Hello all!
Just wanted to let you all know that I am taking a short break from this project. The reason being is that my company has won a pretty big contract and it will require a few months of my undivided attention. After things settle down with the new contract, I will be back on this project. This project is not dead, it is just in cryo-stasis.
I hope to God you can continue this project to the end!
It will be done – don’t worry. 🙂
Any updates?
Firstly, I understand you needing to work on an actual paying job for awhile. It’s just that, well, there have been a lot of broken promises regarding Starflight games in the past 20 years. I know, I’ve followed most of them. I finally quit looking for any progress. I just found out about this project. I, like many others, followed the old interstelcommcenter forums for years, finally losing hope of ever seeing another real Starflight.Don’t abandon this project, please. I have fond memories of firing upon cowardly Spemin on my return trip from mining.
Ah – but that doesn’t apply to me. 🙂
I believe that most indie games are never finished because the design exceeds the skill and capabilities of the person or team working on it. I, on the other hand, have many AAA titles published (20-year game dev veteran) – so none of this is challenging to me at all. This is also a childhood game of mine as well so I do want to finish it.
Any updates you can share?
Dammit. I fell for it again. When will I ever learn…
Hey I am still here – things (real life) keep popping up. I did start on it again, and it’s coming along slowly but surely. I am working on getting mineral pick up working.
I know the whole pandemic thing threw a wrench into everybody’s plans, but has there been any progress on the game? Starflight might not have the fanbase it once did, but he remaining fans are pretty loyal. Any updates would be welcome.
Hello – I have been working on it little by little. For our family, more than just the pandemic happened, but things are settling down now.
Please keep the faith Marvin. Hopefully you finish this project. haven’t played a game in years. Best Wishes.
Always keeping the faith! 🙂
I truly hope you continue this project too!! I am from that generation (45 now) but feel endlessly young whenever I run into starflight (1,2). Dunno if you are aware of the licensed next chapter https://www.starflight3.com/
Hello – not to worry – the project will be finished. I think the SF3 game is canceled BTW – It is my understanding that they were not able to get the funding they needed. :-\
It didn’t get the needed funding because it was on some obscure crowd funding site that nobody follows or is even aware of. It would have easily exceeded the target had it been on Kickstarter. “Let’s gauge interest by putting the campaign where 90% of those interested can’t find it.” Makes no sense.
I emailed HumanNature Studios and inquired about Starflight 3. They emailed back and said they just don’t have the money to do it right now. I told them to try Kickstarter instead of fig.com.
Seriously, I’d never even heard of fig.com. Has anyone else?
The guy seemed pretty friendly, so maybe a few more emails may convince them to try it. I’ll contribute a fair amount of money if they go on kickstarter
Wow I played what you have so far. I too was captivated by the planet generation of the original. Too bad the original only worked on an IBM PC with CGA! Keep up the good work. Regarding SF3 doesn’t look like it is going anywhere. Another space trading game that I liked, Sundog is in beta.
You can actually play the original on a modern PC. Go to gog.com and buy the original from there. It should be around 5 bucks. It comes with everything you need to get it working on your modern PC.
Pretty sure the Amiga version was an EGA port–that was the one I played originally…;) It was much better than the CGA version on a number of fronts–like game saves and mouse use, aside from the graphical and sound improvements–no whistling beep speaker there! I played the IBM version, too–of course. Took them many months in those days to do a port.
Hello Mr. Herbold.
Thank you for taking up this endeavor. This was probably the most influential game ever produced for the PC back when the PC was new and incredibly primitive based on todays systems. I too was incredibly hooked on this game. It allowed you to “visualize” and imagine the world that you were going too even though the graphics depicted a basic world. The idea that you were allowed to park in an orbit, scan the surface, and select a landing site, drive along alien terrain and then launch back into space was incredibly original. I am sure I do not have to tell you about the long hours spent playing this game and its sequel. I look forward to spending more time in this universe again.
