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Difference between revisions of "Darkstar One"

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|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|June 16, 2006}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|June 16, 2006}}
 +
|reception    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|Metacritic|darkstar-one|71}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|darkstar-one|}}
 +
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | First-person, Third-person}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Direct control}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | Vehicle combat}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | Space flight}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Sci-Fi, Space}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | }}
 
|steam appid  = 12330
 
|steam appid  = 12330
 
|gogcom id    = 1207658704
 
|gogcom id    = 1207658704
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 +
|hltb        = 2255
 
|mobygames    = darkstar-one
 
|mobygames    = darkstar-one
 
|wikipedia    = Darkstar One
 
|wikipedia    = Darkstar One
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==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
{{Availability/row| Retail | | unknown | {{DRM|TAGES}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081024024114/http://213.198.65.214/forum_DS/showthread.php?t=3430 Tages Copyprotection Error - Darkstar One Forum]</ref> | | Windows }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | disc | {{DRM|TAGES|5}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081024024114/http://213.198.65.214/forum_DS/showthread.php?t=3430 Tages Copyprotection Error - Darkstar One Forum]</ref> in English release.<br>{{DRM|ProtectDisc|6}} in German release.<br>{{DRM|StarForce|4}} in Russian release. | | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| GamersGate | darkstar-one | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Gamesplanet | 2310-1 | Steam |  | | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | darkstar_one | DRM-free | | | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | darkstar_one | DRM-free | | | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| GMG | darkstar-one | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| GMG | darkstar-one | Steam |  |  | Windows }}
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Apply the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/91-darkstar-one-intro-skip/ Darkstar One intro skip].
 
Apply the [https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/91-darkstar-one-intro-skip/ Darkstar One intro skip].
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
===Advanced controls===
 +
The game does a rather poor job explaining its controls. You can actually strafe sideways and fly backwards - use these to your advantage, they make combat much more fun. Some keybindings do not appear in the options menu - look those up in the manual (in the game directory, e.g. ''Steam\steamapps\common\Darkstar One'' for the Steam version). For example, you can play in 3rd person perspective by pressing {{key|F4}} and change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing {{key|F3}}.
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
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===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
 
{{Save game cloud syncing
 
{{Save game cloud syncing
|discord               =  
+
|discord                   =  
|discord notes         =  
+
|discord notes             =  
|epic games store       =  
+
|epic games launcher       =  
|epic games store notes =  
+
|epic games launcher notes =  
|gog galaxy             = false
+
|gog galaxy               = false
|gog galaxy notes       =  
+
|gog galaxy notes         =  
|origin                 =  
+
|origin                   =  
|origin notes           =  
+
|origin notes             =  
|steam cloud           = false
+
|steam cloud               = false
|steam cloud notes     =  
+
|steam cloud notes         =  
|uplay                  =  
+
|ubisoft connect          =  
|uplay notes           =  
+
|ubisoft connect notes     =  
|xbox cloud             =  
+
|xbox cloud               =  
|xbox cloud notes       =  
+
|xbox cloud notes         =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Video settings==
+
==Video==
 
{{Image|Darkstar One video settings.png|Video settings.}}
 
{{Image|Darkstar One video settings.png|Video settings.}}
{{Video settings
+
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/darkstar-one/en
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/darkstar-one/en
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = gold
 
|widescreen wsgf award      = gold
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|4k ultra hd notes          = 4k makes menus and texts very small, they don't scale accordingly.
 
|4k ultra hd notes          = 4k makes menus and texts very small, they don't scale accordingly.
 
|fov                        = true
 
|fov                        = true
|fov notes                  = You can change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing F3, and you can change perspective with F4.
+
|fov notes                  = You can change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing {{key|F3}}, and you can change perspective with {{key|F4}}.
 
|windowed                  = true
 
|windowed                  = true
 
|windowed notes            = Choose in Options.
 
|windowed notes            = Choose in Options.
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}}
 
}}
  
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
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}}
 
}}
  
===Advanced controls===
+
==Audio==
The game does a rather poor job explaining its controls. You can actually strafe sideways and fly backwards - use these to your advantage, they make combat much more fun. Some keybindings do not appear in the options menu - look those up in the manual (in the game directory, e.g. ''Steam\steamapps\common\Darkstar One'' for the Steam version). For example, you can play in 3rd person perspective by pressing {{key|F4}} and change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing {{key|F3}}.
 
