Patch 1.3 Feedback

[krustythong]

Well im still not satisfied, although we're heading in the right direction. I got burned buying this game, most certainly gonna preview any future releases before parting with my hard earned cash.
About time software companys stopped blaming piracy for poor sales and started putting decent working software out the door.
Anyway, rant over, sorry for that.
My BBS in the stations are just blank since the patch, bigger but blank.
I do have a couple of scripts installed( lasertower upgrade, complex manager, speedupgrade(via bbs) and asteroid info(via bbs also))
Saved and reloaded, visited various stations across various sectors but to no avail.

On another note, i got 180+ factories and about 40-50 frieghters either supplying or selling. Made 500million in 12 hours on seta and the only ship i lost crashed into a gate. So if the bad boys are comin, i say BRING IT ON cause it was getting stale and boring REAL fast.
Think thats about it.

Merry Christmas everyone

[ravinhood]

This patch is for the Frag fest freak, no more trade, build, think. Shame I was really enjoying the game to, now it's just a plain stupid arcade game worthy only of the console.

I'm going to agree with you here. I could barely kill one khaak cluster before this patch. I'm not a "twitchfest" type of player. A combat engine like FREELANCER I could do well, but, this, this is rediculous with the number of enemy ships. My 4 UT's and 6 factory ships wiped out. My lone buster isn't going to do squat. This is a stupid patch for "balance" by difficulty and I'm playing on "normal".

Yep, this is going to have to be "rebalanced" for "everyone" and not just the fragfesters. Tone down the AI enemy so I can keep the graphics quality and fps quality. Some of us just enjoy "trading" and a "little" combat from time to time, heck, I'm still only one level above the starting level in combat rank, but, I'm wayyyy up there past broker in the trading game. Now, what's the point? I don't want to play a fighting game, yet, I still deserve the updated fixes for the graphics quality, so, EGOsoft yah gonna have to "rebalance" the AI and let those folks that want a fragfest to just make "mods".

One thing to check, UT's are still sending jumpfuelenergy distances too far from "Red Light" and "Rorks Drift" and they have the energy to jump to "The Hole" and "Queens something or other not two sectors away.

Also, sometimes when I try to go into SETA, my speed drops completely to zero and my ship comes to a standstill and the only way it will move is by manual flying. Once it starts doing this I have to exit the game and reload a saved game from the last docking point.

But, once you "rebalance" the AI this will be a great game for all.


EDIT: Also EGOsoft look at the descriptions in the posts that are highly in favor of this patch. The majority of them from their descriptions already have a sizeable empire built up and thus all they have left is a fragfest and that's just really not balanced or fair to many of us just starting the game or only a few days play into it. Yeah if I had 500 million credits and an armada of 1000 ships I guess I'd want the game to be more challening also. Let em eat cake, rebalance for someone starting fresh and new.

[krustythong]

I believe the AI should be in line with the story, An invading force to be feared, not nancy flip-flop wearing shirtlifters(is that classed as offensive, meant in a lighthearted manner so i apologise to any who may fit that description)
If you want a game that differ's to that described on the tin(i just want the game that is described on the tin/in the manual, anyone have an e.t.a?) i.e no fighting, perhaps YOU should be looking for a mod.
Iv'e never played FREELANCER but ive played QUAKE and various other FPS's and i like the fighting, in fact playing the game as a FPS feels quite natural (well the battles anyway, with a quick turning ship)
As it was, seemed like playing the sims with the money cheat. piontless build it for the sake of it. no challenge

[sHiZo963]

I've been playing on the new patch for about 2 hours now, and:
- nice performance boost, esp. on SETA
- more "smoothness" overall in movement and in menus
- whenever I sell weapons to equipment docks, the supply in the dock doesn't rise for some reason
- 1 Xenon ship flew by without saying hello
In fact, I've got freighter ships all over the western side of the universe and have not encountered any enemies, unlike a lot of you posted. Maybe they'll show up later, but right now I'm happy as I'm more of a trader anyway...
I have no factories or stations yet and I'm playing on Normal. My fighting rank is Marksman, trading Broker, so not high but not low either.
I hope the experience doesn't change anytime soon, at least not before I get a chance to build up a little more...right now I seem to be getting the best of both worlds: fairly peaceful and nice performance

