Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star

Renegade: the Battle for Jacob's Star is based on Renegade Legion.

Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star is based on the Renegade Legion science fiction franchise from FASA. Publisher Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) obtained the license for the series and produced the first computer game adaptation, 1990's Renegade Legion: Interceptor, which was a faithful adaptation of the original board game with relatively simply graphics and sound. SSI associate producer David Lucca said that team contemplated using the license to create a state-of-the-art action game or flight simulator.{{cite magazine | author=Bennett, Dan | date=January 1995 | title=Renegade: Battle for Jacob's: SSI Takes Aim at Wing Commander | url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedPCGamer_marktrade/PC_Gamer_008u/page/n23/mode/2up | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Future US | issue=8 | pages=22–4 | issn=1059-2180}} The Battle for Jacob's Star was contracted to Midnight Software, a Canadian company who had previously worked on the 3D flight simulator Heroes of the 357th for Electronic Arts.{{cite magazine | author=PC Review staff | date=March 1992 | title=Coming soon... Heroes of the 357th | url=https://archive.org/details/pc-review-05/page/14/mode/1up | magazine=PC Review | publisher=EMAP | issue=5 | page=14 | issn=0964-4547}}

Lucca likened the scenario for The Battle for Jacob's Star to Baa Baa Black Sheep. Voice talent was hired through the

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Lucca also said that there was disagreement among the staff regarding the type of music that should be used in the soundtrack, so a redbook audio option was included to allow players to play their music of choice by swapping in their own CDs during missions.

The Battle for Jacob's Star was released for PCs in early 1995. A direct sequel titled Renegade II: Return to Jacob's Star was announced at the end of the year and slated for release in early 1996.{{cite magazine | author=Bauman, Steve | date=December 1995 | title='tis the season to be shopping | url=https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-61-december-1995/page/182/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus Inc. | issue=61 | page=182 | issn=1546-5101}} New features such as online multiplayer and a mission editor were advertised.{{cite magazine | author=PC Entertainment staff | date=March 1996 | title=Scouting Report | url=https://archive.org/details/pc-entertainment-march-1996/page/n13/mode/1up | magazine=PC Entertainment | publisher=IDG | volume=3 | issue=3 | page=12 | issn=1074-1356}}{{cite magazine | author=Steinlechner, Peter | date=March 1996 | title=Renegade: Return to Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1996-03/page/n29/mode/1up | magazine=Power Play | publisher=Future Verlag | language=de | issn=0937-9754 | page=30}}{{cite magazine | author=Joystick staff | date= | title=Preview: Renegade II: Return to Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick069/page/n135/mode/1up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | language=fr | issue=69 | issn=1145-4806 | page=136}}{{cite magazine | author=Silvestri, Stefano | date=April 1996 | title=Jacob Star{{'}}s Back! | url=https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-n-85-aprile-1996/page/n20/mode/1up | magazine=The Games Machine | publisher=Actia | language=it | issue=85 | issn=1127-1221 | page=21}} A game demo became available{{cite magazine | author=Joystick | date=April 1996 | title=The Best of Demos: Renegade II | url=https://archive.org/details/joystickhs08/page/n10/mode/1up | magazine=Joystick Hors-Série (Special Edition) | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=8 | page=11 | issn=1145-4806 | language=fr}}{{cite magazine | author=PC Gamer staff | date=April 1996 | title=The CD: Renegade 2 | url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedPCGamer_marktrade/PC_Gamer_023u/page/n28/mode/1up | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Future US | issue=23 | page=27 | issn=1059-2180}} and some magazine even provided full reviews.{{cite magazine | author=Synder, Frank | date=May 1996 | title=Reviews: Renegade: Return to Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/computer-game-review-may-1996/page/n59/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Game Review | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issn=1062-113X | issue=58 | page=60}}{{cite journal|title=Renegade |journal=Next Generation|issue=19|publisher=Imagine Media|date=July 1996|url=https://archive.org/details/Next-Generation-1996-07/page/n85/mode/1up|author=Next Generation staff|issn=1078-9693|pages=84, 87}} However, the sequel was ultimately dropped from SSI's release schedule. It was initially reported that this was due to licensing issues with FASA.{{cite magazine | author=CGSP staff | date=August 1996 | title=Renegade: Return to Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-69-august-1996/page/49/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus Inc. | issue=69 | page=49 | issn=1546-5101}} It was the revealed that Mindscape had chosen to cancel it due to poor quality.{{cite magazine | author=Computer Gaming World staff | date=September 1996 | title=Whatever Happened To... Some Vaporware Condenses While Others Dissipate | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_146/page/n35/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=146 | issn=0744-6667 | pages=90–2}} Midnight Software was acquired by Strategy First in 1997.{{cite magazine | author=Cyberstratege staff | date=March 2000 | title=Strategy First | url=https://archive.org/details/cyberstratege-magazine-17/page/n11/mode/2up | magazine=Cyberstratege | publisher=Histoire & Collections | language=fr | issue=17 | issn=1280-8199 | pages=12–3}} The Battle for Jacob's Star was re-released digitally on both Steam and GOG.com by publisher SNEG as part of the SSI Classics compilation on December 19, 2023.{{cite web | author=Yarwood, Jack | date=November 29, 2023 | title=Phantasie, Star Command, & More SSI / Mindscape Games Coming To Steam & GOG | url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/11/phantasie-star-command-and-more-ssi-mindscape-games-coming-to-steam-and-gog | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916054115/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/11/phantasie-star-command-and-more-ssi-mindscape-games-coming-to-steam-and-gog | archive-date=September 16, 2024 | website=Time Extension | accessdate=January 13, 2025}}

