The Ur-Quan Masters Discussion Forum

The Ur-Quan Masters Re-Release => General UQM Discussion => Topic started by: Dakart on January 19, 2010, 09:57:38 pm



Title: New Star Control game...
Post by: Dakart on January 19, 2010, 09:57:38 pm
As we know, not all that's in Star Control is realistic, although damn well fun  ;) However, shouldn't a New Star Control game be more realistic in its look and feel, particularly the spaceships, some of which would not make any sense in reality, whether in design or function.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Alvarin on January 19, 2010, 11:41:55 pm
I would really like new volume along SC2 lines in appearance and gameplay, unfortunately, it will not be.
When (hopefully not if) a new game will be made, it will not be possible to do so without the modern fancy graphics, and those will have to have some physics and other realisms because otherwise it will "limit the market".
So I think that in order to exist it will have to follow second option.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Draxas on January 19, 2010, 11:46:23 pm
Gah. Star Control has always been a cinematic series, and has pretty much thrown realism right out the window from minute 1. I'd much prefer if a new game didn't look and play exactly the same as all the other games out there.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Mugz the Sane on January 20, 2010, 01:10:49 pm
Most often when games try for realism, they end up either crippling themselves or being completely stoopid.

SC2 is completely unrealistic, and completely fun.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Cedric6014 on January 20, 2010, 11:22:01 pm
Let’s talk about spaceships

Realism is low priority. And anyway; who are humans to decide what’s realistic and what isn’t? We don’t understand all the secrets of the universe.

I don’t believe that SC throws realism out the window, it just posits a different understanding of realism.

A decent part of Star Control’s appeal are the slightly goofy space ships. They’re all so darn colourful and do weird stuff like teleport and shoot plasmoids. The general wackiness makes them seem otherworldly as befitting alien craft. An attempt to be realistic would risk imposing Earth-centric norms. These craft use technologies we aren’t familiar with.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Data on January 21, 2010, 08:32:55 pm
Yes, but there are some laws of physics that we know are just plain wrong. No, you won't collide with your missile if you move faster then it's top speed, the same goes for plasmoids, etc...
So basically, it should be fun above all. Of course, to be fun, it musn't be too complex which is why we can't really have too much realism.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: locustkiller on January 22, 2010, 01:03:16 pm
We understand very. VERY little of the laws of physics. We dont even know if most of them only apply locally.  Making a game, especially a sci-fi genre game, based on only what most of our modern scientists agree is truth is a far cry from "realistic". 


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Death 999 on January 22, 2010, 04:47:19 pm
We can measure the constants of the universe from billions of light years away, you know, and they haven't changed over that time and distance.

But that's irrelevant.

I don't mind 'realistic' so long as we get to keep all the bright colors. But I put my vote down for classic. I don't think cartoons are only an artifact of technological limitations.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Resh Aleph on January 22, 2010, 05:03:59 pm
We understand very. VERY little of the laws of physics. We dont even know if most of them only apply locally.  Making a game, especially a sci-fi genre game, based on only what most of our modern scientists agree is truth is a far cry from "realistic". 

The problem is not with made-up laws and technology, it's with things that contradict proven laws or just common sense.

For example, if you've seen District 9...

(click to show/hide)

So that's the sort of things that bother me, not made-up tech or physics.

Oh, and also things that just seem way too silly/colorful/simplistic to be actual ships/weapons/technologies/behaviors. Not because they're strictly impossible, but because they're highly unlikely. I guess you're all going to stone me for that. Sorry, I'm a huge fan of realism. :-[


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Data on January 22, 2010, 05:13:57 pm
We understand very. VERY little of the laws of physics. We dont even know if most of them only apply locally.

We know what laws of physics apply here and we have no reason whatsoever to think those things are different on a very large distance from here, while measurments of those distant things are consistent with what we know about here and now. Occam's razor therefor apllies here.

Not to mention SC2 includes Earth and Solar system in the same physics system it has for rest of the universe so your point is moot.

But anyway, there is very little sci-fi without FTL drive and that alone puts most popular sci-fis a far cry from realistic. This isn't a game I expect to teach me about physics, but to entertain me and have a good plot.

Not to mention, how are you going to make something realistic if it's 2D?!

EDIT: Sorry about my English, I'm not used to writing in non-conversational English, even though I mostly understand it.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Mugz the Sane on January 25, 2010, 11:23:58 am
Hyperdrive and FTL drive aren't the same. The speed of light is far faster in Hyperspace, if memory serves.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Data on January 25, 2010, 09:45:07 pm
Yeah, that's true, but beside the point. The point is the physics of this game aren't very hard or realistic and they shouldn't be.


Title: Re: New Star Control game...
Post by: Dakart on January 27, 2010, 05:56:33 pm
well SC3 had more realistic looking spaceships, whilst keeping a functional melee and most of the colours if not slightly duller. I thought it was more realistic to have the secondary ability as mines as well.