

This Star Control is a reboot of the franchise.  It will have its own, completely different timeline from the Ur-Quan timeline.  None of that precludes the Spathi and the Orz and the Ur-Quan existing within the universe.