*Speaks slowly, but loudly*

 

It is in development, and has been since before product went live.

Indeed the SSSP has been hinted at since before the game went Live, but we have NO idea of what development it has recevied or when.

JTL had a significant number of people working on it for all that time, it was also announced back then.

The SSSP (whatever it may eventually be) doesn't seem to have had that, seemingly they aren't even at the stage where they can even tell us what it is (or even really hint at it, even), never mind make a video trailer about it.

I quite simply don't believe they've had masses of people working on the SSSP from before Live, when they've laid so many off and have struggled with content development in general.

First off, the space combat is actually a little enjoyable for me. Sure, it's a little disappointing because its on rails and VERY limited, but it brings me back to old school arcade games.

That said, I'll just add this:

1. I doubt there's much development going into this. I just thing Bioware are and should be focusing on the main part of the game - which is the ground, dungeon and story.

2. Space combat is an excellent leveling tool. By doing your yellow+ space missions daily (or at least a few times a week), you can massively accelerate your leveling rate... allowing you to stay ahead of the level curve, making your life easy.

First off, the space combat is actually a little enjoyable for me. Sure, it's a little disappointing because its on rails and VERY limited, but it brings me back to old school arcade games.

 

That said, I'll just add this:

 

1. I doubt there's much development going into this. I just thing Bioware are and should be focusing on the main part of the game - which is the ground, dungeon and story.

 

2. Space combat is an excellent leveling tool. By doing your yellow+ space missions daily (or at least a few times a week), you can massively accelerate your leveling rate... allowing you to stay ahead of the level curve, making your life easy.

This isn't an arcade game, so why use rails in the first place? the mini game is great for single player pve, but we want to go beyond that so if anything space content should be more like SWG or EVE online, it needs more depth and control with a good story arc that can bring multiplayer pve and pvp to the center stage finally.

This isn't an arcade game, so why use rails in the first place?

This isn't a space combat simulator, so why have it in the game in the first place?

Bottom line - it's a little mini-game added in for variety and to create a base that can (one day in the far future) be expanded upon.

I won't say it's an afterthought, but not much more.

This isn't a space combat simulator, so why have it in the game in the first place?

 

Bottom line - it's a little mini-game added in for variety and to create a base that can (one day in the far future) be expanded upon.

 

I won't say it's an afterthought, but not much more.

Mini games don't belong in a MMO, they belong in a arcade game.

I suspect the "secret" part of the "Super Secret Space Project" is that it doesn't exist anymore.

This.

*Speaks slowly, but loudly*

 

It is in development, and has been since before product went live.

Even if this were true, this question remains: WHAT, exactly is in development?

If it were an X-Wing-vs-Tie-Fighter like game, many people would be happy.

If it were a multiplayer-but-on-rails like game, many people would be UNhappy.

"Totall different pixel space" means what, exactly? Wouldn't it be nice if a developer would be allowed to, you know, ACTUALLY SAY what it is?

Well said. For now, I am ignoring the space combat as if it isn't even part of the game. I am pretty sure there are Iphone apps that are better and more interesting.

Me too.I havent played space combat missions in a year,they suck. To me,it seemed logical for SWTOR to have epic 3-d space combat. When I first heard of SWTOR the first thing I thought was:wow,I bet the space combat will be amazing.......EPIC FAIL

Even if this were true, this question remains: WHAT, exactly is in development?

 

If it were an X-Wing-vs-Tie-Fighter like game, many people would be happy.

If it were a multiplayer-but-on-rails like game, many people would be UNhappy.

 

"Totall different pixel space" means what, exactly? Wouldn't it be nice if a developer would be allowed to, you know, ACTUALLY SAY what it is?

Agreed

I suspect the "secret" part of the "Super Secret Space Project" is that it doesn't exist anymore.

as of less then a month ago they talked about it and how they tested the first demo of it. So.. yeah still being worked on.

I suspect is that it will come out probalby in about a year and be another mini expansion

Even if this were true, this question remains: WHAT, exactly is in development?

 

If it were an X-Wing-vs-Tie-Fighter like game, many people would be happy.

If it were a multiplayer-but-on-rails like game, many people would be UNhappy.

 

"Totall different pixel space" means what, exactly? Wouldn't it be nice if a developer would be allowed to, you know, ACTUALLY SAY what it is?

you forgot they said this about a month ago

http://www.darthhater.com/articles/swtor-news/22517-bioware-livestream-q-a-coverage

Q: How is the super space project doing? Does it exist? Schubert: Oh, it exists. Hickman: I was actually playing what you're talking about yesterday, running through the prototype demo. I wish I could give you details. It's great. It's a departure from our current space game. We have a team dedicated to working on it. But it is far out in the future. You won't hear anything about it any time soon. Schubert: It is under wraps. It is a lot of fun. It's definitely not anything we've shipped in the original product.

