Geekscape at GDC: Space is the Place

Feeling like there’s been a dearth of video games set in the final frontier? Does Mass Effect 4 (without Shepherd) seem like it’s just too far way, and you’ve already played through StarCraft II too many times to count? Well, the Indie developers have heard your cries, and there’s a fresh new crop (with a sequel or two) of space-based games set to come out in the next few months, in a variety of genres.

We had a chance to play some of these up-and-coming games at GDC, and we’ve boiled down hours of interviews and gameplay (not to mention literally MILES of walking up and down Howard Street), just for you, dear readers!

StarDrive 2

Star Drive 2, from developer Zero Sum Games, returns to the world of Star Drive, a universe-spanning game where players can build a space empire. In a change from Star Drive, which was a real-time strategy game, Star Drive 2 is turn-based strategy with battles in real-time, allowing players plenty of time to make strategic and diplomatic decisions while keeping the urgent-ticking-clock during battle.

Players familiar with turn-based strategy games will find all the expected aspects here: diplomacy, conquest and trade options, espionage, research and economics. A hire system allows players to hire Heroes to govern planets or commend fleets; nine alien races and numerous pirate clans exist for the player to interact with.

Zero Sum Games takes a refreshing, humorous take on the dialogue and interactions between the player’s faction and other races.

There’s a build-your-own-ship function that allows you to instantly place your brand-new model into combat to see how it fares, and a battle arena mode that offers unique upgrades and rewards for their fleet.

StarDrive 2 will be fully Steam supported, including allowing modders to create and share their own in-game heroes, events, campaigns, ship upgrades and more. StarDrive 2 will launch in Fall 2014 with an expected price of $29.99 (Star Drive 1 owners will receive a 33% loyalty discount).

Starpoint Gemini 2

Developed by Little Green Men Games, Starpoint Gemini 2 is an open-world 3D space combat game with significant RPG mechanics. The game is being developed to be compatible with Oculus Rift technology, and judging from the demo we saw, this game lends itself well to the immersive virtual play of the Oculus Rift–especially since the immense, open universe is loading point free.

Player’s control one ship at a time (though they may have multiple ships to choose from) which they are the captain of. The character of the captain has its own set of upgradeable skills, perks and side quests outside of upgrades and modifications to the ships in his fleet.

The combat is fast and can be somewhat disorienting, as the battle takes place across both the X and Y axis and the sense of up versus down (especially using the Oculus Rift) can get disorienting. A crucial component in combat is gun control and movement–moving many of the larger, better armed ships is often a great way to die fast: it’s better to take advantage of the multiple gun turrets and missile that offer a variety of targeting solutions instead of trying to turn and face the enemies.

Starpoint Gemini 2 is currently on Steam Early Access and is expected to launch in the late second quarter of this year. It’s currently $24.99 and will go up to $34.99 upon official release.

Star Lords

Yet another turn-based strategy game set in a galaxy far, far away, Star Lords is developed by Arkavi Studios and focuses more on political and economic treachery, er, diplomacy. Players can secretly finance a war against other factions, taunt a faction to declare war on them, or convince your allies to go to war against an upstart empire.

Star Lords takes place in a randomly generated universe, meaning a player will never play the same game twice. There are eight major races, along with numerous independent worlds and pirate factions that players can conquer, use ruthlessly or open diplomatic channels with.

Players can decide what type of Empire they wish to rule–a dystopia powered by slave labor? A scientific utopia with a hidden lower class? You decide.

Combat is turn-based with the option for tactical control and an AI that Arkavi says “will never cheat, while presenting a constant challenge.”

Star Lords is currently available on Steam Early Access for $19.99 and is expected to release late in the second quarter (with a price increase to $29.99).

DarkOrbit Reloaded

DarkOrbit may be familiar to some of you, the MMO has been around since 2006 and is extremely popular in Europe, with several million active users. Eight years later, developer Bigpoint Games is launching DarkOrbit Reloaded in the hopes of expanding their player base as well as upgrading the game with new features and areas.

DarkOrbit is a flash-based browser MMO where players control a spaceship and explore deep space as a member of one of three Companies, intent on gaining wealth and power as they level. Similar in feel and tone to Eve Online, with standard combat controls and a variety of weapons (options increase as a player levels) to combat both NPCs, and, once out of the start area, other players.

While there is no crafting per se, Dark Orbit’s economy depends on resource mining by the players.

In Reloaded, Bigpoint added a mentor system, which rewards players at a higher level for assisting new players–including rare upgrades and bonuses.

DarkOrbit Reloaded is free to play and can be downloaded here.

What do you guys think? Can’t wait? Can’t be bothered? Let us know in the comments!