Hello Mr. Herbold,
I was so very happy to see that you replied to another fan’s text recently. I too have thought the project was shelved. I do understand that life has a funny way to creep in and gum up the works at times. I wanted to let you know that I took a tour of your latest incarnation of the game and all I can say is WOW!. The imagery is absolutely gorgeous and the maneuverability is easy and graceful. The planet orbital views are awesome with the atmospheric glow around the ones that contain atmospheres. I would like to point out a glitch, if that is okay. This concern is with the Commander – Land function -The Map view (plotter lines) works perfectly but your printed Latitude and Longitude values are misplaced. (In Game Reads – example, Latitude 115 E and Longitude 45 N). Latitude should be measuring North and South and Longitude should be measuring East and West. I point this out because I’m sure its better to catch it early than after the project is finalized.
I have loved the “feel” of this game ever since I first played it back in 87 (Yes I still have the original packaging including the code wheel. and yes I have the original Starflight2 as well) but your version brings it so much closer to being out there it gave me goose bumps the first time I saw your astronaut on the space station pad.
As a high school science teacher I see this games potential for being a teaching tool. From having the students recognize which planets surfaces can be explored and which planets can only be scanned from orbit based on their gravities, how their mass relates to their gravities, literally explore the surface of planets in search of minerals, and having them immerse themselves in an environment where they must apply their knowledge of Latitude and Longitude orientation throughout the game. In the background they will always be making decisions and problem solving which is always a plus as well. I can even see how I might be able to integrate the teaching aspects of the game into a class project.
(Idea for mineral collection – (I believe I read in one of your posts that you had to work on how to collect the minerals. Why not just have the mineral Icon dissolve, once the player selects to collect it, like it was being “beamed ” into the rovers storage area.)
Again, Thank you!
Hello, Anthony –
Thanks for pointing out the error in the UI regarding long / lat. I tend to get them mixed up. It’s an easy fix. I blame my elementary school teacher for saying “for longitude, think loooooong” which to me meant equator because it goes all the way around. Good idea about having the minerals dissolve – like how the astronaut dissolves off the pad when beaming into the ship off Arth station.
Just discovered your site, and I’m really impressed by the progress you’ve made so far on your remake. Like many others, I have really fond memories of Starflight, and I really like the way you’ve gone about making a modern version (especially the way you’ve mapped the original 2d planet surfaces onto the 3d planet spheres in your star systems — it looks really cool, and it’s a great not to the original game.) I’m a bit of a 3ds Max hobbyist, too, and I like the way you’ve approached recreating the old starships etc. V much looking forward to following the project as it evolves!
Thank so much for remaking StarFlight. I’m a couple year short of fifty and finally have built a game room. This is one of only eight games I proudly display in my room. This is my favorite space game from my high school years and I have played, sentinel worlds, star control, planets edge, wing commander privateer, buck Rogers.
If you could finish this before my fiftieth in September of 2021 that would be awesome.
Just another fan who found this site. I actually discovered Starflight on the Sega Genesis and was looking for the Rom for emulation. As the web is a huge rabbit hole it led me here. I cannot wait to start playing again and am looking forward to see this progress. Didn’t know this game was so influential to so many. I just thought it was cool.
So good to hear that you will continue with the project. I have never understood why there is little studio interest in doing a full-blown remake of Starflight, so I am absolutely delighted to see your work thus far…;) I believe the game shipped originally in CGA and EGA, and as you mentioned, the EGA version is still available with a few changes that allow it to run on modern Windows systems–like the v1909 x64 I am currently on. IIRC, Starflight 2 shipped in VGA, I believe. So there is certainly room for a 24/32-bit x64 version these days–and Starflight 1 was always my favorite by far because it was a space exploration/first contact/mystery game that ignited my imagination–I actually finished it after gosh-knows how many hundreds of hours…;) Visited every system logged every planet, etc. Mapped every flux! Solved the mystery and saved the universe, etc. Looking forward to it!
Just came across this site. As one of the original SF 1 players, I am very impressed with the work that has been done so far. I was very surprised to see the spaceman exhibiting ‘impatience’ at the Starport (as was in SF1). Very close attention to detail there. The ships, the different races are superb. THIS is what SF1 SHOULD have looked like back in the day (if we had the current level of technology)!!! Hoping your current situation allows you to devote some time to the remake. Looking forward to the next update. PLEASE keep up the great work you are doing.
