Still no sign of cockpits

[Dutchman]

I reckon Egosoft should sack their publisher. The imposition of that deadline has damaged Egosoft's reputation. It might be to a greater or lesser extent, but damage has been done.

Despite what's been said, I still feel that cockpits were left out because of time constraints, not gameplay decisions. It's for the same reason that destroyers look like carriers, and M4s look like M3s. Numerous other issues which have been claimed as "design decisions" look an awful lot like bugs due to lack of time to me.

I'm still playing X2. While I really want to like X3, I don't. While there are loads of features I like about it (flight model, launch tubes, economy, pirates, new style of capturing) there are many, many more that I don't like (external docking, cockpits, repeated models, overly limited docking (on carriers and at stations), the new interface, the frame rate). Add to this the limitations imposed on my style of game play by lack of mobile mining and the lack of ability for TS ships to dock at any kind of carrier (particularly the TL) and X3 just sits on the shelf.

I wish it were otherwise.

Well said Brianetta and I completely agree with you.
That's why I didn't even buy X3 yet (I preordered X2 but there were things anounced that made me wait to preorder X3) .
I'm gonna wait untill the updates might make X3 what I hoped it would be, cool graphics as major improvement just isn't doing the trick for me. Gameplay is what keeps you playing not the graphics, and cockpits is one item I just hoped for amongst other things. I read this forum a lot and the pro's and con's just aren't in the right balance at the moment.
One more reason to wait is that I will have to upgrade my pc, no problem and I will for sure and not only for X3, but I'm not gonna upgrade earlier then planned (something I wanted to do) for X3 in the state it is now.
I still love X2 the threat and I can live without X3, untill some major improvements are made that is.

My 2 cents

[SoA]

well, it IS better then nothing....

(nice pic btw... lol, wonder how M1 and M2 would do?)

[Brianetta]

I really missed my Elephant's roof window in X3. Being able to look around inside the cockpit while flying was a pleasure I let myself enjoy even after the game was years old.

A stick-on monitor outline as described by Da_Imp, while funny, is rather missing the point.

Dutchman, X2 was different. Almost every change from X:Tension to X2 was for the better in my opinion. The only exception was the reduced cockpit variety. Of the changes between X2 and X3, only about half are for the better in my opinion.

Knowing that X2 could be better makes it hard to play - I keep wishing for the improved physics, the independent traders and the carrier quick-launch. Unfortunately, X3 isn't better in all respects. It's certainly not worth upgrading my hardware for, as X2 was, without a doubt.

[soleseacher]

Posted: Wed, 9. Nov 05, 14:37 Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:

I was a miner, yes. I also used my TL as a trading base, operating a fleet of TS ships.

Yer dam annoying is it not when someone has just ruined you enterprise
I used a mammoth with a demeter and 3 dolphins for my mining enterprise and later added 3 kitted out novas as escort ships.
YES I loved this system built a huge empire from this.
But I do think these issues will be solved in the 1.3 patch as mining is mentioned in the manual and I think I did see a thread on this matter.
As for the TS's well I know there concept has changed a lot in X3 tannkers and such but what about MINERS!,come on egosoft u are not leaving us on the selve
And as for fitting a mining laser to a TL well try flying that throu Ore Belt and getting within a km of a huge driod without hitting anything.
And no I don't want to hear about the frieght transporter devise I use that to but I dont want to be fitting Jump drives to all my TL's to move them arround the universe and what of enemy attack I can no longer use the protection of my TL.
No come on boy lets get it together there were large threads on this in X2 so to leave it out well that just sucks!
Well I am bussilly trading at the mo to make up the credits for my TL so when the 1.3 patch comes out can go back to building my mining empire again so I hope to see it there!

[Ecthelion]

It's for the same reason that destroyers look like carriers, and M4s look like M3s. Numerous other issues which have been claimed as "design decisions" look an awful lot like bugs due to lack of time to me.

The only ones I've seen that look the same are the Buster and Disco, and I've noticed the Pirate Busters look different, so I think that's a simple oversight.

Despite what's been said, I still feel that cockpits were left out because of time constraints, not gameplay decisions.

