Space Rogue
Encyclopedia
Space Rogue is a science fiction computer game released in 1989 by Origin Systems
, makers of the hit Ultima series, for the Apple II
and Commodore 64
and later ported to the PC, Macintosh
, Amiga
, Atari ST
and FM Towns
. The game combined elements of both a space combat simulator and a role-playing game. It is notable for being the first game designed for Origin by Paul Neurath
who went on to found Blue Sky Productions (later renamed Looking Glass Studios
).
The player takes on the role of a space traveler who is sent by his captain to investigate a derelict spacecraft. While he is onboard, aliens attack his mothership and destroy it. He is left with the small craft he was sent to investigate, with little money and no ties. Players decided his fate from there. He could engage in piracy, hunt bounties, become an interstellar merchant or become embroiled in the interplanetary politics.
#153 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.
"I Thought Elite could never be beaten as the greatest ever space game, but after playing Space Rogue for hours on end I've changed my mind" - Zzap64
, Issue #58, 1990
"This totally outclasses Elite and is the best Space Game for any machine!" - Zzap64
, Issue #58, 1990
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
, makers of the hit Ultima series, for the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
and Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and later ported to the PC, Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
, Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
and FM Towns
FM Towns
The FM Towns system is a Japanese PC variant, built by Fujitsu from February 1989 to the summer of 1997. It started as a proprietary PC variant intended for multimedia applications and PC games, but later became more compatible with regular PCs...
. The game combined elements of both a space combat simulator and a role-playing game. It is notable for being the first game designed for Origin by Paul Neurath
Paul Neurath
Paul Neurath is a veteran game designer and creative director in the computer game industry. He founded both Blue Sky Productions and Floodgate Entertainment. He is currently Creative Director of Zynga Boston....
who went on to found Blue Sky Productions (later renamed Looking Glass Studios
Looking Glass Studios
Looking Glass Studios was a computer game development company during the 1990s.The company originally formed as Looking Glass Technologies, when Blue Sky Productions and Lerner Research merged....
).
The player takes on the role of a space traveler who is sent by his captain to investigate a derelict spacecraft. While he is onboard, aliens attack his mothership and destroy it. He is left with the small craft he was sent to investigate, with little money and no ties. Players decided his fate from there. He could engage in piracy, hunt bounties, become an interstellar merchant or become embroiled in the interplanetary politics.
Reception
The game was reviewed in 1990 in DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#153 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.
"I Thought Elite could never be beaten as the greatest ever space game, but after playing Space Rogue for hours on end I've changed my mind" - Zzap64
Zzap!64
Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 . It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact....
, Issue #58, 1990
"This totally outclasses Elite and is the best Space Game for any machine!" - Zzap64
Zzap!64
Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 . It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact....
, Issue #58, 1990