But First, These Brief Messages If you were a hip gamer back in 1989, your first point of contact with our game of the month, Space Rogue, might have been this video ad (timestamped) that explains...
But First, These Brief Messages
If you were a hip gamer back in 1989, your first point of contact with our game of the month, Space Rogue, might have been this video ad (timestamped) that explains exactly why Origin's new space adventure is the hottest thing in gaming right now. Or you might have marvelled at this magazine ad.
I'm starting with these ads because the game is currently on sale on GOG! The sale ends in just two days, so get it while the getting is good! And while there, consider also grabbing Sid Meier's Pirates! Gold Plus (the 1993 remake) and/or Sid Meier's Pirates! (the 2004 remake) for our next month's gaming, as both are also heavily discounted. Thanks to /u/J-Chiptunator for the heads-up!
All of these do exist on Steam as well, of course, and don't cost much even when not discounted. I will write more about platforms and general availability later. But now, back to our regular programming.
Introduction
So, this is what it's come to. You in the pilot's seat, surrounded by the vast emptiness of cold, dead space. A row of cryptic console buttons. A user interface that seems to come from an entirely different era, if not species. One wrong move, one mistaken button press, and you are probably dead. Great. Just great.
It's not even your seat, or technically your spaceship, just something that you stumbled into when the aliens blew your crewmates into smithereens. You are the sole survivor, alone on board the Jolly Roger (who the hell named this ship?) and now seriously evaluating your life choices.
Go to space, they had said. Space is exciting, it's fun, it's different, they had insinuated. You specifically remember the poster screaming that it had "everything for everyone".
Bullshit.
Instead, you find yourself hunched over the console with a thick manual in one hand and a glass of the galaxy's worst gin in another, trying to figure out how this piece of crap Jolly Roger functions. You don't feel jolly at all. Or roger.
Just as you are about to give up and slip into cryogenic sleep for the next thirty days until that vacation in the Caribbean, you notice something buzzing on a side table. It's the quiet, gentle buzz of a smallish electronic device. Friendly, inviting. You pick it up and the screen lights up. It's a warm, welcoming glow of an e-reader. It is here to help. The page it opens simply reads:
Welcome to Space Rogue
In my CGA lobbying post, I wrote that although Space Rogue was a fairly major release at its time, for modern tastes, it can feel a little clunky, perhaps difficult to get into. It is not only the oldest game that we have played so far, but also the first one on our list that was designed with a personal computer and its keyboard in mind, rather than something that would be controlled purely with a controller, joystick or mouse. If you are not familiar with this era or style of gaming, it may take a bit of a mindset adjustment to get going.
I will try my best to help you get started without too much headache. Just trust me that there really is a very good game in there, in fact one that has been voted as one of the best Commodore 64 games of all time. It is a galaxy spanning scifi RPG that mixes the space sim combat of Elite and Wing Commander with the adventuring of Ultima and Mass Effect. A game that combines some of the best of late 80s design while paving the way for what was to come.
📚 Reading materials
Although the game starts with a cutscene that sets up the story, it still very much expects you to take a look at the documents that originally came in the game box. As so often with games of this era, these are not "supplementary" materials but an actual part of the game. Both Steam and GOG releases should contain the following:
- Quick Reference Card
- Novella (Stars of Opportunity)
- Manual
- Map
- Ship Models
With GOG, you should be able to download the files directly from the website. With Steam, the Manual shows up in the "Additional Content" section of the game page, while the rest can be found in the game's installation directory under the directory "Bonus Content".
The original game box also included an advertisement for the game-within-a-game arcade hit Hive!, but the GOG and Steam releases seem to not have it. You can find a copy here. And you can also find all of these documents in one package on scribd.com, although the manual there lacks colour and the reference card is for the Amiga version.
That's a lot of materials, I know. But you don't need to study them all at once. Here's what I suggest you do:
🕹️ Start by figuring out how to control the ship
Once you are through the opening cinematic, begin with the Quick Reference Card and its section titled "Commands Used in Space Flight". This will teach you how to move your ship in the cockpit view. Don't worry about the dashboard information right now, just concentrate on controlling the Jolly Roger. You should be safe to experiment at this point as you are in empty space and no one is going to be bothering you. I personally use the WASDZXC keys, but I know some prefer mouse controls.
