Reach For The Stars (2000) Updated Re-Release

[Erik Rutins]

5Classic Space-Based Conquest Game Returns!

Matrix Games announced today that they will be working with Strategic Studies Group (www.ssg.com.au) to release an updated version of the Reach for the Stars sci-fi strategy game. The original classic was released in 1983, but the new release is an updated version of the second Reach for the Stars release in 2000.

Reach for the Stars is noted to have been one of, if not the first, 4X Space Strategy game. 4X Strategy refers to the four activities you perform, Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate. The overall game will remain the same as the 2000 release of Reach for the Stars, but with fixes for previous issues reported since then.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games said, “Reach For The Stars is and was a classic that we are proud to return to the front line of strategy gamers. The gameplay is still as fun and addictive as always.”

[Erik Rutins]

Hi everyone,

I want to welcome you to the RFTS forum and also answer the number one frequently asked question:

This is a re-release, not a re-make. This is the 2000 release, with all remaining issues and bugs officially fixed, packaged in a new installer. If you are looking for any major changes to gameplay and content, it will not be in this release, but all the original content and gameplay is there. This is mainly a way to let fans of the series get the official last version of the game, which was never released, in a one step installer. For those who haven't played Reach For The Stars, it should be priced to make it easy for you to take a look at this 4 X space civilization classic.

If we see strong interested in this re-release, who knows what might happen down the line, but I want to be completely clear on what this particular product includes.

Regards,

- Erik

[solops]

Well, that is a shame because RFTS has the potential to be a great game if the interface is re-done and some bugs ironed out. The genre is desperately awaiting a decent entry since MOO3 fell flat on its face and Stars! Supernova failed to find a publisher. Its a shame about Supernova. As a beta tester I can say that it had the most potential of any game I have seen or heard of to date.

There have been no decent turn-based 4x space games to choose from in years. SEIV is OK, but the AI is weak and its micro-management is tedious. SE-V? We'll see...

[P_DEX]

Hey solops,

Have you tried Galactic Civilizations? It's definitelty the "best" 4X space strategy game out right now, in my opinion. Galactic Civilizations 2 is in beta right now.

[solops]

Yeah, I bought it when it was released. It was ok for a while but it never really grabbed my imagination and interest like RFTS, Stars! and MOO2 when they first appeared.

[dbt1949_slith]

Actually I kinda like the 2000 release of RFTS. WHat changes/fixes have been made since the last(or was it only) patch?

[sysrkm]

I agree that Gal Civ is a great game, but with ONE HUGE PROBLEM... It's single player.

- Rob

[michaelm75au]

Thanks!
This was one of the first real games I bought for my computer back in '80s when RFTS was first released. Of course "Carriers At War" was a must also. [Was a subscriber to SSG Run5 magazine as well. Must look after local industry[:D]]

I missed the 2000 version for some reason.

Can't wait till its wrapped up and ready ... digital download I represume.

Michael

[Burzmali]

Galciv is good, but I wouldn't call it the "best" 4x space game on the market. But at least it proves that a mere 8 starships can create a 100% blockade of a solar system [8|]

[Hrothgar]

I thought the 2000 release was a lot of fun. I know a lot of people thought the interface was bad, but it seemed to me that, once you became familiar with it, it was very powerful and easy to use. My only complaint re the interface was that the "wings" tended to obscure a lot of the screen, but maneuvering via the interface was so easy that this was a minor problem. I still play it, despite the problems I've encountered under Win XP--most of which have been addressed in an unofficial patch from SSG. I prefer SE 4 because of the PBEM capability, but RFTS provides a challenging solo game--and it can be played live over the net, but my life is a bit too hectic to allow scheduling large blocks of time for that. At any rate, I'm looking forward to the re-release, which should eliminate the problems remaining under XP.

[mjswoltjer]

I'm very happy to see the RFTS game re-released. I enjoyed playing it a lot.

Are there any plans to add some new campaigns and/or scenario's? This will make the game much more interesting for people who already own the original game. Maybe you can ask users to make some in the editor and add them to the release?

Marcel Woltjer

[pterrok]

Well, head on over to the SSG site (http://www.ssg.com.au) click on the Discussion link and you'll find a Reach for the Stars forum. While as far as I know there are no plans for new scenarios or campaigns and no users have submitted any scenarios or campaigns--YET--it would be the logical place to go to find one.

I've glanced at the editor and it seems very powerful, so if word gets out that scenarios can be posted there, I'm sure some people will get into making them to see their name up in lights, as it were, just like there are a handful of regulars over there who make scenarios for the Decisivie Battles of World War II games.

[mjswoltjer]

Thanks for the tip. I have posted a message on this board. You can read it here.

Marcel Woltjer

[Vyshka]

What kind of time frame are we talking for release? It sounds
like they already have a patched exe that is being tested by
some people in the ssg forums. Will this be digital download?

[mjswoltjer]

I just created my first scenario for the RFTS 2000 version. It has been posted at the RFTS forum page, which can be found here

[Erik Rutins]

Thanks for the link.

RFTS should be released very soon via digital download and game on demand. Stay tuned for more news.

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

For those who may be interested, a few screenshots:

[Erik Rutins]

RFTS Screenshot

[Erik Rutins]

RFTS Screenshot

[Erik Rutins]

RFTS Screenshot