“There is no escape!”™
 |  |  |
History
First Star Software’s first game, Astro Chase®, offered a revolutionary technique called Single Thrust Propulsion™, allowing the player to fire in any direction, not just the direction of flight. Astro Chase® has 34 levels of play, and set an industry trend with its fully animated, cartoon-like intermissions. Published by First Star in 1982 for the Atari 4/800 and C-64 the game was created by Fernando Herrera, winner of Atari’s first ever, STAR AWARD, thus our company’s name. Soon after its release it was clear that Astro Chase® was a major hit and the Atari 4/800 and 5200 cartridge rights, as well as the Colecovision rights, were snatched up by Parker Brothers with a royalty advance of $250,000.
Among the top ten for three months in Britain’s Popular Computer World tally, Astro Chase® then climbed to number one . Next, Astro Chase® was named the first game ever to be awarded “Computer Game of the Month” by Dealerscope magazine. The game was one of four First Star titles to be licensed to Exidy for release in the coin-operated arcades. More than a decade after its initial release, First Star developed Astro Chase 3D™ for the color Macintosh and licensed the title to Interplay Productions, Inc. for publication by their MacPlay division throughout the world. The game shipped in March of 1994 and received exceptional critical acclaim.
A winner of the International Summer Consumer Electronics® Innovations ‘94 Software Showcase award, Astro Chase® 3D™ was also rated a perfect “10 out of 10” in the June issue of Electronic Entertainment. Their reviewer Bob LeVitus said, “Astro Chase® 3D™ is close to gaming perfection. It’s easy to learn but difficult to master, especially the last five or ten levels, which makes it one of the most intensely satisfying arcade games available for the Mac or any platform.” “This game is without question the most addictive, adrenaline-pumping title I’ve played all year.” Astro Chase® 3D™ was distributed in Japan in association with Electronic Arts Victor Inc. and was featured at the Mac World Tokyo show in February of 1995.
Awards
BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY COMPUTER GAME
Arkie Awards, Electronic Games magazine
BEST SHOOT ‘EM UP
Golden Floppy Award
by Computer Games magazine
BEST GRAPHICS
Golden Floppy Award
by Computer Games magazine
BEST GRAPHICS
by Creative Computing magazine
GAME OF THE MONTH
by Dealerscope magazine
#1 ATARI COMPUTER GAME, ENGLAND
by Popular Computer World magazine
ASTRO CHASE® 3D™
“Ten years later..there’s still no escape!™
History
Astro Chase® 3D™ was released in March, 1994, for color Macintosh computers by First Star’s licensee, MacPlay, a division of Interplay Productions, Inc.
Astro Chase® 3D™ is an extremely fast, space-combat action game featuring spectacular photo-realistic 3D graphics simulating travel in true, three dimensional space. Astro Chase® 3D™ contains 40 levels of play, digitized speech and Single Thrust Propulsion™, a proprietary interface which lets the player steer a flying saucer in one direction while simultaneously shooting in his/her choice of the same or any other direction.
Astro Chase® 3D™ was developed by First Star Software, Inc. using the Software Accelerated Graphics Engine™ (S.A.G.E.™) which enables extremely fast, real-time manipulation, scaling and rotation of bit mapped graphics. S.A.G.E. permits the emulation of hardware sprites which are common in videogame systems but which are not available on either the Macintosh or PC platforms.
Astro Chase® 3D™ is based on First Star’s very first game, Astro Chase®, published by First Star in 1982 for the Atari 4/800 and C-64. The game was created by Fernando Herrera, winner of Atari’s first ever, STAR AWARD, thus our company’s name. Soon after its release it was clear that Astro Chase® was a certified hit and the Atari 4/800 and 5200 cartridge rights, as well as the Colecovision rights, were snatched up by Parker Brothers for .
