Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star

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Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star
Renegade The Battle for Jacobs Star.jpg
Developer(s) Midnight Software
Publisher(s) Strategic Simulations
Series Renegade Legion
Platform(s) DOS
Release1995
Genre(s) Space flight simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star is a space flight simulator video game developed by Midnight Software and published by SSI for the personal computer.

Contents

Gameplay

Renegade: the Battle for Jacob's Star is based on Renegade Legion . [1]

Development and release

Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star is based on the Renegade Legion science fiction franchise from FASA. Publisher Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) obtained the license for the series and produced the first computer game adaptation, 1990's Renegade Legion: Interceptor , which was a faithful adaptation of the original board game with relatively simply graphics and sound. SSI associate producer David Lucca said that team contemplated using the license to create a state-of-the-art action game or flight simulator. [2] The Battle for Jacob's Star was contracted to Midnight Software, a Canadian company who had previously worked on the 3D flight simulator Heroes of the 357th for Electronic Arts. [3]

Lucca likened the scenario for The Battle for Jacob's Star to Baa Baa Black Sheep . [2] Voice talent was hired through the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Lucca also said that there was disagreement among the staff regarding the type of music that should be used in the soundtrack, so a redbook audio option was included to allow players to play their music of choice by swapping in their own CDs during missions. [2]

The Battle for Jacob's Star was released for PCs in early 1995. A direct sequel titled Renegade II: Return to Jacob's Star was announced at the end of the year and slated for release in early 1996. [4] New features such as online multiplayer and a mission editor were advertised. [5] [6] [7] [8] A game demo became available [9] [10] and some magazine even provided full reviews. [11] [12] However, the sequel was ultimately dropped from SSI's release schedule. It was initially reported that this was due to licensing issues with FASA. [13] It was the revealed that Mindscape had chosen to cancel it due to poor quality. [14] Midnight Software was acquired by Strategy First in 1997. [15] The Battle for Jacob's Star was re-released digitally on both Steam and GOG.com by publisher SNEG as part of the SSI Classics compilation on December 19, 2023. [16]

Reception

Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star received generally favorable reviews. A reviewer for Next Generation hailed Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star as one of the few Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger clones which does not rely on expensive production to emulate that game's success. Particularly praising the 3D fighter models, absorbing storyline, detailed character development, and strategic gameplay, he gave it four out of five stars. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Next Generation staff (June 1995). "Renegade". Next Generation (6). Imagine Media: 108. ISSN   1078-9693.
  2. 1 2 3 Bennett, Dan (January 1995). "Renegade: Battle for Jacob's: SSI Takes Aim at Wing Commander". PC Gamer . No. 8. Future US. pp. 22–4. ISSN   1059-2180.
  3. ↑ PC Review staff (March 1992). "Coming soon... Heroes of the 357th". PC Review . No. 5. EMAP. p. 14. ISSN   0964-4547.
  4. ↑ Bauman, Steve (December 1995). "'tis the season to be shopping". Computer Games Strategy Plus . No. 61. Strategy Plus Inc. p. 182. ISSN   1546-5101.
  5. ↑ PC Entertainment staff (March 1996). "Scouting Report". PC Entertainment . Vol. 3, no. 3. IDG. p. 12. ISSN   1074-1356.
  6. ↑ Steinlechner, Peter (March 1996). "Renegade: Return to Jacob's Star". Power Play (in German). Future Verlag. p. 30. ISSN   0937-9754.
  7. ↑ Joystick staff. "Preview: Renegade II: Return to Jacob's Star". Joystick (in French). No. 69. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. p. 136. ISSN   1145-4806.
  8. ↑ Silvestri, Stefano (April 1996). "Jacob Star's Back!". The Games Machine (in Italian). No. 85. Actia. p. 21. ISSN   1127-1221.
  9. ↑ Joystick (April 1996). "The Best of Demos: Renegade II". Joystick Hors-Série (Special Edition) (in French). No. 8. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. p. 11. ISSN   1145-4806.
  10. ↑ PC Gamer staff (April 1996). "The CD: Renegade 2". PC Gamer . No. 23. Future US. p. 27. ISSN   1059-2180.
  11. ↑ Synder, Frank (May 1996). "Reviews: Renegade: Return to Jacob's Star". Computer Game Review . No. 58. Sendai Publishing. p. 60. ISSN   1062-113X.
  12. ↑ Next Generation staff (July 1996). "Renegade". Next Generation (19). Imagine Media: 84, 87. ISSN   1078-9693.
  13. ↑ CGSP staff (August 1996). "Renegade: Return to Jacob's Star". Computer Games Strategy Plus . No. 69. Strategy Plus Inc. p. 49. ISSN   1546-5101.
  14. ↑ Computer Gaming World staff (September 1996). "Whatever Happened To... Some Vaporware Condenses While Others Dissipate". Computer Gaming World . No. 146. Ziff Davis. pp. 90–2. ISSN   0744-6667.
  15. ↑ Cyberstratege staff (March 2000). "Strategy First". Cyberstratege (in French). No. 17. Histoire & Collections. pp. 12–3. ISSN   1280-8199.
  16. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (November 29, 2023). "Phantasie, Star Command, & More SSI / Mindscape Games Coming To Steam & GOG". Time Extension. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  17. ↑ Perry, Kevin; Chapman, Ted; Kaiafas, Tasos (April 1995). "Reviews: This Is What Happens When You Let Romans Have Spaceships". Computer Game Review . No. 45. Sendai Publishing. pp. 40–1. ISSN   1062-113X.
  18. ↑ Cirulis, Martin E. (May 1995). "Review: Rebel Commander – SSI Follows The Leaders of Space Combat In RENEGADE". Computer Gaming World . No. 130. Ziff Davis. pp. 90–2. ISSN   0744-6667.
  19. ↑ Soropos, George (August 1995). "Renegade – Battle for Jacob's Star". Hyper . No. 21. nextmedia. p. 68. ISSN   1320-7458.
  20. ↑ De Urlevan, Léo (April 1995). "Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star – Une surprise inespérée" [Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star – An unexpected surprise]. Joystick (in French). No. 59. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. pp. 84–9. ISSN   1145-4806.
  21. ↑ Borovskis, Thomas (May 1995). "Review: Renegade – Battle for Jacob's Star". PC Games (in German). Computec. pp. 54–5. ISSN   0946-6304.
  22. ↑ Ramsay, Gareth (May 1995). "CD-ROM Review: Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star". PC Zone . No. 26. Future plc. pp. 91–2. ISSN   0967-8220.
  23. ↑ Harris, David T. (June 1995). "Rebellion in Space: Join the Renegade Fighter Fleet". Electronic Games . Vol. 3, no. 6. Decker Publications. p. 96. ISSN   0730-6687.
  24. ↑ Giovetti, Al (June 1995). "Fly & Drive Games: Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star". Electronic Entertainment . No. 18. IDG. p. 78. ISSN   1074-1356.
  25. ↑ Piira, J. & P. (June–July 1997). "Renegade – Battle for Jacob's Star". MikroBitti (in Finnish). Sanoma. pp. 80–1. ISSN   0781-2078.
  26. ↑ Simmons, Alex (May 1995). "Review: Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star CD". PC Games. No. 10. EMAP. pp. 62–3.
  27. ↑ Vainio, Joona (April 1995). "Täällä Jaakobintähden alla" [Here Under the Star of Jacob]. Pelit (in Finnish). Fokus Media Finland. pp. 32–3. ISSN   1235-1199.
  28. ↑ KaYteck (October 1995). "Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star". Secret Service (in Polish). ProScript. p. 45. ISSN   1230-7726.
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