<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
:	O
Famous	O
Battles	O
of	O
the	O
Ur-Quan	O
Conflict	O
,	O
Volume	O
IV	O
is	O
an	O
action-strategy	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Toys	O
for	O
Bob	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Accolade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
originally	O
released	O
for	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
and	O
Amiga	B-Device
in	O
1990	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
ports	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
and	O
additional	O
platforms	B-Device
in	O
1991	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
choose	O
to	O
play	O
as	O
either	O
faction	O
,	O
each	O
with	O
seven	O
different	O
alien	O
starships	O
which	O
are	O
used	O
during	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
combat	O
and	O
strategy	B-Application
sections	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
the	O
concept	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
space	O
combat	O
seen	O
in	O
Spacewar	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
(	O
1962	O
)	O
,	O
combined	O
with	O
the	O
action-strategy	O
gameplay	O
seen	O
in	O
Archon	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Light	I-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
(	O
1983	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
alternate	O
title	O
,	O
StarCon	O
,	O
was	O
a	O
play	O
on	O
words	O
referring	O
to	O
Reiche	O
's	O
prior	O
work	O
on	O
Archon	B-Application
,	O
adapted	O
into	O
a	O
science	O
fiction	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
was	O
a	O
critical	O
and	O
commercial	O
success	O
upon	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
two	O
sequels	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
1992	O
(	O
and	O
the	O
free	O
open-source	B-License
remake	O
The	B-Application
Ur-Quan	I-Application
Masters	I-Application
in	O
2002	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
3	I-Application
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Years	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
game	O
designers	O
have	O
continued	O
to	O
cite	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
as	O
an	O
influence	O
on	O
their	O
work	O
,	O
including	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Stellaris	B-Application
(	O
2016	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
is	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
a	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
and	O
real-time	O
one-on-one	O
ship	O
combat	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ship	O
combat	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
Spacewar	O
!,	O
while	O
the	O
turn-based	O
strategy	B-Application
is	O
inspired	O
by	O
Paul	O
Reiche	O
III	O
's	O
1983	O
game	O
Archon	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Light	I-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
also	O
assign	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	O
intelligence	O
to	O
take	O
over	O
the	O
strategy	B-Application
gameplay	O
,	O
the	O
combat	O
gameplay	O
,	O
or	O
both	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
strategy	B-Application
campaign	O
consists	O
of	O
several	O
selectable	O
scenarios	O
,	O
with	O
nine	O
missions	O
on	O
home	O
computers	O
,	O
and	O
fifteen	O
on	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
turn-based	O
strategy	B-Application
mission	O
begins	O
with	O
opposing	O
fleets	O
arranged	O
on	O
a	O
rotating	O
star	O
map	O
,	O
with	O
each	O
player	O
controlling	O
a	O
faction	O
of	O
their	O
choice	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ships	O
also	O
have	O
distinct	O
sound	O
deign	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
barking	O
Chenjesu	B-Application
drones	O
,	O
or	O
the	O
Ur-Quan	O
Dreadnaught	O
bellowing	O
"	O
launch	O
fighters	O
"	O
when	O
it	O
initiates	O
a	O
strike	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
was	O
typical	O
of	O
copy	B-Application
protection	I-Application
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
requested	O
a	O
special	O
pass	O
phrase	O
that	O
players	O
found	O
by	O
using	O
a	O
three-ply	O
code	O
wheel	O
,	O
called	O
"	O
Professor	O
Zorq	O
's	O
Instant	O
Etiquette	O
Analyzer	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
reveals	O
its	O
plot	O
through	O
each	O
scenario	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
campaign	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
instruction	O
manual	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fungoid	O
Mycon	B-Application
joined	O
the	O
Hierarchy	O
freely	O
and	O
fanatically	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
blobbish	O
Umgah	O
joined	O
out	O
of	O
boredom	O
,	O
amused	O
by	O
the	O
war	O
as	O
a	O
great	O
interstellar	O
prank	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Chenjesu	B-Application
