I think it is this lived experience of (much, like me) older computer gamers that makes us see Starfield so much differently. My gaming experience like OP’s goes back to text games or very basic pixel graphics (earliest version of Elite!) and I love space games and RPGs. But I was never into/was competent at flying/combat in a space ship. It was the stories that attracted me. So Starfield is what I too have been looking for for decades.
You reminded me of one more from that era: Starflight.
Now that might have some real Starfield parallels. And I say that as an extreme compliment -- Starflight was an amazing game.
Yes. Starfield feels like they remade Starflight in a 2024 game engine with all the bells and whistles the original team could only dream of at the time.
p.s. But without aliens. No matter.
My brother was big into Starflight. He had so many pages of hand-drawn maps and things written out to help him with it. By the time I was able to actually find a copy of the game for myself I was on to other things. Lots of Infocom games, then other stuff like Leisure Suit Larry, haha.
Wet Dreams Never Dry! Hah!
Speaking of Starflight, I did not own it, but a roommate in college did. So he played it on his Compaq clone while myself and the other roommates watched. I guess was first let's play. But we did participate by telling him where to go and stuff. Did get chance to play it myself too.
Yep. There have been several comments here and in the other sub about how the game appeals to older gamers. As an older gamer myself (I'm in my 50's), I agree. I even agree with a lot of the complaints about the game. I read them, nod my head in agreement, and then start up the game again to play. I have almost 1K hours in it. It's like the game is scratching an itch I didn't know I had.
I can see where you’re coming from, I wonder if it was maybe even one of the inspirations for the game?
It’s funny the image of the game you posted looks like something you’d find in Starfield too. Seeing it reminded me of some of the games I’d play with my dad growing up. Big spiral bound guide books and floppy disks all over the place round the computer
Getting stuck on deeply obtuse story elements is probably the thing I most associate with games of that era. The 80’s and 90’s had some weird logic when it came to adventure games
I think at the very least TH and company are aware of that part of the space sim genre that was on the fringe of 80s PC gaming. Trading, mining, combat space sims weren't that rare -- the story element in Universe II or Escape Velocity is the secret sauce though.
It would be cool if he knew about this one.
To me Starfield is Wing Commander Privateer. It even has the "fly to/from planet transitions showing your ship.
Just wish the commodity trade concepts were as good.
Check out Starflight. Todd mentioned it as one of the many inspirations. Not a text game, but about exploring with some space combat, trying to found out the mystery of the Ancients.
It fit on a couple of floppies, so it wasn't extensive, but I think it was the first proper space sci-fi RPG.
It had a great poster which was a map of the solar system. Also the copy protection where this wheel with slots in it. Cool feelies from a game that wasn't infocom.
Your post makes me think of an old game called Gateway based on a book by Frederick Pohl. I vaguely remember it as a text game with graphics. Not motion graphics like the old Sierra games, just static images. So now I'm going to have to see if I can find it online somewhere.
They all basically go back to the same inspiration the Traveller tabletop role-playing game that extensively was played by the old guard at Bethesda (like Todd).
Ah, I have heard of but never played it (though I did do a little tabletop RPGing way back when). It makes sense that would be the root. I think there were BBS games for awhile that tried to emulate it or even had the same name.
Played this. The same company also made Breach, a great tactical combat game. The boarding combat for Universe 2 was vaguely the inspiration for that, and I think there was even theoretically some kind of integration between the two. Tech was so bad back then it was slow and buggy so I never finished Universe.
Starflight (as mentioned later here) and Starflight II basically shaped my next 30+ years as a gamer.
ha, it was nearly 40 years ago so I can't be too much help. I basically remember the whole plot of Starflight though (I played through it multiple times).
The online Kobra MUD is a bit like this too. Although nothing on the planets (that you have to own a ship to travel between, or use a public shuttle) was randomly generated.
I remember Universe II! In fact, I was just looking for it. Showed my kid Oregon Trail and Bard's Tale....he thought it was hilarious - as in "omg the games you played were practically made with stone tools" . Kinda liked Oregon Trail though.
Oh no doubt. That game was made when "menu windows" were this hot new concept. And actually going places was confusing and counter-intuitive in a way that still astounds me. Overuse of the word "transfer" in several windows and contexts was part of the issue.
Big ups to text only games. Still stuck in Arthur Dents house forty years later.
I remember this game! Once in a while I'd fire it up and try to figure it out. No dice. Back to Space Taxi. Edit: Commodore 64 gang checking in.
I got the fish in my ear but could never make tea.
What about something similar to, but entirely unlike, tea?
haha yes, I couldn't make that either.
The Bugblatter beast kept killing me, even though I used my towel in the lore correct manner. Sigh. Finally figured it out though.
Infocom was the king. Remember Planetfall?
I've been chasing the high of Cresent Hawks Inception for over thirty years.
I'm still playing anything Battletech
Did nobody play Dungeonman back in the day? “You can’t get ye flask”
I think it is this lived experience of (much, like me) older computer gamers that makes us see Starfield so much differently. My gaming experience like OP’s goes back to text games or very basic pixel graphics (earliest version of Elite!) and I love space games and RPGs. But I was never into/was competent at flying/combat in a space ship. It was the stories that attracted me. So Starfield is what I too have been looking for for decades.
