NEWS: X3: Terran Conflict news, all in one place for your convenience - 22-10-08

[mnanderson]

On a final note, for the scripter’s among you, there have been many exciting things added to the Script Engine, which should allow you to create even better scripts than before, one such ability is the creation of custom input menus allowing you to get better input from the user.

JACKPOT.

I mean, really.

Boarding parties? Yeah, sounds cool. It'll add a new facet to the game, and I'm sure that using it will be more streamlined than using the XTM HCF. But it's not a huge deal to me.

Not having to control my CLS freighters (as a prominent, but by no means unique, example) using the current appalling interface?

Priceless.

[em3e3]

Not having to control my CLS freighters (as a prominent, but by no means unique, example) using the current appalling interface?

Priceless.

Totally agree. I can stand the kludgy interface present in so many of these otherwise-wonderful scripts. Glad you pointed that out - it didn't even cross my mind! (As you can tell, I just can't wait for the release of the game - forget the features, I'm hungry!)

[A5PECT]

For the described boarding system to work, the stock X-universe space suit must have been seriously modified in terms of speed and (hopefully) durability.

If you don't have a drop pod/torpedo/missile to launch your marines from, then the only way is to board a ship is to damage the target enough to slow its maximum speed below that of the space suit's (which would be nigh impossible should astronauts conducting EVA only move 10 m/s). Another possibility would be giving pilots seeking to capture ships the ability to temporarily stop the ship which is to be boarded through some sort of non-lethal jamming technique. Disruptor missiles would make sense (if they actually perform their described role in Terran Conflict ), but tractor beams would make for interesting implementation as well.

Also, what's keeping the target from opening fire on the boarding party while they're making their way toward it? Of course, this would probably be left up to the player to use some sort of diversionary tactic (say, fighter drones) to keep the turrets and main guns from *ahem* podding your marines.

[eladan]

Just wanted to share some of my Googling with all of you. Looks like 10/3 is the most likely release date now for X3: Terran Conflict.

I'd still believe Deepsilver ahead of any of those sites, and Egosoft ahead of Deepsilver. It would seem strange if Deepsilver was giving out release info that they're not even telling their own people...

Until I hear anything concrete from ES, I'm still going to believe the latest I've heard here, which is 'late September', and interpret any contradictions from various games sites as guesswork.

[em3e3]

I'd still believe Deepsilver ahead of any of those sites, and Egosoft ahead of Deepsilver. It would seem strange if Deepsilver was giving out release info that they're not even telling their own people...

Until I hear anything concrete from ES, I'm still going to believe the latest I've heard here, which is 'late September', and interpret any contradictions from various games sites as guesswork.

True, but I imagine that there is the department in Koch/Deepsilver that is telling retailers when the game will be ready, separate from the department that is working with Egosoft to finalize the game. Everyone is working towards a specific release date goal, it just that some of them can get away with giving out the specific date (retailers), while others can't yet (ES).

[A5PECT]

Dammit, double-post!

You know the drill.

[Aro]

I'd have a guess at new space suit, military grade. Maybe the 'disrupter' missile will actually live up to its name.

The prices on those training programs and it looks like the cost to purchase, seems one would need a very good established backing to try taking stuff by force. Wonder if there are folks that will get mad if you take one of their ships...

[em3e3]

Sorry, found some more interesting info while Googling, from http://home.nestor.minsk.by/game/news/2008/09/0503.html:

...X3: Terran Conflict is a brand new, stand-alone PC game set in the universe of X3 to be released in the United States in October 2008...Several new races and factions, including Earth's main military force, the Terran United Space Command...Ability to enter and explore the Solar System from Mercury to the asteroid and dust clouds beyond Pluto...

[ryeeson]

".Ability to enter and explore the Solar System from Mercury to the asteroid and dust clouds beyond Pluto..."

Really? anyone from Dev Net can confirm this?

[ryeeson]

For the described boarding system to work, the stock X-universe space suit must have been seriously modified in terms of speed and (hopefully) durability.