are	O
the	O
most	O
powerful	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
Alliance	O
,	O
a	O
species	O
of	O
crystalline	O
philosophers	O
who	O
consume	O
electrical	O
energy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Earth	O
joined	O
the	O
Alliance	O
as	O
a	O
multinational	O
crew	O
under	O
their	O
planetary	O
defense	O
organization	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Arilou	O
are	O
a	O
race	O
of	O
"	O
space	O
elves	B-Application
"	O
with	O
hyper-jump	O
capable	O
vessels	O
,	O
who	O
also	O
have	O
a	O
history	O
of	O
"	O
tormenting	O
"	O
Earth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Humanity	O
encounters	O
a	O
first	O
alien	O
contact	O
near	O
their	O
Ceres	O
outpost	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
receive	O
an	O
urgent	O
warning	O
from	O
the	O
Chenjesu	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
version	O
features	O
additional	O
scenarios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
neutral	O
space	O
,	O
an	O
Alliance	O
task	O
force	O
attempts	O
to	O
stop	O
the	O
spread	O
of	O
Mycon	B-Application
colonies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
a	O
lone	O
Chenjesu	B-Application
Broodhome	O
finds	O
itself	O
outnumbered	O
by	O
a	O
Hierarchy	O
force	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Hierarchy	O
tries	O
to	O
defend	O
its	O
colonies	O
from	O
an	O
invading	O
fleet	O
of	O
Syreen	O
Penetrators	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
was	O
created	O
by	O
Paul	O
Reiche	O
III	O
and	O
Fred	O
Ford	O
,	O
who	O
both	O
attended	O
the	O
University	O
of	O
California	O
Berkeley	O
around	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
entered	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
industry	O
in	O
the	O
early	O
1980s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
releasing	O
World	B-Device
Tour	I-Device
Golf	I-Device
,	O
Reiche	O
created	O
an	O
advertising	O
mock-up	O
for	O
what	O
would	O
become	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
,	O
showing	O
a	O
dreadnaught	O
and	O
some	O
ships	O
fighting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
began	O
as	O
an	O
evolution	O
of	O
concepts	O
that	O
Reiche	O
created	O
in	O
Archon	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Light	I-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
and	O
Mail	B-Application
Order	I-Application
Monsters	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
project	O
would	O
adapt	O
the	O
action-strategy	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Archon	B-Application
into	O
a	O
science	O
fiction	O
setting	O
,	O
where	O
unique	O
combatants	O
fight	O
space	O
battles	O
using	O
distinct	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Ford	O
,	O
"	O
StarCon	O
is	O
really	O
just	O
Archon	B-Application
with	O
an	O
S-T	O
in	O
front	O
of	O
it	O
"	O
,	O
pointing	O
to	O
the	O
one-on-one	O
combat	O
and	O
strategic	O
modes	O
of	O
both	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
would	O
base	O
its	O
combat	O
sequences	O
on	O
the	O
classic	O
game	O
Spacewar	O
!,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
core	O
experience	O
of	O
space	O
combat	O
game	O
Star	B-Application
Raiders	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Programmer	O
Robert	O
Leyland	O
and	O
artist	O
Erol	O
Otus	O
had	O
both	O
worked	O
with	O
Ford	O
at	O
his	O
previous	O
place	O
of	O
employment	O
,	O
and	O
joined	O
him	O
as	O
he	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fred	O
Ford	O
's	O
first	O
prototype	O
was	O
a	O
two-player	O
action	B-Application
game	I-Application
where	O
the	O
VUX	O
and	O
Yehat	O
ships	O
blow	O
up	O
asteroids	O
,	O
which	O
led	O
them	O
to	O
build	O
the	O
entire	O
universe	O
around	O
that	O
simple	O
play	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
ship	O
sketches	O
were	O
based	O
on	O
popular	O
science	O
fiction	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
SpaceWar	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
or	O
Battlestar	B-Application
Galactica	I-Application
,	O
and	O
slowly	O
evolved	O
into	O
original	O
designs	O
as	O
they	O
discussed	O
why	O
the	O
ships	O
were	O
fighting	O
each	O
other	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
file	B-General_Concept
size	I-General_Concept
was	O
largely	O
devoted	O
to	O
sound	O
effects	O
,	O
with	O
audio	O
sampled	O
from	O
famous	O
science	O
fiction	O
media	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
original	O
sound	O
designs	O
for	O
other	O
alien	O
ships	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
number	O
of	O
visible	O
colors	O
was	O
a	O
major	O
technological	O
limitation	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
team	O
created	O
different	O
settings	O
for	O
CGA	B-Device
,	O
EGA	B-Device
,	O
and	O
VGA	B-Protocol
monitors	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
