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Galactic Starfighter....suggestions to give it wider appeal, short and long term


LordArtemis

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That was a major element in the Battlefront series :confused:

 

Yeah I know. I never really saw the point of it though. I do space combat because I like shooting people down in my interceptor. I do ground combat when I want to do ground combat. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of one determining victory or defeat in another(I might have to stop what I'm doing and do something I'm not interested in at the moment to achieve victory). When I play GS, I want my focus to be shooting other people with my starfighter, period.

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Don't write things off before it's even in game.I'll give it a try tho I'm no hardcore space sim guy and don't like the on rails shootem up thats already ingame.

They need to make it worthwile for players to play ie make the rewards compatable with daily coms etc.

As a long time SWG player I welcome any space content thats not a on the rail shooter (multiple master pilots on all my toons in SWG,solo'd many vettes and did the Nova Orion space stuff,oh how i miss you my Vaksai,Heavy Xwing and the OP Eta Actis interceptor:( : ).Good times.

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Ok, edited the OP to reflect the reality that if we ever see a PVE version of Starfighter it will likely not be for quite a while due to the amount of work involved....so the suggestion for that was moved to item 3, and on foot play combined with starship play, aka BF2 was bumped up to suggestion 2.
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There is no reason why all these suggestions could not be implemented. Like someone else mentioned already the games "X-Wing," "TIE Fighter," and "X-Wing Vs TIE Fighter" were all released for 386 to 486 processors in the mid to late '90's. Processing power is ridiculously advanced since then. There should be practically no challenge to solving these view and control "problems."

 

As for the AI... it didn't really exist back then and these were all some of the best games ever made. I am not convinced that AI has improved game-play at all in any game. Why even bother with Artificial Intelligences in a game with PVP? Isn't REAL Intelligence far more challenging, anyway? Real Intelligence can almost always predict the actions of AI... "bots" or whatever you want to call them. The only time it gets remotely challenging is when they use "pack tactics." Anyway, I digress.

 

Joysticks indeed are still manufactured. Check Amazon since they are difficult to find locally (for me at least they are not available locally). CH Products has traditionally made the best joysticks at somewhat reasonable prices. Thrustmaster has also been around a long time. There was a time when the Joystick was the preferred control method for almost every game (with the exception of FPS, for which keyboard & mouse reign supreme) like Mechwarrior, any flight sim, driving games, etc. For those types of games I still prefer the fine control of the Joystick, though mine is broken. I was recently talking to someone at the local GameStop who said Joysticks aren't in demand in spite of their superiority. Everyone seems to think console-style controllers are better. If that's what you prefer, fine, but give a Joystick a fair try.

 

I am really looking forward to Galactic Starfighter! I hope it's a lot of fun and Joystick support with a cockpit view would both tremendously enhance the game. But I disagree on Capital Ships. I don't think they should be player-controlled. They should be in a support role only. Maybe you, as a starfighter pilot, could call in support from a Capital ship, say an Ion cannon blast or a tractor beam assist, or maybe a repair ray, things like that. Or maybe a drone launch to assist you if your tactics are wrong. Many possibilities exist. It would also be cool if you could unlock "prototype" ships that more closely resemble the classic Star Wars ships from the original movies, like TIE Interceptors, Y-Wings, A-Wings, etc.

 

I would design the flight game to be more like "X-Wing" in that you'd have to be constantly adjusting your shield balance and recharge rate, recharge rate for your cannons (Blasters or Turbolasers), and how much power to send to your engines. And in an X-Wing type ship you also had to consider your wing configuration. All of these variables PLUS having very limited torpedoes made this a strategic and tactical game in addition to a twitch-type combat simulator. This was a FINE game! It was, in many ways, much more strategic than so-called "strategy" games. And if your tactics were wrong you died. Just like the real thing. This is a worthy goal to achieve in a modern MMO game. AI is un-necessary for a PVP MMO if it is correctly designed and if there are enough PC (Player Character - Human) players.

 

I forgot initially to address vehicular ground combat. I, too, have played most of the Battlefield games and Halo. Ground vehicles can be VERY fun and challenging. So I have to say it would kick serious buttocks to be able to hop in an AT-AT and man the cannons! Or pilot it, or repel out of it to the ground to reinforce a position or slay Jedi or whatever needed to be done. This would be a worthy addition to the SWTOR overall. We are essentially talking about One Game to Rule Them All here! Certainly there is considerable development involved and in the age of "free to play" it may not happen. There was a Star Wars version of Battlefield though at the moment I don't recall what it was named. It was OK but felt kind of ... "cheap" is the best way I can put it right now.

