Indie-Resource.com

Is there a roguelike whose basic setup is like Elite or Traveller?

That is, instead of a dungeon or wilderness filled with monsters etc, you have an area of space filled with planets?

edit: other than Transcendence.

hmm not sure on that one, I brought up a open source project called The Merchant that you can check out, link is on this site, let me find it.

edit:
http://indie-resource.com/forums/viewto ... ant#p21488

space game

Google has some results for "picture to ASCII character generator". Some are web-based applications, while others you must download. Then, just draw a simple map with something like Microsoft Paint. The more simple the better, because these converters are powerful and it will quickly stop looking roguelike (which were typically made by hand in 8-bit color at the most) and more like an ASCII converted image (which is pain-stakingly converted by the computer in 32-bit color and looks almost just like the image). First, paint the whole backdrop whatever color you want. For a planetary surface, likely green, or black in space. Then add large circles for ponds or planets, the rectangle tool with a solid color fill for walls, etc. Just be sure to not go crazy with colors, or it can get confusing for players. Also try to keep the number of colors on a single map to maybe 20 or less (remember, people used to make these by hand, and would never have looked up 30,000 color codes). Then run it through a converter and use it anyway you like in a PHP game!

I also found one called Privateer: Ascii Sector.

looks awesome! amazing how they create things with characters.