Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Nordalin on November 17, 2003, 10:18:23 PM

Title: Space Sims
Post by: Nordalin on November 17, 2003, 10:18:23 PM
anybody know any good popular space combat sim games?  i played all of the Descent series and they were awesome.  but they're dead and i don't know many space combat sims.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Monty405 on November 17, 2003, 10:22:26 PM
i was woundering about this a few days ago.

its odd, but i miss stellar emperor, the space conquest game that was a feature of gamestorm. your planets grew in strength and population when you were offline
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Flit on November 17, 2003, 10:23:29 PM
Try Freelancer, It has consumed me for week now
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Nordalin on November 17, 2003, 11:23:56 PM
the demo of Freelancer is pretty good.  i was thinkin about buying it, but i'd like to know how many people play it's multiplayer and if it has a matching system or server browser thing.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: DmdBT on November 17, 2003, 11:30:30 PM
Not meant to hijack the thread, but does anyone remember a space station simulator a while back that had you budgeting the station, building components to facilitate research, picking through resume's and assigning scientists and pilots to missions/research, and a little space "rover" that you had to clear asteroids/debris away from the station every now and again. I used to play that game for hours on end but can't remember its name.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: hyena426 on November 17, 2003, 11:41:44 PM
i think xplane gots a space sim,,can fly to diffrent planets,the moon,,mars,,,,suposta be some what realistc,,but i havent tried it,,just heard from a freind that it had space shuttles,,and long range missions and stuff like that
Title: Space Sims
Post by: SixxGunn on November 18, 2003, 12:07:31 AM
Earth and Beyond is pretty good.

Multi player online game, build your own starfighters and later add more advanced weapons.

Its also an RPG game (Role Playing Game).

http://www.earthandbeyond.com
Title: Space Sims
Post by: hyena426 on November 18, 2003, 01:06:21 AM
best space sim of all time,,,  LUNAR LANDER:) you can play for free on http://www.games.com heheheh missle comand too,,high grafic games here!! jk
Title: Orbiter....
Post by: Wolfala on November 18, 2003, 01:17:24 AM
If you want the MOST REALISTIC space simulator out there - then ORBITER is the one. http://www.orbitersim.com    

ORBITER is a free flight simulator that goes beyond the confines of Earth's atmosphere. Launch the Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center to deploy a satellite, rendezvous with the International Space Station or take the futuristic Delta-glider for a tour through the solar system - the choice is yours.
But make no mistake - ORBITER is not a space shooter. The emphasis is firmly on realism, and the learning curve can be steep. Be prepared to invest some time and effort to brush up on your orbital mechanics background.

Wolf
Title: Space Sims
Post by: gofaster on November 18, 2003, 08:38:14 AM
Does anybody know if there's anything in the works for a new "Wing Commander" or maybe some take-off from the new "Battlestar Galactica" series that's supposed to be coming to television soon?

I've seen "X-Wing" variants in the computer stores but haven't tried one since DOS days.  Are those any good?

Title: Space Sims
Post by: gofaster on November 18, 2003, 08:40:03 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Flit
Try Freelancer, It has consumed me for week now


Can you provide some background on this one?  Never heard of it.  How does it compare to "Wing Commander" or the "Star Wars" titles?
Title: Space Sims
Post by: OIO on November 18, 2003, 09:10:21 AM
http://www.3000ad.com

Its got it all. First person space sim (fighters, capital ships, shuttles, transports, even a marine in an EVA suit)..or you can play in 3rd person 'strategy/tactical' mode (ordering said fighters,cap ships, transports, crew members and troops through tactical-map view, giving them Rules of Engagements, mission types, equipping them, etc)... and if you get bored you can always use the cheat mode and deploy the R.A.N.D.O.M. weapon and make the destruction of the Kilrathi homeworld look wimpy.

an OLD version of the game, BATTLECRUISER 3000AD v2.09 (from the 1990's) is avaliable for free download. To get the FULL featured game, with modern graphics, sound and nearly 1000% more features and fun go buy the game BATTLECRUISER MILLENIUM (released 2002).

Be warned though, the game has a STEEP learning curve if you want to play the game from the tactical interface... any quake kiddie can hop into the 1st person view and fly the fighter, cap ship, marine, tank, etc and blast away.... but the true beauty of the game shows in the TacOps playmode :) (and yes, you can switch between 1st person and TacOps mode in-game)
Title: Space Sims
Post by: LePaul on November 18, 2003, 09:59:58 AM
hehe WOW.  Had a flashback of Wing Commander with Mark Hammill and Ginger Lynn....

Cool game...movie sucked....
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Squire on November 18, 2003, 10:27:11 AM
Its sad about the space sims...I remember X-Wing by Lucasarts. The problem? they will ALWAYS be dumbed down so much so 9 year old timmy can play it, that they will never be anything more than Space-Quake. Its really a shame too. A hard core space fighter sim would be awesome.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Pooh21 on November 18, 2003, 11:42:08 AM
Updated X-Wing vs. TiE fighter would rock, except online. You think HOs are bad here?Itd be rebeldweebgangbanghofest. 9 year old timmy needs to get some skillz, or stick to teletubbies imo.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: CyranoAH on November 18, 2003, 11:56:38 AM
Quote
Originally posted by DmdBT
Not meant to hijack the thread, but does anyone remember a space station simulator a while back that had you budgeting the station, building components to facilitate research, picking through resume's and assigning scientists and pilots to missions/research, and a little space "rover" that you had to clear asteroids/debris away from the station every now and again. I used to play that game for hours on end but can't remember its name.


It's called Space Station Simulator, and every now and then they come out with a new version with slight improvements.

You can find the latest demo at http://www.3dgamers.com , for example.

