Free Stars: Childen of Infinity (The Ur-Quan Masters sequel)

[Ithekro]

Free Stars: Children of Infinity has been announced:

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This is a sequel by Fred Ford and Paul Reiche to their 1992 game Star Control 2: The Ur-Quan Masters. (This game has recently been rebranded as Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters due to different people holding trademarks and the like. It has been settled, no worries there).

For those that don't remember the original game, this is Pistol Shrimp's Steam release trailer for the rebranded version from last year.

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I am looking forward to this as the original sequel (Star Control 3) did come out and had some interesting story notes, it just wasn't quite as much fun (also didn't have Ford or Reiche involved in the project). Stardock's Star Control entry is fun, but doesn't continue the story set up in Star Control 2. So this new game should scratch the 30 year itch of getting that story with a very similar styling to the early 90s game.

 

[aquova]

I really need to sit down and play through UQM. I've had it on my computer for years now, but never took the time to play more than a few hours. All accounts say it's fantastic.

 

[Ithekro]

It is, but one always must remember that it is a game from the early 1990s.

I look forward to the exploration aspect again. And the interactions with the various characters encountered. The combat aspect...not sure. It was fun, but that was a long time ago, and there were time I really didn't want to get into a fight, and would either let the AI handle it, or make very attempt to avoid a fight via speed. It can be quite taxing getting to a chain of combat encounters when you are trying to reach an objective, or more likely, escape from an objective within a hostile sphere of influence.

With the proper ships or modules on your flagship, you can be over-powered against certain foes, but that depends greatly on your play style. At some point I found it more useful to buy information and fuel for the Melnorme rather than modules, so I tended to run with a sub-standard flagship and use my escorts for combat or rely on my emergency warp drive to jump out of encounters.
Other people prefer gearing up with Melnorme purchased modules to make the flagship a nearly unstoppable warship that has no equal. That is all down to your own style of play and if you can find the resources needed to buy said information and later the modules themselves after you reach your starbase.

 

[The Lensman]

I played SC1 on Genesis and loved it. SC2 was a different animal all together and I loved it for what it was. I don't know that I ever beat it, but I had long since spoiled myself on the ending and from what I remember, it was epic as hell and quite the surprise. Seems like there's one event in the game that's a timed event and I don't recall if you could stop or mitigate it, but if you could, I never did and don't know how far I went beyond that point. I just remember it was another cool moment in an already cool game.

I'm curious about this game given the revelations at the end of SC2, like....is this a retcon or not? As for combat in SC2, I always let the computer handle it IIRC as it wasn't a combat game like SC1 was. Off the top of my head, I don't recall how far Starflight and Star Control 2 came out, seems like it was fairly close as one reminded me of the other. I really wish someone would redo Starflight with modern graphics, but keep the game style and camera angles the same. There was something about that and the soundtrack, primitive as it was, that really sold the cold loneliness and mysteriousness of space to me. This game looks close to that, and I'll most certainly get it as I loved the exploration element of both SC2 and Starflight, which were very similar.

 

[Ithekro]

From what I understand, the Free Stars: Children of Infinity will start three or so years after the main events of SC2. The story will likely be what leads to the years later scene at the end. The story for another day has arrived.

I am not sure about a timed event. There was the Death March, that started on a particular day if you didn't manage to cause other events to happen to delay it by, I think up to two years. After the Death March starts you have basically a year (maybe less) to resolve whatever problems you have with finding a way to gain victory. Because the Death March ends at Earth... if it gets there before you win the game...well you lose. I know I lost the first time I played because I spent too much time exploring and being careful around enemy spheres of influence (based on the map that came with the game...so I didn't find the Orz for a while). A second game I got stuck because I couldn't remember where something was and didn't have the means to look it up or remember where to backtrack to get that information (the Syreen's vault). The trouble was that I had found it, didn't know what to do with it. Later found out what to do with it but couldn't remember where it was. Third Game I think I won during the Death March. After that I got faster at it so the Death March wouldn't start.

There were other events that happen after you contact some species. X-months after contact, or a year later a thing happens, and if you don't do something that species will be wiped out, or something. Generally, when this happens it will make the game harder, but not impossible because there are other ways to gain pieces of information, or if they had a device, you would find it on their now dead homeworld, or wherever it was, but now unguarded.

The only other thing I can think of is the portal to Quasi-space was only open between the 17th and 20th of the month, every month, if you wanted to talk to the Arilou.

Combat in SC2 was basically the same as SC1. At least the melee part of it. I've been playing the Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters the last week or so to get a feel for the game again. The combat is still fine, just that back then I used as joystick, so I'm not as quick with the keyboard controls.

 

[Ithekro]

The Kickstarter reached its first goal in less than half a day. I intend to get the physical lore book and map once the game comes out.

A link to the Kickstarter if anyone is curious.
http://kck.st/3vT9fem

 

[Ithekro]

The Kickstarter is currently around 350% funded. So the game itself will probably come out in a year and a half.

While I can piece together some ideas from what little we have so far from the plot and images of the star map, I do have questions/speculation.

One of the items in the package bundles is the patch for the Alliance of Free Stars post-war. It has a stylized 'A' in the shape of a Chmrrr Avatar and nine stars. My question is, who do those stars represent? There were up to 13 races you could gather for the Alliance in the previous game. Some might have gotten wiped out, others merged with each other. Some may have alternate agenda and not be part of the Alliance anymore.

The trouble is, the way the game playthroughs are, there are a lot of possibilities about just whom those nine might be.