separate	O
team	O
ported	O
a	O
stripped	O
down	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
the	O
Commodore	O
64	O
,	O
Amstrad	O
,	O
and	O
ZX	B-Operating_System
Spectrum	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
meant	O
reducing	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
ships	O
to	O
eight	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
introducing	O
new	O
bugs	O
and	O
balance	O
issues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
was	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
,	O
in	O
a	O
team	O
led	O
by	O
Fred	O
Ford	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
allowed	O
Accolade	O
to	O
port	O
several	O
games	O
to	O
the	O
Genesis	O
from	O
their	O
previous	O
list	O
of	O
releases	O
,	O
including	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
reaching	O
the	O
top	O
5	O
on	O
the	O
PC	O
sales	O
charts	O
by	O
September	O
1990	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MegaTech	O
enjoyed	O
mastering	O
the	O
different	O
starships	O
,	O
earning	O
the	O
game	O
an	O
editorial	O
Hyper	O
Game	O
Award	O
as	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
two-player	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
games	O
ever	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
chose	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
for	O
their	O
editorial	O
"	O
CVG	O
Hit	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
highlighting	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
weapons	O
,	O
the	O
fun	O
of	O
learning	O
favorable	O
matchups	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
overall	O
playability	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
two-player	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Italian	O
publication	O
The	O
Games	O
Machine	O
celebrated	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
as	O
a	O
modern	O
re-invention	O
of	O
Spacewar	O
!,	O
recommending	O
the	O
combat	O
mode	O
for	O
its	O
range	O
of	O
options	O
,	O
its	O
automatic	O
camera	O
zoom	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
implementation	O
of	O
physics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Entertainment	O
Weekly	O
also	O
recommended	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
evolving	O
the	O
Spacewar	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Several	O
publications	O
celebrated	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
for	O
its	O
artistic	O
details	O
,	O
including	O
its	O
character	O
designs	O
and	O
animations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Strategy	B-Application
Plus	O
appreciated	O
the	O
unique	O
humor	O
and	O
personality	O
of	O
the	O
aliens	O
,	O
highlighting	O
the	O
design	O
of	O
the	O
Syreen	O
and	O
their	O
Penetrator	O
ship	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
"	O
silly	O
"	O
names	O
like	O
Chenjesu	B-Application
commander	O
Bzrrak	O
Ktazzz.Videogame	O
&	O
Computer	O
World	O
praised	O
the	O
unique	O
animations	O
of	O
the	O
aliens	O
,	O
while	O
Strategy	B-Application
Plus	O
declared	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
graphics	O
as	O
"	O
truly	O
spectacular	O
in	O
256	O
color	O
VGA	B-Protocol
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Digital	O
Press	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
sound	O
effects	O
for	O
the	O
Ur-Quan	O
and	O
Chenjesu	B-Application
gave	O
their	O
ships	O
a	O
"	O
fantastic	O
"	O
personality	O
,	O
while	O
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
praised	O
the	O
audio	O
for	O
drawing	O
on	O
popular	O
science	O
fiction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
found	O
that	O
it	O
lacked	O
depth	O
,	O
and	O
Joystick	O
compared	O
the	O
strategy	B-Application
sections	O
unfavorably	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Entertainment	O
Weekly	O
criticized	O
the	O
star	O
map	O
as	O
difficult	O
to	O
see	O
,	O
while	O
Raze	O
Magazine	O
found	O
it	O
tedious	O
to	O
operate	O
the	O
strategy	B-Application
game	I-Application
menus	O
on	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PC	O
,	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
received	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
porting	O
to	O
other	O
platforms	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Advanced	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
called	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
version	O
"	O
disappointing	O
"	O
,	O
denouncing	O
the	O
load	O
times	O
and	O
"	O
tacky	O
two-dimensional	O
combat	O
sequences	O
that	O
look	O
as	O
if	O
they	O
've	O
been	O
borrowed	O
from	O
an	O
early	O
Eighties	O
coin-op	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
similarly	O
compared	O
the	O
Amiga	B-Device
version	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
to	O
the	O
"	O
aging	O
co-op	O
