Super Starfighters

“Power up your starfighter and make the jump to lightspeed in this deep space dogfight between you and your friends.

-oh, and watch that re-entry, it’s a little bumpy.”

Genre and Concept Creation

Super Starfighters was envisioned as a spiritual successor to the 1962 game Spacewar!, a space combat game developed by computer scientist Steve Russell for the PDP-1. Spacewar! features two spaceships, engaged in a dogfight while manoeuvring in the gravity well of a star. Although never released commercially, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential video games of all time, inspiring early arcade space shooters that pioneered the genre.

Super Starfighters expands upon its basic premise by including a vast array of additional weapons, upgrades, and hazards, that add strategic depth and explosive variety to the combat. It retains many of the features introduced in the original game, most notably the hyperdrive, whilst making several changes to the core mechanics, that lend better to its intense, fast paced gameplay. Every round is highly customizable, with the ability to toggle each of the weapons, upgrades and hazards that can appear; a feature adapted from Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series.

In addition to the versus mode, the game includes a competitive co-op mode, featuring traditional shoot ‘em up style gameplay inspired by retro arcade games such as Space Invaders, Galaga, Galaxian and Defender. It also draws stylistically from these titles, featuring a pixel art style and synthesized chiptune audio, as well as an optional vector graphics mode, that pays homage to the classic game that inspired it.

Audience and Competitive Analysis

The projects retro inspired gameplay and stylisation give it a nostalgic charm that is likely to have widespread appeal to a target demographic of young adults, although the game can be enjoyed by a wide cohort of players between pre-teen and middle age. The player is provided with granular control of the style of play, allowing for a unique and varied experience that enhances the replay value of the game. Coupled with its casual gameplay, and emphasis on local multiplayer, it creates a compelling pickup and play title that is highly approachable for new players, and those with limited free time.

The competitive landscape for the shoot ‘em up genre is dominated by exclusively single player experiences, with the few titles including a multiplayer component typically featuring co-operative rather than competitive play. This represents a gap in the market that Super Starfighters is well-positioned to fill, offering a unique concept that caters to players looking for a competitive multiplayer experience. With increasing interest in the shoot ‘em up genre, Super Starfighters has the opportunity to carve out a niche for itself and attract players who are seeking a fresh and exciting take on their favourite titles.

Treatment and Concept Art

Gameplay

A classic arcade shoot ‘em up that has you fighting to survive, enduring endless waves of enemies as you shoot for the high score. Venture alone or join forces to raise your chance of success; then tear down your alliances and turn against each other in a frantic free-for-all to be the last man standing.

Features

• Pickup and Play
  Launch into battle at hyper speed, with quickfire rounds and addictive gameplay that will have you hitting replay again, and again.

• Play Together
  Get your friends together for some local multiplayer mayhem. Blow each other up for bragging rights, or team up and fight side by side in competitive co-op.
  
  
• Power Up!
  Dozens of awesome weapons and upgrades littered across the battlefield, including:
  • Rotary Cannons - unleash bullet hell.
  • Homing Missiles - for those who can't aim.
  • Matryoshka Missiles - recursion, recursion, recursion, recursion
  • Cluster Bombs - because one wasn't enough.
  • Space Mines - like regular mines, but in space.

• Numerous Hazards
  Whether it’s a rouge comet, a solar storm, or an all-consuming black hole – your odds of surviving are approximately 3720 to 1.
  
  
• Endless Customization
  Navigate your way through an asteroid field or fight in the gravity well of a dying star. Toggle and tweak every weapon, upgrade, and hazard for ludicrous battles that make each round unique.

• Retro Appeal
  A throwback to the classic coin collecting arcades of the 80’s, packed with plenty of nostalgic charm, and tasteful pop-culture references.
  
  
• Visually Stunning
  An immersive blend of pixel art and particle effects creating captivating combat in a mesmerising galaxy.

References

Codemyster (2023) Spacewar! by Codemyster, itch.io. Available at: https://codemyster.itch.io/spacewar (Accessed: April 14, 2023). 

Pew Times Three (2023) Steam :: Power of ten :: Update (1.2.0) ship ability rework + alternative font, Steam Community. Available at: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1319550/announcements/detail/372395323682469404... (Accessed: April 14, 2023). 

Pew Times Three (2022) Steam :: Power of ten :: Update - new system events, upgrades, weapons and more!, Steam Community. Available at: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1319550/announcements/detail/322289852343890130... (Accessed: April 14, 2023).