Star Control Origins

From Star Control - Official Wiki
Revision as of 02:55, 10 July 2018 by Jsan (talk | contribs) (spelling)
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Star Control: Origins is both the fourth game in the Star Control franchise and a reboot of it. It takes place in a different universe from previous Star Control games in order to provide a fresh story timeline to work with. It is being developed by Stardock Entertainment for the PC Windows platform, with editions for XBox One and Playstation 4 and Switch expected to be released later. The game is currently in development. A public Beta of its combat mode, "Fleet Battles", is currently in beta with the final release of the full game in summer 2018.

Concept

Star Control: Origins is a space role-playing game which puts the player in command of Earth's prototype interstellar ship. The game features both hyperspace and solar system travel, with a third person lander mode for resource collection and exploration of planetary bodies. Combat between aliens is handled via a top down 2D arcade-style combat system dubbed "Fleet Battles" in which each ship has a range of attack powers and abilities. Fleet Battles is available as an external mode as well, with the additional option of allowing the player to design their own ships.

Plot

Star Control: Origins takes place in the year 2088. Humanity is contacted by a species of aliens known as the Tywom, who claim they have been protecting us from a sinister evil empire known as the Scryve, who have domain over this region of the galaxy. As the player explores the immediate stars around earth they meet a wide cast of alien species, learn their histories, characteristics, and ongoing conflicts with their neighbors. The captain's mission is to prevent the Scryve from destroying the Earth through any means necessary.

Setting

Star Control: Origins takes place in an area of space known as "Orion's Spur". The player starts in a subset of this space known as the Scryve Sector which is approximately 120 by 120 light years containing hundreds of stars and thousands of worlds, each of which is unique.

Game Elements

The Command Ship

You are the captain of Earth's first prototype, interstellar starship with a mission to save the world. Star Control doesn't give you instructions on how to do that other than that it must be accomplished at all costs. Thus, a great deal of the game is focused on how you accomplish your goals, and the Command Ship is versatile which allows for great flexibility in player strategy. Through various missions, exploration and interactions you can improve your ship, gain new officers, recruit allies and gain access to many powerful abilities.

Planet Exploration

When the captain visits an alien world, they can review the world by scanning it. Scanning the planet allows the Captain to send down crew to explore the surface to acquire resources, artifacts and make contact with inhabitants. There are over 70 different planet classes and thousands of unique planets which vary greatly, and some contain life while most do not. Screenshot.

Star System Exploration

There are several hundred star systems in the Scryve sector of Orion's Spur. When a player enters a star system they are able to navigate to planets, other ships, starbases and other elements that one would expect to find in a star system. The many alien races can be found throughout the galaxy, but most aliens will be found in their home region.

Screenshot.

Hyperspace Navigation

The Faster-Than-Light (FTL) technology used by Star Control is called Hyperspace. In Hyperspace, the captain can travel to other star systems or intercept other ships traveling through hyperspace. The only known permanent structures within hyperspace are the mysterious Precursor Starbases. Players can upgrade their Hyperspace Drive to allow for more rapid movement throughout the galaxy, and are able to use autopilot for automated travel or jump between the Hypergate network found within the Precursor Starbases.

Screenshot.

Fleet Battles

Encounters with hostile aliens ins inevitable, and can only be resolved in real-time combat referred to as Fleet Battles. Fleet Battles take place as a series of one-versus-one fights in a small arena, each time a ship is destroyed, the loser has to pick another ship and the battle continues until either the player or the AI runs out of ships. The player assembles a fleet throughout the campaign by recruiting human and alien ships, while the hostile alien fleets are predetermined. Fleet Battles can also be played as a separate stand-alone game including multiplayer.

Alien Contact

The captain is the only human traveling outside the home solar system, so every every contact is alien. The alignments and motivations of each race of aliens will vary, so the captain needs to careful with first contact and diplomatic contact with aliens.

Screenshot.

Ship Upgrades and Customization

Resources earned from exploring planets can be used to upgrade the player's command ship.

Known Species

These are some of the species you may encounter in Star Control: Origins:

Historical Timeline

c. 250,000 BCE The Precursors appear on the galactic scene.
c. 200,000 BCE The Eternal Wars. Formation of Quasi-Degenerate worlds.
c. 25,000 BCE Drall Alliance formed with Taalo and Mael-Num
c. 22,500 BCE Taalo discover Ur-Quan
c. 22,000 BCE Discovery of the first Origin. Destruction of Drall Alliance. Disappearance of Ur-Quan to unknown space.
c. 20,000 BCE Rise of the Dnyarri Hegemony
c. 19,000 BCE Taalo flee known space.
c. 17,000 BCE Location of first Origin lost, arrival of the Xraki and domination by the Dnyarri.
c. 16,000 BCE Dnyarri begin breeding Xraki into different castes.
c. 15,000 BCE Dnyarri Hegemony spreads throughout the Orion Spur.
c. 11,000 BCE Rise of the Faction of Eight to contest the Dnyarri Hegemony
c. 9,000 BCE Dnyarri Hegemony falls, exiled to unknown region. Xraki disappear.
c. 8,000 BCE The Scryve are discovered by the Faction of Eight.
c. 7,500 BCE The Scryve overthrow the Faction of Eight. Survivors disperse to unknown parts.
c. 6,500 BCE The Measured discovered by the Scryve. Made wards of the Empire.
c. 4,000 BCE Discovery of the "contagion" which is engineered into a sentient virus by the Scryve.
c. 3,000 BCE The "Ancient One" enters this area of space seeking refuge. Scryve leave it alone.
c. 2,500 BCE Scryve begin discovering Precursor artifacts. An Origin is found allowing them to explore realities above and below their own.
c. 2,450 BCE Destruction of several major species. Scryve adopt new policies towards ward species, vowing to eliminate future threats before they fully develop.
c. 400 AD Drenkend discovered by the Scryve. Extensive genetic modifications commenced to forge them into creatures of war.
c. 1500 Tywom discovered by the Scryve. Made wards of the Empire.
1620 Menkmack discovered by Bylaw Enforcement officers of The Measured. Made wards of the Empire.
1825 Phamysht discovered by the Scryve. Made wards of the Empire.
1853 Overmind discovered by the Scryve. Made wards of the Empire.
1901 Precursor receiver on Ceres stops recording data.
1990 The Tywom discover and uplift a species called the Zalence.
1992 Scryve exterminate the Zalence, warn Tywom not to get "too curious" again.
2035 The Tywom pick up radio broadcasts from Earth. Become enthralled by human culture.
2046 Mowlings discovered by Scryve. Made wards of the Empire.
2047 Humans develop strong AI.  The technological singularity.
2048 Jeff enters this area of space.
2055 Race of strong AI beings develop on Earth, become known as the "Lexites".
2061 Scryve pass Act of Youthful Aggression, prohibiting any further addition of ward species to the Empire.
2078 Lexites make "the announcement". In three years, they will be leaving due to "the threat".
2079 Scryve detect Earthling broadcasts. Begins searching for origin point.
2081 Lexites depart Earth to the moon.
2085 Lexites departure from known space.
2086 Star Control formed to discover fate of the Lexites.
2088 Scryve 7th fleet is destroyed by an unknown force allowing the Tywom to warn Earth.