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Startopia
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 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2013) |
| Startopia | |
|---|---|
 European cover art | |
| Developer | Mucky Foot Productions |
| Publisher | Eidos Interactive |
| Platform | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | |
| Genre | Business simulation |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
Startopia is a video game by Mucky Foot Productions (formed by ex-Bullfrog employees) and published by Eidos in June 2001, in which the player administers various space stations with the task of developing them into popular hubs. The game has a comical overtone, with lighthearted humour and cartoonish aliens. The game was re-released on GOG.com in September 2012 and was added to the Steam catalogue in October 2013.
Startopia was shortlisted for BAFTA PC Game of the Year in 2001.[3]
Gameplay
[edit]
The player is tasked with developing a series of space stations according to the wishes of various employers. The game is set after an apocalyptic galactic war, and many of the stations are in a state of considerable disrepair. It is hinted that these space stations are essentially the last few space-based environments available to the denizens of Startopia, as most of them had been destroyed during the galactic war.
The player has no direct control over the aliens that wander about the station. Instead, it is the player's job to construct rooms and hire aliens to staff them. The rooms provide basic necessities as well as recreation, encouraging visitors to remain on the station and continue spending money. Each type of alien is suited to a particular kind of task, and individual aliens have a set of statistics that determine their value as an employee. The actual goal for the player varies from one scenario to the next; in some scenarios, the player is expected to meet an economic goal, while in other scenarios the player is required to perform a specific task such as converting a certain number of aliens, or taking over the entire station by force. A sandbox mode is also available.
As with most business simulation games, the player builds facilities and hires workers to operate them. Some rooms take care of basic necessities such as food, sanitation, and health care, while others provide entertainment or love. Visitors may be hired by the player to remain on the station and attend to its facilities.
The space station has a toroidal shape, and it is divided by sectors. Additional sectors can be opened by paying a certain amount of energy for repairs. When sectors from two different players are adjacent, they can be opened to allow visitors to move between them. A war can also be started, allowing players to conquer other sectors by hacking an opponent´s sector door using security droids. The space station has three decks:
- The engineering deck is the biggest and the one that allows a biggest variety of building to be constructed.
- At the pleasure deck, buildings for assessing love and fun necessities can be built.
- The bio deck satisfies nature and religion necessities. Additionally, plants can be harvested for obtaining supplies. The deck can be terraformed by modifying temperature, humidity, water level and height.
The player can trade with a merchant called Arona Daal since the start of the game. In order to trade with other species merchants, that provides better prices, the player has to build a star dock and have an active communications center.
Other mechanic of Startopia is research.By hiring Turakken employees and having a research lab, the player can discover new technologies and upgrade those technologies. In order to research a new technology, an object must be introduced in the lab´s analyzer. If the object´s technologies has not discovered yet, the player will get the technology, and the item´s production will be enabled at the factory. If that technology is already researched, it may unlock a new technology from the same brand of the tech tree or improve the current technology, reducing energy cost for producing the item. The analyzer can also disable bombs.When there are not items in the analyzer, the employees will randomly update previously discovered technologies.
In order to maintain the station operational, the player must hire employees among the visitors. Employees are required for the function of some buildings, and some species can also provide defense against enemies, spies and monsters. There are two types of droids: scuzzer droids clean the station, build and repair infrastructures, and move crates, whereas security scuzzers are part of the armed forces of the station, detain or expel criminals and can also hack enemy doors.
In addition to normal visitors, the station can also receive enemy agents. An agent can be disguised as a normal alien or appear as a shady human character sneaking around the station.
Startopia draws inspiration from and makes frequent references to mainstream science fiction, such as Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey (the player's assistant computer VAL is a parody of Space Odyssey's HAL), Red Dwarf, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Startopia is dedicated to the memory of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide, who died during the game's production.