Not anything we've shipped in the original product.

That seems like it won't be anything on rails to me.

@sstanks, Yeah, I read that article too, and I hope that is the case.

The frustration I have is that, from a PR/Marketing standpoint, I can only think of 3 reasons why Schubert/Hickman (or any other BW employee) would not be allowed to confirm "not-on-rails" in so many words:

1. It is actually on-rails and they don't want to admit to it.

2. They are currently working on a free-roam SSSP but it's not set in stone and may change prior to release.

3. The not-on-rails is so many years out from release they're afraid to promise it.

These are all bad reasons, giving me no confidence. If in fact, Bioware developers were doing a not-on-rails space combat, potentially with multiplayer, with features that people have been asking for (on this forum) since Beta, what would be a good reason to keep that fact under wraps?

Because people like surprises?? (That's all I can come up with)

I believe, based on posts I've seen people make on this forum, that almost every single TOR player that is excited about the SSSP hopes it is a not-on-rails activity. Even if (for PR reasons), Bioware decided to keep every other detail secret, I see no harm in publically stating:

"Just so you know, we can't tell you any other details because it's all secret, yada yada yada, but I can confirm one thing: It's not on rails"

Many many people would be very happy to hear this fact. And the only way it could bite them in the *** later, is if they didn't actually deliver on that promise.

@sstanks, Yeah, I read that article too, and I hope that is the case.

 

The frustration I have is that, from a PR/Marketing standpoint, I can only think of 3 reasons why Schubert/Hickman (or any other BW employee) would not be allowed to confirm "not-on-rails" in so many words:

 

1. It is actually on-rails and they don't want to admit to it.

2. They are currently working on a free-roam SSSP but it's not set in stone and may change prior to release.

3. The not-on-rails is so many years out from release they're afraid to promise it.

 

These are all bad reasons, giving me no confidence. If in fact, Bioware developers were doing a not-on-rails space combat, potentially with multiplayer, with features that people have been asking for (on this forum) since Beta, what would be a good reason to keep that fact under wraps?

 

Because people like surprises?? (That's all I can come up with)

 

I believe, based on posts I've seen people make on this forum, that almost every single TOR player that is excited about the SSSP hopes it is a not-on-rails activity. Even if (for PR reasons), Bioware decided to keep every other detail secret, I see no harm in publically stating:

 

"Just so you know, we can't tell you any other details because it's all secret, yada yada yada, but I can confirm one thing: It's not on rails"

 

Many many people would be very happy to hear this fact. And the only way it could bite them in the *** later, is if they didn't actually deliver on that promise.

if there is one thing they have learned it's that shouldn't give out any info until it's ready to show. Look at all the trouble they have gotten into before.

if there is one thing they have learned it's that shouldn't give out any info until it's ready to show. Look at all the trouble they have gotten into before.

If they've been working on SSSP since launch, and SSSP was always intended to by not-on-rails, why wouldn't they have spilled the beans before they leaned all these "harsh" lessons about giving out information?

Edit: Let me clarify that I will be very happy if they do come out with a not-on-rails space program. I love space combat sims, and I really love Star Wars space combat sims. The purpose of my complaints here, is to perhaps nudge some of the devs to rethink their position on not giving out information if it isn't actually bad news ...

If they've been working on SSSP since launch, and SSSP was always intended to by not-on-rails, why wouldn't they have spilled the beans before they leaned all these "harsh" lessons about giving out information?

 

Edit: Let me clarify that I will be very happy if they do come out with a not-on-rails space program. I love space combat sims, and I really love Star Wars space combat sims. The purpose of my complaints here, is to perhaps nudge some of the devs to rethink their position on not giving out information if it isn't actually bad news ...

we don't even know what is in patch 1.7 why would they release info on something that is possibley 1 year away?

Part of the reason I imagine is remember back over summer when they showed us the video of Makeb, cathar, terror from beyond and all that? It was cool right? but the first thing Terror From Beyone didn't come out until at least what 3 months later?

By the time it came out people were like... ok so what? we've known about that for months? what else you got?

@sstanks, You do make a valid point.

