Sponsored Feature: Fishlabs on epic iPhone space-trader Galaxy on Fire 2

Galaxy on Fire 2, Fishlabs's landmark space-trader, launched this week on iPhone.

Originally released on Java, the game puts you back in the space boots of interstellar mercenary Keith T. Maxwell, and allows you to mine for resources, take on missions, modify your ship, and explore the vastness of space.

Galaxy on Fire 2 mobile scored an impressive Gold Award at review thanks to its polished, console-quality graphics and gameplay. The iPhone version - which Fishlabs spent a year perfecting - is an even bigger achievement, cruising light years ahead of other iPhone space-traders.

We spoke to Fishlabs CEO Michael Schade about the inspiration behind Galaxy on Fire 2, the studio's high aspirations for iPhone and iPad, and the forthcoming multiplayer update.

"We have borrowed from a lot of great games in the sci-fi genre," Schade says. "The original Galaxy on Fire was inspired by Wing Commander and Elite from the very early days of micro computer and PC gaming."

Artful use of these influences defined Fishlabs as "category builders" for mobile sci-fi games, encouraging the team to push the envelope in the sequel. Ideas from other popular space titles were employed in Galaxy on Fire 2.

“We brought in ideas from Freelancer, like the space lounge, and also Eve Online, with having blueprints to create rare or special items.”

Schade also cites Mass Effect as an inspiration. "Although its core gameplay is RPG," he says, "Mass Effect inspired us heavily in terms of the visuals and the overall look and feel."

But video games weren't the only inspiration. “Of course, you can’t create a sci-fi game without looking into the art of Star Wars and Star Trek," Schade goes on. "Also the Battlestar Galactica movies and TV series had been great influences and are my personal favorites in the genre.”

On the subject of why it took so long to produce this iPhone version, Schade is clear that this isn’t just a straight port. The storyline and basic gameplay are unchanged, but “everything else was redesigned from scratch.”

He continues, “every ship now has its own individual design, textures have been designed in ultra hi res, and every icon for more than 200 items has been beautifully rendered in 3D.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Groundbreaking audio and an original, atmospheric score (assisted by Periscope Studios’s Jan Werkmeister) give the game’s audio the sort of depth usually associated with high budget Hollywood films.

Schade advises players to listen to Galaxy on Fire 2 through headphones, or their home stereo systems. “You will get goose bumps!”

Schade’s ambitions for Galaxy on Fire 2 don’t just extend to cinematic sound. He’s also determined to prove that the iPhone and iPad can compete with home consoles, both aesthetically - "the iPhone 4 and iPad can easily compete with an Xbox" - and ergonomically.

"Some criticise the lack of controller buttons," he says, "but I believe the touch display and motion sensor make up for that. And if you use an iPhone or iPod touch as controller for a game running on an iPad plugged to the TV you won’t miss a thing.

"Also, full HD rendering quality in everyone’s pocket is less than 12 months from now."

Confident words, but as a developer at the forefront of high-budget mobile gaming Schade is more qualified than most to make such strong assertions.

Hardware aside, there’s another area in which mobile games may surpass their living-room bound cousins: playing with your friends.

“Multiplayer within Galaxy on Fire has always been very high on our agenda,” says Schade.

In fact, the day that Galaxy on Fire 2 was submitted to the App Store, the studio started work on the game’s multiplayer. “It’s a bit too early to announce concrete features and how we will publish it, but we have very, very high ambitions in that space.”

For now, online gamers still have plenty to get their teeth into as the game supports both OpenFeint and Game Center.

Galaxy on Fire 2 is available on the App Store now for the limited-time price of £3.99 /$6.99 / €5.49.