Reception
[edit]John Lee reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "Although a bit short on missions, it turns out to be a real kick to build your own luxury hotel in space. [4]
Startopia received generally favorable reviews upon its release. It holds an average of 85% and 86/100 on aggregate web sites GameRankings and Metacritic.[5][6]
Startopia sold approximately 110,000 copies.[7]
Legacy
[edit]During the August 2019 Gamescom, Realmforge Studios and Kalypso Media announced Spacebase Startopia, a new game based on Startopia. It was scheduled to release on October 23, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows and in 2021 for Nintendo Switch, would include both competitive and co-operative multiplayer elements.[8][9] After delays in production, the remake has then been officially released for all platforms on March 26, 2021.[10][11]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Walker, Trey (June 4, 2001). "Startopia goes gold". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "2001 Releases". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 4, 2001. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "British Academy of Film and Television Arts 2001 Interactive Entertainment Award Nominees". BAFTA. 2001. Archived from the original on 2002-10-03. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ Lee, John (October 2001). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 4, no. 10. Imagine Media. p. 99.
- ^ "Startopia for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Startopia for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ Gillen, Kieron. "Footprints". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ Morton, Lauren (August 19, 2019). "Goofy strategy sim Spacebase Startopia announced for late next year". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Spacebase Startopia launches October 23 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, in 2021 for Switch". Gematsu. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ^ "Spacebase Startopia: A Remake after 20 Years [Review]". TechAcute. 2021-03-26. Archived from the original on 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ Sharp, Nathan (2021-04-21). "10 Hidden Gems On Xbox Series X That Released In 2021 (So Far)". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
External links
[edit]Startopia
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Development
Studio background
Mucky Foot Productions was established in February 1997 in Guildford, England, by three former developers from Bullfrog Productions: Mike Diskett, Fin McGechie, and Guy Simmons.[8] The formation came in the wake of Electronic Arts' 1995 acquisition of Bullfrog, which resulted in project cancellations—including one led by Simmons—and prompted several staff members to seek greater creative independence.[9] Drawing from their Bullfrog tenure, where they contributed to titles like Syndicate, the founders sought to revive the studio's reputation for innovative, humorous gameplay in simulation and management genres.[10] Gary Carr, another Bullfrog veteran known for his work on Populous II and Theme Park, joined as joint managing director shortly after the studio's inception, bringing artistic and production expertise that shaped early projects.[11] The team's prior experience at Bullfrog profoundly influenced their design philosophy, emphasizing witty narratives, emergent player interactions, and intricate systems seen in games like Dungeon Keeper and Theme Hospital—styles they aimed to evolve in their independent endeavors.[9] Mucky Foot's initial focus centered on original concepts blending action and simulation elements, though some early ideas, such as a god-game prototype from Bullfrog, remained unrealized.[9] The studio's commitment to Bullfrog's legacy of playful yet deep management simulations positioned it to partner with Eidos Interactive for key releases.[12]Production process
Development of Startopia began around 1998-1999 at Mucky Foot Productions, spanning approximately three years until its completion in 2001.[4] The team partnered with Eidos Interactive for funding and distribution after providing a graphical demo.[4] This partnership occurred amid broader industry instability, requiring the developers to adapt quickly to maintain momentum.[4] Key technical challenges included implementing a 3D space station builder featuring a toroidal structure across multiple decks, which demanded innovative navigation and construction mechanics.[4] Additionally, creating AI for the nine alien races proved complex, as each required distinct behaviors, needs, and interactions to simulate a living ecosystem without overwhelming computational resources.[4] The team addressed these by building a custom engine derived from Bullfrog Productions technology, leveraging the studio's heritage in simulation games for efficient rendering and simulation.[4] Budget constraints shaped the production, resulting in a compact team that grew from an initial core of four to 15 full-time staff over the course of the project.[4] This limited size necessitated careful prioritization, such as focusing on stable design elements early to minimize late-stage revisions and developing in-house tools to compensate for resource shortages.[4] Early decisions, like shifting emphasis from graphical polish to core gameplay after initial prototypes, helped navigate these hurdles effectively.[4]Design influences