People are STILL talking about this? Personally I couldn't care less about the cockpits. They're gone, deal with it.

In regards to TS's docking with TL's, I kind of agree that's a bit of a shame, but if you look at how they made all the TS's look like big freighters now, it makes more sense. I remember the pirate TS in X2 was a tiny little ship - space-wise they'd be able to fit tons of them in a TL.

[Brianetta]

People are STILL talking about this? Personally I couldn't care less about the cockpits. They're gone, deal with it.

That's just it. I don't have to deal with it, because they're still in X2. So is mining, for that matter, and mobile TL trading.

I'll check out where X3 is in a few months' time, but until then I don't feel the need to persevere.

[Skyman]

The more I play X3, the more I realise that it is an incomplete piece of software.
My main focus will be on the strategy of building a Trading Empire, and try to forget that this is also meant to be a simulator.

My hope is that in time Egosoft will actually finish this game, and I will be able to get the same out of it that I got out of X2.
The way it stands at the moment, I will probably play it for a while, and then return to X2 for some real pleasure.

Such a pity.

[Dutchman]

People are STILL talking about this? Personally I couldn't care less about the cockpits. They're gone, deal with it.

You said that correct Personaly you couldn't care less and that's why you bought the game and I didn't...yet
Although the missing cockpits isn't the only item that is holding me back.
No doubt X3 is a good game overall but how much improvement over X2 is there ? As Brianetta said the improvement from X-tension to X2 was realy there, X3 will sure have it's improvements over X2 but some changes are imho deffinatly no improvements.

[Ecthelion]

People are STILL talking about this? Personally I couldn't care less about the cockpits. They're gone, deal with it.

You said that correct Personaly you couldn't care less and that's why you bought the game and I didn't...yet
Although the missing cockpits isn't the only item that is holding me back.
No doubt X3 is a good game overall but how much improvement over X2 is there ? As Brianetta said the improvement from X-tension to X2 was realy there, X3 will sure have it's improvements over X2 but some changes are imho deffinatly no improvements.

It's just that it frustrates me when people complain about something that isn't a big deal. I can perfectly understand people complaining about missing things that actually affect the gameplay, like Mobile Mining and tranports docking with TLs (although that's not as big a deal). However, bitching about cockpits and interior docking being gone when they've added better combat, a MUCH better interface, and various other improvements, while removing those god-awful in-engine character cutscenes, is just asinine. I just don't get how people can get so upset over cockpits when all it really does is "immersion" (although capital ships in most sci-fi don't have cockpits anyway, excluding Star Wars). Something like Mobile Mining actually changes the way you play.

Of course, I may be looking at it from a different perspective since I haven't played X2 in quite some time, so it's not fresh in my memory.

[Galaxy613]

The more I play X3, the more I realise that it is an incomplete piece of software.

The more I read this thread the more I feel like X3 sucks and is a piece o' sh*t. The more I play X3 I can't wait to get a few PAC and IRE factorys to get more of them in the econemy. And I still have yet to see a race war. I have never in X2 or X3 gone into a Xenon Sector to do combat, and want to. I still want to get my rank up a little more with the Argon so I can make a dual Wheat Farm M complex to get some money rolling in so I can focus on other things like getting Sector Traders started up...

This game might be imcomplete, changes that were not for the better, but it IS built off of X2 and the changes they DID make for the better are DAMN GOOD. I have no doubt (unlike most people here) that Egosoft will keep working on X3 and maybe someday get cockpits back in, until then, you can find me playing my X3 that I was not afraid to buy.

[Dutchman]

It's just that it frustrates me when people complain about something that isn't a big deal. I can perfectly understand people complaining about missing things that actually affect the gameplay, like Mobile Mining and tranports docking with TLs (although that's not as big a deal). However, bitching about cockpits and interior docking being gone when they've added better combat, a MUCH better interface, and various other improvements, while removing those god-awful in-engine character cutscenes, is just asinine. I just don't get how people can get so upset over cockpits when all it really does is "immersion" (although capital ships in most sci-fi don't have cockpits anyway, excluding Star Wars). Something like Mobile Mining actually changes the way you play.

