DarkStar One
Developer	Ascaron Entertainment
Publisher	CDV Software
Version	1.2
Released	June 16, 2006 (EU) August 14, 2006 (NA)
Genre	Space Combat Sim
Mode(s)	Single Player
Ratings	ESRB: 13+ (T) PEGI: 12+ USK: 12+
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Media	CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
System requirements	1.6 GHz CPU, Windows 2000/XP, 512 MB RAM, DirectX 8 compatible 128 MB graphics card, DirectX compatible sound card, DVD drive, 6.5 GB HDD space
Input methods	Keyboard, mouse, joystick (optional), gamepad (optional)

DarkStar One is a space simulation computer game developed by Ascaron and published by CDV. The game was officially released in June 16, 2006 in the European Union and August 14, 2006 in North America. Image File history File links Darkstar_One_Box_Art. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Ascaron Entertainment is a video game developer based in Germany. ... CDV is a German publisher of video games, specializing in strategy titles for the PC. Major CDV-published titles include Cossacks, Sudden Strike, Blitzkrieg, the Lula games and Codename: Panzers. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... Space simulation is a term used to define a piece of software that simulates space and/or space flight. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... The ESRBs logo. ... PEGIs logo Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system. ... The USKs official logo. ... In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. ... Windows redirects here. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... DVD is an optical disc storage media format that is used for playback of movies with high video and sound quality and for storing data. ... CPU redirects here. ... Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptive, interruptible, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. ... Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. ... RAM redirects here. ... Microsoft Direct eXtension (almost always called DirectX) is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. ... A hard disk drive (HDD), commonly referred to as a hard drive, hard disk or fixed disk drive,[1] is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. ... A 104-key PC US English QWERTY keyboard layout The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout A standard Hebrew keyboard showing both Hebrew and QWERTY. A computer keyboard is a peripheral partially modelled after the typewriter keyboard. ... A contemporary computer mouse, with the most common standard features: two buttons and a scroll wheel. ... For other uses, see Joystick (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Space simulation is a term used to define a piece of software that simulates space and/or space flight. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Ascaron Entertainment is a video game developer based in Germany. ... CDV is a German publisher of video games, specializing in strategy titles for the PC. Major CDV-published titles include Cossacks, Sudden Strike, Blitzkrieg, the Lula games and Codename: Panzers. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Notable events of 2006 in video gaming. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Notable events of 2006 in video gaming. ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ...

Storyline

The DarkStar One is a unique and advanced starship built by the murdered father of the player character, Kayron Jarvis. In the beginning of the storyline, Robert gives Kayron the Darkstar One some time after his father's actual death. He tells him to train with the Darkstar One alongside Arin, a friend of Robert, hence the tutorial. After the training, Robert tells Kayron about the real reason behind his father's death. His father's ship had been sabotaged by a friend of his father. Consequently, in an escort mission, Kayron's father could not control his ship and he inevitably died under enemy attack. Apparently, the Darkstar One was left for Kayron.

The Darkstar One

The DarkStar One is a unique and advanced starship built by the murdered father of the player character, Kayron Jarvis. The ship is built consisting of organic material and is upgraded by absorbing alien artifacts that are scattered across the galaxy usually found inside large asteroids. The artifacts will allow the player to enhance the ship with more attributes. Artifacts add visible parts to the exterior of the ship, special Darkstar One powers and abilities, and upgrades to the interior of the ship such as better engines, weapons, and hull integrity.

The game universe

The player is able to travel through up to 300 solar systems in more than 20 clusters. The game consists of six races within the game universe: the Terran, the Mortok, the Raptor, the Oc'to, the Arrack, and the Thul. Each race has unique ships, weapons, space stations, and battle tactics. All of these races, except for the Thul, are part of the Galactic Union, a UN-like body formed by the Terran after the galactic war, which had left the Terran empire in ruins and had made them very vulnerable to attacks. UN and U.N. redirect here. ...

Features

• Elaborate story, related by more than fifty minutes of video sequences.
• Upgradeable space ship "Darkstar One": The player decides which type of spacecraft he prefers - a fast attack ship with many light weapons or a near-invincible cruiser with heavy weaponry.
• Over two hundred different weapons, shields and equipment items.
• Rockets, torpedoes and mines feature special tactical uses: mines can tactically fire at opponents or distract approaching missiles.
• The "Spell Weapon": the player will have a special weapon at his disposal that will have an area of effect similar to certain spells in role-playing games. This weapon will become increasingly versatile throughout the game and it will increase the tactical potential considerably.
• A vast, simulated universe with numerous, completely different races, space ships, and battle tactics. Players are allowed the freedom to explore the universe on their own.
• Each race features distinctive weapon types with different functions that require different battle tactics. The player will be able to acquire these weapons in order to mount them on the "Darkstar One".
• Special missions, for example in canyons, on the surface of planets or inside of planets
• Freedom of choice: the player may earn money through various ways, such as trading goods, smuggling, freighter escorting, bounty hunting, completing 'miscellaneous' missions (such as recording a secret conversation or taking top-level photographs), killing pirates, and accepting mercenary contracts. Money is used to purchase better ship equipment and also trading goods.
• The player may act as the "good" or the "bad" guy and he will be able to take advantage of political disputes.

• The number of artifacts in the galaxy is limited; thus, the player will not be able to upgrade everything on the starship.^{[citation needed]}

• After the main mission is completed, a system will be 'unlocked' near the bottom of the navigation map in the Arrack territories. This system holds the 'infamous' Ascaron Entertainment gang, which consists of capital ships (and fighters) named after the development team.

• No matter how distant an object can appear in space, the player's ship is able to reach it, given enough time or patience. While most objects in a system are approximately 10-15 'units' from the player's start position, some systems have asteroid fields, and other objects, located 50-100 'units' away.

A bounty hunter is an individual who seeks out fugitives for a monetary reward. ... Ascaron Entertainment is a video game developer based in Germany. ...

Reviews

• Gamespot
• Boomtown
• Eurogamer
• TheG33ks
• IGN

Previews

• IGN
• Gamersinfo

External links

Official

• Official website
• Official North-American website
• Ascaron Entertainment GmbH - Developer website
• CDV Software Entertainment AG - Publisher website

Fan Sites

• The Lancers Reactor

Forums

• Official forums in English, German, and French