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Thread: Space Sims

  1. #1
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    Space Sims

    Hello all

    I'm new to the forums - come here as a guest occasionally but finally decided to sign up.

    For my first post I was wondering if any1 could recommend some decent space sims I could try? I'm after something with decent graphics so that I can get totally immersed in the environment so preferably something that's not too old.

    I recently tried a demo of Darkstar One and its the kind of thing I'm looking for but with more variety (All the sectors I came across all looked the same and the missions were all pretty similar so it became a bit tedious).

    I've heard good and bad things about X3:Reunion but the apparently steep learning curve has put me off trying it so far - what did the rest of you think about it?

    Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    Sadly space sims are kind of lacking.

    The older ones are still the best - Independance War 2, Freespace 2 etc.

    Freelancer is getting on a bit, but is the best more modern game, I'm playing Darkstar One at the moment and the bugs are horrible. You still can't play at 1680x1050 without it crashing horribly - a bug they've acknowledged for nearly two years. However, if you don't mind playing at a different res. then it's a passable game. It doesn't stand up to much competition, but there isn't any really so it's fine, especially when it only costs £6 on steam.

    I'm also playing X3. It's hard to really classify it as a normal space sim, it's much more like an economy game which happens to have you flying around a lot as well. If you can take your time then it's very nice and relaxing to play - the learning curve isn't too steep if you treat it like other games, it's only when you take advantage of the more complex feature that it becomes a bit mad.

  3. #3
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    Re: Space Sims

    Freelancer is a classic, still good graphics, massive exploration, upgrades, various was of playing and hidden secrets still worth picking up for a decent space sim but as Kaliel said, kinda lacking for good space sims at the mo

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    Senior Member cptwhite_uk's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    Isn't Eve online where it's at these days? Never played it myself mind...

    Google the freespace 2 mod 'the babylon project' for the babylon 5 stand alone mod, which is still fairly decent.

  5. #5
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    I thought Eve was more of an MMORPG set in space I'll find out soon enough when my trial finishes downloading.

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    Re: Space Sims

    EVE is an MMO set in space - but its pants when i left Neocron i went through a phaze of playing other MMO's before Wow and EVE was one of them - not impressed tbh
    i was gutted that GUNZ ONLINE didnt go into production, that was awesome

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    Senior Member Ciber's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    I enjoyed eve online quite a bit.
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    Re: Space Sims

    Freespace 2 with all the texture enhancements you can throw at it is the best your gonna get. Played it through recently and its still amazing. If you havent played it before i envy you, the campaign is immense.

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    Re: Space Sims

    Anyone got some links to these Freespace 2 texture packs or any other enhancements to try? You've piqued my curiosity, but the screens on the official site look fugly. Maybe I'm just spoilt after X3's visual feast (shame I could never bring myself to play it long enough to get into the game proper).

  10. #10
    Welcome to stampytown! Salazaar's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    X3's worth giving a go, the combat's not too hard though the trading is very complex. The main campaign's fairly easy to get through.
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    chown -R me ./base BlackDwarf's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    I'm gonna say it even though its old, looks crap, and is a bugger to get working on pretty much anything now, but:

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    Re: Space Sims

    Thanks for the replies

    I think I've definitely gotta give X3 a go at least. I guess if others have manage to muddle their way through it until they know how to play the game then there's no reason I shouldn't able to, though I just can't understand the reasoning behind why such a complex game wouldn't include a tutorial

    Also Freelancer and Independance Wars 2 sound like they might be worth a look albeit slightly dated.

    @Cougho - How much of a difference do the texture enhancements make to FS2? It don't half look ugly in its natural form.

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    Senior Member Virtual Monkey's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    Freespace 2! Starlancer is also pretty good, although fairly old and very much mission-based as opposed to freeform adventure like X3.

    Are you a fan of the remade Battlestar Galactica series at all? Download the demo of Beyond the Red Line! It's a conversion of Freespace 2 that's in progress, and very impressive too.

    As for EVE, after the trial I thought it felt more like an MMO with spaceships instead of elves and orcs rather than a multiplayer space sim. You don't really fly any ships or shoot anything, you just sort of click on stuff and wait.

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    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
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    Re: Space Sims

    someone needs to make a tie fighter tc/new game. im not into starwars but that was amazing..

    also
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
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    Vodka

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    Re: Space Sims

    there was a star trek one i remember from about 7 years ago, i just used to sit there watching my uncle play it at the time, it looked waaaay complex, all different stations of the chosen ship, delegating power, shields, phasers ect - i remember it being very cool

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    Re: Space Sims

    You might be referring to Star Trek: Bridge Commander, Prime? Bizarrely, boxed copies are going for over £20 on eBay - I stuck mine on there a few months back when I realised I could get more than I originally paid for it at launch.

    I enjoyed Eve: Online for a bit, but stopped playing when I went from a Ti4400 to a 9800 Pro because sound stopped working. It's good enough for me to recommend the free trial, definitely!

    Be wary of Freelancer - it is NOT about freedom or exploration or trading, it is a very linear romp through a gorgeous potential-filled universe. I always hoped there would be some sort of Free Play mod or patch, but then I kinda forgot all about it. It's no more linear than FreeSpace 2 (although you could choose your ship and loadout on some missions in FS2), but I'm afraid it's another vote for FreeSpace 2 from me. The first time you see... and then... and wow! Hmmm... I found my FreeSpace 2 discs (and instructions!) again when I moved house last month... time to give it another whirl, methinks!

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