Stars!
Stars! PC CD conquer colonize destroy planets galaxy strategy game! Empire 1997
Game
Windows
Empire Interactive, Inc.
1997
CD
$18.99
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Conquer-the-galaxy games are as ubiquitous as ticks on a redbone hound, and one interesting offshoot is the category of simple "beer-n-pretzels" games. These have modest graphics, few stylistic flourishes, straightforward gameplay, low hardware requirements, and, usually, a high degree of play depth. VGA Planets and Spaceward Ho! are two of the best known, and Stars! is clearly in their company. It features a solid Windows interface, plain graphics, a wide range of custom options, deep strategic content, and compulsive playability.
Stars! follows the tried-and-true premise that the universe is your oyster so you might as well slide that sucker down your gullet like a Blue Point. Explore, expand, colonize, exploit, crush, kill, destroy, and then expand some more. As with similar games, you exercise your manifest destiny through the use of a star map and several menu screens. Beginning on a home planet, you build a fleet to explore other planets and discover a) how habitable they are and b) if they have any worthwhile minerals to exploit. Planets with poor chances for supporting a colony can be remote-mined. If you have the technology, you can attempt to terraform them to support life. Planets with good atmosphere can become home to a new colony, which will grow and expand.
The home planet begins by producing things like factories and mines, which in turn create the resources that go into making ships and researching new technology. It's all painfully straightforward, and managing everything is made relatively simple by a single screen interface that keeps all relevant controls and information in front of you at all times. As you click through turns, year by year, you get messages for every action that has been taken, and can go straight to the locus of that action to nudge it further along.
Directing the action of your various space craft, which will include probes, transports, colony ships, warships, and other treats, is extremely satisfying. Both complex (in terms of what you can do) and simple (in terms of actually implementing the orders), giving ships waypoints and orders is the heart of the game. If you give ships the same orders repeatedly (go to planet A, pick up minerals, go to planet B, drop off miners and pick up colonists, return to planet B, etc.), these can be stored in default files and easily implemented for numerous craft. Space combat, while abstracted and not under user control, has a similar degree of custom control to it. You can set specific orders for dealing with each conflict, setting target types and tactics.
Gameplay is eminently customizable, with the ability to build new ship designs from the ground up based on your current needs and tech levels. Races are extensively customizable, with an elaborate "race creation wizard" that walks you through the complex process of creating a new race by setting various attitudes, attributes, and skills. Everything is open to tweaking in one way or another, which is just the way a game like this should be.
This is precisely the kind of game that develops a strong following. While Master of Orion II often wallows in excess and is buggy to a fault, Stars! shows you why less IS more. A ridiculously extensive tutorial makes understanding it all very easy, and a fat manual and large online help files make getting into the workings and tinkering around a snap. Stars! may not be the best-looking game in town and it may lack the chrome many gamers expect, but strong gameplay and design make it a sure winner.
For Windows (32-bit Systems) [*Please review compatibility/platform sections in 'What You Get']
Stars! follows the tried-and-true premise that the universe is your oyster so you might as well slide that sucker down your gullet like a Blue Point. Explore, expand, colonize, exploit, crush, kill, destroy, and then expand some more. As with similar games, you exercise your manifest destiny through the use of a star map and several menu screens. Beginning on a home planet, you build a fleet to explore other planets and discover a) how habitable they are and b) if they have any worthwhile minerals to exploit. Planets with poor chances for supporting a colony can be remote-mined. If you have the technology, you can attempt to terraform them to support life. Planets with good atmosphere can become home to a new colony, which will grow and expand.
The home planet begins by producing things like factories and mines, which in turn create the resources that go into making ships and researching new technology. It's all painfully straightforward, and managing everything is made relatively simple by a single screen interface that keeps all relevant controls and information in front of you at all times. As you click through turns, year by year, you get messages for every action that has been taken, and can go straight to the locus of that action to nudge it further along.
