1995 · 4X · Space opera

Stars!

Stars! is a turn-based strategy, science fiction 4X game.

Released: 1995
Platforms: MS-DOS Windows
Genres: 4X Space opera Strategy Turn-based strategy
Developers: —
Publishers: Empire Interactive
Modes: Single-player
Themes: 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

Stars! is a turn-based strategy, science fiction 4X video game (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate), originally developed by Jeff Johnson and Jeff McBride with help from Jeffrey Krauss ("the Jeffs") for personal use, initially released as shareware for Microsoft Windows in 1995. A retail version was later produced and published by Empire Interactive, with developer Jason Gaston added to the team for quality assurance testing, although the shareware version continued.

The game focuses on players developing their empires, engaging in diplomacy, and conquering the galaxy. It begins with race design, and features 2D graphics and a grid-based battle system. The game is well-adapted to Play-By-Email and also supports AI opponents, blitz games, and duels. Stars!

Keywords

space simulation

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Starting with a small fleet of ships and one or two planets, players develop their empires, meet other races and conquer the galaxy. Stars! games begin with race design, choosing one of 10 primary racial traits, a selection of lesser racial traits, habitability, growth, economic, and technology settings. The graphics are entirely 2D, and consist of the main map view and static pictures of planets, ship hulls and components.

Battles consist of moving static icons around a grid. Because of the high level of micromanagement and diplomacy requirements, many games take place over months between players spread across the galaxy.

Development

The game was originally developed in 1995, with version 2.0 released early in 1996. Later that year the newsgroup rec.games.computer.stars became active, facilitating public discussion of tactics and allowing players to find new games.

The game was originally developed by Jeff Johnson and Jeff McBride with help from Jeffrey Krauss ("the Jeffs") for personal use, initially released as shareware for Microsoft Windows in 1995. A retail version was later produced for, and published by Empire Interactive, with developer Jason Gaston added to the team for quality assurance testing, although the shareware version continued.

Reception

Stars! has received some generally positive reviews. PC Gamer UK's reviewer Andy Butcher gave the game a rating of 79% in its February 1997 issue, commending it with the following comment: "What makes it stand out from the many games based on a similar idea are its depth, and that it's been designed right from the start with multiplayer gaming in mind". Pitfalls he mentions include that the large number of options available can make the game confusing, and that the game is likely to be less appealing to single players.

GameSpot's reviewer T. Liam McDonald rated the game 7.3 "Good", applauding "a solid Windows interface, plain graphics, a wide range of custom options, deep strategic content, and compulsive playability" and stating that the game outdoes the similar game Spaceward Ho! 4.0. In Computer Game Review, Tasos Kaiafas wrote, "Stars! may not be brilliant, but it is fun and well designed."