Spacewar	B-Application
!	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
reviewing	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
version	O
,	O
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
described	O
the	O
graphics	O
as	O
inferior	O
to	O
other	O
titles	O
on	O
the	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
year	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
Video	O
Games	O
&	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
gave	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
an	O
award	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Computer	O
Science	O
Fiction	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
noting	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
two	O
creators	O
have	O
put	O
together	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
is	O
great	O
either	O
as	O
a	O
full	O
simulation	O
or	O
an	O
action-combat	O
contest	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
later	O
highlighted	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
science	O
fiction	O
releases	O
,	O
proclaiming	O
"	O
Reiche	O
and	O
Ford	O
's	O
action-strategy	O
tour	O
de	O
force	O
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
absorbing	O
and	O
challenging	O
science	O
fiction	O
games	O
of	O
all-time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
additionally	O
nominated	O
for	O
Best	O
Action/Arcade	O
Program	O
at	O
the	O
1991	O
Spring	O
Symposium	O
of	O
the	O
Software	O
Publishers	O
Association	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
has	O
been	O
received	O
several	O
retrospective	O
awards	O
from	O
gaming	O
publications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2001	O
,	O
PC	O
Gameplay	O
ranked	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
as	O
the	O
45th	O
most	O
influential	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
a	O
survey	O
of	O
dozens	O
of	O
game	O
studios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
,	O
Polygon	O
ranked	O
it	O
as	O
number	O
253	O
in	O
their	O
top	O
500	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
,	O
arguing	O
that	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
melee	B-Application
or	O
strategic	O
game	O
,	O
it	O
helped	O
define	O
the	O
idea	O
that	O
games	O
can	O
be	O
malleable	O
and	O
dynamic	O
and	O
players	O
can	O
make	O
an	O
experience	O
wholly	O
their	O
own	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Journalist	O
Jamie	O
Lendino	O
also	O
noted	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
among	O
the	O
most	O
significant	O
PC	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
early	O
1990s	O
,	O
for	O
successfully	O
combining	O
an	O
action	B-Application
game	I-Application
with	O
science	O
fiction	O
strategy	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Years	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Pelit	O
recalled	O
the	O
original	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
for	O
its	O
polished	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
creativity	O
of	O
its	O
character	O
designs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2005	O
,	O
Retro	O
Gamer	O
described	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
as	O
"	O
a	O
textbook	O
example	O
of	O
good	O
game	O
design	O
"	O
,	O
where	O
"	O
two	O
genres	O
were	O
brilliantly	O
combined	O
,	O
making	O
for	O
a	O
finely	O
balanced	O
and	O
well-rounded	O
game	O
experience	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
publication	O
further	O
highlighted	O
the	O
many	O
"	O
elements	O
that	O
gave	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
'	O
soul	O
 '	O
"	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
seed	O
from	O
which	O
the	O
vastly	O
expanded	O
narrative	O
found	O
in	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
grew	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
celebrated	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
as	O
a	O
"	O
special	O
game	O
"	O
for	O
"	O
its	O
colorful	O
universe	O
and	O
superb	O
combat	O
system	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
laid	O
the	O
foundation	O
for	O
its	O
acclaimed	O
sequel	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Founder	O
of	O
BioWare	O
,	O
Ray	O
Muzyka	O
,	O
has	O
cited	O
the	O
original	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
as	O
an	O
inspiration	O
for	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
series	O
of	O
games	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
uncharted	O
worlds	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
comes	O
from	O
imagining	O
what	O
a	O
freely	O
explorable	O
universe	O
would	O
be	O
like	O
inside	O
a	O
very	O
realistic	O
next-gen	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Former	O
BioWare	O
writer	O
Mike	O
Laidlaw	O
praised	O
the	O
creativity	O
of	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
