After finishing the Wing Commander movie, Chris Roberts returned to old tricks, this time with Microsoft. StarLancer is the debut of a new franchise of space operas, and it's a solid, if derivative, offering. The questions: Will players accept StarLancer as an old, comfortable shoe, gracefully accepting that Roberts borrows, but from his own invention? Or will they heckle, suggesting that StarLancer should come marketed in the same box as Westwood's equally competent but uninspiring Command & Conquer 2: Tiberian Sun?