Hi folks.

Been a little while since I stopped playing my main game... Got some time off as work begin to be a little less overwhelming, and I thought this would be a good time to work on my Abandonia review. Some of you might remember that I mentioned once or twice that I am working on this review since some time now... And knowing myself, if I don't do it soon then I'll simply forget about it.

I scrambled a few notes here and there at work and got them all into my first draft. Since a lot of players here know more than me about STARS!, and also since it will possibly also have an effect on you and this site, I wanted to share this review with you before sending it to Abandonia.

I am particularly interested to know if it would be wise or not to incorporate your site adress in my review itself or if it would be better to create some kind of text file explaining where to get to all the ressources about STARS! on the net. Or if it would be wiser not to mention Autohost at all.

Please note that English is not my first language and that I typed it all on my small notebook... Spelling mistakes and typos probably abound.

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STARS! Review, by Eagle of Fire Always been a fan of 4X games but also always been frustrated by the lack of good quality multiplayer games around? Look no further my friend. Welcome home. STARS! is a great strategy game designed solely for the best of multiplayer experience against other humans. The mechanics of the game are not only detailed and well designed but also well balanced, thanks in part to the help of a small but very loyal player base who spots possible bugs and/or abuse and police the games officialised by their automatic host. Loyal to the (now modern) ideology of the 4X space game genre such as Master of Orion, you are elected as the everlasting leader of a planet from which the dominant race have managed somehow to discover the secrets of space exploration and colonization. It is then up to you to guide this emerging race into the void and turn this humble begining into a mighty empire able to crush the other races in the galaxy. A small story is written in the nice ingame helpfile system, explaining how the galaxy formed and why you have limitations such as not being able to cross the borders of the galaxy map. Created in the era of the elderly Windows 3.1, one of my greatest fear was to discover innabilities due to the antique coding. Not only did STARS! age wonderfully along with the new modern OSes, it only took me a few sessions to realize that what can be considered weak points can just as easily be turned into assets. For example, the size and the lack of entry in the registery allow you to carry the game on a USB stick and play from about any computers as long as you are aware and wary of the cheat protection. The interface and spartan graphics, reminescent of the old Windows 3.11 games, are another good example. Obviously designed with the limitation of the antique system in mind, they do both excell in their practicality. I have to admit that, in the 20 or so games that I played so far, the interface never got in my way even once. This game also do not sport music at all and barelly even support sound effects, depending of the version that you are using. Obviously done to, again, keep the file size very small, it does help in the long run to concentrate on the task at hand when playing. The game taking so little ressources on its own to run on your computer, it is also a simple matter to open your favorite music player to listen to music you actually like instead of always listening to the same boring syntethyser music. A problem which plague a lot of other older games. The whole game core files being able to fit on a single floppy, it is easy to simply carry the game and your turn to any other computer 16 or 32bits compatible and play from there (While XP works without an itch, 64bits Vista systems are not compatible. DOSBox can be used in conjuction with Windows 3.11 in this case.). The game will simply create on the new machine a harmless

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Yes it is. And it was for some time too.

Abandonware by default don't ask every game owner for their authorization. It works the other way around: if it is ESA protected then we don't touch it. If it is not then we declare it Abandonware unless the game onwner himself ask that we don't.

We also periodically check for updates on game status. When we notice that a game is being sold again then we keep the review on site but we stop the downloads.

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I am suddenly overcome by doubt... Should "diplomatie" not be spelled "diplomacy" in English? I think I wrote it in French...

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Eagle of Fire wrote on Sat, 12 September 2009 06:43

I am suddenly overcome by doubt... Should "diplomatie" not be spelled "diplomacy" in English? I think I wrote it in French...

Correct, it should be "diplomacy"

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Hi!
I'd like to add a warning, that you shoud IMO mention in the second paragraph: Stars was designed primarily as a PBEM multiplayer game. Nowadays everyone assumes MP is real-time. As a consequence of PBEM, games with live players take long time to develop and finish, so one of the needed virtues to play Stars! is patience (that's IMO in quite a short supply nowadays ).