Of course, I may be looking at it from a different perspective since I haven't played X2 in quite some time, so it's not fresh in my memory.

Don't get frustrated man, it ruins your day
It's all a matter of personal taste and what may be a small issue to you might be something importand to the other.
Personaly I find cockpits essential to any kind of simulator but for others it's something else. I think that venting your (dis)likings in a game gives the gamemaker perspective on what people would like to see, if brought politely.
If you enjoy X3 the way it is then by all means do so and don't let others spoil that for you.
I rather wait untill some changes are made and in the meantime I enjoy X2 still (in fact I just bought me a Split Python ).

[Da_Imp]

A stick-on monitor outline as described by Da_Imp, while funny, is rather missing the point.

It wasn't meant as a serious substitute

Funny thing though, making that reminded me how I hated the X2 cockpit, but also felt it was pretty comforting.

A bit of a love/hate relationship. I'll have a post about my opinion about the lack of cockpits in X3 when I have the game.

[Darkon]

People are STILL talking about this? Personally I couldn't care less about the cockpits. They're gone, deal with it.

'deal with it' ?
I'm a dissatisfied customer, I don't have to deal with it! It my right to bitch and moan!


Since people have been mentioning the other 'design decisions' (ie: didn't complete because, didn't care or have time), I thought I would mention planet landings.
This was one of the other things people wanted to be in X3, even if it was done in a similar way to Freelancer, it would have been fine.
Going to a docking ring or ship, talking to people in bars looking for missions. Come ON!

What would that have taken, dock with a lander ship like in some of the X2 story missions, have a small ingame vid to show the ship landing on the planet, and then load up the same station menus.
For the Bars what?, a few people models, a few backgrounds, a few extra bits of text or even shove the BBS mission in text bubles, we don't need to have everything voice acted.


So much potential, so little effort.

[Chips]

People are STILL talking about this? Personally I couldn't care less about the cockpits. They're gone, deal with it.

'deal with it' ?
I'm a dissatisfied customer, I don't have to deal with it! It my right to bitch and moan!


Since people have been mentioning the other 'design decisions' (ie: didn't complete because, didn't care or have time), I thought I would mention planet landings.
This was one of the other things people wanted to be in X3, even if it was done in a similar way to Freelancer, it would have been fine.
Going to a docking ring or ship, talking to people in bars looking for missions. Come ON!

What would that have taken, dock with a lander ship like in some of the X2 story missions, have a small ingame vid to show the ship landing on the planet, and then load up the same station menus.
For the Bars what?, a few people models, a few backgrounds, a few extra bits of text or even shove the BBS mission in text bubles, we don't need to have everything voice acted.

So much potential, so little effort.

They have never mislead about that, they have always clearly stated that there would be NO PLANET LANDINGS. Find it hard to believe you will complain about something that was clearly stated from the start that would not be a feature.

They personally think it won't add a single thing to the gameplay element (if I am remembering rightly, but without search I refuse to go digging up the relevant threads!). I personally think it would be great, but there we go.

It will be interesting to see exactly what is addressed in the 1.3 patch, as well as whether there will be further games too!

[JustCookie]

Well, all this all goes to show is what happens when publishers put pressure on designers for a release date that realistically cannot be acheived. Thus we have a game that plays and feels like a work in progress. Bits cut out and glossed over cos of time restraints!!
Personally i didn't fork out £20 odd quid to be a games tester
I was really looking forward to this game, but at the moment i am gonna leave it on the shelf until it starts to look like the game i thought i was buying.

Damn u greedy Publishers!!!!

(i wonder what it feels like being the designer of a game that u r forced to release before its ready and then seeing everyone bitch about it)

[esd]

I must admit, I feel completely naked without my cockpit.

[The_Abyss]

I must admit, I feel completely naked without my cockpit.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[esd]

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Bad.... the vacuum's freezing my unmentionables.

[JustCookie]

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Bad.... the vacuum's freezing my unmentionables.

And we all know what happens to our unmentionables when they get a bit chilly.

[neverko]

I'm sure if this issue is beaten like a dead horse, until the topic reaches 100 pages, cockpits will be made for X3... or maybe not.