Startopia's design drew heavily from the works of Bullfrog Productions, where many of Mucky Foot's founders had previously developed key titles. The game's god-game management elements, such as overseeing alien populations and environmental manipulation on the biodeck, echo the terrain-shaping mechanics in Populous, while base-building and strategic oversight reflect Dungeon Keeper's dungeon management simulation.[13] Additionally, the blend of real-time strategy and simulation seen in Syndicate influenced Startopia's multi-faceted station administration, evolving these into a space-based tycoon framework.[10] Managing director Gary Carr noted that Startopia represented an evolution from Bullfrog's Theme series, incorporating similar park management principles but adapted to a sci-fi context.[14] The game's humorous tone and sci-fi tropes were inspired by Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, to which Startopia is dedicated following Adams' death during production.[15] This influence manifests in the wry, British-inflected narration by the station's AI, VAL, and the absurd, satirical portrayal of interstellar bureaucracy and alien eccentricities, evoking the series' blend of cosmic absurdity and deadpan wit.[5] Reviewers have highlighted how this sardonic humor permeates the gameplay, distinguishing Startopia from more straightforward simulations through its lighthearted take on space opera clichés.[16] To set itself apart from 2D city-builders like SimCity, Startopia emphasized a vertical, three-deck station design: the upper Bio Deck for terraforming ecosystems, the middle Fun Deck for entertainment facilities, and the lower Sub Deck for engineering and maintenance. This toroidal structure allowed for layered, 3D management of resources and visitor needs, adding depth and strategic verticality absent in planar layouts.[17] Contemporary previews praised this approach for introducing purposeful progression and spatial complexity, transforming traditional sim elements into a more immersive, rotatable space habitat.[18] The emphasis on quirky alien races, each with distinct cultural and physiological requirements, combined room-building mechanics with tycoon and strategy genres to create emergent interactions. Players construct specialized rooms like casinos or medical bays to attract and satisfy diverse species—from gelatinous traders to floating entertainers—fostering a hybrid of economic simulation and tactical diplomacy.[14] This design choice, rooted in Bullfrog's creature-driven simulations, prioritized replayability through alien behaviors and alliances, blending resource management with narrative-driven strategy.[19]Setting and plot
Post-war universe
In the aftermath of a cataclysmic intergalactic war among powerful alien races, the Startopia universe depicts a galaxy scarred by destruction, where once-vibrant networks of toroidal space stations—doughnut-shaped hubs for trade, communication, and interstellar travel—lie abandoned and derelict.[1] This conflict, which swept aside the previous galactic empire and disrupted essential waystations, has left ecosystems ruined and populations displaced, transforming these stations into potential sites for reconstruction and renewal under a emerging corporate order.[20] Players assume the role of a station administrator tasked with revitalizing these ruins, turning them into thriving economic centers amidst the chaos of post-war recovery.[21] Central to this setting is a diverse array of alien species, each with distinct physiological requirements, cultural idiosyncrasies, and societal functions that shape station life. For instance, the Greys are enigmatic medical specialists who excel in healthcare facilities but harbor a notorious fascination with probing other beings; the robust Groulien Salt Hogs serve as the working-class backbone, thriving in industrial environments like factories and recyclers while favoring affordable, no-frills accommodations; the alluring Dahanese Sirens embody hedonism, managing entertainment venues such as love nests and requiring watery bio-deck habitats; the four-armed Karmarama act as peaceful environmentalists, cultivating bio-decks with vegetation and preferring harmonious, nature-oriented spaces; and the opulent Polvakian Gem Slugs represent aristocratic decadence, demanding luxury quarters and producing valuable resources like turdite while shunning manual labor.