Thank you!
Hey! I found this project today, and i’ve fallen in love with it! Space games seems to have captured my attention again, and im looking foreward to seeing this project completed! Any development on this is great. Keep at it man, so many people wanna see it done.
Greetings! So I was a huge fan of Starflight for the genesis, never played the PC version in the 80s, and just recently found out about the Starflight 3 project which failed it’s goals in 2018. Following the rabbit hole, your sight was linked and I found your YouTube channel! A Starflight remake? I was super excited! You’ve come very far in this project and it looks amazing! I started learning Unity like 2 years ago so I couldn’t offer much help but I hope you find the time to restart this project during these tough times!
Starflight was the best Star Trek game that never was.
I’ve been waiting 30 years for “a game like Starflight.”
I remember being repeatedly disappointed with officially licensed Star Trek games of the era because they didn’t have the open exploration and sense of discovery that Starflight did. The Star Trek 25th Anniversary game for example (which was released around that time) was more of a Sierra-style adventure where you were locked into a story, with no sense of freedom.
Starflight was the game that convinced me there was life beyond my Apple //e.
I remember having to write to Binary Systems to get sent a “patch” that would make the game actually work.
Thank you for doing this. I can’t wait to try it out and see what comes of it.
Marvin, I just read in your blog that you’ve never beaten the game. Is that still true? Starflight has one of the most memorable game endings (no spoilers) that I’ve ever experienced. Its very much in the vein of old Star Trek, which is part of the reason I’ve always felt it was an unlicensed Star Trek game at it’s core.
It is still true. I have gotten pretty far, tho. I do know what happens at the end, but I have never gone all the way to the end myself.
As an original SF 1 player, I am Very Glad to see this is still active. The work already done is very impressive. I am looking forward to a playable demo and the final product.
Any news or updates?
SF was the game that changed what I always expected from games since then. Kudos to you for putting in this massive effort to remake this wonderful game. I’m going to follow and look forward to new updates.
Just posting to voice my support. Starflight was the game that ignited my hunger for space exploration and ancient artifacts! I hope you complete the game!
Hi. Just hoping this project isn’t dead. Any signs of life here???
Not dead, just hibernating until better times.
Ciao! I’m an “old Starflight fanatic” too !!! I even fetched versions 1 and 2 from GOG. I really hope you get on with the project! when do you plan to release a beta? I have been here in withdrawal for 30 years …
PS: can you tell me how to translate the dialogues into Italian? Good work and stay healthy !!!
Eventually when the project is done, I’ll make the data files available for people to translate into other languages. Technically they are available now, but I don’t want people to start translating them now because the data files might change before the project is done.
Last Update May 2019. Can we get an update for July 2021? Seems like this project is still in cryo-statis.
Hello – yeah it’s still in cryo-stasis for now. Business and family takes priority before hobbies. But this project will never die, it will be done eventually. I’ve actually started working on it again a little bit earlier this year then ran into some problems with Unity, which was resolved after contacting their support team.
Thank you for doing this. I’m 47 and this is the game that inspired my love for PC games. You likely have more fans waiting impatiently for this release than you realize. I wish you God speed.
Cheers
I’m happy you’re at least still responding to queries about the status of the remake. Too many indie developers and modders get people interested in these things, sometimes for years, and then it’s just- *crickets*… the project is just abandoned with no fan fare and they vanish off the face of the internet. Hope things get better concerning the pandemic and any situation in your own life that has temporarily (hopefully) taken you away from the project. Very interested in seeing this completed some day. I played Star Control Origins last year and it’s just not the same. Good luck, and keep the faith!
This has made me really happy to try. My mom played the original game back in the day. She had an entire notebook with notes, all the planets mapped out, where all the planets were, etc… It was crazy extensive. I’m really hoping to be able to mine soon.
I love this game. Played it on a friend’s Tandy 1000 (I think). Maybe ten or fifteen years ago I had a DL version, but no code wheel! Glad to see that the planets project came through. Is there anything that the community can help with while things settle down for you?
