X4 - ten questions for developers

mr.WHO · Post by **mr.WHO** » Mon, 24. Jul 17, 17:14

Commander_K wrote:The last one. Only Borons have definitely been ruled out.

Do you have Egosoft quote on Borons beign rule out? If this would be confirmed then the Paranid are the only option...unless we count Sol Terrans as separate race from Torride/Canterans. As much as I'd love to see Sol again I think Paranids are more likely.

Post by **UniTrader** » Mon, 24. Jul 17, 17:20

mr.WHO wrote:
Commander_K wrote:The last one. Only Borons have definitely been ruled out.
Do you have Egosoft quote on Borons beign rule out? If this would be confirmed then the Paranid are the only option...unless we count Sol Terrans as separate race from Torride/Canterans. As much as I'd love to see Sol again I think Paranids are more likely.

i dont remember where exactly it was, but i can confirm that lino stated somewhere that there wont be borons in X4

Commander_K · Post by **Commander_K** » Mon, 24. Jul 17, 17:41

mr.WHO wrote:
Commander_K wrote:The last one. Only Borons have definitely been ruled out.
Do you have Egosoft quote on Borons beign rule out? If this would be confirmed then the Paranid are the only option...unless we count Sol Terrans as separate race from Torride/Canterans. As much as I'd love to see Sol again I think Paranids are more likely.

For example here.

gbjbaanb · Post by **gbjbaanb** » Fri, 28. Jul 17, 18:01

UniTrader wrote:
mr.WHO wrote:
UniTrader wrote:i dont think thats feasible because it would require a massive increase in the details of the Ships/Stations Hull. or do you think this is detailed enough: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hdvg6sd47d5do ... 1.png?dl=0 (i turned a hull section into a walkable interior there)
Ship models in X2 and X3 were also not detailed much and yet it doesn't bother the spacewalk.
Also the Teladi Outpost from that distance would looks crap no matter if you are in suit or a ship. I assume devs never planned you let player so close to those 2D trees (ahh this brings the good ol' 90s memories back ).
i dont think many bothered spacewalking near caps, and those who did to repair them were masochistic anyway, so the low detail was not an issue for them But if being this close to Capships would turn into a regulary used feature i doubt this Level of Detail is enough. and upping the Level enough to be reasonable (not necessarily on par with the curent interiors) is an unreasonable amount of work imo (i think we would get only one or two capship types in that case) and has another downside: walking the distances of Ship Surfaces on foot is plain boring. i think to get to the border of the aforementoined interior ( here a screensho from its end overseeing the whole thing ) took about 5 minutes running, if not more. (and yes, it changes your position relative to the Ship/Station as whole)
so i think in practice it would be better to make multiple interiors for a Ship which are connected by a fast transport system and implement the repair/sabotage/spoinage functions in these interiors instead. Maybe add a few Outside Secttions, too. like Turrets and Shield Generators for example.

Though I remember going up to the Aran and zapping it with a repair laser to make it boardable... didn't seem so shabby IIRC.

I think the problem here is that we expect X4 to be better than X3, not worse. And if ship interiors are a thing, you're in danger of biting off more than is chewable just like Rebirth did. Scrap the idea of ship interiors, have external ship textures like in X3 even, and add the interior stuff in as a DLC once the main game is properly complete.

And a repair laser, with a bit of "walking" on the exterior welding a plate over a hole to patch a ship up enough to get it to base, is a good bit of immersive gameplay.

Mailo · Post by **Mailo** » Sat, 29. Jul 17, 22:35

Can I ask why the new game was named "X4" and not "X-Rebirth 2"?

I pretty much stopped following the X-Universe after X-Rebirth came out, so this is actually the first I've heard of X4 ... yet from all the answers in this thread I get the impression that maybe it is more than X-Rebirth, yet still far less than X3 ... less races, ship options, less game options (some of my most memorable game experiences in X3 were in a space suit ... that you cannot think of good gameplay reasons yourself speaks volumes) ...

Post by **Alan Phipps** » Sat, 29. Jul 17, 22:44

@ Mailo: X4 is a type of shorthand for a type of game expected to be closer than Rebirth to the basis of the X3 themes and playstyles but using the XR engine and its better capabilities.

Besides some hints from devs, we have relatively little firm knowledge of what is to be added or dropped to/from the known X universe gameplay but naturally we can expect some major differences and innovations too. It is very much a wait-and-see period.

Post by **Sparky Sparkycorp** » Sat, 29. Jul 17, 22:46

My personal impression is that they're steering the X Rebirth game engine more in the direction of X3 gameplay. So mechanically, there's iteration on X Rebirth, but philosophically, the next game heads more in the direction of a successor to X3.

Here's an announcement from Bernd that touched this topic last year:

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=392987

Mailo · Post by **Mailo** » Sat, 29. Jul 17, 23:15

Sparky Sparkycorp wrote:My personal impression is that they're stearing the X Rebirth game engine more in the direction of X3 gameplay. So mechanically, there's iteration on X Rebirth, but philosophically, the next game heads more in the direction of a successor to X3.

Here's an announcement from Bernd that touched this topic last year:

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=392987

Keep in mind, I am totally clueless about X4 so far, I've only read this thread on it. And from the posts in it, I got the impression that the gameplay and philosophy is more aligned with X-Rebirth than X3. I have no clue about the engine that will be used.
I know my impression might be (probably is) wrong, but that's what I got from the info here.

I'll wait for the release to form a final opinion of course, but not necessarily with anything more than mild interest.