Maybe you should also enphasize many viable ways the game can be played: use fast, but low-capactiy race, and try to quickly eliminate slower neighbours to compensate for low capacity with more "territory", or use slower race with high capacity, play it friendly, and crush everybody in later stages of the game, or go with something in-between, trading techs, ships, planets and alliances, just to achive the goal of the particular game.

Anyway, I'd say you wrote a good review. OFC I'd done it a bit differently, but if that's the style of Abandonia, just go ahead.

BR, Iztok

[Updated on: Sat, 12 September 2009 10:58]

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Thank you all for your comments. I'll make sure to take note of this when I will finish my review.

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And the last chapter I'd rework a bit: less emphasis on time consumption, more emphasise on the advantage of roundbased pbem-games concerning your time and life schedule in comparison to realtime- and online games which keep you slaved to the comp.

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I'd like to add a warning, that you shoud IMO mention in the second paragraph: Stars was designed primarily as a PBEM multiplayer game. Nowadays everyone assumes MP is real-time. As a consequence of PBEM, games with live players take long time to develop and finish, so one of the needed virtues to play Stars! is patience (that's IMO in quite a short supply nowadays ).

Yeah, I know that already. I am planning to write a final paragraph indicating that STARS! is really for hardcore strategy gamers and that a neophyte strategy gamer should look into easy strategy titles like Ascendancy and SpaceWard Ho!. It is also why I've placed a lot of emphasis on the heavy time requirement in the end of my review: I don't think this game would be good for a younger audience on a sugar rush...

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One other thing that might be worth to be mentioned: A nice and (usually) mature player community that regularly offers new games specifically for beginners. the game is from the 90ies and the average Stars player is older, has a life which often enough involves job, family and kids and this also shows in the games and turn schedules. Most of us can be called hardcore strat&tact players with a serious history of game addictions and... having coped with it somehow.

Well, as much as I'd want to describe STARS! in depth, I am not particularly interested in breaking the Abandonian longest review record. I really worked hard to write a epured review which is as simple as possible while including as many elements as I could. I was thinking about including such things as what you mentionned in a readme text included in the archive.

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What Stars file do you intend to offer for download? - demo - german/english shareware, jrc4 Do you intend to offer one free serial to give everybody the option to use the race wizard?

An old archive of the game on 2.6i that I have found on the net, including 16 serial codes which were (I think?) found in the past on a hacker site and which were consequently banned on the next releases. This would mean that someone downloading the archive could use the serials to play with his friends, and if he/she/they wish to become serious and come to Autohost (or play on the current version) they'd need to find a new serial code... Like those which can be found here.

-EoF

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Spelling...

innabilities > inabilities
supperior > superior
dozain > dozen

Also...

A blitz isn't necessarily(or normally) a duel...a standard blitz has as many players as can be found - its just a lot easier to organise with only two players.

Try to separate how many players in a game and universe size...you can play 16 players in a tiny universe(I died quickly lol) or duel in a huge(not even going to try).

Include that you're supplying a slightly out-of-date version & keys and where to get the current version & key (and other players). (the 2.6i version has at least one bug I'd consider game breaking, if you disagree - I challenge you to a team game with my CA/HE/SS team )

I strongly agree with the comments of the others regarding PBEM and patience being emphasised.

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Nice review!