 

I'm still trying to find more info about how this "expansion" is going to work, like what you have to do to get your own starfighter, piloting skills, etc. But I recall when SWTOR was released that this was in the plan from the beginning. I'm kind of surprised it's taken this long to implement. I'm glad it's finally nearly here! I'm looking forward to giving it a try as soon as it is available. The hunt for a Joystick has begun! I hope my computer will run it adequately.

Edited by Beebliebrox
Additional comment re: ground vehicles.
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You man besides, budget, manpower, technical ability, and simple determination to make it happen? I agree, besides all of those, there is no reason why all the things people suggest could not happen :o

 

Yeah, I got to that in the edit. And I do, in fact, seriously doubt that it will happen (One Game to Rule Them All).

 

OH! It would be really cool, too, if your Force-Using character could achieve Force-based "power-ups" too! Like a bonus to aim/accuracy for instance. Or a defensive "dodge" type Force booster. Just like in the movies.

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What PVE has right now for a space game sucks and isn't really much of a game, unless its been changed recently and the rails have been removed.

 

Heh.. so what you are saying is that something that isn't very good doesn't really qualify as having your own thing that you should be happy with? I think that was the point.

 

:jawa_smile:

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You man besides, budget, manpower, technical ability, and simple determination to make it happen? I agree, besides all of those, there is no reason why all the things people suggest could not happen :o

 

I'm still holding out hope for cooking mama darth baras edition.

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There is no reason why all these suggestions could not be implemented. Like someone else mentioned already the games "X-Wing," "TIE Fighter," and "X-Wing Vs TIE Fighter" were all released for 386 to 486 processors in the mid to late '90's. Processing power is ridiculously advanced since then. There should be practically no challenge to solving these view and control "problems."

 

As for the AI... it didn't really exist back then and these were all some of the best games ever made. I am not convinced that AI has improved game-play at all in any game. Why even bother with Artificial Intelligences in a game with PVP? Isn't REAL Intelligence far more challenging, anyway? Real Intelligence can almost always predict the actions of AI... "bots" or whatever you want to call them. The only time it gets remotely challenging is when they use "pack tactics." Anyway, I digress.

 

Joysticks indeed are still manufactured. Check Amazon since they are difficult to find locally (for me at least they are not available locally). CH Products has traditionally made the best joysticks at somewhat reasonable prices. Thrustmaster has also been around a long time. There was a time when the Joystick was the preferred control method for almost every game (with the exception of FPS, for which keyboard & mouse reign supreme) like Mechwarrior, any flight sim, driving games, etc. For those types of games I still prefer the fine control of the Joystick, though mine is broken. I was recently talking to someone at the local GameStop who said Joysticks aren't in demand in spite of their superiority. Everyone seems to think console-style controllers are better. If that's what you prefer, fine, but give a Joystick a fair try.

 

I am really looking forward to Galactic Starfighter! I hope it's a lot of fun and Joystick support with a cockpit view would both tremendously enhance the game. But I disagree on Capital Ships. I don't think they should be player-controlled. They should be in a support role only. Maybe you, as a starfighter pilot, could call in support from a Capital ship, say an Ion cannon blast or a tractor beam assist, or maybe a repair ray, things like that. Or maybe a drone launch to assist you if your tactics are wrong. Many possibilities exist. It would also be cool if you could unlock "prototype" ships that more closely resemble the classic Star Wars ships from the original movies, like TIE Interceptors, Y-Wings, A-Wings, etc.

 

I would design the flight game to be more like "X-Wing" in that you'd have to be constantly adjusting your shield balance and recharge rate, recharge rate for your cannons (Blasters or Turbolasers), and how much power to send to your engines. And in an X-Wing type ship you also had to consider your wing configuration. All of these variables PLUS having very limited torpedoes made this a strategic and tactical game in addition to a twitch-type combat simulator. This was a FINE game! It was, in many ways, much more strategic than so-called "strategy" games. And if your tactics were wrong you died. Just like the real thing. This is a worthy goal to achieve in a modern MMO game. AI is un-necessary for a PVP MMO if it is correctly designed and if there are enough PC (Player Character - Human) players.