When in the Cruise Flight mode (the default mode), the STOP key (S or 5) is very handy. It stops all of your turning and rotation immediately. Learn to use it.
💾 Saving and loading the game
Note also the Quick Reference Card's section titled "Saving the Game". In addition to remembering the keyboard command Ctrl+S, it is important to keep in mind that you can only save when you are in space. It's a good idea to save before docking at bases.
You need to give your save game a name. Remember that name because you need to type it again when you want to load it. You can only load games when starting the game. Loading a game asks a copy protection question that requires the manual.
If you forget your save file name, you can find it in the game's installation folder as a SAV file.
🧑🚀 Suggested first actions
Next, take a look at the section called "Quick-Start Instructions", still in the Quick Reference Card. It is like a tutorial, telling you what to do first so that you get used to the game's UI. For you convenience, below is what is says, together with my additional notes:
What to do first
You start the game deep in the Karonus star system, [which is the site of the magnificent Hiathra Starbase and the historic MiCon I mining station. Piracy has been virtually wiped out in this sector.] To get to the nearest starbase, follow these steps:
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Plot a course. Press N for navigation mode, then use the joystick, mouse or keyboard cluster [i.e. arrow keys] to select the CHART command. Press Return. Move the cursor across the map of the Karonus star system until you find Hiathra Starbase: the green square symbol at coordinates 13,19. Press the space bar.
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Select the HELM command. Autopilot will guide your ship to the new coordinates. [As you move, you may notice the interface telling you about messages or space ships. You should be able to ignore these and just let the autopilot move you to your destination without interruptions.]
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If a ship attacks you on the way, the journey stops. Select COCKPIT to fight the battle. Press T to target the enemy, and the space bar, joystick button or mouse buttons to fire a weapon. Consult the next section for other commands. [But I think the chance of being attacked here is very low.]
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After your ship arrives at its destination, select COCKPIT to return to the space view. Press T to activate your targeting computer. It tells how far you must travel to the starbase and in which direction. Move your ship so that the arrows on the edge of your viewscreen are centered and point inward. The starbase should appear onscreen as two pyramids connected by a light-colored axle. To dock at the base, manoeuvre your ship to touch the axle [which is the bright part inside of the station, or the top tips of the two pyramids. Don't fly too fast, as you need to be traveling at 20 m/s or less (the number next to the letters CF or NF in the bottom left of your dashboard) for docking to succeed. Also don't fire at stations as they will deny docking -- if you do it by mistake, pop out and return the next day.]
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At the base, walk around [using arrow keys or WASD or mouse], talk to everyone [pressing ENTER and selecting TALK when facing them] you meet, and buy some cargo [and inspect signs, items, closed doors and other things by pressing ENTER and selecting INSPECT while facing them]. You're on your way....
🪐 Learn more about the game world
After you have explored the Hiathra Starbase a little bit, it's a good time to learn more about the world in which the game takes place.
The novella gives you background information about your character and the world. Unlike the intro cutscene, the novella also gives you a goal. It's worth reading not just for the flavour but also for the information and guidance that it provides.
The manual also gives you background information about the universe. Take a look at these three sections to better understand the world that you inhabit:
- Information about the setting (41-46)
- Descriptions of location types available to you and hazards to avoid (36-38)
- Information about game mechanics (47-48)
Additionally, take a look at the map provided and figure out where you are.
🚀 Master your ship
After you have an idea of the world that you inhabit, start to learn everything you can about your spaceship. While this is an RPG, you will actually not be levelling your character; instead, you will be upgrading your ship. So, sooner or later you should know the Jolly Roger inside out. At the very beginning, avoid combat and hazards and instead get accustomed to:
- Your cockpit view (pages 3-7)
- The two flight models (page 8)
- How to dock at bases (pages 10-11). Keep in mind that you cannot land on planets.