I still feel that the space missions are a different kettle of fish, as far as giving out information. I contest that they could keep the entire thing a secret and still be able to confirm (or deny) that it will be on-rails or off-rails without giving out any other details.

When TOR was in development, the fact that the space missions were rail shooters were known about long before the game was released. Specifics and details may not have been available, the broad fact of what style of gameplay was planned was known.

I maintain that any bad reaction that could come of confirming "not-on-rails" space missions would be far outweighed by the goodwill from actually confirming said fact. Unless, of course, it never comes to pass, in which case "hell no fury like a gamer scorned."

Which is why I maintain that it is possible we may never get "not-on-rails" combat ever. Why would Bioware be worried about backlash from non-delivery, unless they're unable to promise it.

I'll be happy to be proved wrong though.

if there is one thing they have learned it's that shouldn't give out any info until it's ready to show. Look at all the trouble they have gotten into before.

I can't really think of one instance where they've got into trouble for showing something before it was ready to show.

They have got into trouble repeatedly for making promises (often seemingly wild promises - with hindsight) about things and not being able to fulfill them.......... but that is a very, very different thing.

And also by making misleading videos (RvR), again a very different thing.

Honestly I can't think of any reason why they couldn't give an outline of the SSSP now, it's not like WoW is going to outdevelop them and add a JTL expansion before them or anything (Dragons to Warp Speed Captain!).

The only reasons I can think of why they won't talk about it are:

1. It is still so early in development it is still little more than an idea.

2. It is something hidesouly lackluster (not JTL but more Zaxxon) and they don't want to talk about it (co-op on the rails etc.)

I hate to make the comparison, but I was playing EVE the other day, and thinking how awesome it would be if we had some of that kind of game in this one. Free to fly where you want, when you want. Mining, smuggling, transporting... DEPTH. Now, you take EVE, replace their combat with stick controlled flight like X-Wing and put in TOR's ground system, and you've got the beginning of something awesome. Then you add downtime activities like Pazzak, make the casinos on Nar Shadda and elsewhere actually functional, and you're getting even better.

The game has enormous potential, but it needs to make EVERYTHING deeper. A solid, full space game is only one step in that direction, but it's possibly the most important one.

I hate to make the comparison, but I was playing EVE the other day, and thinking how awesome it would be if we had some of that kind of game in this one. Free to fly where you want, when you want. Mining, smuggling, transporting... DEPTH. Now, you take EVE, replace their combat with stick controlled flight like X-Wing and put in TOR's ground system, and you've got the beginning of something awesome. Then you add downtime activities like Pazzak, make the casinos on Nar Shadda and elsewhere actually functional, and you're getting even better.

 

 

The game has enormous potential, but it needs to make EVERYTHING deeper. A solid, full space game is only one step in that direction, but it's possibly the most important one.

For what it's worth, Chris Roberts is back after 10 years. The game is 2 years out, but it has the potential to be what you're talking about (although there's no ground combat, but there is supposed to be ship-ship boarding combat)

For what it's worth, Chris Roberts is back after 10 years. The game is 2 years out, but it has the potential to be what you're talking about (although there's no ground combat, but there is supposed to be ship-ship boarding combat)

It's looking pretty amazing already. Todays wingman's hangar about it got me really excited....forward to 5 mins in the vid to get to the start for some reason they recorded 5 mins while they were setting up...

http://www.robertsspaceindustries.com/wingmans-hangar-episode-4/

first person space combat meet fps...they have racing, duels, co op, pvp, smuggling, bounty hunting, piracy, etc! This is what I wanted with swtor! I hope bioware takes notice of Star Citizen and copies it asap!

So real space combat is for a time far far away ?

Perhaps I should express my feelings another way :

I hate to make the comparison, but I was playing EVE the other day, and thinking how awesome it would be if we had some of that kind of game in this one. Free to fly where you want, when you want. Mining, smuggling, transporting... DEPTH. Now, you take EVE, replace their combat with stick controlled flight like X-Wing and put in TOR's ground system, and you've got the beginning of something awesome. Then you add downtime activities like Pazzak, make the casinos on Nar Shadda and elsewhere actually functional, and you're getting even better.

 

 

The game has enormous potential, but it needs to make EVERYTHING deeper. A solid, full space game is only one step in that direction, but it's possibly the most important one.

I support a new space experience but what you are asking for is a completely different project. We need a focused space effort here, not a sandbox in space. This is not Eve.

Take a look at Star Citizen if you want a new experience.

I use to have a blast running space in SWG>

Running on rails is good just cause you know you can beat it... If you like that.

I want customised star ships again... Dynamic