Star Blade
Encyclopedia
is a 3D
space
shoot 'em up
arcade game
that was released by Namco
in 1991. It was later ported to the Mega-CD and 3DO
in 1994. It was also released on the PlayStation as StarBlade Alpha in 1996.
The player had a large and heavy 2-axis/4-button controller (laser-gun
) which had a built-in red multi-LED lamp that flashed as enemies were destroyed. When the player got hit by enemy fire the seat would rumble and a couple of flashing strobes (similar to photo flashes) would temporarily blind the player. A 30VDC motor with an asymmetrical axis produced the seat shaking effect as the seat module was resting upon three rubber cylinders that allowed the seat certain movement.
The sound was a surround type system with four speakers: two in the front below the large mirror, and two in the back of the seat. The US version cabinet had the rear speakers tucked into its monitor-box at the top (behind the yellow plasitc cover where the grilles could be seen). The amplified audio signal was only a standard two channel stereo signal, but with a specially designed amplifier PCB which separates the audio into four individual channels.
In 2005, StarBlade was shown in Tekken 5
during the opening loading screen, and as an unlockable classic game in the Arcade History section in the game.
StarBlade makes an appearance in Ridge Racer 7
as the wheels manufacturer and features varieties of wheels from the game.
Originally, StarBlade was going to be a one player version of Galaxian 3
. Despite a field test, the Galaxian 3 concept was scrapped, but when the game was released as StarBlade, some of the enemies in Galaxian 3 and Attack of the Zolgear
were reused for StarBlade
and the playing screen contains little black bars on the left and right edge of the screen. For the enhanced mode, the games graphics are made up of fully textured polygons with a fullscreen view of the action.
hardware. The prototype consisted of a Namco O.R.B.S. cabinet which used a projector on a global shaped surface and a "slide in" seat module. This setup was intended to fully immerse the player. However, it never made past field testing. http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=543&gid=1390#1390
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
space
Space flight simulator game
A space flight simulator game is a genre of simulation video games that lets players experience space flight. Highly realistic examples lacking any sort of combat include Orbiter and Microsoft Space Simulator...
shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
that was released by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
in 1991. It was later ported to the Mega-CD and 3DO
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. Further renditions of the hardware were released in 1994 by Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by...
in 1994. It was also released on the PlayStation as StarBlade Alpha in 1996.
Arcade
The appearance of a "pod" in which the "gunner" controlled a double barrel laser cannon, was not a totally new concept in the arcades, but what was new was the method of how the image was "projected". The arcade version of StarBlade used a concave mirror (molded of black, reflective, and flexible plexi) to reflect the image of a 26" standard resolution monitor at the top of the simulator housing. This gave the player an experience of a deeper space environment which, with its lens like effect had never been seen in any video game at the time.The player had a large and heavy 2-axis/4-button controller (laser-gun
Light gun
A light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games.Modern screen-based light guns work by building a sensor into the gun itself, and the on-screen target emit light rather than the gun...
) which had a built-in red multi-LED lamp that flashed as enemies were destroyed. When the player got hit by enemy fire the seat would rumble and a couple of flashing strobes (similar to photo flashes) would temporarily blind the player. A 30VDC motor with an asymmetrical axis produced the seat shaking effect as the seat module was resting upon three rubber cylinders that allowed the seat certain movement.
The sound was a surround type system with four speakers: two in the front below the large mirror, and two in the back of the seat. The US version cabinet had the rear speakers tucked into its monitor-box at the top (behind the yellow plasitc cover where the grilles could be seen). The amplified audio signal was only a standard two channel stereo signal, but with a specially designed amplifier PCB which separates the audio into four individual channels.
In 2005, StarBlade was shown in Tekken 5
Tekken 5
is the sixth installment in the popular Tekken series. It also marks the tenth anniversary of the series. It was updated for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 as Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection and succeeded by Tekken 6.- Story :...
during the opening loading screen, and as an unlockable classic game in the Arcade History section in the game.
StarBlade makes an appearance in Ridge Racer 7
Ridge Racer 7
Ridge Racer 7 is the seventh console installment in the Ridge Racer series of racing games, released on PlayStation 3. The game has around 40 cars, many of which return from Ridge Racer 6 and the PSP incarnations of the game. There are also 22 courses, available in forward, reverse and mirror mode....
as the wheels manufacturer and features varieties of wheels from the game.
Originally, StarBlade was going to be a one player version of Galaxian 3
Galaxian 3
Galaxian 3 is an arcade game released by Namco in 1994. It is a walk-in style arcade game run on a hybrid of laserdisc and traditional arcade hardware and it uses two synchronized laserdisc players to create the pre-rendered backgrounds of the game...
. Despite a field test, the Galaxian 3 concept was scrapped, but when the game was released as StarBlade, some of the enemies in Galaxian 3 and Attack of the Zolgear
Attack of the Zolgear
Attack Of The Zolgear is a video game implemented as a conversion kit for Namco's "Theater 6" system, which was used for the 1994 arcade version of Galaxian 3...
were reused for StarBlade
Enhanced ports
On the PlayStation (StarBlade Alpha) and 3DO versions, players could chose from the arcade version of the game and an enhanced version. In the arcade mode, graphics are made of flat polygonsPolygon (computer graphics)
Polygons are used in computer graphics to compose images that are three-dimensional in appearance. Usually triangular, polygons arise when an object's surface is modeled, vertices are selected, and the object is rendered in a wire frame model. This is quicker to display than a shaded model; thus...
and the playing screen contains little black bars on the left and right edge of the screen. For the enhanced mode, the games graphics are made up of fully textured polygons with a fullscreen view of the action.
Sequel
A sequel titled StarBlade: Operation Blue Planet was developed in 2002, and ran in the Namco System 246Namco System 246
The Namco System 246 is a development of the Sony PlayStation 2 technology as a basis for an arcade system board. It was released in 2001 on its first game Ridge Racer V. Like the Sega NAOMI, it is widely licensed for use by other manufacturers...
hardware. The prototype consisted of a Namco O.R.B.S. cabinet which used a projector on a global shaped surface and a "slide in" seat module. This setup was intended to fully immerse the player. However, it never made past field testing. http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=543&gid=1390#1390
External links
- Review by 3DOkid (3DO version)
- StarBlade at the KLOV
- StarBlade at MobyGames