- Navigating within a solar system (pages 21-23)
- Wormhole travel between systems (pages 24-25)
- Space hazards to avoid (38-39)
It is also a good idea to leaf through the rest of the manual, and to check out the hand-written notes that the previous owner of Jolly Roger jotted down. Once you get the hang of flying and docking and encounter some enemies, pause and read the remaining sections about combat and ship types.
👍 Early game tips
In case you feel a little aimless and/or overwhelmed, here are some further tips for the early game:
I can't buy weapons or shields for my ship!
Before you can purchase those, you need a pilot's licence. You can get it from the Imperium Representative at Hiathra, the station you docked at first if you followed the quickstart instructions.
Where do I find the answers to the pilot's test?
The game just assumes that you know these things. It's not a copy protection measure or anything. The answers are:
3.26, O, F=ma, Imperium
How can I get more information from the people I meet?
In addition to the dialogue options that are given, you can sometimes (if the option "Other" is given) ask people about topics using keywords that you type in. Try to ask about places and people you have heard of. Sometimes people can have interesting things to say.
What to do after Hiathra Starbase?
In addition to the Hiathra Starbase, the system you are in at the beginning also has the MiCon I mining station. It might be a good idea to visit it. Maybe you can even make some money ferrying cargo between the two?
How can I afford anything?
There are various ways to make credits:
- Trading: identify places where certain goods are cheap, buy those goods and take them to other places where the same goods are more valuable. Ka-ching.
- Piracy: You can raid merchants and other ships and steal their stuff (but see below).
- Bounty hunting: Instead of or in addition to bothering merchants, you can hunt down pirates for bounties (but also see below).
- Professional gaming: In theory, you can make quite a bit of money playing the game-within-game Hive. However, it takes a long time, so I wouldn't bother.
My name's Guybrush Threepwood, and I want to be a pirate!
Yikes! Don't sneak up on me like that!
Now, Thriftweed, keep in mind that your actions have consequences. There are factions in the game (Imperium, Merchant Guild, Pirates) and those factions react to what you do their members. Attack a merchant ship, and merchants won't be happy about it. Same with the others. This affects how other ships interact with you and what NPCs are willing to say to you.
At the same time, the more battles you win, the higher your reputation will be. People will know about you. Admire you. But also perhaps hunt you down to increase their own reputation.
Where the hell is the main story?
You won't really stumble into the main story until a little later in the game, so feel free to explore the world at first on your own. But if you want to get to the main plot quicker, the novella offers a hint.
You might remember that your character is slightly fixated about Duchess Avenstar. You also happen to know what system she is in. Perhaps go and find her?
However, you need to be "a seasoned warrior" before she takes you seriously. You need to have some reputation. So do also read those combat pages in your ship's manual and practice your space fighting skills.
Nebulae and other space hazards keep destroying me!
Well... Space Rogue sort of exists in a universe that conforms to Berkeley's ontological theory of subjective idealism. By which I mean, things only exist if you perceive them. And you only perceive them in front of you. Which means, hazards only get generated in front of your ship. Therefore, if you fly backwards, you can't really bump into hazards. Just keep in mind that this is clearly a philosophical statement and not a tech limitation or a bug.
🎶 Music
Space Rogue has little sound and no soundtrack, apart from the Japanese versions which are no longer available. In case you would like to listen to some music while adventuring, I have put together a Spotify playlist of tunes that might work. You can find it here. I hope you like it. You might be able to convert it to your preferred streaming service somehow.
Historical Context
Developed by Origin Systems towards end of the golden age of the Commodore 64 and Apple II, Space Rogue was something of a pioneering hybrid that bridged the gap between the space flight simulator genre, led by titles like Elite, and the deep narrative-driven RPG systems found in Origin's own Ultima series. The game was marketed as the first of Origin's "cinematic experiences" and while I don't think Origin ever used that marketing term again, their wildly successful and quite cinematic Wing Commander series launched a year later and in many ways stood on the shoulders of Space Rogue.
