The Ur-Quan Masters Discussion Forum

The Ur-Quan Masters Re-Release => General UQM Discussion => Topic started by: Gareth Jones on June 10, 2004, 08:17:36 pm



Title: Escape Velocity
Post by: Gareth Jones on June 10, 2004, 08:17:36 pm
Well I know this isn't really UQM related, and I'd be happy to post elsewhere, but I like these forums- they have a nice crowd and a gd atmosphere.

I'm sure some of you have played EV for the macintosh.  I thought this game was fantastic, and can't get over how much I want a PC port.  Apparently it shares many concepts from Elite/Frontier

Since people around here are making all kinds of mods and remakes, does anyone know anything about a windows98+ version of these games, or even something combining them all?  Or even a new concept that is similar.

If anyone has heard of them, link me, otherwise here is what made them great in case anyone wants to run this one.

Right.

1) Trading commodities across the galaxy, which is absolutely enormous, and can only be seen completely with maps you have to purchase.

2) Ship to ship combat that is similar to SC2, except with locking turrets + missiles being upgrades.  It feels very quick and exciting.

2.1) The Hyperspace was cool because you had to build up speed and then hit jump, giving a starwars "starline-leap" effect.

3) You can upgrade your ship with all kinds of stuff, like more cargo, bigger engines, missiles, more fuel pods, etc.  Ships have a maximum hull space, allthough you can increase this.

4) Lots of different ships to buy, and also use for escorts.

5) Obviously you can do whatever you want, incl. becoming a pirate, trader, rebel sympathiser/confederate spy.

6) Plenty of missions that are subtly interesting.  Examples: take terraformers to a new planet (which then becomes terraformed later), garbage disposal in an asteroid field, emergency cargo run for medical supplies etc.

7) Secret missions you get from bases by talking in the bars.

8) Apparently elite II had even more incredible things like realistic planets that rotated in proper orbits and with cities you could see from space.

So...  it's a great game, play it if you have a mac!  Is there anything like this in the offing?


Title: Re: Escape Velocity
Post by: neo_b on June 10, 2004, 09:23:38 pm
Actually, Ambrosia Software came out with three: Escape Velocity, Escape Velocity: Override, and Escape Velocity: Nova.

EV: Nova was also ported to Windows, so you play that one.  Further, EV and EV: O were made into plug-ins (with Ambrosia's blessing) for EV: N, so you can play all three with the last incarnation.  For those of you who don't know, Ambrosia is a shareware company; you can try their games (the later ones have some crippling, but the essence of the game remains) before purchasing them.

Yes, it is a fun game, sort of like Wing Commander: Privateer, except with an overhead view.  Can't even begin to tell you how many hours I've wasted on those games... :P


Title: Re: Escape Velocity
Post by: Shiver on June 10, 2004, 10:08:20 pm
Many of us here already know about these games. I've only done Nova, but the main story missions did not impress me at all. Just screwing around, making money, and putting together fleets was fairly entertaining for a good number of hours, though.


Title: Re: Escape Velocity
Post by: thetallman13 on June 11, 2004, 01:25:34 am
EV:Nova is the only one I have ever played.  It impressed me so much that I bought it.  The story is a little tricky to get into though.  The ships and weapons are awesome! ;D