Star sonata
Encyclopedia
Star Sonata is a space-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game
(MMO), that uses a third-person 2d overhead view similar to that of Asteroids. In addition the game offers complex and involved commerce, construction and team systems. The goal for players in Star Sonata is to bring their team to domination and claim the seat of emperor. In an interview, developer Adam Miller was asked why he decided to create a game like Star Sonata. He responded "We designed Star Sonata out of a nostalgic childhood dream of space adventure." Star Sonata belongs to the space opera
genre established in computer gaming by Galactic Empire and Elite.
The game is free to download and play, theoretically for an unlimited period of time, but developing a character past a certain point requires a paid subscription. Each account can support up to 5 characters.
Combat in Star Sonata is in real time and completely player controller which is significantly different from the majority of MMORPGs. To initiate combat a player simply needs to target the enemy and fire. Due to the real time nature of combat there are a wide variety of tactics used including, but not limited to brute force methods, out-ranging opponents, and dodging enemy fire. Most enemies can be killed by a skilled lone player but most game content is geared toward small groups of players. Star Sonata also has an open PvP
system in which players can attack other players near their skill level determined by the danger factor of the system they are in, their levels, and other factors.
and a monopoly on Imperial seals.
requirements, 1000 per level, with experience earned by killing computer-controlled enemies and finishing in-game missions. The experience returned from the former is based on the relationship between a player's level and that of the "AI
" (computer controlled enemy). Defeating an AI of a higher relative level will gain up to 510xp, while defeating a lower one can result in as little as none. Each time a player levels they earn 5 skill points which can be spent on skills. Skills determine what equipment is usable or give small bonuses to different aspects of the game.
Characters are limited to level 20 without a paid subscription.
Players from all over the world play Star Sonata, with the majority being from the United States
and the United Kingdom
.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
(MMO), that uses a third-person 2d overhead view similar to that of Asteroids. In addition the game offers complex and involved commerce, construction and team systems. The goal for players in Star Sonata is to bring their team to domination and claim the seat of emperor. In an interview, developer Adam Miller was asked why he decided to create a game like Star Sonata. He responded "We designed Star Sonata out of a nostalgic childhood dream of space adventure." Star Sonata belongs to the space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
genre established in computer gaming by Galactic Empire and Elite.
The game is free to download and play, theoretically for an unlimited period of time, but developing a character past a certain point requires a paid subscription. Each account can support up to 5 characters.
Gameplay
At the lower levels, Star Sonata is largely a space trading game, where the player can make money finding and running trade routes from one station to another. Later on, players can make their own automated slave ships to run trade routes even while off line. At higher levels, players build their own custom space stations which can mine commodities off of planets and moons that can then be sold to either neutral space stations or to insatiable player-founded colonies. Many of the better items in the game are either constructed on player stations or else bought from colonies with ancient ruins that the inhabitants excavate and sell. Discovering trade routes and good planets to build upon and colonize makes much of Star Sonata, especially at the beginning of a new universe, a space exploration game.Combat in Star Sonata is in real time and completely player controller which is significantly different from the majority of MMORPGs. To initiate combat a player simply needs to target the enemy and fire. Due to the real time nature of combat there are a wide variety of tactics used including, but not limited to brute force methods, out-ranging opponents, and dodging enemy fire. Most enemies can be killed by a skilled lone player but most game content is geared toward small groups of players. Star Sonata also has an open PvP
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
system in which players can attack other players near their skill level determined by the danger factor of the system they are in, their levels, and other factors.
Conquest
A major focus in Star Sonata is to claim a galaxy for ones team and develop it for whatever purpose intended. Players can build space stations to maintain control over their galaxies and use them to exploit a planets resources for their own gain. Players can build colonies on planets and can create empires in their own corners of the universe. When a team achieves a team score in the top five and sufficient percentage of the population of the universe, they can make a claim to the Emperor's throne. If successful, their team leader will be crowned the Emperor of the Universe. Being crowned Emperor has many unique benefits including a tithe on all scooped creditsMoney
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
and a monopoly on Imperial seals.
Universe resets
A unique feature of Star Sonata is that the game's universe is randomized every few months in a Universe reset. This allows for the game to remain fresh for long-time players and for new players to have a chance to claim a star system for themselves. A reset triggers economic changes as supply and demand shifts for different items and resources. New content is also added to the game at this time. As a result, a Universe reset is a significant event for most players. The most recent reset occurred on July 30, 2011.Advancement
Character development is based on gaining levels through meeting fixed experience pointExperience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
requirements, 1000 per level, with experience earned by killing computer-controlled enemies and finishing in-game missions. The experience returned from the former is based on the relationship between a player's level and that of the "AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
" (computer controlled enemy). Defeating an AI of a higher relative level will gain up to 510xp, while defeating a lower one can result in as little as none. Each time a player levels they earn 5 skill points which can be spent on skills. Skills determine what equipment is usable or give small bonuses to different aspects of the game.
Characters are limited to level 20 without a paid subscription.
Player base
As of 2009, Owner Jeff Landauer reported that the game has over 1000 paying players and has an impressive growth rate. This does not include many thousands of free players. In a January 2008 interview, Landauer stated that in the last 2 days and 11 hours 12,132 unique characters had logged in to play.Players from all over the world play Star Sonata, with the majority being from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
External links
- The official Star Sonata homepage
- The official Wiki
- Listing on MMORPG.com
- Star Sonata review on "Tea Leaves"
- "M. Indie in SPAAAAACCE", a GameTunnel review by Joseph Lieberman
- GameZone review
- OnRPG review
- Current Star Sonata Map