Star Controller

A few days ago, Arianna Reiche (daughter of the great Paul Reiche), posted on the UQM forums asking fans in Europe what their favorite gaming blogs and websites are.  She stated that it is for “VERY exciting research purposes”:

Hi all

This is very cheeky but for some VERY exciting research purposes, I was wondering if any SC fans living in the EU can tell me their favourite regional gaming blogs and sites…for if you’re French, what’s the French gaming site or blog you frequent, etc.

I can only repay you in the form of perhaps one day regaling you with the story of recording the dialogue for the SC2 end sequence…hah.

Thanks!

Arianna Reiche

If anyone’s wondering, here is the definition of “regaling”:

regaling
–verb (used with object)
1. to entertain lavishly or agreeably; delight.
2. to entertain with choice food or drink.
- Dictionary.com

Since I live in Canada, I can’t contribute to her research.  If there are any fans out there who has the time to post their favorite gaming sites, feel free to reply to Arianna’s post to contribute to her “exciting research”.

The main reason why I’m mentioning this is because it’s not every day we get some kind of opportunity to hear from someone with a direct connection to Star Control.  It would be great to read new “behind the scenes” information behind Star Control II.  Arianna’s brother, Devin, provided the voices of one of the grandchildren during the final scene.  It makes me wonder where those voice actors are now apart from the ones who are working at Toys for Bob.

A few months ago, Arianna has made answered a question regarding the other voice actors for Star Control II:

Another question: I’d imagine that the SC2 developing group was pretty close-knit. Maybe I’m wrong. Did you, or your family, have much contact with the other voice actors in the game? If so, were some of them as strange as the characters they portray?

Again, I was pretty dang young for most of the production of SC2 so this is all based on what I’ve heard from dad Fred etc about the production, but most of the voice actors were actually developers (obviously dad was a few characters) and their friends. I think close-knit doesn’t even cover it; the whole production was based around trusted workers and friends and, of course, family members.
- Arianna Reiche

Arianna is a contributor to Vice Magazine a magazine geared towards independent and youth culture.  She also has her own blog and even her own Twitter page.

Links
All Eu/NZ/Australia SC fans (UQM)
All Eu/NZ/Australia SC fans (SCDB)
A Reiche Child
The A-Train
Arianna’s Twitter

Tags: Announcements by Anthony Suarez
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Zarla is a big fan of Star Control and has created many images based on Star Control II. Her most favorite character is Admiral ZEX, a VUX with a passion for collecting grotesque creatures who asked the Captain to capture the VUX beast in exchange of the Shofixti Maidens only to turn against him and attempt to capture him instead.  For her birthday, she received a clay sculpture of ZEX from her friend, MoroNoKimi:

FAR SUPERIOR PHOTO FTW.

Happy Birthday ~zarla! I hope you like him! I worked like mad to get him done in time.

He was mailed and is now in Zarla’s possession
Go here for some pictures of him in his new home! [link]

ZEX is from Star Control 2.

Made from sculpey clay. The eye was painted with gouache and was then coated in clear varnish. The tongue was also varnished to make it shiny.
There are a few imperfections but overall I’m very pleased. I almost think I’m better at making things with sculpey than I am at drawing.
- MoroNoKimi

It’s a very beautiful sculpture of ZEX; it’s bright, colorful and the tentacles look smooth and organic.  I remember when I was in Grade 11, I had an art class and we learned how to sculpt clay and bake it at the correct temperature to harden it.  I also learned how to use toothpicks to make things more stable and make imprints and patterns on the surface.  Although what I made in my art class wasn’t very impressive, I certainly understand the work MoroNoKimi put into sculpting Admiral ZEX and it was well worth it.  It’s very awesome!

Here are some photos that Zarla has taken and posted on her blog:

Thank you Zarla for taking the time to share your new present with the world and thank you MoroNoKimi for taking the time to create the ZEX sculpture.

Links
“If I’m thinking of the right guy” by Zarla
Admiral ZEX sculpture on DeviantArt
Admiral ZEX Plushy

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