Love this project!
Marvin, you’re a legend. Don’t give up!
This game and Star Control II, though not considered as such, are, out of the thousands of games I have played in my 51 years, some of the best RPG’s ever made. I remember when Skyrim came out there was all the talk about how much of a ‘living, breathing world’ it was. Not to put the game down, it is good, but Starflight & SCII had spoiled me decades earlier. In Skyrim you can start a quest, get sidetracked, and return to the same quest a year later in game-time with nothing changing. Try that with Starflight & SCII & you may be in for a rude surprise, as events in the game world may have rendered that quest null & void.
The Mass Effect series are well-regarded & for good reasons, but compared to these others, ME’s exploration feels pinched & tiny. If one could combine the excellent characterizations of the ME series with the stellar (pun intended) world of Starflight, it would easily be one of the best games ever made.
I truly wish I could help you in your project, Marvin, but sadly I have no programming skills to contribute. Even if I did, due to inoperable Spinal Damage I am almost totally disabled. Gaming is one of the few hobbies left to me. Still, engaging games like this can give me some much-needed escape from the difficulties of my daily trials. I’m sure I’m not alone in appreciating all the work you’ve done. Be Well!
Marvin? update?
Are there any updates? I am sure a lot of people would like to know if this project is still in process!!!!
Marvin, I have no words to describe the emotions that have caused me to play your remake of this great game. The work you have done is fabulous. I know that I am possibly late in my words but I discovered it yesterday! Countless hours I spent gaming on my Mega Drive. Starflight is for me the best space exploration game made to date. Neither Elite Dangerous, nor No Man’s Sky nor Mass Effect convey the magic that this game conveys. And this remake is just as I imagined it had to be a reinvention of the original game. Although I don’t know how to program, if I can lend a hand in anything to finish the project, count on me. This remake is great!
I am still around and still very busy. My company has been awarded some major contracts so there is light at the end of the tunnel. This project has not been forgotten.
Just letting you know that there are still VERY interested fans keeping an eye on this project. 🙂
We are all still here hoping the SF project will resume. Could you please post a current updated?
I will say I still have my Tandy 2500 while its not setup at the moment in my office where i have the original StarFlight 1 & 2 along with Leisure Suit Larry1 and Police Quest1. BUT Starflight has ALWAYS been my favorite game I hope it gets finished i guess this is the reason I get that error message Not Yet Implemented.
Hey Marvin, just one more fellow fan of Starflight and… you 🙂 Hoping that everything is great on your end. Just wanted to write the first 2023 comment here to check if the Uhlek hasn’t got you 🙂 Anyway, I love what you did so far with the remake, specially the Carpenter’s music (actually Morricone, but you know what I mean ^_^) while exploring the surface…
I’m a big fan of the Genesis version because mostly of its sound effects of space. Played back then and loved when the sun started to come up and I was still on space, lost, looking for the next ruin that would never come…..
Again, thanks for all your work until this point and just hoping that you complete. I could help with original music (would be an honor to me!), but as you don’t know me, I could be stepping too far here 🙂
Cheers from the biggest brazilian fan of Starflight 🙂
Hello Eric! Yeah I am still alive and kicking – the Uhlek hasn’t gotten me yet! 🙂
This is an open source project and I welcome any contributions. If you want to create music, go right ahead!
Thats great Marvin! Well, if you go back to it for completion, I’m at your disposal for some Starflight music. I love Michael Bartlow original theme for the Genesis version and that may lead me for inspiration for some theme for your remake, which is a very close remake — so I would be trying to make a version of the Genesis theme, at least, starts from there.
If you want to take a look on a video I did about Starflight (no, I’m NOT spamming videos for you, this stays on the topic ^_^) — because in this video (a very highly produced video btw) I did an original music theme to serve as the background music. And, it was inspired, of course, by those feelings that only we, fans of this particular game, knows very well.
Its spoken on portuguese, but if you enable subtitle translation to english it will work very well because I’m talking slowly and clearly.
Well, if you could check it out, promise you will not be disapointed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvBttoZUBmg
Hope to talk to you again, Marvin!