mysteriosum

So, we’re working on Chromatose, as many of our readers know (all four of you). Chromatose uses controls that I ripped from Star Control 2: The Ur-Quan Masters’ Super Melee, which SC2 ripped from Asteroids. Asteroids is one of the most popular arcade game of all time (6th bestselling, according to Wikipedia). I think I may have played a game or two since Star Control 2 which uses these controls, but that game was made in 1992. That’s now more than 20 years ago. Apparently we don’t like Asteroids as much as we thought we did?

I mean, what gives? Asteroids is FUN. We know that much, at least. There are countless asteroids clones on the internet. That must mean there are still people playing it. And since there are really only 2 elements of the game (navigation, and shooting asteroids), then it’s safe to assume that they are BOTH fun, or else no one would play it.

Moreover, Star-Control 2 is, even if it is relatively unknown, is one of the greatest video games ever made, as far as I’m concerned. They did moral choice and space exploration WAY before Mass Effect, and they did it in a much more involved way, which didn’t polarize your choices. There was often a lot of grey area. Something you do may help you win the game, but it may also severely weaken an entire species. I’m digressing. I love SC2, maybe I’ll write a whole thing about it. Right now what I’m talking about is Asteroids, stop distracting me!

So, why don’t we make more games with 2D, gravity-less physics-based navigation with no drag or deceleration? Because it’s hard to use? That’s no excuse. Mario controls are difficult to master also. There just happen to be a lot of games, and platforming’s become somewhat of a basic skill among gamers.

This is part of the reason I’m making Chromatose. I love these controls. There are only 3 buttons involved: turn right, turn left, and accelerate, but it offers incredible depth of gameplay, allowing players to skim by with little time investment, or feel like complete masters with a lot of time investment. As long as our level design allows for it, that is. Anyways, rant over. Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned. Stay fabulous. :)

-Travis / mysteriosum