Space Rogue was created by Paul Neurath, who later went on to found his own company that developed a number of influential titles such as Ultima Underworld I & II, Thief I & II and System Shock 1 & 2. Meanwhile, a young Origin Systems designer by the name of Chris Roberts was quite influenced by Neurath's work and took its combination of 3D space flight and cinematic storytelling to create the Wing Commander series. These days, Roberts is perhaps even better known from his crowdfunded in-progress magnum opus Star Citizen, which in many ways seems to continue the Space Rogue legacy.
Game Information
Platforms & Versions: The game was originally released for Commodore 64 and Apple II. It was later ported to Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, FM Towns, Macintosh, PC-9801 and X68000. The versions are largely the same, with minor graphical differences, apart from the Japanese releases, which feature some music and improved cutscene visuals.
Genre(s): Space combat simulator, RPG
Links: Mobygames, Wikipedia
Stores: GOG and Steam. Note that the game is sold as "Space Rogue Classic". Don't confuse with the unrelated game from 2016 called "Space Rogue".
Game Setup
The main purpose of this topic is to get people up and running with the game.
On Windows and Linux, the game should run directly from Steam and GOG without problems.
On a modern Mac, you likely need to extract the DOS files and run them in a DOSBox emulator.
For other versions and platforms, I'm afraid you are on your own. But do tell us if you decide to do something funky like run it on a C64 or hunt down and emulate an FM Towns or a PC-9801 version!
It's recommended that you:
- Share which version of the game you're playing
- Share what hardware you're playing it on
- Share if there are any tools/mods that you recommend
- Share anything you think is important for people to know before they start the game
- Ask questions if you need help
Another purpose of this topic is to revisit the game and its time period:
- Do you have any memories or associations with this game itself?
- What about its system or era?
- What aspects of retro gaming were common at the time?
- What other games from the same time period are you familiar with?
- What are you expecting from this game in particular?
Finally, this topic is the beginning discussion for people starting to play it:
- Post updates sharing your thoughts as you play.
- Ask for help if you get stuck.
- Offer help to others.
It is recommended that you reply to your own posts if you are making consecutive updates so that they are in the same thread.
Important
<details>
<summary>Spoilers</summary>
Spoiler text goes here.
</details>
FAQ
What is CGA?
Colossal Game Adventure (CGA) is Tildes' retro video game club.
Each month we will play a different retro game/games, discuss our thoughts, and bask in the glorious digital experiences of yesteryear!
Colossal Game Adventure is a reference to Colossal Cave Adventure. It's one of the most influential games of all time, one of the first text-based interactive games, and one of the first games to be shared online.
What do we want to do with this group? Play influential games; interact with each other through text; and share the love for retro games online!
It also abbreviates to CGA (because we love chunky pixel art), and its name communicates the Colossal amount of fun and excitement that we have with retro video Games in our shared Adventure of playing them together.
Do I have to sign up?
No. Participation is open to all.
There is a Notification List that will get pinged each time a new topic goes up. If you would like to join that list, please PM u/kfwyre.
Are there restrictions on what/how to play?
Each month will have a focus game or games that will guide our discussions. Beyond that, there are no restrictions. The philosophy of CGA is to play in a way that works for you!
This means:
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Choose whichever version of the game you want.
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You can use cheats, save states, mods, etc.
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You can watch a streamer or longplay instead of playing it.
If you have already played a game and want a different experience:
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Try a randomizer or challenge run.
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Play a different version of it.
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Play a related game (sequel, spiritual successor, something inspired by it, etc.)
There is no wrong way to participate in CGA, and every different way someone participates will make for more interesting discussions.
What is the schedule?
Each month the Insert Cartidge topic will be posted on the 1st, while the Remove Cartridge topic will be posted on the 28th.
Nomination and voting topics will happen in March and September (every 6 months).
Schedules are also posted then.
All CGA topics are available using the colossal game adventure tag.
What do Insert and Remove Cartridge mean?
Inserting and removing cartridges are our retro metaphor for starting and stopping a given game or games.
The Insert Cartridge topic happens at the beginning of the month and is primarily about getting the game up and running.
The Remove Cartridge topic happens toward the end of the month and is primarily about people reflecting on the game now that they've played it.
There are no hard restrictions on what has to go in either topic, and each can be used to discuss the game, post updates, ask questions, etc.