I found only minor nitpicks, mostly concerning spelling of plurals:

one of my greatest fear -> one of my greatest fears

entry in the registery -> entry in the registry

do not sport music -> doesn't sport music

support sound effects -> supports sound effects

A problem which plague -> A problem which plagues

don't allow you -> doesn't allow you

the AIs does not cheat -> the AIs don't cheat

greatly differ -> greatly differs

which been attributed -> which have been attributed (or granted, or awarded)

what spice things -> what spices things

it also cover -> it also covers

options is available -> options are available

which require -> which requires

have the advantage -> has the advantage

wheneveryou -> whenever you

One player host -> One player hosts

second player play -> second player plays

receive and send -> receives and sends

univers -> universe

game advance -> game advances

war erupt -> war erupts

need to understand -> needs to understand

And also a few ones which are perhaps correct as is, but that could be slightly rearranged:

about any computers -> about any computer

without an itch -> without a hitch (this one might explain why whenever my XP misbehaves, the mere nearby presence of "the scratcher" aka "big fragging hammer" seems to subdue it into compliance )

configuration preference -> configuration preferences

for beginner -> for beginners

to have the need to -> to need to

of the right strategy -> about the right strategy

One other thing that should be mentioned is that Stars! can be played in Unix/Linux systems thanks to Wine, and that similar arrangements can be made for Macs.

Last but not least, as others have said patience is a big plus for this game, but I'd like to add attention to detail too.

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Quote:

A blitz isn't necessarily(or normally) a duel...a standard blitz has as many players as can be found - its just a lot easier to organise with only two players. Try to separate how many players in a game and universe size...you can play 16 players in a tiny universe(I died quickly lol) or duel in a huge(not even going to try).

Noted.

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Include that you're supplying a slightly out-of-date version & keys and where to get the current version & key (and other players). (the 2.6i version has at least one bug I'd consider game breaking, if you disagree - I challenge you to a team game with my CA/HE/SS team Wink )

This is the kind of info which I will bundle in the text file. Noted.

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One other thing that should be mentioned is that Stars! can be played in Unix/Linux systems thanks to Wine, and that similar arrangements can be made for Macs.

I am not sure that I should add this in the review. Should not Mac users already know about this?

-EoF

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Eagle of Fire wrote on Mon, 14 September 2009 00:28

I am not sure that I should add this in the review. Should not Mac users already know about this?

You mention that the old beast doesn't work 100% ok under Vista. Unix / Linux and Macs are popular platforms too.

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Dogthinkers wrote on Sat, 12 September 2009 01:18

Eagle of Fire wrote on Sat, 12 September 2009 06:43 I am suddenly overcome by doubt... Should "diplomatie" not be spelled "diplomacy" in English? I think I wrote it in French... Correct, it should be "diplomacy"

The good thing (or bad, depending on your point of view) about English is that english writers/users will (steal) use words from other languages to become "english". Perhaps "diplomatie" will get into the Oxford dictionary someday as an english word.


Have look at http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Stars!

With respect to you article, I would suggesting compacting your last 2 paragraphs into one i.e.

Created in the era of the elderly Windows 3.1; the Stars game runs well up to the 32bit Vista OS. It will run fine on 64bit Vista OS and Windows under Virtual XP mode. As such, you may easily store the game and games on a USB stick and play from any computer.

You could jazz it up a bit - for example

STARS! is a great strategy game designed solely for the best of multiplayer experience against other humans. The mechanics of the game are not only detailed and well designed but also well balanced, thanks in part to the help of a small but very loyal player base who spots possible bugs and/or abuse and police the games officialised by their automatic host.

Could become

STARS! it is truly a game ahead of its time. It is by far one of the most strategically in-depth and balanced games in existence. It has kept people addicted for years, and further a loyal player community continues to support forum and a library of articles from game mechanics to strategies (my personal favorite: the Horde Strategy). See http://wiki.gible.net/index.php/Main_Page

[Updated on: Mon, 14 September 2009 15:37]

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ooo Orange writes well...


Orange...I have a little err.. job for you. The pay is utter crap but its very personal rewarding and eventually it brings great.. well... modest fame

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Orange: nice try, but Abandonia forbid the stealing and copying of other articles.

Yes, I did read those.

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gible wrote on Mon, 14 September 2009 18:50

ooo Orange writes well... Orange...I have a little err.. job for you. The pay is utter crap but its very personal rewarding and eventually it brings great.. well... modest fame

Gible: The wording is mostly yours, thus you should get the fame. I intend to get my fame from winning the Dueling Championship, hopefully this year.