If you don't have a drop pod/torpedo/missile to launch your marines from, then the only way is to board a ship is to damage the target enough to slow its maximum speed below that of the space suit's (which would be nigh impossible should astronauts conducting EVA only move 10 m/s). Another possibility would be giving pilots seeking to capture ships the ability to temporarily stop the ship which is to be boarded through some sort of non-lethal jamming technique. Disruptor missiles would make sense (if they actually perform their described role in Terran Conflict ), but tractor beams would make for interesting implementation as well.

Also, what's keeping the target from opening fire on the boarding party while they're making their way toward it? Of course, this would probably be left up to the player to use some sort of diversionary tactic (say, fighter drones) to keep the turrets and main guns from *ahem* podding your marines.

Marine can used small Military Transport to get closed to the Subject Ship. This MT will have Shield. This MT will have special ability to stick on the subject ship surface and the marine inside can start to drilling/cutting in.

You must differ the enemy focus on you while your marine start they work. this can be done by having two or more ship. 1 will snack from behind (Marine Team) and you, to being the attack target by ur enemy

hehe only my idea

But i wonder if someone try to boarding your Ship. How can you stop them? by having standby marine inside?

[Aro]

Sorry, found some more interesting info while Googling, from http://home.nestor.minsk.by/game/news/2008/09/0503.html:...

Some random site shouldn't be taken seriously. The url looks like a persons isp free storage type thing. Many of us could set up fake pages and claim the game comes out next week in a secret egosoft ninja move. Also includes planet side landing and a new mission that opens the galaxy up via gateless travel. Also many features from Spore have been implemented like trading with unknown planets and terraforming (when you get friendly with the xenon that is). Ok, I'll stop. Any info from non-large gaming sites should be taken with more salt than release dates.


Anyway, for those that would like to use some stuff I've edited/made as a side affect of working on my project (Contains the new X3 logo, the Egosoft logo, and a button.):
unofficial TC webstuff
[ external image ]

[AleksMain]

Sorry, found some more interesting info while Googling, from http://home.nestor.minsk.by/game/news/2008/09/0503.html:...

Some random site shouldn't be taken seriously.

I tracked down master of this site:

Editor and Publisher of Belarus business and other newspapers on computers, construction, music.

These newspapers are on Russian...

Adress: Minsk 220113, p/b 563

This is far from Germany (where developer of the game located) as I know.

[Turricanion]

Will TC have starforce? if so, then suicide is our only option...

[Tycow]

That's up to the publisher, and not Egosoft. Basically we won't know until we are installing the game (barring some form of announcement from the publishers).

[nirwin]

Good blog from Cycrow there. I am getting pretty excited about the boarding parties and flight 'wings'.
Mainly though I am excited to find what has changed with the scripting side of things, I think there was a lot of room for improvement in X3s scripting environment, hopefully (and by the sounds of it) some work has been done in this area.

I get the feeling I am going to spend a large amount of time in TC training hordes and hordes of marines.

<Waits patiently for more info>

[xeon_1]

finaly those Ion disruptor have a use other then ticking of the locals.
I cap ship loaded with ion D = goodby shields enemy ship and hello boarding missle

[AleksMain]

I think that the enemy patrols are first target for capping.

Anyone can board last ship of the such patrol (other can be destroyed).

And size of this last ship will be dependent on strength of marines.

[Jimmy Jazz]

Marines can either be sent in space suits or using a special type of missile, a boarding pod, capable of carrying marines to the target ship.

Boarding pods sounds really cool but why not use TP's for the job? This would give them some sensible use as assault transports.

[AleksMain]

Boarding pods sounds really cool but why not use TP's for the job? This would give them some sensible use as assault transports.

Low protection. Low steering. Low acceleration.

To see it just put TP at the battle.

Interesting, can we heal wounded marines ?

[X2-Eliah]

Maybe the missiles that launch marines can be only TP-compatible?

On a side note - Cycrow, some of the XTM team, Egosoft - that certainly looks like a great team for a game development.. Can't wait!