Reviews
Astro Chase® 3D™ was rated “A” by Arnie Katz, Assistant Publisher and Editor of Electronic Games. In his review he said: “Space combat fight simulators with superb graphics and tons of in-flight options are always welcomed by action gamers. When the program in question is produced for the Macintosh, however, it’s cause for jubilation. This is the kind of intense interactive experience that exhausts the critics’ superlatives.” “…its technology is so advanced that Astro Chase® 3D™ is still the best flying and shooting game ever done for the system and light years ahead of any competition.” “So, Astro Chase® 3D™ isn’t just this year’s best Mac game to date, it’s precisely the type of entertainment product the Macintosh previously lacked.” “ Astro Chase® 3D™ debuts the Software Accelerated Graphics Engine™ (S.A.G.E.™). It manipulates bitmapped images very fast and, reportedly, at little memory cost. Macintosh users have never seen anything like this.” “…no Mac game has ever presented such detailed images in such complex speed and tilt of motion.”
–August 1994 Electronic Games
Astro Chase® 3D™ received an overall rating of “9 out of 10” from Jeffrey Adam Young. This overall rating was comprised of a “10 out of 10” for Originality, Playability and Dollar Value; a “9 out of 10” for Graphics and “8 out of 10” for Sound effects. In his review he said:“ An original interface, white-knuckled game play, stunning visual effects and a perfectly balanced skill level make Astro Chase® 3D™ one of the few games that lives up to the promise of its keenly designed packaging. Finally a game that will create ‘Mac Envy’” “ Astro Chase® 3D™ possesses one of the most original game designs and interfaces in Macintosh gaming.”
–July 1994 Computer Player
Astro Chase® 3D™ was also rated “A” by Bill Kunkel, Executive Editor of Electronic Games. In his review of this “blockbuster sci-fi shooter” he went on to say: “Eye-popping graphics, a clever interface, and good solid game values combine to produce a neoclassic masterpiece. The best game of its type available on the Mac.”
–July 1994 Electronic Games
Astro Chase® 3D™ received a “10 out of 10” from Bob LeVitus. In his review he said: “Astro Chase® 3D™ is close to gaming perfection. It’s easy to learn but difficult to master, especially the last five or ten levels, which makes it one of the most intensely satisfying arcade games available for the Mac or any platform.” “This game is without question the most addictive, adrenaline-pumping title I’ve played all year.” “Fast, snazzy graphics, responsive controls, a polished interface, and a compelling premise make Astro Chase® 3D™ one of the best games so far this year.”
–June 1994 Electronic Entertainment
Astro Chase® 3D™ received “4 1/2 out of 5 Apples” from MacHome Journal which said: “ Combining animation that brings new meaning to the word ‘fluid,’ incredible graphics and mind-blowing gameplay, Astro Chase® 3D™ will leave anyone who likes fast paced action extremely satisfied.” “Using a new lightening-fast 3D technology developed by First Star Software, and controls that are totally intuitive after a few minutes of play, MacPlay has really raised the stakes in the Mac game world with Astro Chase® 3D™. ”
–-June 1994 MacHome Journal
“ Astro Chase® 3D™ is truly a great game. The title is designed so well that I could hardly find any faults in it. From the instant I saw the box, until I won the game, I couldn’t get it out of my mind — I hope there’s an Astro Chase 2! ” “Graphics are insanely great and they will completely ‘blow’ you away! Not only are the graphics good, but they are manipulated in real time, making for a fast-paced arcade game. ”
–May 13, 1994 Inside Games, Weekly Game News
“For arcade game fanatics, probably the best arcade game ever to arrive on the Macintosh will soon be released by MacPlay. It’s Astro Chase® 3D™. Developed by First Star Software, the game offers revolutionary speed, 3D graphics and real time animation. This is the arcade game that turns the Mac into a video game machine” “You have to see this game to believe you’re playing it on a Mac!”
–January 18, 1994 Inside Games Update
“The summer Consumer Electronics Show is an annual showcase for computer gaming, with thousands upon thousands of software titles being touted for numerous platforms. This year one product stood above the rest and introduced a revolution in Mac gaming: Astro Chase® 3D™ from First Star Software, Inc. Quite simply, this is an amazing arcade/strategy game.” “The technology within Astro Chase® 3D™ is revolutionary. You must see it to believe it!”
–September 1993 MacHome Journal
Astro Chase® is a registered trademark of BBG Entertainment GmbH.. Astro Chase 3D™ is a trademark of BBG Entertainment GmbH. Audio visual material copyright © 1982-2018 BBG Entertainment GmbH. All rights reserved.