Eagle of Fire wrote on Mon, 14 September 2009 23:04

Orange: nice try, but Abandonia forbid the stealing and copying of other articles. Yes, I did read those.

As someone with an interest in copyright law, the "doctrine of fair use" permits the copying of small portions of the works of others especially for articles/comments. This would not be the "stealing and copying of other articles" especially whole or substantially whole articles.

[Would you care to guess what I do in RL ?]

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Ok, I have some more extra time of quiet today. Time to finish this.

Quote:

I'd like to add a warning, that you shoud IMO mention in the second paragraph: Stars was designed primarily as a PBEM multiplayer game. Nowadays everyone assumes MP is real-time. As a consequence of PBEM, games with live players take long time to develop and finish, so one of the needed virtues to play Stars! is patience (that's IMO in quite a short supply nowadays Wink ).

I purposely ignored your suggestion of adding the PBEM note on the second paragraph. I expect that youngsters will be the biggest target audience, and telling them right away that this game is to be played by email ought to scare most of them from the start. I also hope that the patience thing will be assessed well enough in the last part of the review.

Hopefully we can hook a few players with the single player mode, which can be played out fast, and then the multiplayer "problems" should be easy for them to cope with afterward. Doing the reverse would probably not give good results.

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As someone with an interest in copyright law, the "doctrine of fair use" permits the copying of small portions of the works of others especially for articles/comments.

It migh be so, but it really is Abandonia policy not to copy even parts of existing reviews. The goal is to have a new review which can then become the property of Abandonia.com in full, and thus should always be a review totaly original made by the reviewer himself.

Quote:

Nice review! I found only minor nitpicks, mostly concerning spelling of plurals: Rolling Eyes

Thanks, I fixed them. Damn plurals, they'll be the end of me!

Here is the updated review:

Quote:

STARS! Review, by Eagle of Fire Always been a fan of 4X games but also always been frustrated by the lack of good quality multiplayer games around? Look no further my friend. Welcome home. STARS! is a great strategy game designed solely for the best of multiplayer experience against other humans. The mechanics of the game are not only detailed and well designed but also well balanced, thanks in part to the help of a small but very loyal player base who spots possible bugs and/or abuse and police the games officialised by their automatic host. Loyal to the (now modern) ideology of the 4X space game genre such as Master of Orion, you are elected as the everlasting leader of a planet from which the dominant race have managed somehow to discover the secrets of space exploration and colonization. It is then up to you to guide this emerging race into the void and turn this humble begining into a mighty empire able to crush the other races in the galaxy. A small story is written in the nice ingame helpfile system, explaining how the galaxy formed and why you have limitations such as not being able to cross the borders of the galaxy map. Created in the era of the elderly Windows 3.1, one of my greatest fears was to discover inabilities due to the antique coding. Not only did STARS! age wonderfully along with the new modern OSes, it only took me a few sessions to realize that what can be considered weak points can just as easily be turned into assets. For example, the size and the lack of entry in the registry allow you to carry the game on a USB stick and play from about any computer as long as you are aware and wary of the cheat protection. The interface and spartan graphics, reminescent of the old Windows 3.11 games, are another good example. Obviously designed with the limitation of the antique system in mind, they do both excell in their practicality. I have to admit that, in the 20 or so games that I played so far, the interface never got in my way even once. This game also does not sport music at all and barelly even supports sound effects, depending of the version that you are using. Obviously done to, again, keep the file size very small, it does help in the long run to concentrate on the task at hand when playing. The game taking so little ressources on its own to run on your computer, it is also a simple matter to ope

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Thanks. I knew there was a lot of spelling mistakes in my review. Hopefully the Abandonia gramma crew will be able to spot the last mistakes before it goes live.

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bigcanuknaz wrote on Mon, 28 September 2009 13:43

specialised ==> specialized

This was correct already...

BOO US English!

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