In 2006, my day job was making video games. However, no one was making the game I really wanted to play - a third person shooter where the player could start inside a spaceship, exit out into space, blast some bad guys in space and board their ship to fight against them in hand-to-hand combat. As a fan of such pulp comics as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, I wanted my heroes to have a laser pistol in one hand and a fencing sword in the other.
The idea had been brewing in my mind even longer than I realized. The imagery I was dreaming of was inspired by the cover of a 70's Marvel Star Wars comic, where Han Solo has shoot-out with pirates in outer-space. This is the game I always wanted to play.
The other moment of inspiration was from my friend, Hardy, who when I told him I always wanted to work on a Star Wars video game said "Why don't you make your own Star Wars?" I decided that this was good advice worth following.
The first indication of anything pertaining to Rayguns and Rocketships was a small diagram from my 2006 notebook. All it mentions is that a crew man needs to stay in a spot on the ship to get a benefit. Not much, but it was a start.
Speaking of notebooks, I assume I'm preaching to the converted, but I cannot over-emphasize the importance of keeping some sort of journal, notebook or sketchbook. I have lost too many good ideas to the ages (and crashed hard-drives) to not stick with good ol' fashioned paper.
In the same notebook (on a page dated 5/08/2007), I found a page filled with several character and planet names. The name of the Astro-Rangers captain - Jett Novastar - first appears (although he was almost "Jake Novestar") as well as his arch-enemy Count Ventura. Also appearing are the "Nova Rangers" (who will later become the Astro-Rangers) and a picture of their uniform.
Having piping on the pants was obviously very important! Next up, the Rayguns and Rocketship universe takes shape!
Stay tuned Planeteers! More adventure awaits!
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