Daniel
Title: Space Sims
Post by: capt. apathy on November 18, 2003, 12:00:08 PM
freelancer is pretty good.  no problem finding a MP server that's open.  I haven't tried any of the mods yet(maybe in a couple weeks).  single player has a pretty good story-line.

you basicly start out with a cheap ship and lusy guns.  you can do mercinary missions for cash  (for better ships, guns, shields, etc), or you can make trade runs between systems for the cash.

the fastest way to get powerful is to get a large frieghter, build up some cash, then just buy you ship.

there are over 30 different non-player factions in the game,  different system gov'ts, as well as corperations, pirates, revolutionarys and trade unions.  everything you do that makes you more apealing to one group pisses off their enemys.  so you have a 'status board' that keeps track of how liked/hated you are by each group you've come into contact with.

this has an effect on trade(at worst they won't let you dock, to limits of the weapons sold to you, at best free trade), and the likelyhood that you'll be killed on sight.

all in all a pretty good game(worth the $26 I paid at bestbuy),  mp servers usually have 30 or so people, and I haven't had any run-ins with cheaters.  though I have heard some whinning, and haven't played the mods where it would be easier to get away with cheating.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Reschke on November 18, 2003, 12:15:27 PM
Ahhh not so fond memories of the Derek Smart very friggin early release of his alleged game to end all games as it were. Not only was the publisher to blame but so was he for not taking control of his project soon enough. I haven't played that game in years but I hope that he and his game continue to move forward.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: OIO on November 18, 2003, 02:50:09 PM
the guy OWNS his game now and has developed it on his own ever since the fiasco release by Take2 Interactive.

Trust me on this, burn those $30 on BC:Millenium, you will NOT be dissapointed.

The game is so incredible you can literally leave your ship running overnight with orders given to crew and ships and just sit there and watch.

To give you an idea, One day I had my carrier group (2 carriers, combat complement (per ship): 40 marines, 4 fighters, 4 shuttles, 4 tanks and 4 heavy cruisers (complement: tanks and marines and shuttles) run a 'raid' on a region that had a hostile presence (criminal ships and bases planetside)...

had my carriers escorted by 2 of the cruisers, the carriers themselves flying in tandem and going through the navpoints in the region... the fighter complements of the carriers had 1 carrier's vessels in close escort of the carriers themselves and the other 4 fighters from the 2nd carrier running an independent patrol route (carriers were going clockwise, fighters counterclockwise in the region)... and the remaining 2 cruisers were near the planet supporting an already planned ground strike consisting of all the carrier's troops complement and the tanks and marines from the cruisers deployed to attack a criminal base (a bit of overkill but planning the whole thing was loads of fun).

When all was ready, the ground attack 'plan' set, orders given... clicked the go-ahead command.

And I watched. Hardest thing to do is resist the temptation to change 'the plan' as the fight happens. You can see the marines and the infantry go at it, light tanks (ordered to protect marines) shooting at any enemy armor that attacked your troops as they moved towards their objectives...the street fighting as they break into the base... the enemy fighters suddenly swooping in and blowing one of your tanks up (ewps forgot to plan air cover for the ground assault... *grin*:D )... your marines scrambling away from the burning tank... and firing a shoulder-surface to air missile at the enemy fighter... watch it it and slam the dirt in the outskirts of the enemy base..

... exchange of grenades between foot soldiers as they neared the power generators... Ride of the Valkyries roaring in the background (oh wait thats my CD player)... and just 10 minutes after it began my troops began to ask me for orders, having taken over the base.

But I was too busy watching the space battle as my carriers and fighters duked it out with 2 alien supercarriers that had decided to pop out of nowhere.. watching in horror as one of my carriers gets boarded and its cargo bays blown to heck as my few ship-based marines try to hunt them down.

aaaah :D
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Sabre on November 19, 2003, 04:07:59 PM
What would the ultimate MMOG combat space sim look like?  I liked the Wing Commander series, but I'm more into capital ship combat, ala Star Fleet Command.  The thing I disliked about SFC, however, was the strategic and multiplayer aspects (those parts sucked).
Title: Space Sims
Post by: OIO on November 19, 2003, 04:37:33 PM
Sabre, the beaut of the BC games is that you can play in any mode.

My above post was while playing via TacOps (think of it like Starfleet Command, seeing the ship from outside view with lots of little menus to order the ship into action)...

or you can go first person and manage your ship...from every single aspect.

You can assign each individual crewman (including prisioners, guests and troops) to move from one part of the ship to another (transporter to medibay to launchbay to cargo bay to the bridge)...

you have to micromanage weapon stores (for fighters and cap ship and tanks), ammo (for ship, fighters and troops), cargo hold, fuel, repairs, spare parts (to repair ship/fighter/shuttle/tank systems you need specific parts as well as repair kits), where these items are located (ship cargo bay A or B, shuttles or ground vehicle cargo compartments)...

you determine the loadout of each support craft (fighters/shuttles/tanks=support craft..aka anything that launches from your ship)...this meaning troops on board, what missiles are loaded and even what pilots fly the things (hint: not a good idea to have a 5% AI marine pilot the shuttle..it will come back banged and smelling of beer and puke.. if it comes back at all).

I once got got with my shields down repairing my banged up cruiser and some wisecrack hostile beamed a party on my ship...one of the intruders reached the bridge, killed my nav officer and left my alter ego (the commander) with 1% life before the ship's marines shot him down. ><
Title: Space Sims
Post by: Martlet on November 19, 2003, 04:38:18 PM
Eschaton will be the ultimate, I believe.  Not sure when it's coming out, though.
Title: Space Sims
Post by: OIO on November 21, 2003, 10:38:58 AM
bump for dinger