ship	O
designs	O
,	O
and	O
credited	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
laying	O
the	O
foundation	O
for	O
its	O
sequel	O
,	O
which	O
influenced	O
him	O
as	O
a	O
writer	O
on	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creative	O
producer	O
Henrik	O
Fahraeus	O
has	O
also	O
cited	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
influence	O
on	O
Paradox	O
Interactive	O
's	O
character	O
designs	O
in	O
Stellaris	B-Application
,	O
particularly	O
the	O
bird-like	O
and	O
mushroom-like	O
aliens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
science	O
fiction	O
game	O
,	O
set	O
in	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
originally	O
published	O
by	O
Accolade	O
in	O
1992	O
for	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
3DO	B-Device
with	O
enhanced	O
multimedia	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
ship-to-ship	O
combat	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
,	O
but	O
removes	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
's	O
strategy	B-Application
elements	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
story	O
and	O
dialog	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
has	O
earned	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
and	O
is	O
considered	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
through	O
the	O
1990s	O
,	O
2000s	O
,	O
and	O
2010s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
an	O
adventure	O
science	O
fiction	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Legend	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Accolade	O
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
takes	O
place	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
when	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
travel	O
deeper	O
into	O
the	O
galaxy	O
to	O
investigate	O
the	O
mysterious	O
collapse	O
of	O
hyperspace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
game	O
systems	O
from	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
are	O
changed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hyperspace	O
navigation	O
is	O
replaced	O
with	O
instant	O
fast	O
travel	O
,	O
and	O
planet	O
landing	O
is	O
replaced	O
with	O
a	O
colony	O
system	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
original	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
considered	O
a	O
critical	O
and	O
commercial	O
success	O
upon	O
release	O
,	O
it	O
would	O
receive	O
unfavourable	O
comparisons	O
to	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
with	O
some	O
fans	O
regarding	O
it	O
as	O
non-canonical	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
1998	O
,	O
Accolade	O
announced	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
developing	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
4	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Accolade	O
producer	O
George	O
MacDonald	O
announced	O
that	O
"	O
we	O
want	O
to	O
move	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
adventure	O
element	O
and	O
concentrate	O
on	O
what	O
it	O
seems	O
the	O
players	O
really	O
want	O
–	O
action	B-Application
!	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
also	O
created	O
a	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
History	O
Compendium	O
,	O
to	O
help	O
them	O
resolve	O
storylines	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
later	O
announced	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
home	O
console	O
with	O
plans	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
featuring	O
a	O
40-hour	O
variable	O
storyline	O
,	O
and	O
both	O
competitive	O
and	O
co-operative	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Not	O
satisfied	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
progress	O
,	O
Accolade	O
put	O
the	O
project	O
on	O
hold	O
with	O
intentions	O
to	O
re-evaluate	O
their	O
plans	O
for	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
license	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
3	I-Application
became	O
the	O
last	O
official	O
instalment	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
early	O
2000s	O
,	O
Accolade	O
's	O
copyright	O
license	O
for	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
expired	O
,	O
triggered	O
by	O
a	O
contractual	O
clause	O
when	O
the	O
games	O
were	O
no	O
longer	O
generating	O
royalties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reiche	O
and	O
Ford	O
still	O
owned	O
the	O
copyrights	O
in	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequel	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
but	O
they	O
could	O
not	O
successfully	O
purchase	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
trademark	O
from	O
Accolade	O
,	O
leading	O
them	O
to	O
consider	O
a	O
new	O
title	O
for	O
a	O
potential	O
follow-up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
led	O