Merry Christmas and good luck

[Fendalis]

Guess staying around core sectors is advisable until you have the firepower to protect your assets.
And I certainly don't have 1000 ships...maybe 20 not attached to factories (of which I have 3) but I'm doing okay so far.

[ravinhood]

Thing is for me, if I wanted a "fighting" game, I'd go back and just play FREELANCER, since it has the best combat engine anyways and is much easier to maneuver and fight than this combat engine of X3. Who wants to fight a battle for 2 GD hours? That's totally rediculous and is not good on your wrist either. X3 says it's a space trading game, and empire building game and a fighting game. Well, screw the first two anymore, now it's just LAUNCH FIGHERS LAUNCH FIGHTERS LAUNCH FIGHTERS, might as well be playing STAR CONTROL again.

[Arbalest]

Yep, this is going to have to be "rebalanced" for "everyone" and not just the fragfesters. Tone down the AI enemy so I can keep the graphics quality and fps quality. Some of us just enjoy "trading" and a "little" combat from time to time, heck, I'm still only one level above the starting level in combat rank, but, I'm wayyyy up there past broker in the trading game. Now, what's the point? I don't want to play a fighting game, yet, I still deserve the updated fixes for the graphics quality, so, EGOsoft yah gonna have to "rebalance" the AI and let those folks that want a fragfest to just make "mods".

I agree, based on playing just my first hour with this patch. And I'm not a complete wuss as a fighter pilot. This is supposed to be a sandbox game, but the latest patch has tilted things way too far towards the fast muscle twiitch combat pilots... or those who already have a massive military empire built up.

I *enjoy* a good fight, and I'm pretty good at it... but I don't have endless hours to put into this game,to get to the point where I can handle the current threat level. If I want to devote my life to a game, I'll play World of Warcraft.. Err... actually I do play that game, and that's part of the problem. I want a space game that doesn't take that level of commitment to have fun.

Has Egosoft ever heard of the concept of combat difficulty settings in a game like this? That concept has been around for what, 15 years now? Why isn't it working in this game?

[Mystic Platypus]

It's strange, I've also been playing it for the last hour but I didnt see anything like I'm reading above. (I started a 'Normal' game, didnt go X-treme or anytihng) I see more pirates but nothing thats out of hand. (Edit: should have stated I haven't left the core Argon, Boron, & Paranid sectors, so maybe thats why...)

As for the performance boost it's so much better than before. I still wouldn't be smooth if I had to fight in Argon Prime (thats the sector I have the worst framerates with) but it's a huge difference for me (I'm just above the min spec for X3 so I'm happy with the improvment! )

Only wierd thing I had happen was when leaving Ore Belt (North gate) I just got in range of a pirate ship and the music changed to 'combat music' then I jumpped, the 'combat music' kept playing, even after it loaded the music that plays for the 'home of light', it just played right over it. No matter what sector I went to after that it would keep playing the that over whatever the normal music was for the sector I was in. I had to save the game then reload and all was well, only happend that once though

[chadrickb]

For those wondering if invasions scale to how you start the game or your rank...

I decided to start a fresh game with 1.3, on Humble Merchant. After selling my cool looking Disco for extra spending capital, I headed down to Ore belt and bought up some energy sells. Made my way west, and then up to Ringo Moon to find some more deals after unloading my cells...

Half way through the sector, a Khaak force appeared, including about five clusters, a carrier and a destroyer.

My first thought as i piloted my 5mj shielded Mercury was to turn around and run. As I was just about to lay into my stick, I saw a Colossus heading into the Khaak fleet. Against my better judgment, I had to check it out.

