Poll on X4 stations (7 days to reply)

[Folker]

I played X3 (R, TC, AP) as well as XR, and X4. I'd like to propose a poll on X4 stations.

The stations from X3 to X4 have evolved (positively).

In X3 we had stations that could be connected to each other to create mega-factories.
In XR, the stations were gigantic, and had much more presence than those of X3, they were impressive, but the problem was that they couldn't be interconnected. It was several assembled station modules that created the station.
In X4, stations are defined by the station modules you connect together to create a mega-factory. With this method, we can do as XR for factions, and as X3 for us (the player).

So what's the problem?

It's that stations in X4 are very small for the game's factions. Earthlings with their small stations have no presence, and the same goes for the other factions. The stations aren't impressive.
Why ? Because the stations are randomised.

However, there's a huge potential behind it: it's possible to take XR's station modules (which are larger) and use them in X4 to give the factions back their presence.

What do you think?

PS: Module production can theoretically be modified and kept separate from station modules.

[LameFox]

I think the current system is better in a functional sense, but I do remember the ones in XR feeling more impressive.

And, yeah, the random station building is often not very pleasant to look at.

[GCU Grey Area]

Vastly prefer X4's station building. None of the previous games let me build stuff like this. Did not like being constrained by a fixed build plan in XR.

[Nanook]

...

However, there's a huge potential behind it: it's possible to take XR's station modules (which are larger) and use them in X4 to give the factions back their presence.

What do you think?...

I think your framerates would plummit so fast that you could only wish it was a slideshow. There are probably more than 10X the number of stations in X4 as in Rebirth. Maybe when we get quantum desktop computers, eh?

[Franken]

In X4 we have quantity over quality
What uses more ressorces to calculate ingame?

[Baconnaise]

I think the current system is better in a functional sense, but I do remember the ones in XR feeling more impressive.

And, yeah, the random station building is often not very pleasant to look at.

This is exactly how it is currently. XR had some gorgeous stations and backdrops, especially at that time. It was nice to see a space sim get closer to EvE in terms of eye candy from 2003 DX9 release finally.

[Virtualaughing]

I like hand crafted factories in here which reminds me of the stations of Rebirth. Voted for X4 regardless. I imagine the reason for such a limited sized NPC stations to have holes in the support chain that the players supposed to "exploit" for their benefits.

[Phezzan]

Assuming the collision meshes are (complexity-wise) similar to X4, size probably doesn't matter much for performance.

The 'shuffle' logic used to build stations could have issues.

Observe the framerate near a built-out HQ - that's the kind of issues I'd expect.

The AI placement of stations and the density of sectors and navigation might become a problem