Freelancer: XT 2 be afraid, be very afraid.

[Gandalf The White]

Yes I guess that it is possible that if MS fail at this game, then people will turn to other space games and with any luck, providing that X2 isn't confined to Ebay, it may stand a fighting chance and a good one at that.

[SteveMill]

Been reading a lot of detailed info on FL on the various forums. PR copies have been sent out with no NDA chains so there's some decent info about.

I get the impression it had been dumbed down fairly drastically, with the freeform aspect being constrained by a Jumpgate style level access to equipment with level being governed by completion of story line missions.

I really hate that.

Graphics look good, though suffering from the same, everything is too small, problem XT has.

Of course - there is a much bigger universe, super-plus point, and I get the impression that, for a single trader, there is a lot more going on in the universe than X. No cap ship owning, no factory owning, no multiple ships though.

Still not keen on the mouse control although I take their point that having your onboard computer execute your flight commands adds an element of strategy and tactics at the expense of reflexes and it shifts the emphasis onto weapons operation, which includes sub-system targeting and does require hand-eye co-ordination, not just clicking on an icon.

If the X2 combat AI isn't an absolutely huge amount better than in XT, it could be that the FL approach will be more fun.

And of course in FL you get multi-player support.

There is a long thread about FL and X on one forum - almost all the contributors had never heard of any of the X games. Of those that had, few liked them, citing the slow pace of the opening, the midget universe, and a lack of anything actually going on that you didn't start yourself. no sense of a living universe. There was a degree of interest though, X2 looks good on paper to then and there were a couple of X2 beta testers flying the flag, but of course, constrained by the NDA and so couldn't actually say much.

This is an interesting contrast to the MS approach, which has been to offer PR beta copies to game web site owners, who then rave about it on their site and then come and rave on the FL forums.

In the end X2 and FL are different aspects of the space-sim genre, i'll probably get both. If FL comes out in March when X2 is due to be completed it'll make a tasty starter.

[pixel]

Quote:


.......Jumpgate style level access ........

....Of course - there is a much bigger universe, super-plus point, and I get the impression that, for a single trader, there is a lot more going on in the universe than X. No cap ship owning, no factory owning, no multiple ships though....

-------------------------

What's the point of a 'much bigger universe' if you can't access it from the start?

I'm not interested in a GTA3 style of play, frankly I found that irritating rather than a good idea (but must admit GTA3 is great )

What's the point of a much bigger universe if you can't actually trade in it to buy stuff you want until you've completed some missions? And this continues so that even after completing some missions you still can't buy stuff you want cos the bigger guns get reserved till you get to the bigger missions etc

Up until today I was definitely going to buy FL but now I'm not so sure....

[Al]

that to me is the beauty of X. If you dont want to do anything, you can simply trade etc and can become powerful and rich etc. I dont want missions that have to be completed before something can be done or bought. That defeats the whole point of an open-ended game.

Ok in Xt you cant get a certain ship without completing a mission but having the X-shuttle isn't that important or special.

Al

[GHarper]

the x shuttle isnt important?!??

does not nostalgia mean anything anymore?

[SteveMill]

Quote:


.......Jumpgate style level access ........

....Of course - there is a much bigger universe, super-plus point, and I get the impression that, for a single trader, there is a lot more going on in the universe than X. No cap ship owning, no factory owning, no multiple ships though....

-------------------------

What's the point of a 'much bigger universe' if you can't access it from the start?

I'm not interested in a GTA3 style of play, frankly I found that irritating rather than a good idea (but must admit GTA3 is great )

What's the point of a much bigger universe if you can't actually trade in it to buy stuff you want until you've completed some missions? And this continues so that even after completing some missions you still can't buy stuff you want cos the bigger guns get reserved till you get to the bigger missions etc

Up until today I was definitely going to buy FL but now I'm not so sure....

I think you can access the universe but not ships and equipment but yes, I hate this sort of artificiality. The designers fear that people will trade until they have an uber ship and then breeze thru the storyline. To which the only reply is: so what, they've paid for it, let them play any way they want. One beta poster said that can be got round by playing as a single player in a multiplayer start-up, you get the universe without the story or the restrictions.

I can't help shake the feeling that they are just taking bits out of the game to shove it out the door, finally. They've stripped out all the random missions, except combat ones, arguing enough is going on in the universe anyway.

And anyone willing to bet it will not be out on the £50 price point like Neverwinter Nights?

but at least we're now getting a couple of decent looking stabs at a 21st century Elite. Much as I love the X series it would be nice to be able to explore a decent sized universe. Not being able to build factories and own lots of ships is a big loss though.

[Al]

I'm not so worried about a huge universe but not being able to own a massive fleet is a serious draw back. After all I'm sure the FL will have a race silimar to the Split that need culling

Al

[Snokid]

I don't know...having limitations like that is a good idea in itself and only having one ship is...ok I guess, lol ut hmm well we will have to wait until they come out to make any real valid points...



Come on March!!!!