The Colossus launched fighters, but immediately started taking a pounding from all the Khaak forces. A nearby Titan apparently heard the distress call from the Colossus and quickly closed in...but not in time. The Khaak carrier and destroyer were too much and after overloading its shields, ripped apart the Colossus' hull until it went up in a huge ball of flame, its escorts helpless to defend it.

Meanwhile the Titan finally reached the battle and made quick work of the Khaak carrier. Just as it started turning towards the Khaak destroyer, turrets flailing in all directions against the fighters, I heard everyone's favorite last words...'Shields Critical!'. Too late, my Mercury was blown apart despite my sad attempts at evasive maneuvering.

I’ve played X3 for over 40 hours so far and that by far and away was the coolest thing I’ve witnessed so far. Yes, the universe is now much more dangerous – maybe unfairly so for those with huge empires spread out all over the galaxy, but I’ve learned two things for my new game. 1) I’m going to start investing heavily in defenses (unlike the previous pacifistic universe, where nothing ever bothered me and the game was nothing more than an Excel spreadsheet in space) and 2) Don’t stick around Khaak fleets in a 1mj shielded Mercury.

[grogan]

woot finally i can play again, TY egosoft for getting rid of the annoying sound loop freeze, also have noticed an extreme performance gain with the new patch

[Nitewolf]

I've been playing 1.3 for about 5 hours now, and here is what I have to say:

I love the point that I can move the mouse around w/o any lag. And most of the sectors FPS are much more responsive.

But, in the 5 hours I have played, the Xenon and Pirate invasion has decimated most of the sectors around their base, seriously. Even the local police can't stand up against them.

So here I stand, someone who doesn't even OWN a fighter bigger than a Nova and now I'm up against multiple DESTROYERS and CARRIERS and dozens of support ships.

In the weeks I've been playing I only have about 30 mil to my name plus a few simple complexes. How am I going to raise enough money for defenses before they destroy EVERYTHING I OWN? I actually see that happening in about 10 hours of gameplay on this patch.

BTW:
Game time: 13 days and 1 minute. Took me almost a month in real time.
Starting difficultly: Normal.
Own: 2 Ore Factories, 2 Complexes (2 factories each), 6 UT's, 6 M3's

[soleseacher]

Well never mind if your empires are wiped out
You've all got a bit of a challenge now
I pesonally am still wizzing round in my Mamba Raider battling away with all these lovely new targets to shoot at.
As I started on Bankrupt Assasin haven't bothered with faactorys or UT's yet but did get me Raider form

Spoiler

Show

Loomanckstrat's Legacy

He! He! and its now kitted out with 7 AHEPT's, Pirate Nova's Ha! history
Just heading for argon space now got to get me rank up there need some MD's
I think its Brill nice one Devs got your own back hay!
Yes! my rankings are rocketing

[shodan1138]

I decided to start a fresh game with 1.3, on Humble Merchant. After selling my cool looking Disco for extra spending capital, I headed down to Ore belt and bought up some energy sells. Made my way west, and then up to Ringo Moon to find some more deals after unloading my cells...

Half way through the sector, a Khaak force appeared, including about five clusters, a carrier and a destroyer.

Oh, for cryin' out loud.

I had recently restarted, just to see if these huge invasions would still happen. I haven't run into one yet, but apparently, from your report, they still do occur.

NPC sector-defense is typically not up to the task of taking down multiple Khak clusters, not to mention destroyers and carriers. Unless you actually Do Something(tm) about it, pretty much everything in that sector will, eventually, be destroyed.

[ravinhood]

Uh huh, now the reports are coming in about "fresh new game starts" and they aren't any different from those with saved games. The difficulty levels in this game are non-existant, there is only one difficulty now XTREME decimation of the players holdings, everything, to your last penny and just daring you to come whine about it. lol I wonder if the DEVS even played this version of the patch?? Surely not, surely they wouldn't have released it if they had really played it instead of just patching the scripting. There had to obviously be no play testing whatsoever by a sample group of each catagory and age levels of players either. This just wouldn't have flown I'm sure.

