Space, the final frontier (NOT Star Trek games)

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

What I loved about this era in computer gaming was that you had some interesting and unusual themes. We don't have space exploration games anymore without blowing crap up. Back then, we did. Two of my favorites:

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/apple/q2-01/pss9.jpg (http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/apple/station.html)
Project Space Station - a nifty resource-management game with some moments of arcade-style action, basically putting you in charge of building and staffing the space station (and this was in 1985!!), and teaming the right crew members up on the right research projects to turn a profit and keep the space program afloat under its own power. Not as easy as you might think.

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/apple/q2-01/hp3.jpg (http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/apple/hp.htm)
The Halley Project - you're given a series of missions involving navigating your way through the solar system, the planets and their moons, with occasional stops at Halley's Comet (this game was released in '86 when Halley was all the rage). Very cool, and your light speed drive was the only fictionalized element about it. Well, that and the fact that your home base was the comet...I also remember that this had a mind-blowing speech-and-music intro. On the Apple II. With no additional sound hardware.

How I miss this rarified sub-sub-sub-genre of computer gaming. A space exploration game on a modern system could rock our freakin' socks off. But I guess no one's gonna buy into it if ya can't blow stuff up. :o

[ubersaurus]

Project Space Station sounds badass. What platforms was it on?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Both of the screenshots there are Apple II, but I think both games were also on the C64 unless I'm very much mistaken.

[ubersaurus]

Sweet. Soon as I dig a tunnel to my c64 I'll have to get a copy of it.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Dunno why, but at the time I launched this topic a while back, I was kinda computer-centric. In light of today's successful shuttle launch, I thought it might be worth re-entering this particular thread.

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/atari26/q1-02/s2.gif
Space Shuttle: A Journey Into Space - This is, naturally, the first game that springs to everyone's mind if you're talking about a non-violent, non-sci-fi space game. On the 2600, they tried to make it as realistic as possible by using every switch on the 2600 console for some in-game function; just don't hit the power switch! Also available on the 5200; my memory's failing me on whether or not it made it to any other systems.

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/atari26/q4-03/u1.gif
Shuttle Orbiter - this unsung hero of this very rarified genre introduced some nifty arcade-style collision-avoidance action sequences, and yet did so without bringing UFOs into the mix. (And it's really no more and no less fictionalized than the "space junk" you could collide into with Project Space Station.) This game takes some patience, but I've always found it to be quite a bit of fun; depending on whether or not you're looking for a glitch game experience out of the deal, your mileage may vary.

I think there was a Space Shuttle game on the NES as well, but I have to admit I've never seen it; maybe someone else can clue me in.

[davepesc]

The first game that springs to mind for me is StarFlight. Yeah, technically there is a small amount of combat, but 94% of the game is exploring systems and interacting with the various races.
You also have to mine resources, capture wildlife and SAVE THE UNIVERSE!!!!

[googlefest1]

i liked apollo 18 on c64

when i was a kid i thought it gave you close to real life sim

timming was everying

[robotriot]

Two more games I can think of:
Space Max (http://www.thelegacy.de/Museum/game.php3?titel_id=13578&game_id=5368) (Amiga/PC)
Shuttle: The Space Flight Simulator (http://www.thelegacy.de/Museum/game.php3?titel_id=5241&game_id=5291) (Amiga/Atari ST/PC)

[ubersaurus]

The NES shuttle game was kinda goofy. You had to succeed at a series of minigames to launch and reenter successfully, but the spacewalks were interesting-you had to try and dodge debris and satellites while putting other things into orbit, making repairs, and other such weirdness.

[Lady Jaye]

Dunno why, but at the time I launched this topic a while back, I was kinda computer-centric. In light of today's successful shuttle launch, I thought it might be worth re-entering this particular thread.

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/atari26/q1-02/s2.gif
Space Shuttle: A Journey Into Space - This is, naturally, the first game that springs to everyone's mind if you're talking about a non-violent, non-sci-fi space game. On the 2600, they tried to make it as realistic as possible by using every switch on the 2600 console for some in-game function; just don't hit the power switch! Also available on the 5200; my memory's failing me on whether or not it made it to any other systems.

On a unrelated note, that Space Shuttle game was also the inspiration behind the game Tomcat: F-14 on the Atari 2600/7800 (later remade as Turn and Burn: No-Fly Zone for the SNES and F-14 Tomcat for the GBA). No wonder, as Space Shuttle was designed by Steve Kitchen and Tomcat, by his brother Dan.

[Dangerboy]

Don't forget the goofiest thing of all about the NES SPace Shuttle game.

You're winning game screen was a pic of president bush sr. and dan quayle congratulating you. O_o

[bargora]

What do y'all think of the more recent Moonbase Commander (PC) game?

[Jibbajaba]

There is also Microsoft Space Shuttle Simulator. And the AWESOME freeware "Orbiter". I think I have the Activision Space Shuttle game. I'll have to give it a whirl.

Starflight came to mind for me as well. You fight a little bit, but it isn't the focus of the game.

Chris

[SoulBlazer]

I've heard Moonbase Commander is really good.

And for SHAME, PDF! How could you forget the BEST space game of all time -- Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space for the PC? @_@

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Old thread, but BIG new discovery - oh, man. Check this out! (http://www.shatters.net/celestia) Not really a game, but very much in the tradition of the Halley Project, plus it's expandable out the wazoo.

Oh, and it's free. Did I mention free?

[Trebuken]

Jupiter Lander. Played that it quite a bit on my C-64...

[Sotenga]

I may be a bit off-base since the game I'm thinking of actually does have a definitive end to it and you have to do everything within five years of game time, buuuuuut... do any *campers* recall Star Control II? ^_^'

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

My wife can probably wipe the floor with the ass of anybody here at Star Control II. I've never ever learned to play it - I'm scared of her. :eek 2: