NEWS: X Rebirth VR Edition, Updates and X4

[Commander_K]

And are there going to be more chances/places to aquire those Skill learning thingies for your workers? Really I beg you, can't really stand that talking game much longer

You just reminded me about this (I also hate that "minigame") - what about adding those things as loot drops, and also to be found in lockboxes?

You can already find them as unique drops (in station geometry, I found some hunting for "i" points in the DV shipyard. I swear those points just aren't there ...), so it shouldn't be *that* much work.

[RAVEN.myst]

And are there going to be more chances/places to aquire those Skill learning thingies for your workers? Really I beg you, can't really stand that talking game much longer

You just reminded me about this (I also hate that "minigame") - what about adding those things as loot drops, and also to be found in lockboxes?

You can already find them as unique drops (in station geometry, I found some hunting for "i" points in the DV shipyard. I swear those points just aren't there ...), so it shouldn't be *that* much work.

Are you referring to skill training seminars? This is news to me...

[Sparky Sparkycorp]

And are there going to be more chances/places to aquire those Skill learning thingies for your workers? Really I beg you, can't really stand that talking game much longer

You just reminded me about this (I also hate that "minigame") - what about adding those things as loot drops, and also to be found in lockboxes?

You can already find them as unique drops (in station geometry, I found some hunting for "i" points in the DV shipyard. I swear those points just aren't there ...), so it shouldn't be *that* much work.

Are you referring to skill training seminars? This is news to me...

Big spoiler, but here is a compilation of contents for the lockboxes embedded in station geometry:

https://www.egosoft.com:8444/confluence ... n+geometry

[RAVEN.myst]

Hell's bells! I first found a lockbox embedded in a station in Home of Light, in one of the "useless", "decorative" highway stations - I though it was a new thing added only to the new areas, guess that was wrong I scanned down the contents there, to see what sort of stuff is available - thanks for the link, Sparky.

Still, I think it would be nice to get them seminars as (rare) random drops and lockbox contents, as opposed to just specific Easter eggs... Their reliance on the mini-game is quite annoying - especially when after 4 perfect hits, the game lag spikes on the 5th one, ruining the whole effort - I suspect keyboards have been endangered by that particularly "cute" nuisance... (Also, this "mechanic" only encourages more saving in order to roll back time, which I'd say is less than ideal...)

[Sparky Sparkycorp]

You're welcome

Solnetcev deserves the credit for gathering all the info from the game files though.

[SayuNowi]

Have not been active here for a long time but im glad to see that X4 is in development. :)

[dholmstr]

And are there going to be more chances/places to aquire those Skill learning thingies for your workers? Really I beg you, can't really stand that talking game much longer

You just reminded me about this (I also hate that "minigame") - what about adding those things as loot drops, and also to be found in lockboxes?

You can already find them as unique drops (in station geometry, I found some hunting for "i" points in the DV shipyard. I swear those points just aren't there ...), so it shouldn't be *that* much work.

Are you referring to skill training seminars? This is news to me...

Big spoiler, but here is a compilation of contents for the lockboxes embedded in station geometry:

https://www.egosoft.com:8444/confluence ... n+geometry

Thank you, even managed to find a few of them. But this is still fram from a continued source for Seminars. This just helped the few "wholes". Think of it this way: 20+ stations, every station with manager,DO and a specialist. Everys station with at least 3 ships for trading (in my case capitals) with 3 workers, 2 of them have 3! skills to fill. And I even have a light defence put around them. 2 capitals and maybe some fighters. See now how many skills are needed if everyone of those have 2-3 skill lvls to fill. But lets not talk about this more, think it's starting to derail this trhead about upcoming stuff.

[mr.WHO]

While X4 development is a great news, I somehow don't understand why Egosoft waste time on VR.

Despite recent developments, VR is still an emerging technology where most producers/developer/users don't really know what to do with it.

