{"id":13437,"date":"2016-09-16T15:45:56","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T19:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spacesector.com\/blog\/?p=13437"},"modified":"2016-09-21T06:10:26","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T10:10:26","slug":"stars-in-shadow-early-access-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spacesector.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/stars-in-shadow-early-access-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Stars in Shadow – Early Access Preview and Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Stars<\/a><\/p>\n

Lately, competition has been getting fierce in the 4X genre. This has caused a surge of titles that are either trying different approaches to the genre, or those that are trying to stay true to older formulas but still bringing in their own ideas to the table. One such title is trying to do the latter is\u00a0Stars in Shadow<\/a> by Ashdar Games. A small indie studio that was recently acquired by the publisher Iceberg Interactive. Their game just hit Steam E.A.<\/a> on September 15, 2016.<\/p>\n

The game is a turn-based space 4X game with turn-based tactical combat and a detailed ship designer. The game has its own distinct art style, a colourful and rich design that is iconic to several comic and animated series. The game also tries to have its own take on planetary management to help minimise micromanagement and the ship designer is based on specific hulls types with allocated hard-point slots.<\/p>\n

You can go check our first preview<\/a> and our even earlier Stellar Indie Venture<\/a> to get a good idea of where the game came from and some basic overview of the game\u2019s core mechanics. Though the articles are dated with some respects, both contained interviews which gave glimpses to the game\u2019s vision and direction.<\/p>\n

\"Stars<\/a><\/p>\n

I decided to keep this tradition alive and decided to do another interview while previewing the E.A build of the game. Sven Olsen and Jim Francis (Arioch) were kind enough to indulge me in my curiosity. One of my questions was about the point I bring up in my preamble that the genre is getting competitive and what they hope to bring to fans with Stars in Shadow:<\/p>\n

“Many of the recent games in the genre have moved to streamlined real-time tactical combat; we think an engaging turn-based tactical system is still essential to a good turn-based 4X game. In our strategic system, we have tried to reduce unnecessary micromanagement while maintaining depth of play, and to increase the sense of character in the ships, planets, races and factions that you\u2019re interacting with. We want a game that really plays well, rather than one that is just a long list of features.” – Sven Olsen and Jim Francis<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Only time will tell if they achieve this but so far it seems they are still on track with their goal. Now onto the preview.<\/p>\n

\"Stars<\/a><\/p>\n

Features<\/strong> (from the Steam store page):<\/strong><\/p>\n

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