X3 - The Return

As for X3 the reunion, this descent computer(2.6 Ghz, 512MB RAM, Radeon9600 Pro), cannot probably keep up with the newer generations of graphics. So on that case, I am usually stuck in the past on this one. It looks pretty cool and I´m surprised to see it come out on a console system. If I had a higher spec computer, I would probably buy it. As for the online universe, Jumpgate(By Netdevil) appears to be have a closer match on what online universe and gameplay would be like. Edited by - Calliloya on 10/3/2005 11:30:07 PM

Based on what we´re seeing in the screenies, I´ll be really surprised if it doesn´t play pretty badly on anything less than a GeForce 7800 with a 2Ghz Athlon 64 and a gig of DDR. That´s just my opinion, of course, but they´re throwing a <i>lot </i> of surface shaders onto things, and I don´t see many clear signs of really low-fidelity LODs being used- even objects in the far drawing distance seem to be pretty high-poly and the shaders are still being used. This is worrisome, from a performance standard, because shaders are FPS killers for anything but a top-end system- they´re CPU-intensive, because much of the math isn´t directly supported by most 3D cards yet. Then again, they´re showing us X3 at its best, which is probably not what we´ll be able to crank out. Which kind´ve bugs me- it´ll be like HL2, which looks wonderful if I crank it way up, but is virtually unplayable, at 15 FPS. It´s just like Unreal all over again- the current set of games coming out (and here I have to include some things that aren´t out yet, like Serious Sam II) are all using feature-sets that current mid-range systems can´t hack at all... and the price gulf right now between mid-range and &quot;decent&quot; is pretty big right now - I´ve been putting off upgrades for months, hoping that the prices would drop some <img src=smilies/icon_smile_tongue.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>

There is an other upcoming space-sim game with promising features: Darkstar One (<A href=´http://darkstarone.ascaron.com/gb/gb_darkstarone/features/features.html´ Target=_Blank> Link </a>. The features show that the game will place itself &quot;somewhere in the middle&quot; between FL and X2. They promise &quot;Special missions, for example in canyons, on the surface of planets or inside of planets&quot;. But there will be no Multiplayer-part (Source: fansite Darkstar-network) Publisher is the German Ascaron company. Daniel Dumont has published there the games &quot;Patrizier 1&amp;2&quot; (no idea if this was published in English too). Reason why I mention this here: This game had a fully functional dynamical trade system. It´s not a space sim of course, but you have to trade for getting credits to build up your home city and colonies. Quite an interesting game btw.

Wow! Eve looks amazing! So deep, with plenty of options for development <img src=smilies/icon_smile.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> I might try it. Before I do, has anyone played it? It looks extra complicated. <img src=smilies/icon_smile_wink.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> Edited by - athena on 10/4/2005 4:25:29 AM

did anyone notice in the trailers that one of the designs for an x2 space fighter is the spit of the Vampire from WC<img src=smilies/icon_smile_tongue.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>rophecy and Secret Ops?

Esky, you no longer have an excuse! You do <b>not </b> have to register in order to download any offical patches or files anymore... I was reading another thread on their forums when someone mentioned it, so I logged out - and sure enough, there are the downloads - available and awaiting download for all and sundry. athena - yes, eve is complicated to start - but so is learning to drive, learning to cook, learning to use a computer. Once you get used to it - it willl be a synch! The free trials that they have should give you enough time to get a good grip on the commands and methods of the game, but I strongly recommend reading up on things and following the tutorials to ensure you don´t spend hours slogging away for nothing! I <b>will </b> be playing Eve asap, although methinks X3 will be released before I have a chance, and then I´ll be playing X3 for a few months. Maybe after Xmas I´ll play it again <img src=smilies/icon_smile.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> @Taw - there have been rumours about how much the Argon Titan looks like the capships from starship troopers... although there have also been posts as to why it isn´t where the inspiration came from as well (to be fair it was usually yet another post of &quot;OMG you copied the ship from starship troopers, its illegal&quot; tripe. For some reason people seem to love the idea that even if they like the game/company - if they can find fault like that - they love to tell them how illegal it is, and how they will burn in hell, and they will help them burn! Edited by - Mike G on 10/6/2005 9:15:09 AM

i just don´t expect much in the way of originality of design that´s all, sci-fi has all been done over and over again.

Said Argh: <font size=1 face="trebuchet ms"><BLOCKQUOTE><hr size=1 noshade> I remember hacker BBS´s, before there was an Internet. They weren´t terribly controversial, mainly because getting access to them was rather more complicated and irritating than firing up Limewire, and less likely to score you anything really cool anyhow. I was too young to really get into acoustic-modem nonsense anyhow- I had Bronze Dragon, Prince of Persia, Autoduel and Dark Castle, which was more than enough entertainment for those ancient days. Ah, the joys of 16-color sprites blitting at 15 FPS... analog joysticks and the pure joy of Hellcats Over the Pacific (which, in my mind, still rates as one of the most fun &quot;flight sims&quot; ever made, albeit in 16 shades of gray on a Powerbook 160). <hr size=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face=´trebuchet ms, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica´ size=2> Very true. And the until recently unspoken truth was that those most jealously protecting their intellectual property have been using the same or derivative technologies to put the screws on the little guy consumer regardless of culpability *points to Chips´ thread on the RIAA*. And, pre internet and to the present, have been using bully boy tactics to keep all of the &quot;creators&quot; in line by tightly controlling the mechanisms of distribution and sale. *Makes note to discuss ... for the upteenth time ... with wifey about spending some serious money on putting together a really fast computer ... looks over at D_S with envy* Edited by - Indy11 on 10/6/2005 10:33:47 AM

Chips - Really? That´s good news, but will it be true for X3 as well? In any case, I have a whole sack of excuses if I need them <img src=smilies/icon_smile_wink.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>.

I love the idea of creating your character´s image, and it´s that image that will be seen in each interaction. Could you guess who my avatar would be? lol The &quot;skill-loss on death depending on a high-quality clone&quot; seems harsh..?

one of my m8s jsut did a script for x2 that changes the behaviour of Pirates, who lets face it arent exactly much of challenge once you´re progressing decently in the game. Now they build and fight like a proper player, and they´re a real menace. I´m quite impressed, its about the first useful thing he´s ever done!

That´s the great thing about this game; if you don´t like something, change it. There´s very little you can´t do with the script editor and a bit of basic modding.