[21] These species, drawn from across the galaxy, form the multicultural population of the stations, their interactions highlighting tensions and synergies born from shared survival in the war's wake.[22] The Startopia lore employs a tongue-in-cheek sci-fi aesthetic to satirize capitalism through the player's entrepreneurial management of station economies, where profit-driven decisions balance alien welfare against fiscal viability; bureaucracy via intricate administrative systems governing resources, security, and diplomacy; and interspecies relations through exaggerated cultural clashes and humorous dependencies among the races.[21] This war-ravaged backdrop establishes the foundational lore for the campaign, providing derelict stations that players progressively restore across missions to foster galactic rebuilding.[1]Campaign narrative
In the single-player campaign of Startopia, players assume the role of a station administrator, an interstellar troubleshooter hired to revive and manage abandoned toroidal space stations following a catastrophic galactic war that left the network in ruins.[23] Tasked with repairing derelict structures amid persistent threats from pirates and opportunistic rivals, the player is guided by the station's AI overseer, VAL, and supported by the interstellar trader Arona Daal, who provides logistical aid and narrative commentary throughout the missions.[24] This setup immerses the player in a post-war universe where corporate interests drive reconstruction efforts, briefly alluding to the broader lore of a collapsed empire giving way to factional alliances.[23] The campaign comprises 10 main missions, each commissioned by a different alien faction and escalating in scope from foundational repairs to intricate empire-building endeavors.[25] Initial missions, such as those for the Groulien Workers Party and Grey Council, emphasize basic station setup and resource stabilization, requiring the player to establish essential operations while navigating early logistical challenges.[24] As progression unfolds, narrative arcs develop through deepening involvement with alien groups like the Targ Collective and Kasvagorian Kingdom, where alliances form around shared goals but are tested by betrayals from competing administrators seeking to sabotage or seize control.[26] Later missions introduce non-linear elements, allowing player choices in diplomacy, economic strategies, or military tactics to shape outcomes, such as opting for peaceful coexistence in a pleasure station run by the Polvakian Aristocracy or aggressive conquest in the climactic Siren Agency scenario.[24] These decisions influence faction relations and station viability, culminating in a final confrontation where the player must dominate rivals through any viable means to secure lasting control.[5] The overarching story weaves themes of opportunistic revival and interstellar intrigue, with Arona Daal's evolving role hinting at personal stakes tied to the player's success.[27]Gameplay
Core management mechanics
In Startopia, players manage a toroidal space station divided into three primary decks: the Engineering Deck for industrial facilities, the Entertainment Deck for visitor amenities, and the Bio-Deck for environmental cultivation. The station's doughnut-shaped structure consists of 16 segments connected by corridors, allowing for modular expansion as resources permit. Core gameplay revolves around constructing and operating facilities to attract visitors, generate income, and fulfill mission objectives, all while balancing power demands and population needs.[25] Resource management forms the foundation of station operations, with energy serving as both the primary currency and power source. Energy is collected via dedicated collectors, each holding up to 100,000 units, and expended on construction, replication of materials, and powering facilities; shortages can lead to blackouts if the station's infrastructure exceeds available capacity, which is bolstered by energy boosters that increase output at a steady cost. Money is earned through visitor spending, facility bonuses, and trades, while materials arrive in crates (such as food or tech supplies) via cargo holds or replication, with recyclers allowing recovery of 25% value from waste; these resources enable the procurement and upkeep of station components.[28] Construction occurs primarily on the Engineering and Entertainment Decks, where players designate room areas by dragging boundaries and placing required equipment, such as hospitals for medical care, factories for production, or discos for recreation. Rooms vary in size and cost, requiring specific crates like hardplan for flooring, and must be connected to power conduits and staffed for functionality; the toroidal layout influences efficiency, as proximity to docking ports facilitates visitor flow. Research briefly unlocks advanced room blueprints, expanding construction options.