The character Roger Wilco ranked #5 in Computer Gaming World's November 1996 listing of the 15 most memorable game heroes.
The protagonist's name Roger Wilco is a pun on a common phrase used in voice procedure "Roger, will comply".
After the introduction, the player is requested to enter his name. The default name is Roger Wilco, in case the player presses "Enter" instead of typing any name, which became the official name of the hero in the later games. This option is included also in Space Quest, Chapter Two: Vohaul's Revenge (1987).
One of the alternating bands in the bar is a parody of ZZ Top; another is a parody of John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, as the Blues Brothers.
The name of the store "Droids-B-Us" is a parody on the toy store chain "Toys 'R' Us". It was first named "Droids-R-Us", but "Toys 'R' Us" sued Sierra for its use of the similar name without permission. Thus the name of the store was changed to "Droids-B-Us".