 

I forgot initially to address vehicular ground combat. I, too, have played most of the Battlefield games and Halo. Ground vehicles can be VERY fun and challenging. So I have to say it would kick serious buttocks to be able to hop in an AT-AT and man the cannons! Or pilot it, or repel out of it to the ground to reinforce a position or slay Jedi or whatever needed to be done. This would be a worthy addition to the SWTOR overall. We are essentially talking about One Game to Rule Them All here! Certainly there is considerable development involved and in the age of "free to play" it may not happen. There was a Star Wars version of Battlefield though at the moment I don't recall what it was named. It was OK but felt kind of ... "cheap" is the best way I can put it right now.

 

I'm still trying to find more info about how this "expansion" is going to work, like what you have to do to get your own starfighter, piloting skills, etc. But I recall when SWTOR was released that this was in the plan from the beginning. I'm kind of surprised it's taken this long to implement. I'm glad it's finally nearly here! I'm looking forward to giving it a try as soon as it is available. The hunt for a Joystick has begun! I hope my computer will run it adequately.

 

What you probably don't realize is that because of today's incredible advances in game design, developing dumb fighters to shoot at your craft, ala X-wing style, is actually harder in some cases and its a waste of time in most.

 

The tools require a level of knowledge and workmanship and often time good convincing AI in today's graphically realistic worlds is very difficult. I am sure Bioware has a skilled staff, but they are right. To develop fully fleshed out AI in 3d space is NOT easy. It would take several months if not a year to even get anything ready for prototype.

 

Games like X-wing and tie fighter were impressive because they were good, for their time. If you put the same AI from those games in today's engine (not that you can) you would sit there and say "why are these enemies so dumb"? Your expectations have risen, believe it or not.

Edited by Arkerus
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that's got to be a really really niche market.

 

While one could debate how niche a market flight sims are in regards to all entertainment titles sold on the PC, they are still a genre that's been around for quite sometime a routinely see new titles released. And pretty much every single one of them, if they wish to be treated as a serious entry in that genre, allow at least use of a joystick if not outright additional flight controllers (ie. separate throttle, pedals, etc.)

And they're usually not cheap, at least many of the well regarded ones.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=899675&is=REG&A=details&Q=

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do we know if its true 3d flight yet? I hear 'free flight' mentioned a lot, which I take a the opposite of 'on rails' but this game and engine are ground based (so far), does GS support roll, pitch, yaw or is it going to be some pseudo 3d?
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do we know if its true 3d flight yet? I hear 'free flight' mentioned a lot, which I take a the opposite of 'on rails' but this game and engine are ground based (so far), does GS support roll, pitch, yaw or is it going to be some pseudo 3d?

 

That's actually a great question for MMORPGs thing.

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do we know if its true 3d flight yet? I hear 'free flight' mentioned a lot, which I take a the opposite of 'on rails' but this game and engine are ground based (so far), does GS support roll, pitch, yaw or is it going to be some pseudo 3d?

 

Its going to be a fully 3d environment, your not going to be bound to a particular plane.

 

However I would like to know if they are going to force a auto-level on us. i.e your craft levels out to a particular plane. Meaning that there is definitive up and definitive down.

 

I hope not I prefer the BF2 style where you can roll your starfigher onto whatever orientation. As in I exit the hanger then promptly roll so that my right wing is now say 140 degrees from parallel to hanger. It makes dogfighting way more interesting than traditional dogfighting since up, down, right, and left are completely subjective.

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Its going to be a fully 3d environment, your not going to be bound to a particular plane.

 

However I would like to know if they are going to force a auto-level on us. i.e your craft levels out to a particular plane. Meaning that there is definitive up and definitive down.

 

I hope not I prefer the BF2 style where you can roll your starfigher onto whatever orientation. As in I exit the hanger then promptly roll so that my right wing is now say 140 degrees from parallel to hanger. It makes dogfighting way more interesting than traditional dogfighting since up, down, right, and left are completely subjective.

 

good to hear but what is your source? I've seen nothing official, though I could quite easily have missed it

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good to hear but what is your source? I've seen nothing official, though I could quite easily have missed it

 

The tailer, by looking at how thee ships are moving about. If you are bound to a 2D plane (like say SW:EAW's space was) the ships would be approaching from above or below, like they where in some of the shots.

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