Cubicle 7's Rocket Age game seems, to my untrained eye, critically quite popular, but perhaps not commercially so.

I've never played it so I can't speak as to its quality, though it uses the same system as Dr Who.

What does the aforementioned situation say about pulp style gaming?

Nothing.

While i own the books, I've only played it once (Last year at GenCon, along with Doctor Who). I had read there were similarities with Unisystem, a game I know very well. I didn't feel that the characters in the demo were that pulpy. We failed more rolls than I'm used to for that style of gaming. Could have just been bad dice rolling over all at the table, but that was my experience with the game.

It's no longer with Cubicle 7 though, as Ken Spencer now owns the game outright

I don't think the genre is in vogue at the moment but there are a fair few games and settings out there supporting a pulp genre. Rocket Age seems to have a healthy following.

I just think people's tastes are running more to HBO.  grimdark and gritty.

I love the genre, but it never seems to be terribly popular. Though I cannot speak as to the success of ROcket Age. I can only assume Cubicle 7 stopped publishing it because it wasn't profitable for them.

Quote from: Biscuitician;979924I love the genre, but it never seems to be terribly popular. Though I cannot speak as to the success of ROcket Age. I can only assume Cubicle 7 stopped publishing it because it wasn't profitable for them.

The genre, pulpy sci-fi rocket ships and ray guns, is pretty awesome. Rocket Age the game doesn't capture it well IMO.  

Slipstream is the best RPG book that I have found for the genre. Its setting is unique and simultaneously campy in a familiar way. It has a nice, very playable, campaign included. The only problem is that it is Savage Worlds - which could be good or bad. For me, its not ideal.  I also like War Rocket, but it is a miniatures game.  I don't know, but I don't think there is an RPG system that really nails the pulp, Flash Gordon style Sci-fi thing well.  At least I haven't found one.

Quote from: urbwar;979918While i own the books, I've only played it once (Last year at GenCon, along with Doctor Who). I had read there were similarities with Unisystem, a game I know very well. I didn't feel that the characters in the demo were that pulpy. We failed more rolls than I'm used to for that style of gaming. Could have just been bad dice rolling over all at the table, but that was my experience with the game.

That was my impression too. It's not a bad game but it might be that the default difficulties are set just a bit high for a free-wheeling pulp adventure. It also seems a bit setting heavy which a common trait for C7 but then again for some people that is a virtue.

For me the depth of setting is a large part of the appeal of Rocket Age.

The mechanics are OK, not the best I've seen, but far from the worst.

I was very glad to hear the announcement from Ken Spencer that we will being seeing the long awaited Imperial Jupiter sourcebook, With more stuff in te pipline behind that.

Quote from: Madprofessor;979931The genre, pulpy sci-fi rocket ships and ray guns, is pretty awesome. Rocket Age the game doesn't capture it well IMO.  

Why not?

I've not tried R. Age. But if I wanted to go that route I'd definitely have a look at slipstream, it's very good!

Rocket Age is a fine game, with an easy system and sound production standards. It does, however, exist in a convoluted market of retro-sci-fi and has to compete against many other games.

I had considered getting it, but between Space: 1889 and just my own general contentment with Traveller, I didn't really feel the need. I'm sure that FATE and Savage Worlds tend to gobble up most of the potential fanbase already though.

Quote from: Soylent Green;979938That was my impression too. It's not a bad game but it might be that the default difficulties are set just a bit high for a free-wheeling pulp adventure. It also seems a bit setting heavy which a common trait for C7 but then again for some people that is a virtue.

I love the setting of Rocket Age, and would likely lift elements of it for another game, as the system as is wasn't working for me.

Of course, i really wish Rocketship Empires 1936 would get a new edition. It looked snazzy.

Quote from: Biscuitician;979953Why not?

Most players have never watched Flash Gordon from the '30s. Or cared about such genres. The game was for an acquired taste. But the rules were thin. In other words, a game for the collecting-dust book shelf. Cosmic Patrol is another one.

Quote from: Madprofessor;979931The genre, pulpy sci-fi rocket ships and ray guns, is pretty awesome. Rocket Age the game doesn't capture it well IMO.  

Slipstream is the best RPG book that I have found for the genre. Its setting is unique and simultaneously campy in a familiar way. It has a nice, very playable, campaign included. The only problem is that it is Savage Worlds - which could be good or bad.

I have the two (just bought Slipstream) and that sums up my view too. Rocket Age takes a weirdly serious and sociographic approach to a profoundly silly setting. Even the art tone is sombre. Slipstream maybe breaks the fourth wall a bit too often with its Savage Worlds "Aren't We Cool! Isn't this Fun!" tone - even the 1981 Flash Gordon film (on which Slipstream's universe is heavily based) basically played it straight, and I think much of Star Wars' appeal lies in the level at which it takes itself seriously. But I don't think that's likely to be an issue in play, and the general setup is very good. I might change the Earthling-specific background to contemporary Earth and have Earthlings in Slipstream having been hoovered up by the vortex over the centuries, that fits better than the post-apocalypse default I think. Otherwise very good. The Plot Points campaign included is certainly more scripted and new-schooly than I like, but fine as something to riff off of.

For me part of the appeal of Rocket Age is that the setting takes itself seriously and tries to build a realistic "what if" world.  However I can see where the very depth of RA can be a bit off-putting. There are I think some 22 sophonts of various species available for play, and hints that there ay be others as yet undiscovered, and each of these has their own in dept culture, beyond the Star Wars/Star Trek forehead alien.