[25][28] Alien workers, known as "peeps," are hired through an interface and assigned to facilities based on their species' aptitudes, with attributes like skill level (1-5 stars), dedication, and loyalty determining productivity and salary costs. Low morale, tracked via emotional emoticons and attribute pools (e.g., health, love, soul, each up to 10,000 points), reduces efficiency and can cause departures if below critical thresholds; players maintain these by providing appropriate facilities, such as sick bays to treat diseases like space plague or love nests to boost relational stats. Health declines from injuries, neglect, or environmental hazards, directly impacting worker output and station viability.[28][25] The Bio-Deck requires terraforming to sustain the population, involving adjustments to nanosoil types, moisture levels, and temperature across its organic surface to cultivate plants for food and supply crates. Specialized workers plant and maintain ecosystems, tailoring conditions to alien preferences to enhance morale through leisure visits; mature flora yields resources like one crate from shrubs or two from trees, supporting broader station needs without room construction on this deck.[28]Alien interactions and decks
The station in Startopia is structured across three distinct decks, each serving specialized functions that facilitate alien interactions and station operations. The uppermost Bio Deck supports agriculture and research through an artificial ecosystem with manipulable soils and climates, enabling crop growth, alien recreation like gardening, and environmental simulations for specific species' habitats.[29] The central Entertainment Deck (also called Pleasure Deck) emphasizes entertainment and commerce, featuring shops, bars, motels, discos, and living quarters tailored to alien preferences, ranging from luxurious accommodations to basic slums to accommodate diverse visitors and residents.[29] The lowermost Engineering Deck focuses on maintenance, security, and industrial activities, housing facilities such as docking bays, factories, cargo holds, laboratories, and security controls where aliens perform technical labor and defend against threats.[29] Nine alien races inhabit the station, each with unique physical traits, roles, and preferences that influence their distribution across decks and interactions with facilities. These races contribute to station functionality by working in assigned jobs, consuming resources, and engaging socially, while their behaviors are shaped by the deck environments. For instance, labor-oriented races like the burly, miner-like Groulien Salt Hogs thrive in the Engineering Deck's recyclers and factories, handling manual tasks, whereas tech-savvy Turrakken prefer the laboratories on the Engineering or Bio Decks for research.[30] Entertainment Deck facilities cater to social needs, drawing races like the party-loving Karmarama to discos and gardens, or the combative Kasvagorians to rough bars. The Bio Deck's natural settings appeal to ecologically attuned species such as the four-armed, hippie-like Karmarama for gardening. Below is a summary of the races and their key preferences:| Race | Key Traits and Appearance | Preferred Facilities and Decks | Roles and Behaviors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dahanese Sirens | Winged, humanoid | Love Nests (Entertainment Deck) | Socializers; engage in love-making and parties |
| Greys | Humanoid, associated with abductions | Sickbays (Engineering Deck) | Healers; participate in fights during conflicts |
| Groulien Salt Hogs | Burly, brown-skinned miners | Recyclers, Factories (Engineering Deck) | Manual laborers; fight in security roles |
| Karmarama | Purple-skinned, four-armed with dreadlock-like hair | Bio Deck gardens, real food sources | Gardeners; host parties and seek relaxation |
| Kasvagorians | Ant-like, rust-colored | Combat Shops, Rough Bars (Entertainment Deck) | Security fighters; may initiate brawls if unhappy |
| Polvakian Gem Slugs | Large, green slugs | Slugpartments (Entertainment Deck) | Energy providers as visitors; do not perform jobs but generate energy when satisfied; participate in parties |
| Grekka Targs | Fly-like, blue/green | Comsensors (Engineering Deck), mineral ores | Communicators; fight or spy if bored |
| Turrakken | Two-headed, green, lab-coated | Laboratories (Engineering/Bio Decks) | Researchers; attend parties socially |
| Zedem Monks | Tall, robed, monastic | Zedem Temples (Entertainment Deck) | Priests; convert others and join parties |