Growing up, I bounced back and forth between consoles (Chiefly the NES and SNES) and PC for my gaming sessions. My brother and I shared the gaming itch, so we’d alternate who played which system. When I was playing the NES, Sid Meier’s Pirates! was probably my favorite game, with Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and Final Fantasy 3 and 6 as my go-to titles for the SNES. When it came to the PC, my two absolute favorite games were Betrayal at Krondor (Available on GOG.com, bundled with Betrayal in Antara) and Star Control 2. (Available for free on Steam, as Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters)

If you’ve been around me any length of time, you’ll already know about Betrayal at Krondor. Set in Raymond Feist’s Midkemia universe, it tells a tale set between the Riftwar books and Prince of the Blood, when James (Jimmy the Hand) and Locklear are young squires in service to Prince Arutha. It’s their job to escort and defend a dark elf from the far north, who has defected to the human kingdom in order to prevent a war he knows will destroy both sides. It’s an epic tale that leads your party all across the western half of the Kingdom of the Isles and deep into dark elf lands and beyond the normal plane of existence. I can’t recommend it enough. That said, I’ll shut up about it to talk about my other PC love, and the game that had me drawing starships and planning out sweeping sci-fi epics for years: Star Control 2.

Essentially a beefed-up version of Starflight (Both in gameplay and in storytelling), Star Control 2 is a galactic exploration sandbox game set in the aftermath of a great war that leaves Earth and its allies enslaved or extinct, casualties in an even greater war between two titanic alien races, one bent on subjugation while the other is bent on annihilation of all its enemies. You lead a small fleet of ships into the dangerous cosmos, gathering resources and allies as you go, in an attempt to restore your homeworld to its rightful place in the galaxy and to bring this eternal war to an end. I was addicted to it as a kid, and even now as an adult decades later, I still play it. Just mentioning the game makes me want to fire it up and start crawling over neighboring star systems, dodging enemy ships while trying to find worlds worth strip-mining of valuable minerals. The gameplay is addictive, the lore is deep, and the optional content is vast. I’ve beaten it maybe a dozen times, and I still find something new to do and see each time I play it.

For years, I’ve wanted a proper sequel to the game that matched the free-form gameplay and depth of storytelling that this one had. Star Control 3 was an okay game, but it sacrificed the scope and scale of two for a more linear form of storytelling and it eliminated planetary exploration almost entirely. It had its moments, but ultimately it was disappointing when compared with the original. And by “original” I mean 2. The first Star Control was more of a ship battler, with a bit of strategy but no sandbox exploration or immersive storytelling. And with the rights no longer being with the creators of the first two games, it looked like getting a proper sequel was dead in the water.

Until 2024, that is! Pistol Shrimp, the company behind the remastering and re-release of Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters (The definitive, best option for anyone who wants to play Star Control 2 today), now has the rights to go ahead with a true sequel to Star Control 2. Titled Free Stars: Children of Infinity, it picks up only a few years after the events of The Ur-Quan Masters and opens up the greater galaxy for exploration. They’re keeping a fairly tight lid on what exactly we’ll find out there, and that’s okay with me. One of the joys of the original was filling out your star-map as you went, marking down territories for different alien races and making note of special planets and other points of interest, as well as no-go zones best to be avoided! I haven’t been this excited for a game in awhile. I have no idea when I’ll have time to actually play it, but that didn’t stop me from plunking down the cash needed to support this Kickstarter. And I’m not alone in that! It’s only been active for 12 days, and already it’s amassed a war chest of $436,000 as of this post. With 18 days to go, I have no doubt it’ll at least reach the second-to-last stretch goal of a full voice-over. I’d love for it to reach the status of open source, but hey. I’ll take what I can get, and it’s going to be a lot! I seriously can’t wait. As the alien Spathi in Star Control 2 would say at a moment like this, “Happy days and jubilation!”

These are the kinds of success stories I love to see. I’m really biased in this case because this is a childhood love of mine, but even if it weren’t I’d be happy to see it. It’s great when old IPs get the love and care they deserve, and when creators get a chance to spread their wings again like this. If sandbox space exploration is your thing, you owe it to yourself to at least check out The Ur-Quan Masters on Steam. It’s free! And if it’s your thing, know that a (not-so-free) sequel is on the works!