them	O
to	O
remake	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
as	O
The	B-Application
Ur-Quan	I-Application
Masters	I-Application
,	O
which	O
they	O
released	O
in	O
2002	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
download	O
under	O
an	O
open	B-License
source	I-License
copyright	O
license	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
official	O
free	O
release	O
is	O
maintained	O
by	O
an	O
active	O
fan	O
community	O
,	O
and	O
prevented	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
from	O
becoming	O
abandonware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fans	O
continued	O
to	O
demand	O
a	O
new	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
game	O
well	O
into	O
the	O
2000s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reiche	O
and	O
Ford	O
expressed	O
interest	O
in	O
creating	O
either	O
an	O
updated	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
II	I-Application
or	O
an	O
alternate	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
particularly	O
if	O
they	O
found	O
the	O
right	O
publisher	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Toys	O
for	O
Bob	O
producer	O
Alex	O
Ness	O
responded	O
in	O
April	O
2006	O
with	O
an	O
article	O
on	O
the	O
company	O
website	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
if	O
enough	O
of	O
you	O
people	O
out	O
there	O
send	O
me	O
emails	O
requesting	O
that	O
Toys	O
For	O
Bob	O
do	O
a	O
legitimate	O
sequel	O
to	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
I	O
'll	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
show	O
them	O
to	O
Activision	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
loaded	O
handgun	O
,	O
and	O
they	O
will	O
finally	O
be	O
convinced	O
to	O
roll	O
the	O
dice	O
on	O
this	O
thing	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
2011	O
interview	O
about	O
their	O
next	O
game	O
Skylanders	B-Application
:	I-Application
Spyro	I-Application
's	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
Reiche	O
declared	O
that	O
they	O
will	O
one	O
day	O
make	O
the	O
real	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
early	O
2000s	O
,	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
trademark	O
was	O
held	O
by	O
Infogrames	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
publisher	O
Accolade	O
had	O
sold	O
their	O
company	O
to	O
Infogrames	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
who	O
merged	O
with	O
Atari	O
and	O
re-branded	O
under	O
the	O
Atari	O
name	O
in	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2007	O
,	O
Atari	O
released	O
an	O
online	O
Flash	B-Operating_System
game	O
with	O
the	O
name	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
,	O
created	O
by	O
independent	O
game	O
developer	O
Iocaine	O
Studios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
in	O
September	O
,	O
Atari	O
applied	O
to	O
renew	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
trademark	O
with	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
Patent	O
and	O
Trademark	O
Office	O
,	O
citing	O
images	O
of	O
Iocaine	O
's	O
flash	B-Operating_System
game	O
to	O
demonstrate	O
their	O
declaration	O
of	O
use	O
in	O
commerce	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Stardock	O
became	O
the	O
top	O
bidder	O
for	O
Atari	O
's	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
assets	O
,	O
Paul	O
Reiche	O
indicated	O
that	O
he	O
still	O
owned	O
the	O
copyrighted	O
materials	O
from	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
games	O
,	O
which	O
implied	O
that	O
Stardock	O
must	O
have	O
purchased	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
trademark	O
and	O
the	O
copyright	O
in	O
any	O
original	O
elements	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Stardock	O
began	O
developing	O
their	O
new	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
game	O
,	O
they	O
re-iterated	O
that	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
acquire	O
the	O
copyright	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
need	O
a	O
license	O
from	O
Reiche	O
and	O
Ford	O
to	O
use	O
their	O
content	O
and	O
lore	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reiche	O
and	O
Ford	O
echoed	O
this	O
understanding	O
in	O
their	O
2015	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Conference	O
interview	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
Stardock	O
's	O
game	O
would	O
use	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
trademark	O
only	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
lawsuit	O
,	O
the	O
parties	O
agreed	O
on	O
the	O
same	O
separation	O
of	O
rights	O
,	O
with	O
Stardock	O
using	O
the	O
Star	B-Application
Control	I-Application
name	O
,	O
and	O
Reiche	O
and	O
Ford	O
announcing	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Ur-Quan	I-Application
Masters	I-Application
after	O
a	O
mandated	O
quiet	O
period	O
.	O
</s>