From gamers perspective there are only three applications right now:
- generic trash VR shooters that flood Steam
- flight/drive simulators and space sims
- porn

We still don't know if VR is something solid, or it will only be a marketing curiosity that will come and go away like 3D feature in TV.

Despite recent renaissance of the space-sim genre it is still overall a niche that is smaller than popular Call of Dumb or Battlecopypasta.
Egosoft games are also niche within the space-sim niche.


So now the X-Rebirth VR would be a niche game, for niche genre for emerging technology (small user base) with uncertain future.

Therefore I wonder who is Egosoft business advisor and what crack he/she smoke?

[atraangelis]

STOP X3 VR development... its a waste of Time. Most folks who bought X3 have unistalled it and moved on...


X4 should be where you money is... lastly... dont **** it up!..

[Commander_K]

Space sim players are probably a sigificant part of the VR buyers (because E:D VR support).

If Egosoft "wastes" money depends on what tasks are needed doing for X4. Integrating VR into the engine is probably a task for a graphics programmer, while the graphics in X4 won't be much different from X:R, so that won't really take development time from X4.

Adapting the UI for VR will also help a big deal toward more usability and intuitiveness of X4's UI, so that is also not really wasted time.

Edit: Screw it the E:D for Elite:Dangerous is staying. Also X3 VR? What are you talking about, atraangelis? Do you know more than I do?

[Xenon_Slayer]

STOP X3 VR development.

We're working on X Rebirth VR.

[mr.WHO]

Adapting the UI for VR will also help a big deal toward more usability and intuitiveness of X4's UI, so that is also not really wasted time.

Not true - VR game needs completely different GUI.
Just like GUI for console controller have to be different than GUI for PC game for mouse and keyboard.

Therefore XR VR GUI would have very little or no significance for X4 GUI.

Besides Egosoft is well know for creating fast and amazing GUI for all their game.


I'd rather have 100% development effort to X4 rather than having crap or average GUI for X4 and XR VR.

C'mon the main reason why X-Rebirth was a failure was the lack of time, modey and resources. Now Egosoft divide their limited resources two two titles.

Drop VR, focus on X4, make X-Games great again!

[Commander_K]

Or develop X:R:VR, sell it, and be able to put more development time into X4 afterward (Not just because the extra money, but also in terms of release cadence).

[RAVEN.myst]

Despite recent developments, VR is still an emerging technology where most producers/developer/users don't really know what to do with it.

And they never will, until developers are courageous, innovative, and creative enough to tap into the new tech and pioneer its practical application. This represents a "ground-floor opportunity" for ES to be recognised as an early innovator and pioneer - I know I just repeated those terms, but they bear repeating, i think.

We still don't know if VR is something solid, or it will only be a marketing curiosity that will come and go away like 3D feature in TV.

And we won't, until... well, see above

Personally, I think that the "space-sim" genre is among the potentially most suited to the VR tech, while at the same time being possibly a relatively easier environment within which to develop VR game development skills, given its long perspectives and fields of depth, for starters.

While I have little interest in Rebirth VR at this point, it's not due to lack of interest in VR per se, but rather:
- I don't currently have, nor expect to be able to any time soon, a VR-capable rig.
- I'm more interested in X4

If, however, X4 were to include VR support, I would likely be looking for someone to sell a defective kidney to... And if X4 ends up getting VR support, it will be as a consequence of groundbreaking efforts for XRVR (and I'm quite happy for XRVR to be the guinea pig with the teething problems, hopefully sparing X4 those... I know, this is all rather speculative - but plausible, yes?)


EDIT: I see my last point was more or less ninjaed by Commander_K

[Ketraar]

Just like GUI for console controller have to be different than GUI for PC game for mouse and keyboard.

This is a fallacy. Many AAA games are developed for console and then ported to PC with same UI. Mostly what they require is mouse functionality, for easier navigation within the menus.

C'mon the main reason why X-Rebirth was a failure was the lack of time, modey and resources. Now Egosoft divide their limited resources two two titles.

