#1

So, I tried this one out again after we talked about it.

Firstly, it runs perfectly fine on Windows 7 provided you update to the latest patch (2.5 - found here) after installing, but before running the game for the first time. Something to do with them removing the copy-protection that was screwing the pooch.

Anyway, onto the game: I did the first few story missions after selecting the "Quickstart / easy" game mode and didn't find it as hard as I remembered. I stopped just after the mission where you get a free jumpdrive (2nd one in?), as people on the forums suggested. I read it gets nasty from then on, so worth doing some freelancing before continuing with the story.

The quickstart option gives you a fighter and a freighter to play with right from the get-go, which will hopefully make aquiring some funds for the more exciting stuff a little easier.

...and so far so good. It does indeed have a steep learning curve, but shows potential. I thought by starting up this forum we could all help eachother out with tips etc.

Anyway, can't hang about as I have planets to visit and pirates to kill...

Last edited 19 Aug 2013 at 21:15.

#2

Hmmm. Okay, tip of the day: stay away from Pirate Nova's.

#3

I picked it up with the intention to play last night but I was doing some work on the table and didn’t get home until gone 11 so I only got as far as downloading the patch.

Did you end up using the joystick Greg or are you going with the keyboard?

#4

I tried it with the joystick, but unfortunately it seems to have been broken in transit to my new house, so is missing some buttons. It does work, but I may have to get a new one - I ended up using mouse and keyboard in the end. 

#5

Nice guides Greg.

I am encouraged by your initial impressions and I am looking forward to giving this another go today.

I get the impression that this level of information was not available when we started playing it so the learning curve was next to imposable.

#6

I agree - when I first started playing it back in the day all I had was the crappy manual to go by. The game has no tutorial or anything so these guides should come in very handy. I am really gonna try this time, as the game does show huge potential if you can get to grips with its steep learning curve.

If you come across any good guides, info or your own tips and help, please post the stuff up in the X3 forum. Hopefully we can all help eachother out and maybe we will finally be able to get some enjoyment out of this game.

#7

Will do, I think I will start collating some of my own notes in conjunction with some screen grabs.

If we can make the guide good it will be a good way to get people to the site when the new games comes out.

#8

That sounds cool, Greg. I look forward to seeing the "Greg's guide to ultimate ownage in X3, bur?"

#9

I don’t think it will be that grand but I notice that all the guides are purely text, people switch off really quickly with there are no images.

#10

Have you actually managed to make any money yet?

#11

Nope not yet. My time with it consisted of doing some missions and getting to grips with the whole interface and controls.

I was planning to get some tips from the net before doing anything like that. Now we have some guides and tips up I will be trying that next.

#12

I am not sure if it is this game or another one but I really like the but were you docked with the rotating space stations. Having to get the roll of the ship to match the roll of the space station was fantastic fun.

Also this may be a fuzzy memory of the wrong game but I seem the recall mapping the reaction thrusters to the hat switch on the joystick made it much easier to pilot the ship.

#13

I presume you can run it flat out with no lag Greg?

#14

I think I have worked out the game I was getting confused with: Evocron Alliance.

It was a simpler version of X3 with much simpler graphics but the ship controls were very realistic. Can’t recall if it was multiplayer or not.

#15

Evochron Legends might hold some multiplayer promise. What do you think Greg?

#16

I presume you can run it flat out with no lag Greg?

Yes, it is an old game. Anything nowadays should be able to run it flat out.

Evochron Legends might hold some multiplayer promise. What do you think Greg?

Looks interesting - any chance you could provide a summary / review of sorts to explain it and its similarities with X3 / Freelancer so I can gauge what kind of game it is?

I am not sure if it is this game or another one but I really like the but were you docked with the rotating space stations. Having to get the roll of the ship to match the roll of the space station was fantastic fun.

You can dock manually in X3. It's not that difficult though.

Also this may be a fuzzy memory of the wrong game but I seem the recall mapping the reaction thrusters to the hat switch on the joystick made it much easier to pilot the ship.

I imagine you can do the same with X3, since you have a variety of different controls like that to map.

#17

From memory, the game is very similar to X3 with regard to the fact you fight, trade, pirate and whatever.There is not much of a campaign as it is sandbox all the way.

A few of the interesting things I remember about it are:

- Full Newtonian physics for flight. This means that space is simulated as it would be if you were in an actual space ship. You apply thrust forward, you go forward, but as there is no friction you just keep going forward. So for example in combat, you can set your ship traveling towards and enemy then use your thursters to rotate the ship towards the enemy doing a sort of space jousting.

- You can fly down to planet’s surface and land / fight. This is seamless but does require entry angle and then change of flight style depending on atmosphere.

- You can build a space station as a base of operations.


That is about all I can recall but it might be worth keeping on the back burner.

#18

It does sound very interesting. We will keep it in mind, and when we are done with Freelancer / X3 maybe give it a go?

Incidentally, Star Citizen's physics work in the same way. The game is shaping up to be a winner for sure!

#19

Bit of a pain X3 is not multiplayer really.

#20

Yes it is. All the more reason I am really looking forward to Star Citizen!