Directing the action of your various space craft, which will include probes, transports, colony ships, warships, and other treats, is extremely satisfying. Both complex (in terms of what you can do) and simple (in terms of actually implementing the orders), giving ships waypoints and orders is the heart of the game. If you give ships the same orders repeatedly (go to planet A, pick up minerals, go to planet B, drop off miners and pick up colonists, return to planet B, etc.), these can be stored in default files and easily implemented for numerous craft. Space combat, while abstracted and not under user control, has a similar degree of custom control to it. You can set specific orders for dealing with each conflict, setting target types and tactics.
Gameplay is eminently customizable, with the ability to build new ship designs from the ground up based on your current needs and tech levels. Races are extensively customizable, with an elaborate "race creation wizard" that walks you through the complex process of creating a new race by setting various attitudes, attributes, and skills. Everything is open to tweaking in one way or another, which is just the way a game like this should be.
This is precisely the kind of game that develops a strong following. While Master of Orion II often wallows in excess and is buggy to a fault, Stars! shows you why less IS more. A ridiculously extensive tutorial makes understanding it all very easy, and a fat manual and large online help files make getting into the workings and tinkering around a snap. Stars! may not be the best-looking game in town and it may lack the chrome many gamers expect, but strong gameplay and design make it a sure winner.
For Windows (32-bit Systems) [*Please review compatibility/platform sections in 'What You Get']
WHAT YOU GET:
This item is for the original media, and includes only the media (ie. CD, floppy ...) UNLESS specifically stated above and/or in the title. If more than just the media is included, it will state which items are (ie. box, manual, etc ). Items that come in a sleeve refer to a generic CD sleeve (typically white) and will be sent with shipping protection to avoid damage during transit. If available, we will also send the front and/or back CD inserts if in stock. If these are important to you, please message us to verify we have them available to send. Please do not assume items are included other than what's stated. Again, ask questions PRIOR to purchasing if you have any concerns.
IMAGES:
All images/pictures are stock photos and are for reference only, mainly to show the type of game you will be getting. Please read "WHAT YOU GET" for what is included with the media. Screenshots may vary based on your own computer system, video card, monitor, etc.
COMPATIBILITY:
Computers are like people, each one is different. Unlike console games, a computer game may install and work flawlessly on one system but may need adjustments on another. This is due to a variety of factors, mainly the OS platform running, video card you have, drivers, protection software installed, etc. Many times manufacturers release updates to games to fix bugs and add enhancements. We would be happy to help get the game going on your computer, but ultimately compatibility issues are the responsibility of the buyer. We suggest going to Google and searching for the name of the game along with the words "system requirements" to determine if your system is suitable. Ultimately, we are not responsible for software compatibility problems or publisher's errors.
PLATFORM:
Stated within the auction is what platform the game will work on (ie. Windows, Mac, Linux...) This is a generic statement and specific platform versions (ie. XP, Vista...) will have to be researched by the buyer. Games that came out PRIOR to XP or higher will not specifically state they will work on that release, but only because they came out before those versions were made. Many, if not most, will work on XP or higher with a few quick adjustments. We provide instructions with all items purchased on how to do this adjustment using the Program Compatibility Wizard. If we find out that an item will definately not work on a specific version, we will state it. For DOS games, you may need to play it with a free DOSbox program if the Program Compatibility Wizard does not work.
64-Bit Windows OS Systems:
For 64-bit Operating Systems, older games most likely will NOT work due to 64-bit systems not being able to run 16-bit programming code (most games prior to 2000). For DOS games, you may need to play it with a free DOSbox program.
Macintosh Systems:
For Macintosh programs, most older games will need to be run in Classic Environment if you have a MAC OS X 10.0 - 10.4 version. Please research Google on how to do this, or send us a message for information prior to purchasing. If your MAC OS system doesn't support Classic Environment (ie. MAC OS X 10.5 or Higher OR Intel Macs), you will have to try running it using the free program called SheepShaver, but compatibility is not ensured. Please research prior to purchasing or ask questions.
MEDIA FORMAT:
Please verify you have the required hardware in order to use the specified media (ie. CD, DVD, floppy drives, etc.) If the item comes as a floppy disc, make sure you have either the needed 3.5" floppy drive or the bigger and older 5.25" floppy drive.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SMOOTH PURCHASE:
Ask questions PRIOR to purchasing an order to avoid any confusion.