 

[Ithekro]

A update on Kickstarter that proved some lore for the new game:

FREE STARS: Children of Infinity by Pistol Shrimp — Kickstarter

Familiarization Brief: The Ur-Quan Volunteer
Prepared by Alliance Military Intelligence Division, Department of Xenoanthropology
Reports from beyond the Great Arrow indicate the expedition has come across a fascinating discovery: a lone Ur-Quan Kzer-Za, identifying itself only as “Great Master,” has initiated contact with the flagship commander and has requested permission to join the expedition fleet. The Kzer-Za has informed the commander that it wishes to “observe” the progress of the mission and the command decisions made during its course. Though unusually loquacious for its kind, the Kzer-Za has refused to elaborate further about the specific observations it wishes to make, or the true purpose of those observations.

The Kzer-Za’s explanation for its presence is that it “volunteered” to seek out the expedition, and that the Ur-Quan adherence to the twin doctrines of “The Path of Now and Forever” and “The Eternal Doctrine” are no more—indeed, that the doctrines themselves have been completely abrogated. The Ur-Quan Volunteer intimates that the Ur-Quan are collectively seeking “a new way,” and that the expedition commander’s actions will somehow aid them in finding that way.

Fascinatingly, the Kzer-Za has offered its Dreadnought starship for use in expeditionary fleet defense. This represents a singular opportunity to gather first-hand technical data about the weapons of what was once our greatest foe. Alliance Joint Command recommends the expedition commander accept the Kzer-Za’s offer.

The pledges are dropping off somewhat. The voice over goal may not be reached.

 

[Ithekro]

Still ten or so days left on the Kickstarter (really pushing for voice over goals)

But they did publish something today about the older ships in the new game.
FREE STARS: Children of Infinity by Pistol Shrimp » Ship Art Showcase - Classic Ships — Kickstarter

Also Pistol Shrimp has been putting out videos of interviews with other game developers and designers about how much the old Star Control 2 game influenced them to make better games.
As well as some videos about designing the current game using a new "Simple" program design, and talk with artists on designing the new aliens for the game.

 

[B.J.]

I'd like to get voice-overs as well (I *loved* Fwiffo's voice-acting in SC2!), but $200k is a big jump to get there.

 

[Ithekro]

It is, though they added some additional higher price options, such as creature and lander design perks and lowered the private playtest and design tutorial perk cost (design your own ship). Out of my price range.

They have said they still want to have voice acting, even if they have to add it later (the original DOS release game did not have voice acting. That was added in the 3DO port a few years later).

 

[Ithekro]

There are now three days left on the Kickstarter. They are currently at 542% funded. Still looking to get 670% funded for Voice Over work. There was an upswell yesterday as they have started to show off some of the artists that are involved as well as the classic ships in the updated style.

• Ben Chandler (Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, The Forever Labyrinth, Nighthawks, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs)
  
  
• Arne aka AndroidArts, of UQM (and many other!) fan-art fame.
  
  
• George Barr, original UQM illustrator and painter.
  
  
• Robert Mauritson, longtime UQM fan-artist creating alien portraits
  
  
• Tim Sjastad (Phantom Fury), ship and creature artist
  

They are authorizing a push. So, I push.

 

[B.J.]

Arne aka AndroidArts, of UQM (and many other!) fan-art fame.

Okay, *this* one has got me excited! I love his concept work!

 

[Chaos Descending]

I much preferred Starflight and Starflight 2.

Star Control 2 / Ur-Quan Masters was decent but I hated having to constantly replenish my crew.

I really wish they'd make a proper Starflight 3.

 

[Ithekro]

Speculation Time from above with more detail:

One of the Kickstarter rewards is an Alliance of Free Stars patch, which has a stylized "A" in the shape of a Chmmr Avatar, and nine stars.
My question would be, who are the nine stars representative of in this New Alliance?

In UQM you can get up to 13 races involved in the Alliance. Some are pretty sure gone or non-factors by war's end.

Humans (Definitely)

Arilou (Questionable agenda. Likely a non-member that helps the humans only.)

Orz (Definitely, but questionable agenda as well...could be the problem if there is a tear in hyperspace)

Chmmr (Definitely)

Pkunk (Merged with Yehat?)

Yehat (Definitely, but are they merged with Pkunk?)

Shofixti (Unclear. Have they breed enough to be a member species or are they still repopulating under the Yehat or Humans?)

Spathi (Likely...once they find out their Planetary Shield can be breeched by the Chmmr, and thus not as impregnable as the Ur-Quan said it was. Though they could remain shielded under Chmmr protection and not be active allies)

Supox (Definitely. They seemed eager to help)

Utwig (Maybe, depends on the Ultron)

Syreen (Definitely. Unless they are functionally merged with the Humans due to their low population)

Thraddash (No. Culture 20 or 21 is likely not in a state to help anyone, nor is the Alliance going to want them, I think)

Zoq-Fot-Pik (Definitely eager. Frungy for all species! Assuming they survived the war)

 

[Ithekro]

The Consoles goal has been reached. . .Meaning ports to PS5, Nintendo Switch, and the X-Box series X.

40 or so hours left to make it to the Voice Over goal. It is possible. Having a console option may widen the audience for additional keys for kids and friends to be able to play co-op or Melee on more than just a PC.

Finland is still being awesome as the fifth largest area backers are from. Helsinki is still in the top ten for cities.

 

[B.J.]

Holy crap, they just hit the $670k voice-over goal! I'm honestly surprised they got that far!

 

[Ithekro]

Voice Over goal achieved. 680% funded at Kickstarter's end.