Stardust (game)
Encyclopedia
Stardust is a shoot 'em up
computer game for the Amiga
, released by the Finnish
company Bloodhouse in 1993. The game is essentially an Asteroids clone with modern enhancements, such as power-up
s, shields, a high-energy techno module
soundtrack, vivid use of colors and the occasional tunnel section that revolves around a sphere. The game's graphics
drew critical acclaim for the aforementioned tunnels and the liberal use of ray-tracing. The company has since merged with Terramarque to form Housemarque
.
In a not atypical bout of Finnish humor, the developers gave several things ludicrous names in their own language, which were (and still are) highly obscure in the international market. The damsel in distress
is named after a brand of margarine
, and the final confrontation takes place over the planet Imatra
.
The game was also ported to the PC, but not by the original programmers. This version was buggy, scant on details found in the Amiga version and severely lacking in both control and gameplay
polish.
Conversion made for the Atari STE by Agression demoscene crew was published in 1995 by Daze Marketing Ltd. It is notable of being one of the few games utilizing Atari STE's technical capabilities (in contrast to older Atari ST).
However, an enhanced sequel was released three years later for AGA
Amigas, Amiga CD32
, and finally for the PC platform as well. Named Super Stardust
(or Super Stardust '96), the game features a CD soundtrack from Slusnik Luna
, FMV
cut-scenes, high speed gameplay and completely new levels and enemies.
In April 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment
released Super Stardust HD
as a downloadable PlayStation Network game for the PlayStation 3
.
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
computer game for the 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...
, released by the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
company Bloodhouse in 1993. The game is essentially an Asteroids clone with modern enhancements, such as power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s, shields, a high-energy techno module
Module file
Module files are a family of music file formats originating from the MOD file format on Amiga systems used in late 1980s...
soundtrack, vivid use of colors and the occasional tunnel section that revolves around a sphere. The game's graphics
Graphics
Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings,or...
drew critical acclaim for the aforementioned tunnels and the liberal use of ray-tracing. The company has since merged with Terramarque to form Housemarque
Housemarque
Housemarque is a Finnish video game company founded in 1995. With Remedy Entertainment, it is the oldest game company still operating in Finland. They were a fusion of two smaller companies, Terramarque and Bloodhouse. The rise of the PC game market prompted these two companies with a background in...
.
In a not atypical bout of Finnish humor, the developers gave several things ludicrous names in their own language, which were (and still are) highly obscure in the international market. The damsel in distress
Damsel in distress
The subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
is named after a brand of margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
, and the final confrontation takes place over the planet Imatra
Imatra
Imatra is a town and municipality in eastern Finland, founded in 1948 around three industrial settlements near the Finnish–Russian border. In the course of the last 50 years, this amorphous group of settlements has grown into a modern industrial town dominated by Lake Saimaa, the Vuoksi River and...
.
The game was also ported to the PC, but not by the original programmers. This version was buggy, scant on details found in the Amiga version and severely lacking in both control and gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
polish.
Conversion made for the Atari STE by Agression demoscene crew was published in 1995 by Daze Marketing Ltd. It is notable of being one of the few games utilizing Atari STE's technical capabilities (in contrast to older Atari ST).
However, an enhanced sequel was released three years later for AGA
Advanced Graphics Architecture
Advanced Graphics Architecture is the third generation Amiga graphic chip set, first used in the Amiga 4000 in 1992. AGA was codenamed the Pandora chipset by Commodore International internally....
Amigas, Amiga CD32
Amiga CD32
The Amiga CD32, styled "CD32" , was the first 32-bit CD-ROM based video game console released in western Europe, Australia, Canada and Brazil. It was first announced at the Science Museum in London, United Kingdom on 16 July 1993, and was released in September of the same year...
, and finally for the PC platform as well. Named Super Stardust
Super Stardust
Super Stardust is a game developed by Bloodhouse and published for the Amiga and Amiga CD32 platforms by Team 17 in 1995. The CD32 version featured CDDA soundtracks composed by Nicklas Renqvist and Niko Nyman . The game was ported to PC under the name Super Stardust '96. Super Stardust is a sequel...
(or Super Stardust '96), the game features a CD soundtrack from Slusnik Luna
Slusnik Luna
Slusnik Luna are a Finnish electronic music duo formed in 1994, composed of Niko Nyman and Nicklas Renqvist. The pair play and produce trance and house tracks...
, FMV
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
cut-scenes, high speed gameplay and completely new levels and enemies.
In April 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
released Super Stardust HD
Super Stardust HD
Super Stardust HD is a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 video game console developed by the Finnish company Housemarque. It is also known as Star Strike HD in Japan....
as a downloadable PlayStation Network game for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
External links
- Stardust at the HousemarqueHousemarqueHousemarque is a Finnish video game company founded in 1995. With Remedy Entertainment, it is the oldest game company still operating in Finland. They were a fusion of two smaller companies, Terramarque and Bloodhouse. The rise of the PC game market prompted these two companies with a background in...
website