Be patient if there are problems during installation or gameplay. Typically someone else has
already ran into that problem and has listed a solution online. Contact us and we will do our best to help.
Be sure to update your video card drivers and search for updates to the game from the manufacturer.
This item is for the original media, and includes only the media (ie. CD, floppy ...) UNLESS specifically stated above and/or in the title. If more than just the media is included, it will state which items are (ie. box, manual, etc ). Items that come in a sleeve refer to a generic CD sleeve (typically white) and will be sent with shipping protection to avoid damage during transit. If available, we will also send the front and/or back CD inserts if in stock. If these are important to you, please message us to verify we have them available to send. Please do not assume items are included other than what's stated. Again, ask questions PRIOR to purchasing if you have any concerns.
IMAGES:
All images/pictures are stock photos and are for reference only, mainly to show the type of game you will be getting. Please read "WHAT YOU GET" for what is included with the media. Screenshots may vary based on your own computer system, video card, monitor, etc.
COMPATIBILITY:
Computers are like people, each one is different. Unlike console games, a computer game may install and work flawlessly on one system but may need adjustments on another. This is due to a variety of factors, mainly the OS platform running, video card you have, drivers, protection software installed, etc. Many times manufacturers release updates to games to fix bugs and add enhancements. We would be happy to help get the game going on your computer, but ultimately compatibility issues are the responsibility of the buyer. We suggest going to Google and searching for the name of the game along with the words "system requirements" to determine if your system is suitable. Ultimately, we are not responsible for software compatibility problems or publisher's errors.
PLATFORM:
Stated within the auction is what platform the game will work on (ie. Windows, Mac, Linux...) This is a generic statement and specific platform versions (ie. XP, Vista...) will have to be researched by the buyer. Games that came out PRIOR to XP or higher will not specifically state they will work on that release, but only because they came out before those versions were made. Many, if not most, will work on XP or higher with a few quick adjustments. We provide instructions with all items purchased on how to do this adjustment using the Program Compatibility Wizard. If we find out that an item will definately not work on a specific version, we will state it. For DOS games, you may need to play it with a free DOSbox program if the Program Compatibility Wizard does not work.
64-Bit Windows OS Systems:
For 64-bit Operating Systems, older games most likely will NOT work due to 64-bit systems not being able to run 16-bit programming code (most games prior to 2000). For DOS games, you may need to play it with a free DOSbox program.
Macintosh Systems:
For Macintosh programs, most older games will need to be run in Classic Environment if you have a MAC OS X 10.0 - 10.4 version. Please research Google on how to do this, or send us a message for information prior to purchasing. If your MAC OS system doesn't support Classic Environment (ie. MAC OS X 10.5 or Higher OR Intel Macs), you will have to try running it using the free program called SheepShaver, but compatibility is not ensured. Please research prior to purchasing or ask questions.
MEDIA FORMAT:
Please verify you have the required hardware in order to use the specified media (ie. CD, DVD, floppy drives, etc.) If the item comes as a floppy disc, make sure you have either the needed 3.5" floppy drive or the bigger and older 5.25" floppy drive.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SMOOTH PURCHASE:
SHIPPING:
We typically ship all items out within 1-2 business days after payment is received. In regards to the stated shipping and handling, remember that these costs include more than just postage.
International buyers please email/chat with us to determine if you are eligible for shipping of a specific product. If you are, then international buyers not shipping to an address within the U.S. can expect their orders to take anywhere from 5 days to 4 weeks to be received, depending on how fast/well USPS is moving. Additionally, international orders typically have to go through governmental customs, which can delay the arrival process. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. Customs fees are normally charged by the shipping company or collected when you pick the item up. These fees are not additional shipping charges.
We typically ship all items out within 1-2 business days after payment is received. In regards to the stated shipping and handling, remember that these costs include more than just postage.
International buyers please email/chat with us to determine if you are eligible for shipping of a specific product. If you are, then international buyers not shipping to an address within the U.S. can expect their orders to take anywhere from 5 days to 4 weeks to be received, depending on how fast/well USPS is moving. Additionally, international orders typically have to go through governmental customs, which can delay the arrival process. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. Customs fees are normally charged by the shipping company or collected when you pick the item up. These fees are not additional shipping charges.