[chadrickb]

Uh huh, now the reports are coming in about "fresh new game starts" and they aren't any different from those with saved games. The difficulty levels in this game are non-existant, there is only one difficulty now XTREME decimation of the players holdings, everything, to your last penny and just daring you to come whine about it. lol I wonder if the DEVS even played this version of the patch?? Surely not, surely they wouldn't have released it if they had really played it instead of just patching the scripting. There had to obviously be no play testing whatsoever by a sample group of each catagory and age levels of players either. This just wouldn't have flown I'm sure.

Before my not-so-evasive manuevering failed, it seemed like the Titan was pretty close to taking care of all the Khaak figheters and had the upper hand on the Khaak destroyer. I suppose the problem is that not all sectors have this kind of defense.

I think the biggest challenge I see for myself right now is having a big factory complex in one sector (to help minimize risk of invasion) and simply not enough firepower to hold off an invasion. Suddenly staying in Argon or Boron core sectors seem like a good. While I tackle with that, I doubt I'm going to deal with UT. It seems like they are big money pits now and need to be improved upon. You have to admit one thing though, this forces you to do a lot more thinking about your future than before (for better or worse).

[ravinhood]

[You have to admit one thing though, this forces you to do a lot more thinking about your future than before (for better or worse).]

Actually what I admit is it turns what should be a "fun an enjoyable" game for a "little while" (a few months maybe) into a LIFETIME endeavor. A lot of us out here don't have 8+ hours a day to put into this game. And I'd like to play something else before I die thank you very much.

[Lise]

The Colossus launched fighters, but immediately started taking a pounding from all the Khaak forces. A nearby Titan apparently heard the distress call from the Colossus and quickly closed in...but not in time. The Khaak carrier and destroyer were too much and after overloading its shields, ripped apart the Colossus' hull until it went up in a huge ball of flame, its escorts helpless to defend it.

"A huge ball of flame" does this mean cap-ship explosions are better in 1.3?

Or do they still blow up like fighters, with that ridiculous puny explosion, and your excitement got the better of your imagination in the tale above.

[chadrickb]

The Colossus launched fighters, but immediately started taking a pounding from all the Khaak forces. A nearby Titan apparently heard the distress call from the Colossus and quickly closed in...but not in time. The Khaak carrier and destroyer were too much and after overloading its shields, ripped apart the Colossus' hull until it went up in a huge ball of flame, its escorts helpless to defend it.

"A huge ball of flame" does this mean cap-ship explosions are better in 1.3?

Or do they still blow up like fighters, with that ridiculous puny explosion, and your excitement got the better of your imagination in the tale above.

I may have been utilizing a little bit of creative freedom in my account of what happened, sorry!

[Da_Junka]

I ate, drank and slept X3 up until this ridiculous patch. Now I just cant get back into the game it all seems so pointless, you kill little red target, little red target kills you, that's all the game has become.
In all my years of playing X games I have never known Egosoft to pull such a brainless stunt. It will be dull this Christmas without X to play, just hope this is a early April fools trick and they release a quick fix before the holidays.

[sHiZo963]

I think with this totally new gameplay it would be dumb not to just start over and adapt from the very beginning...as opposed to trying to manage a huge empire across mutiple sectors with a tiny force that just isn't enough anymore. I think perhaps this is how it's supposed to be...it DOES force you to think and pick sides...choose routes...weapons...ships...defenses, etc. While I'm kind of pissed that I'm going to have to abandon my old game, I must admit it that, not taking into consideration X3's huge learning curve, it WAS a little bit too easy to succeed before. We'll see what happens - I have rest of Christman break to experiment
Who knows...with some many challenges, the game just might become that much more rewarding if you DO manage to succeed...right?