X3: Multiplayer support.

[pjknibbs]

Unfortunately, Thief 2 had its multiplayer modes pulled just before they went gold, and shortly thereafter Looking Glass Studios folded, which sadly brought the superb Dark Engine to an end.

It has to be admitted that the Dark Engine, while excellent in some regards (the AI of the guards and the dark/light thing were awesome), really wasn't up to much graphically. It was OK in Thief 1, but by the time Thief 2 came out graphics had moved on but the Dark Engine hadn't. That probably helped hasten their demise, since their games were not exactly mainstream fodder to start with, and having a subpar look wasn't going to attract new customers...

[Brianetta]

Unfortunately, Thief 2 had its multiplayer modes pulled just before they went gold, and shortly thereafter Looking Glass Studios folded, which sadly brought the superb Dark Engine to an end.

It has to be admitted that the Dark Engine, while excellent in some regards (the AI of the guards and the dark/light thing were awesome), really wasn't up to much graphically. It was OK in Thief 1, but by the time Thief 2 came out graphics had moved on but the Dark Engine hadn't. That probably helped hasten their demise, since their games were not exactly mainstream fodder to start with, and having a subpar look wasn't going to attract new customers...

It didn't look good, but it sure sounded good. I can't play those games without headphones, because I literally play by ear. Thief and Thief 2 sold respectable numbers by any standards - lack of sales was not the reason for their demise.

www.ttlg.com is the remaining focus for the Looking Glass fan community - every bit as alive as Egosoft's.

[bob hope]

you want to try playing thief 1 2 and 3 with 5.1 surround its hilarious because anyone watching who is sat in your house starts looking behind them too

[Brianetta]

you want to try playing thief 1 2 and 3 with 5.1 surround its hilarious because anyone watching who is sat in your house starts looking behind them too

I did at first, but I still find that closed-back headphones are essential. Mainly as I have (very cute) rats in the house - their munching and bed-making really distracts, and the headphones cut that out.

[bob hope]

thats was more atmospheric lol there should be rats in a city like that although admittedly they might of been eaten by one of those 2 legged things from the first game, well i think they were 2 legged

and about the multiplayer, maybe a system like guild wars could be implemented i know it wouldnt really be multiplayer in the same way but its fairly good in the way it works for guild wars

[giskard]

Well there are no real details that are current about XOU yet but even knowing nothing I am still excited

Imagine what i'll be like when they post the first screen shot hehe.

Giskard

[shasla5]

The new Battlestar Galactica is 100% spot-on with the physics.

I too like the physics. Too bad it's such an otherwise horrible show.

[Brianetta]

The new Battlestar Galactica is 100% spot-on with the physics.

I too like the physics. Too bad it's such an otherwise horrible show.

Each to his own, I guess - I can't wait for a second series myself.

[Creston]

Those three words mean very little to me I'm afraid, but they change nothing. If the game has multiplayer features then it is multiplayer. If it doesn't then it isn't. There are no shortcuts to making a multiplayer X-series game.

I don't want X³ to have multiplayer, I just immediately had to think of SS2 when you said there is no such thing as "a little multiplayer support".
Because System Shock 2 had exactly what I would call a little multiplayer support

Out of the Box it was a straight SP Game, just like X. But with a later official Patch they added a Coop Mode. It really didn't feel like a part of the game, even the Multiplayer button in the menu didn't fit into. It looked far more like something fanmade.

I don't want to bore you with the details, but SS2 is strictly desingned to be SP and the Coop Mode looked (and was) really unfinished and unprofessional.
That sounds quite negative, but actually I like it very much. And I think it was really cool from the developers to add it despite all the things mentioned above. It's real fun to play it together with a friend!

If I recall correctly, one of the female developers who worked on SS2 (and later on the Deus Ex : IW game) said that they worked literally MONTHS on that 'patch' to enable it so ten people in the end played it.

It's not "a little multiplayer support". Multiplayer is multiplayer, whether it's for 2 or 8 (in the end, that's only determined by performance and how many packets you want to send) people.

I think I had this discussion elsewhere though, I don't think the X universe, as it CURRENTLY stands, is at all suited to multiplayer.
Please, release X3 first, then start fiddling with the multiplayer scenarios.

Btw, CBJ, shame on you for not playing System Shock 2

Creston

[thrangar]

I would rathe they add another game type option like the custom universe
option.

Only on this option we call it the Online option this in turn sets up game peremiters and limits.

For example you chose a race... that limits you at what you can purchase.

I foy uwant something outside of your game options ship or product you come to the Xou market forum/server and purchase it from someone who has made or has that ship/product. d/l it to you game and off you go.

This way you have interaction with out anyone messing up your game.

There is so much more that could be done with this type set up but you get the picture

Cheers/Thrangar

[daemonzi]

Is a shame there is no way of getting the game to create a tcp/ip connection via the ingame console, you could then make your own server app to syncronise the clients, and the station details.

Edit: Ahh you cant get all of the detials like orientation and lazerfire.

[stealthjc]

I think it could be possible to add a multiplayer-feature to X3. TES4 - Oblivion also is a game not made for multiplayer and with no multiplayer code hidden by the coders and there is someone working on a multiplayer-mod and it works. Well, it is an alpha-version but i think it will be great, when it's finished.

http://csusap.csu.edu.au/%7Emloxto01/index.htm

So i really think it could be possible.

[Player.]

I think you folks are forgetting the people who can hardly play X3 as it is with its current comp requirments, i dont even want to imagine how would it work as an online game

[CBJ]

Why dredge up a thread whose last post was over a year ago to say this? Quite apart from which it has already been stated many times that there is no such hidden network code in these games.