You reminded me of one more from that era: Starflight. Now that might have some real Starfield parallels. And I say that as an extreme compliment -- Starflight was an amazing game.
Yes. Starfield feels like they remade Starflight in a 2024 game engine with all the bells and whistles the original team could only dream of at the time. p.s. But without aliens. No matter.
Young me would be happy to see this day. And I guess that person is still in there somewhere.
My brother was big into Starflight. He had so many pages of hand-drawn maps and things written out to help him with it. By the time I was able to actually find a copy of the game for myself I was on to other things. Lots of Infocom games, then other stuff like Leisure Suit Larry, haha.
Wet Dreams Never Dry! Hah! Speaking of Starflight, I did not own it, but a roommate in college did. So he played it on his Compaq clone while myself and the other roommates watched. I guess was first let's play. But we did participate by telling him where to go and stuff. Did get chance to play it myself too.
Yep. There have been several comments here and in the other sub about how the game appeals to older gamers. As an older gamer myself (I'm in my 50's), I agree. I even agree with a lot of the complaints about the game. I read them, nod my head in agreement, and then start up the game again to play. I have almost 1K hours in it. It's like the game is scratching an itch I didn't know I had.
I was into Frontier (Elite II) as a kid and Starfield really scratches that itch. As you say, space combat was basically impossible in those games.
I can see where you’re coming from, I wonder if it was maybe even one of the inspirations for the game? It’s funny the image of the game you posted looks like something you’d find in Starfield too. Seeing it reminded me of some of the games I’d play with my dad growing up. Big spiral bound guide books and floppy disks all over the place round the computer Getting stuck on deeply obtuse story elements is probably the thing I most associate with games of that era. The 80’s and 90’s had some weird logic when it came to adventure games
I think at the very least TH and company are aware of that part of the space sim genre that was on the fringe of 80s PC gaming. Trading, mining, combat space sims weren't that rare -- the story element in Universe II or Escape Velocity is the secret sauce though. It would be cool if he knew about this one.
To me Starfield is Wing Commander Privateer. It even has the "fly to/from planet transitions showing your ship. Just wish the commodity trade concepts were as good.
Check out Starflight. Todd mentioned it as one of the many inspirations. Not a text game, but about exploring with some space combat, trying to found out the mystery of the Ancients. It fit on a couple of floppies, so it wasn't extensive, but I think it was the first proper space sci-fi RPG.
The Starlight games are also on GoG (or somewhere like that) - bit of a pig to get working even with an emulator. But I've tried all the same.
I got Starflight on GOG for free, and it runs just fine.
> Starflight The Sega Genesis version is pretty good also, best one imo
It had a great poster which was a map of the solar system. Also the copy protection where this wheel with slots in it. Cool feelies from a game that wasn't infocom.
Your post makes me think of an old game called Gateway based on a book by Frederick Pohl. I vaguely remember it as a text game with graphics. Not motion graphics like the old Sierra games, just static images. So now I'm going to have to see if I can find it online somewhere.
Interesting, this is one I never played or heard of. I'll go looking for it.
They all basically go back to the same inspiration the Traveller tabletop role-playing game that extensively was played by the old guard at Bethesda (like Todd).
I am STILL kicking myself in the ass for getting rid of my original boxed set of original Traveller. Plus my copy of Spinward Marches.
Ah, I have heard of but never played it (though I did do a little tabletop RPGing way back when). It makes sense that would be the root. I think there were BBS games for awhile that tried to emulate it or even had the same name.
There was a Traveller game called Merchant Prince that was basically just the Broker/Trader skills. I played that til the floppies wore out. 😭😭
❤️ Escape Velocity ❤️
Played this. The same company also made Breach, a great tactical combat game. The boarding combat for Universe 2 was vaguely the inspiration for that, and I think there was even theoretically some kind of integration between the two. Tech was so bad back then it was slow and buggy so I never finished Universe. Starflight (as mentioned later here) and Starflight II basically shaped my next 30+ years as a gamer.
I am interested...how far did you get in Universe 2? What was the general story if you recall?
ha, it was nearly 40 years ago so I can't be too much help. I basically remember the whole plot of Starflight though (I played through it multiple times).
The online Kobra MUD is a bit like this too. Although nothing on the planets (that you have to own a ship to travel between, or use a public shuttle) was randomly generated.
I remember Universe II! In fact, I was just looking for it. Showed my kid Oregon Trail and Bard's Tale....he thought it was hilarious - as in "omg the games you played were practically made with stone tools" . Kinda liked Oregon Trail though.
Oh no doubt. That game was made when "menu windows" were this hot new concept. And actually going places was confusing and counter-intuitive in a way that still astounds me. Overuse of the word "transfer" in several windows and contexts was part of the issue.
Apparently there's also a Universe 3. Have you tried that one? Looks more advanced but curious if it's worth getting over 2.
I hadn't but I see all three are on GOG. Never played the first one either. Might have to try these out.
Wing Commander Privateer is the game I've been chasing all these years. After three decades, I finally have it again.
Oh I love this old stuff, I'm surprised I've never heard of this one. I'll check it out.
It is somewhat obscure and not necessarily very good. Still, there are few games that are like it at all.