 
 
==Audio settings==
 
 
{{Image|Darkstar One audio settings.png|Audio settings.}}
 
{{Image|Darkstar One audio settings.png|Audio settings.}}
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume          = true
 
|separate volume notes    = Music, Ambient, Effects and Speech.
 
|separate volume notes    = Music, Ambient, Effects and Speech.
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|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 
|windows 64-bit exe    = false
 
|windows exe notes      =  
 
|windows exe notes      =  
|macos 32-bit app       =  
+
|macos intel 32-bit app =  
|macos 64-bit app       =  
+
|macos intel 64-bit app =  
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|macos app notes        =  
 
|linux 32-bit executable=  
 
|linux 32-bit executable=  

Revision as of 06:41, 5 January 2022

Darkstar One
Darkstar One cover
Developers
Ascaron Entertainment
Publishers
cdv Software Entertainment
Kalypso Media
Strategy First
Release dates
Windows June 16, 2006
Reception
Metacritic 71
Taxonomy
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person, Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Vehicle combat
Vehicles Space flight
Themes Sci-fi, Space
Darkstar One on HowLongToBeat
Darkstar One on IGDB
Darkstar One on MobyGames
Darkstar One on Wikipedia

Key points

Some resolutions may cause crashes due to bundling an outdated DLL; see some resolutions crash the game for the fix.

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
TAGES 5 DRM.[1] in English release.
ProtectDISC Software 6 DRM in German release.
StarForce 4 DRM[Note 1] in Russian release.
Windows
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GOG.com
DRM-free
Windows
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
StarForce DRM for this game does not work on modern versions of Windows (see above for affected versions).

Demo

A free demo can be downloaded here or here.

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest patch for the retail version is the Retail 1.3 Patch. Digital distribution versions already include this patch.

Skip intro videos

Use replacement ascaron.bik

Apply the Darkstar One intro skip.

Advanced controls

The game does a rather poor job explaining its controls. You can actually strafe sideways and fly backwards - use these to your advantage, they make combat much more fun. Some keybindings do not appear in the options menu - look those up in the manual (in the game directory, e.g. Steam\steamapps\common\Darkstar One for the Steam version). For example, you can play in 3rd person perspective by pressing F4 and change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing F3.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Ascaron Entertainment\Darkstar One\
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/12330/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Ascaron Entertainment\Darkstar One\Save\
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/12330/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
OneDrive
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud

Video

Video settings.
Video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
If the game crashes delete <path-to-game>\iphlpapi.dll.[4]
Multi-monitor
3D elements are rendered at a lower resolution.
Ultra-widescreen
If game has black graphics set in-game FSAA to Off.[4]
4K Ultra HD
4k makes menus and texts very small, they don't scale accordingly.
Field of view (FOV)
You can change the FOV of your cockpit by pressing F3, and you can change perspective with F4.
Windowed
Choose in Options.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Works with Borderless Windowed.[5]
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
FSAA. Choose in Options. May cause black graphics at higher resolutions.[4]
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
120+ FPS
Locked to 60 fps.
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Mouse-based space flight uses a cursor so can't be inverted.
Controller
Controller support
Enable in Options, Gameplay.
Full controller support
Controller remapping
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Click the red rectangle beside the axis to toggle inversion.
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Supports vibration.
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio settings.
Audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Music, Ambient, Effects and Speech.
Surround sound
Set Speakers in-game accordingly.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
German
Only included in retail. German patch for Steam and GOG version can be downloaded here. German manual is available here.
English
French

VR support

3D modes State Notes
vorpX
G3D
User created game profile, see important hints on copy protection issues with retail game here: vorpx forum profile introduction.

Issues fixed

Some resolutions crash the game

Darkstar One may crash when using certain resolutions due to bundling an outdated version of iphlpapi.dll.
Delete Darkstar One's iphlpapi.dll[4]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Delete or rename iphlpapi.dll
  3. Darkstar One will now use Windows' version of this file instead.

netman.dll not found error

This is caused by DarkStar One shipping with an outdated version of this file.
Delete Darkstar One's netman.dll and iphlpapi.dll[citation needed]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Delete or rename netman.dll and iphlpapi.dll
  3. Darkstar One will now use Windows' versions of these files instead.

Ship throttle is backwards

If your controller's throttle is detected the wrong way around (e.g. putting it at the full speed position makes the ship stop instead) invert the "Throttle" axis by clicking the red rectangle beside it.

Black graphics at higher resolutions

Disable FSAA[4]

Set in-game FSAA to Off.

Other information

API

Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 2000 SP4
Processor (CPU) 1.6 GHz
System memory (RAM) 512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 6.5 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 3
ATI Radeon 8500
128 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9 compatible
Shader model 1.1 support


Notes

  1. This version of StarForce DRM does not work on Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11.[2][3] For supported versions of Windows the StarForce driver may need to be updated manually using SFUPDATE.
  2. 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/12330/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (12330) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References