{{VG Reviews

| CGR = 86/100{{cite magazine | author1=Perry, Kevin | author2=Chapman, Ted | author3=Kaiafas, Tasos | date=April 1995 | title=Reviews: This Is What Happens When You Let Romans Have Spaceships. | url=https://archive.org/details/computer-game-review-issue-45-april-1995/page/n39/mode/2up | magazine=Computer Game Review | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issn=1062-113X | issue=45 | pages=40–1}}

| CGW = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Cirulis, Martin E. | date=May 1995 | title=Review: Rebel Commander – SSI Follows The Leaders of Space Combat In RENEGADE | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_130/page/n91/mode/2up | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=130 | issn=0744-6667 | pages=90–2}}

| Hyper = 86%{{cite magazine | author=Soropos, George | date=August 1995 | title=Renegade – Battle for Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-021/page/68/mode/1up | magazine=Hyper | publisher=nextmedia | issue=21 | page=68 | issn=1320-7458}}

| JS = 180/200{{cite magazine | author=De Urlevan, Léo | date=April 1995 | title=Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star – Une surprise inespérée | trans-title=Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star – An unexpected surprise | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick059/page/n83/mode/2up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=59 | pages=84–9 | issn=1145-4806 | language=fr}}

| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Renegade |journal=Next Generation|issue=6|publisher=Imagine Media|date=June 1995|page=108|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-006/page/n119/mode/1up|author=Next Generation staff|issn=1078-9693}}

| PCG = 67%{{cite magazine | author=Borovskis, Thomas | date=May 1995 | title=Review: Renegade – Battle for Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/pcg-0595/PCG_0595/page/n50/mode/1up | magazine=PC Games | publisher=Computec | language=de | pages=54–5 | issn=0946-6304}}

| PCZone = 75/100{{cite magazine | author=Ramsay, Gareth | date=May 1995 | title=CD-ROM Review: Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_26_May_1995/page/91/mode/1up | magazine=PC Zone | publisher=Future plc | issue=26 | pages=91–2 | issn=0967-8220}}

| rev1 = Electronic Games

| rev1Score = B+{{cite magazine | author=Harris, David T. | date=June 1995 | title=Rebellion in Space: Join the Renegade Fighter Fleet | url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1995-06/page/96/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Games | publisher=Decker Publications | page=96 | volume=3 | issue=6 | issn=0730-6687}}

| rev2 = Electronic Entertainment

| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Giovetti, Al | date=June 1995 | title=Fly & Drive Games: Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-entertainment-issue-18-june-1995/page/78/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Entertainment | publisher=IDG | issue=18 | issn=1074-1356 | page=78}}

| rev3 = MikroBitti

| rev3Score= 84/100

{{cite magazine | author=Piira, J. & P. | date=June–July 1997 | title=Renegade – Battle for Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/MB1994-1997/mb_1995/page/n415/mode/2up | magazine=MikroBitti | publisher=Sanoma | language=fi | issn=0781-2078 | pages=80–1}}

| rev4 = PC Games (UK)

| rev4Score = 83%{{cite magazine | author=Simmons, Alex | date=May 1995 | title=Review: Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star CD | url=https://archive.org/details/pc_games-1995_05/page/n61/mode/2up | magazine=PC Games | publisher=EMAP | issue=10 | pages=62–3}}

| rev5 = Pelit

| rev5Score = 70/100{{cite magazine | author=Vainio, Joona | date=April 1995 | title=Täällä Jaakobintähden alla | trans-title=Here Under the Star of Jacob | url=https://archive.org/details/pelit-1992-05/Pelit%20%281995-04%29/page/n31/mode/2up | magazine=Pelit | publisher=Fokus Media Finland | language=fi | issn=1235-1199 | pages=32–3}}

| rev6 = Secret Service

| rev6Score = 80%{{cite magazine | author=KaYteck | date=October 1995 | title=Renegade: Battle for Jacob's Star | url=https://archive.org/details/secret-service-04-1995/SecretService_10_1995/page/45/mode/1up | magazine=Secret Service | publisher=ProScript | language=pl | issn=1230-7726 | page=45}}

}}

Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star received generally favorable reviews. A reviewer for Next Generation hailed Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star as one of the few Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger clones which does not rely on expensive production to emulate that game's success. Particularly praising the 3D fighter models, absorbing storyline, detailed character development, and strategic gameplay, he gave it four out of five stars.

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/renegade-battle-for-jacobs-star Renegade: The Battle for Jacob's Star] at MobyGames

Category:1995 video games

Category:DOS games

Category:DOS-only games

Category:Midnight Software games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Space combat simulators

Category:Strategic Simulations games

Category:Video games developed in Canada

Category:Video games based on miniatures games

{{videogame-stub}}