Again you are mixing up your own feelings with facts (I know its trendy these days, but I dont like facts twisted). The CEO of Egosoft, aka, GoD, aka Bernd, said it was a success, monetary speaking. So your fears of lack of resources have no base. Not that I know any better, but I myself avoid making assumption on things I know nothing about, you should try it its quite fun.

Last but not least, I would like to propose a new goal for 2017. Stop telling other people what they should do with their money, its their risk of failure, not yours. So unless you fork over some cash I'd say, you can put your "demands" where the sun dont shine.

MFG

Ketraar

[Graaf]

Bernd, said it was a success, monetary speaking.

And there is also where it ends.

I see a few problems with Rebirth VR:
1: Rebirth, while being a marketing success isn't very admired as a game, besides the few that play it.
2: acquisition of VR headset, a very expensive piece of otherwise unnecessary equipment.
3: acquisition of controller, because playing with M+K is out of the question with the VR headset.

So unless you fork over some cash I'd say, you can put your "demands" where the sun dont shine.

I'll fork over some money when I see something worth it.

Currently the items IMHO not worth it are and/or will be:
Rebirth
Rebirth VR
Rebirth 2 (aka X4)

I'm sure mr.WHO already forked over some money for one of the above items.

Also, what you consider "demands" is better considered as "advice" from the intended customer base. A very sceptical customer base for any future Egosoft endeavours.

[Santi]

From my point of view no only sales or making money, VR owners desperately lack some good games, but it is innovation as well, X Rebirth VR is a good platform, not only for testing VR but Vulkan too.

The costs for developing X Rebirth VR? Look at it this way, you need 90fps for VR, now look at your computer, now look at your fps in game, now look again at those 90fps, now look at a game CPU bound. So I get the suspicion that it is a matter of scaling down some stuff that requires lots of calculations and less about adding stuff.

And it will be a nice platform to test the waters with an early access release as well. Something that will be very positive in terms of the Devs communicating with the community and moving towards a more close involvement regarding feedback that could benefit a future X4.

[monster.zero]

"cause playing with M+K is out of the question with the VR headset."

??? I play Elite Dangerous in VR with Mouse keyboard..... No problems. I'll play Star Citizen the same way...VR+M/K...I'll play X:R VR with mouse keyboard if it's possible.

I enjoy X:R far more than Elite:D...so VR in X:R is going to be incredible!

Hope it's a option for X4!

[Zaknafein]

C'mon the main reason why X-Rebirth was a failure was the lack of time, modey and resources. Now Egosoft divide their limited resources two two titles.

Again you are mixing up your own feelings with facts (I know its trendy these days, but I dont like facts twisted). The CEO of Egosoft, aka, GoD, aka Bernd, said it was a success, monetary speaking. So your fears of lack of resources have no base. Not that I know any better, but I myself avoid making assumption on things I know nothing about, you should try it its quite fun.


Ketraar

And yet you assume that Bern, the CEO of this company is telling the truth...
It is in his and the companys best interest to appear successful with XR.
Its also the same guy that said after release "only 1% of the gamers are unhappy with it". I dont assume that he´s an idiot since Steam and Metacritic proved him (very) wrong here but instead again, he had to maintain an appearence for the company and therefore lie.
Its a bold assumption to just believe anything he says regarding future and past games since XR.

[BigBANGtheory]

Just like GUI for console controller have to be different than GUI for PC game for mouse and keyboard.

This is a fallacy. Many AAA games are developed for console and then ported to PC with same UI. Mostly what they require is mouse functionality, for easier navigation within the menus.

Most yes but not all especially those with complex controls or many things under the players control. You'll notice that console to PC ported games simply avoid this type of gameplay altogether and PC games that have this quality are not ported to consoles. This is how Elite gets away with it you only ever have your ship and one drone like support fighter to consider at anyone time.

VR is a gamechanger in this respect because the VR controllers (as opposed to gamepads) can support more complex jestures just like a mouse.