Thanks for the link, though forgive me if I don't place much trust in Bernd concerning upcoming games.

Post by **Sparky Sparkycorp** » Sat, 29. Jul 17, 23:44

Mailo wrote: Thanks for the link, though forgive me if I don't place much trust in Bernd concerning upcoming games.

You're welcome but please keep in mind this is a thread where questions have been posed in a civil manner and Devs decided to take the time, and risk, to reply candidly. It's really not the place for dredging up these kinds of sentiments. All that is likely to do is discourage future interaction to the detriment of other forum users.

Mailo wrote: Keep in mind, I am totally clueless about X4 so far, I've only read this thread on it. And from the posts in it, I got the impression that the gameplay and philosophy is more aligned with X-Rebirth than X3. I have no clue about the engine that will be used.
I know my impression might be (probably is) wrong, but that's what I got from the info here.

No problem. All I can really say (due to available info rather than any secrecy) is that that announcement wasn't the first statement on the topic and it was in line with earlier ones:

CBJ in March, 2015

Bernd in September, 2015

mr.WHO · Post by **mr.WHO** » Sun, 30. Jul 17, 10:06

According to XR VR announcement they will share some more info about X4 on August 13th.

EDIT: Awww shit, I misread. August 13th is the registration deadline for actual event on 26th or 27th where they will learn more info on X4.

birdtable · Post by **birdtable** » Sun, 30. Jul 17, 10:27

Let us hope it is more than " soon ",,, and not ambiguous

... another month to wait .....

Sorkvild · Post by **Sorkvild** » Mon, 31. Jul 17, 13:06

Has anyone heard about the use of low level API (Dx12, Vulkan) for X4

Devs/Ego people can you shed some light on the subject, pls.

Skeeter · Post by **Skeeter** » Mon, 31. Jul 17, 21:32

Pretty sure they will use vulkan api as they have done for xrvr.

Post by **X2-Illuminatus** » Mon, 31. Jul 17, 21:44

Sorkvild wrote:Has anyone heard about the use of low level API (Dx12, Vulkan) for X4
Devs/Ego people can you shed some light on the subject, pls.

XR VR EA FAQ wrote:The new Vulkan-based high performance graphics engine is still relatively early in development. This engine is designed particularly for our next big project: X4. The Early Access phase of XR VR Edition allows us to test this new technology on a wide range of different hardware.

mr.WHO · Post by **mr.WHO** » Mon, 31. Jul 17, 22:05

What does high-performace part mean?

Can I expect better FPS than X-Rebirth or just better graphic, but same FPS?

Post by **Alan Phipps** » Mon, 31. Jul 17, 22:25

@ mr.WHO: I am not sure that fps question fully applies in a future new game scenario.

I am pretty sure that the devs will employ the graphics capabilities of the combined engines to their fullest possible extent in providing enhanced gameplay with improved display quality and complexity. They will also wish to ensure that acceptable play and framerates can be achieved on a system at the minimum specs as declared for the new game and good performance if on a system at recommended specs. As yet we don't know what those specs will be.

Skeeter · Post by **Skeeter** » Mon, 31. Jul 17, 22:47

Let's hope the minimum spec is a decent spec like star citizen and not keep trying to get low spec computers from 10 years ago to play.

BigBANGtheory · Post by **BigBANGtheory** » Tue, 1. Aug 17, 00:31

mr.WHO wrote:What does high-performace part mean?

Can I expect better FPS than X-Rebirth or just better graphic, but same FPS?

"The way I read it" is simply this...

Vulkan API = far better potetnital for utilization of modern hardware than DX9

BUT Egosoft need to optimise with Vulkan over time to realise the benefits as well....

In short X4 should use not only Vulkan APi but optimizations learned from XR VR + Ealry Access. This is a very good thing for all fans of X Universe lets hope it works out well, it sounding good at this stage.

pixel · Post by **pixel** » Wed, 2. Aug 17, 00:39

The last best fun X game was X2.

X3 got lost in spreadsheets and complexes and forgot the fun.

X Rebirth was a tedious, buggy, interface mess. Don't even get me started by the retarded super highways and the indecipherable sector maps. Needing to scan stations all over. Pointless walking in stations that added 0. omfg. I actually restarted XR a year ago and gave up after getting stuck in scenery after 1 hour of play.

I really REALLY want to be excited by X4. but keeping the highways....Sorry I just can't be excited, it's just a signpost of 'we're going along the same road as XR'.

I have been an Ego forum member since the old forums, probably around 2000. I WANT X4 to be good. I have massive amount of time for Egosoft. Bernd and the team are good people.

Please get rid of the silly game in games (super highways, scanning stations ALL OVER, stockmarkets etc).

Please get back to making X fun again. You knw, building up your ship, finding out stuff, building an empire (without this needing to take 20 hours to just get started on that (20 hours may be an exaggeration!) and game guides), having formiddable ships, being a force to be reckoned with as the player without needing to resort to buggy, time consuming fleets and complexes that just kill enjoyment and FPS.

Sorkvild · Post by **Sorkvild** » Wed, 2. Aug 17, 15:43

mr.WHO wrote:What does high-performace part mean?

Can I expect better FPS than X-Rebirth or just better graphic, but same FPS?

Cutting this short - better performance on the graphics side which is more than good and also should please gamers with AMD cards (AMD likes Vulkan) and users oscillating around minimum specs.
Different story is - main processor use. We know how heavy the processor load in X games can be. That is up to new engine and how it handles things.
Yeah, but use of Vulkan is good.

What wonders me is which team X4 will favor more. Green or Red...