space exploration role playing adventure video game developed published originally developed compatible systems later released commodore fully revamped version game developed set year game puts players role starship captain sent explore galaxy set path allowing players switch freely mining ship ship combat alien diplomacy broader plot game emerges slowly player discovers ancient race beings causing stars destroy living creatures game widely praised contemporary modern critics earliest instances game led development sequel trade routes cloud influenced design numerous games decades release gameplay player begins inside space station called planet buy sell minerals fuel artifacts recruit train crew members upgrade parts ship player hires crew species man ship posts navigator science officer engineer communications officer doctor captain proficiency determined relevant skill science officer high science skill determine planet properties detect aliens greater range example skills increased training purchased man multiple posts different species different maximum skill levels ship initially equipped engines limited supply type crystal fuel ship modified upgraded purchase weapons armor shields goals game include exploration collection minerals finding colony worlds eventually larger goal finding stars region dangerously stopping process possible comes forefront main sources income selling minerals artifacts recommending planets colonization ship equipped terrain vehicle crew use look minerals life forms lucrative source income finding planets suitable human life science officer analysis shows planet acceptable parameters player captain log planet colonization star systems containing zero planets total star systems entered planets landed destroys ship gravity greater science officer scan analyze planet information including temperature gravity chemical composition landing ordered projection map shows topography planet select landing point ship lands terrain vehicle deployed drive terrain periodically new information search minerals alien ruins case outer space heads display monitors terrain vehicle status space coordinate pairs allow travel consuming fuel travel cuts significantly fuel costs travel time causes accomplished lose aliens cautious friendly hostile distinctive speech patterns player influence alien reactions weapons shields aliens varying communication styles alien ships information combat involves maneuvering ship firing weapons instantly damaging short range powerful long range missiles weapon depends far away enemy ships player ship armed player ship armor shields damage hull individual components story setting galaxy composed space races hired player crew humans exist found stars species include large insects demand bribes ships violate space left days race plants creatures primarily interested money gelatinous known octopus like religious regard air destructive fleet ships mind humor plays role plot story begins planet haven survivors heavy radiation inhabitants forced live beneath planet crust centuries recent times radiation finally dissipated surface allowing population long lost technology belonging original settlers inhabitants recently discovered things colony world earth second mineral flight independent company called ships resources particularly addition employees instructed seek information history alien artifacts planets environments colonization early game scientists discover stars local region galaxy home planet danger following clues given announcements contact alien races space crew discovers starship space repeating distress ship thousand years fall scientific expedition known left earth search heaven paradise world humans expedition arrived leaving fleet ships forever waiting arrival coded questions answered correctly assume crew fact long awaited investigation leads crew earth home world planet lies ruins devoid life contains information history fate additional clues found symmetrical system centuries ago leaders realized causing hostile aliens flee center galaxy greatest minds races gathered location discovered slowly life act sent human named commander end failed start game slowly moving galaxy planet causes nearby stars destroy life system player explore solar systems gather clues find special artifacts grant access ultimately destroying player home system commander journal entry found surface shares discovery actually race living beings burned fuel travel extremely slow makeup aware outside life come view races virus game won player successfully plants artifact surface space causing planet explode game played destroyed development developed man team consisting lead designer programming graphics programming sound vice president closely involved produced work original idea making video game conceived hired colleague idea generate endless virtual universe lee johnson time game designers quit project early development saying ambitious lee replacing team coded game forth key routines written speed forth chosen easier use compact important game fit ram tools techniques concepts game learned individuals forth community reference material included conference proceedings forth dimensions magazine took man years actual years develop game interview lead designer johnson said designed game funny looking ended creating open ended system players story sort stated game cancelled came year schedule johnson guided designer development advised draft story network highlight important points story list game objects necessary advance designers rewrote script multiple times group designed called generator took man years develop allowed increase number planets game created separate ecosystem generator course man years work alien names created randomly combining syllables names liked code communications rewritten times completion released august originally available compatible dos systems released systems systems ported sega version features changes overall game new graphics modifications ship upgrades terrain vehicle including equipment allow amphibious mining reception legacy critical response release extremely positive complimented game role computers column december issue dragon calling stunning presentation play declared best space exploration game years best science fiction game available computer magazine named adventure game year august joined magazine hall_of_fame games highly rated time readers highest rating action adventure games list fourth highest overall science fiction writer named game month january stating career game fascinating fellow writer wrote science fiction computer game actually gives experience galaxy found game fascinating graphics player interface superb called star wars science fiction games brilliantly designed programmed standard space exploration games measured listed favorite games stating captures feel certain type science fiction game hundreds hours play fully hours boring december game sold copies eventually went sell million copies said time game created arena sci electronic arts lee said knew classic building earliest games use generated content planets techniques created type environment planet contents randomly distributed story network earliest examples game design sequel trade routes went create space exploration adventure inspired game create star control johnson alien species game called star control spiritual successor mass effect director tweeted key inspiration series cited elite appeared years earlier similar gameplay early open world space exploration games dwarf fortress forgotten inspired generated received favorable reviews critics commentators decades release called great gaming called game thing awe reverence said defined genre space exploration games
Starflight