And speaking of far-reaching space exploration…

The First Starflight Novel is in the Works!

A few years back, Three Ravens was happy to partner with the makers of the original Starflight games in order to give that expansive universe the fictional meat it so richly deserved! We launched the very first set of short stories in that universe in the anthology Starflight: Tales From the Starport Lounge. The creators of Star Control often credit Starflight as one of their key inspirations, and it’s little wonder why. It’s a fantastic game from a bygone era of PC gaming, full of intrigue, exploration, trade, and combat all throughout an alien-controlled section of deep space. Both it and its sequel are available on GOG for those interested in strapping into their very own starship and blasting through the cosmos in search of fame and fortune! Just be aware that the difficulty is steep both in Starflight and in the Ur-Quan Masters. You will fail, but in failing you will propel yourself to greater success in future runs! While you won’t get to keep your gear or your money like you would in some roguelikes out there, you’ll at least be able to keep the knowledge in your headspace. That is an incalculable treasure that will serve you well.

With the short story anthology out, plans were laid to begin work on novels, and those plans are beginning to bear fruit! The first novel is officially in the works. We have no title for it yet and no firm release date that we feel comfortable sharing, but we’re thrilled to let you know that the world of Starflight is about to get a little bigger in the coming days! But, hey, while you wait and are between gaming sessions, check out the anthology! Meet the aliens and humans who work together (And sometimes against one another) in order to carve out a livable space in the deep reaches of space. Space may be empty, but it is not lonely, nor is it safe. Not in the world of Starflight!

Tomorrow’s Hope Available on Audible!

The sci-fi anthology Tomorrow’s Hope has been out in the wilds of Amazon in ebook and paperback form for a few months now, but now the audio version has been released! Narrated by the great Steve Schaeffer, this anthology gives you over eight hours of great sci-fi stories, each with a hopeful element to them. The heroes may have to struggle, and some of the may fall, but humanity’s tenacity shines forth through it all. The future may appear bleak at times, but go out far enough and it’s brighter than we can imagine.

Tomorrow’s Hope: A journey of exploration and hope builds on the themes reminiscent of classic Science Fiction written by the greats of the 1960’s. Inspired by the works of Ben Bova, Isaac Asimov, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Heinlein, Robert Silverberg, and more, we dive into worlds that could be just around the corner.

With Essays by Arlan Andrews, Les Johnson, and stories by Bart Kemper, Benjamin Tyler Smith, Charli Cox, Gustavo Bondoni, Jetse de Vries,
Michael Anthony Dioguardi, Sarina Dorie, Malorie Cooper, and William Joseph Roberts, you are sure to enjoy this collection.

The Final Kildash Book Releases Tomorrow!

For fans of blended sci-fi and fantasy, you’re missing out if you haven’t given the Kildash series a try. Written by Lee Ellis, the Kildash series spans a vast swath of space and follows the adventures of Kaleb Kildash, magician and monster hunter. All he wants to do is protect his village from a demon, but when he hitches a ride into space with a group of professional adventurers, his life, as well as the fate of every planet, are changed forever. It’s been a long run, but we’re finally approaching the end! Tomorrow marks the sixth entry and conclusion to the current storyline of the Kildash series and universe. Now’s the perfect time to get caught up, and get ready to see the epic conclusion to the Second Ridding!

The Saga Concludes!
(Part II: Belly of the Beast)

The Red Queen has amassed the largest army since the rule of Kaleeshni, all of its military might bent on vengeance. A dark sorcerer poses as Dune Halzibar, spreading his empire across the void. Beyond the Weeping Sea, goblins fight for stake of a new planet colonized by mages. Thuzans pay tribute to a fallen monk, and with them come gospels of violence.

Turmoil disrupts the Murai as the ronin urges for unity, and the Queen of Tuegal plays a deadly game with allies and enemies. Mercenaries strike in the night as war dissolves ancient boarders, an alchemist brews his masterpiece, and the Second Ridding begins.