[Kissakias]

Yes from above people thoughts (i think AI) has right

when people see what BullS* game is FL, they like to buy the X2
The FL will open the doors for people that never seen a space-trade game+sim

X-2 guys?? PLzzzzzzzz work more hard
Can't wait anymore The relax days will become after the release

[RustiSwordz]

Yes from above people thoughts (i think AI) has right

when people see what BullS* game is FL, they like to buy the X2
The FL will open the doors for people that never seen a space-trade game+sim

X-2 guys?? PLzzzzzzzz work more hard
Can't wait anymore The relax days will become after the release

Games like Hardwar and XTention are niche games made with love and commitment. Microsoft is of the churn em out and reap the profits organization for the thick masses. all thell do is attract more attention to the genre and that can only benefit Egosoft and companies like them.

[pjknibbs]

Games like Hardwar and XTention are niche games made with love and commitment. Microsoft is of the churn em out and reap the profits organization for the thick masses. all thell do is attract more attention to the genre and that can only benefit Egosoft and companies like them.

Aren't you arguing against your own opinion which started the thread there?

[SteveMill]

Yes from above people thoughts (i think AI) has right

when people see what BullS* game is FL, they like to buy the X2
The FL will open the doors for people that never seen a space-trade game+sim

X-2 guys?? PLzzzzzzzz work more hard
Can't wait anymore The relax days will become after the release

Games like Hardwar and XTention are niche games made with love and commitment. Microsoft is of the churn em out and reap the profits organization for the thick masses. all thell do is attract more attention to the genre and that can only benefit Egosoft and companies like them.

Muchas I dislike the MS monopolist we can hardly say a 5 year development has been churned out. The beta testers seem pretty bowled over by the actual gameplay. Give MS their due, they have stuck their label on some good games.

[SteveMill]

I'm not so worried about a huge universe but not being able to own a massive fleet is a serious draw back. After all I'm sure the FL will have a race silimar to the Split that need culling

Al

Their are mysterious aliens called nomads to deal with but mainly it's a faction based universe. It's a continuation of starlancer - with earth based regional powers. I'm sure you'll find some foreigners to persecute.

not sure if you can play as anything but the mom and apple pie people.

[Valdarham]

Sorry but you said "hundreds of star systems" and the website said...48 systems! Nil points for you there!!

[Apothos]

Their are mysterious aliens called nomads

Reminds me of Wing Commander's Pilgrims.





(Yes, i know they're not aliens, i was referring to the name.)

[Snokid]

the multiplayer version- another earth and beyond?

[SteveMill]

Sorry but you said "hundreds of star systems" and the website said...48 systems! Nil points for you there!!

Yes - too much out of date information out there. They've been throwing features out like children off the back of a wolf chased sled in an effort to get it out. What I should have said it seems, on further research is 400 different locations as each system is a proper solar system not a few square kilometeres around a jumpgate.

[Epsilon]

You wont have the ability to walk around on planets...

[silentWitness]

Freelancer has already become dissapointing to me...

1. Oh you mean I can't go everywhere and buy everything strait off... oh...
2. Oh I can't own capital ships...
3. Oh you mean I can only own one ship at a time
4. Oh I can't own factories...
5. That Mouse issue...
6. The fact it's Microsoft... and they should be at the apex of high tech instead of obsolete...
7. Their forums poo pooed the x universe... *calls the president to tell him that people who don't like X are the same people who support osima bin ladin...*
8. I look at all the demo's and stuff... and can't help feeling board by the whole thing... Where's the originality??? Privateer is a better game (cept for the graphics)..
9. Because for some reason I feel compeled to support Egosoft and X2... but feel nothing but bordom everytime a ne bit of Freelancer data comes around...
10. Because You've always got to have 10...

Theres 10 reasons why I won't be buying it! As of yet nothing anyone has said or told me has chanced this...

[SteveMill]

Freelancer has already become dissapointing to me...

1. Oh you mean I can't go everywhere and buy everything strait off... oh...
2. Oh I can't own capital ships...
3. Oh you mean I can only own one ship at a time
4. Oh I can't own factories...
5. That Mouse issue...
6. The fact it's Microsoft... and they should be at the apex of high tech instead of obsolete...
7. Their forums poo pooed the x universe... *calls the president to tell him that people who don't like X are the same people who support osima bin ladin...*
8. I look at all the demo's and stuff... and can't help feeling board by the whole thing... Where's the originality??? Privateer is a better game (cept for the graphics)..
9. Because for some reason I feel compeled to support Egosoft and X2... but feel nothing but bordom everytime a ne bit of Freelancer data comes around...
10. Because You've always got to have 10...

Theres 10 reasons why I won't be buying it! As of yet nothing anyone has said or told me has chanced this...

Add to those -

11 - No radar or equivalent, just a text contact list (the 3rd person view puts your ship where the radar usually is.

12 - The only first person view is straight ahead, you have to play in 3rd person if you actually want to be aware of what's going on in combat.

My impression is that its been dumbed down so much it'll disappoint dedicated space simmers and be too complex and demanding for the mass market. Thank God for the GAME 10 day return policy.