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Author Topic: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.  (Read 15859 times)
fluke
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A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« on: April 26, 2006, 10:59:45 pm »

First off, we all should have already raised our voices for how much we'd love to see Toys for Bob make another Star Control.

I would like to see it stick to the format of starting off isolated in an unjust universe, gathering resources, making allies and enemys, working its way into full blown alien war. And, of course, full of interesting and funny characters along the way.

I think this sums up much of the spirit of SC2, and what most of the purist fans would love to see in SC4. (Tell me if I am wrong)

But times have indeed changed. So much more is possible now, and so much more is expected by gamers.

But what, exactly, should be updated? Heres what I'm asking you:

Should the game be 2d or 3d? If 3d, should it be 1st or 3rd person?
How should they handle resource gathering, both interface-wise and the in game logistics?
And if it were released only to console, would you purchase that console?


Now we're all dreaming here, but hey, lets dream away!

Heres my thoughts -
I dont like to play games.. I like to experience them. This means 3d, first person, all the way. While this will change dogfighting significantly, I would hope they can do this while keeping the spirit alive.

For resource gathering, I'd also like a first person experience. Intense dropping in and out of orbit would be a blast (though perhaps could get old quick if not fast). As for the logistics of harvesting, I havnt a clue. Should we have to sit for a couple seconds to harvest?

As for platform, I hope its dual platform game including Windows Vista.  But, if faced with no choice, I would buy a console for the sole purpose of playing another Toys for Bob Star Control game.

Long live the Spathi!
« Last Edit: April 26, 2006, 11:07:07 pm by fluke » Logged

All hail Toys for Bob! Long live the Spathi!
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2006, 11:38:22 pm »

As for cross-platform, I hope it will be as cross-platform as the UQM open source project is.  Which includes *nix systems.  id Software normally does this for their games, releases a .bin file a bit after the real game is released, which is basically a port for *nix systems.

As for the 3D:  I do not know how you would do the battles, let alone the star map!  It would highly complicated.  But I suppose, given it is a game released in this age and time.

I am somewhat unsure about first person, because battles would become far too complicated.  But whereas other things such travelling around my be easy enough - perhaps a back mirror in the spaceship?
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sundiver
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2006, 11:49:30 pm »

 Keep the combat 2D, it feels right.
 I would like to see an open ended RPG that takes place in the post war, post occupation SC universe. The ability to choose your path and which 'faction' to be part of. ..soldier, spy, merchant, bounty hunter (every name used in Super Melee coud be a war criminal to some one and have a price on there head) and combinations of these.
 The chance to expand your governments sphere of influence or just your own.
 Earth with a balanced fleet! The ability for an Earthling character to command and build their ships so they need not rely on the other races as much.
 The Black Spathi as a place for a Spathi character to gain access to.
 Some special 'gimmik' for each species that is represented as a PC.
 Modable so the friendly programmers out there can share their adventures and make it a living RPG environment.
 The only multi-player option it should have isship to ship combat in an arena type setting as a seperate program. I have never seen an MMORPG that was not dominated by socialy inept people.
« Last Edit: April 26, 2006, 11:53:38 pm by sundiver » Logged
fluke
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2006, 11:58:05 pm »

As for the 3D:  I do not know how you would do the battles, let alone the star map!  It would highly complicated.  But I suppose, given it is a game released in this age and time.

I am somewhat unsure about first person, because battles would become far too complicated.  But whereas other things such travelling around my be easy enough - perhaps a back mirror in the spaceship?
Youre right. A 3d star map would be a headache.
Still, imagine a compass with waypoints.. punching an X,Y,Z coordinate into your ship and being pointed in the right direction. Quest logs, etc..  could work..

lol @ the mirrior in the spaceship.
I imagine a run down Shofixti Scout with the rear view mirror of a 73 pinto.
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2006, 10:21:59 am »

The Starmap of SC2 is not a true-space map as you all know. A true-space map would be 3D of course, like it is in SC3. Since the 2D hyperspace map was explained fairly in SC2, I don't see any reason to discard that fact from the SC universe.

All that compass, waypoints, XYZ coordinates -talk refers to true-space, in which the player only is inside solar systems.

Since solar systems are pretty 'flat' in reality as well, the third dimension could be a waste. Fighting is a different thing.

about 'flat' solar systems: All planets orbit the star on a pretty much same 'level', forming a 'circle' more than a 'sphere'.
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2006, 11:28:31 am »

The same is true for galaxies. The Milky Way is nearly flat.
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Zeep-Eeep
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2006, 02:27:01 pm »

I like the idea of 2D 3rd person. First person anything,
with the possible exception of Privateer, drives me
up the wall.

I realize this was brought up, flamed and shot down in
another thread, but here's an idea about the
multi-player system. Perhaps SC4 could take some
lessons from Neverwinter Nights. There was a game
with great NPCs, good story and large map, but
it also had the option of being multi-player. That
way, players could go through the game, play
the adventure and then, if they wanted, interact
with other SC4ers in a large, interactive, on-line galaxy.

Or maybe TFB will just do their thing and we can all praise
them later.
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2006, 03:29:41 pm »

The same is true for galaxies. The Milky Way is nearly flat.
Yes. However, it's still about 1000 light years thick (about 3000 in the middle). From our point of view there are stars in pretty much every direction (although there are more in the general direction of the Milky Way's plane). A sphere of 1000 light years contains a lot of stars, even in our neighbourhood.
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2006, 05:55:06 pm »

True, but that's in reality. SC2 never tried to be a simulator, no did its predecessor. So there's a lot of slack in a stylized game such as this.

But perhaps Spore will do a good job with its 3D starmap and then TFB can just copy that (if they even want a 3D starmap.)
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2006, 02:41:18 am »

I think the universe itself is more interesting than the game. I'd pretty much would be happy with any gameplay (rpg,mmorpg,shooter,'elite',tbs,rts) as long as the universe (and art / design) is done right. I think I prefer persistant universe simulation / sandbox above all else though... and that's not really a game at all.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2006, 02:43:50 am by Arne » Logged
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2006, 03:12:30 am »

I think the universe itself is more interesting than the game. I'd pretty much would be happy with any gameplay (rpg,mmorpg,shooter,'elite',tbs,rts) as long as the universe (and art / design) is done right.
<concur>As long as there are no Eternal1s</concur>
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2006, 09:23:31 pm »

I think the universe itself is more interesting than the game. I'd pretty much would be happy with any gameplay (rpg,mmorpg,shooter,'elite',tbs,rts) as long as the universe (and art / design) is done right. I think I prefer persistant universe simulation / sandbox above all else though... and that's not really a game at all.
I agree completely. SC1 and SC2 were completely different games except for the melee portion and the art/story. Look how much we like both.  Wink

So begging TFB for an "SC2 remake" or "in the vein of SC2" is probably unwise. I trust them to create a gameplay experience that will be enjoyable, even if it's not what we were expecting.
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2006, 02:56:48 pm »

Hi yall
Its probably wisest just to make sure that we get as many people as possible to sign the petition, and send postcards and emails and what not, and never stop focusing on that to try and design a game. Thats what Toys for Bob do.

The other thing we can do is try and get the precursors amazing jobs as a token of our gratitude to those truely noble (and damn funky) souls.
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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2006, 03:55:52 am »

So begging TFB for an "SC2 remake" or "in the vein of SC2" is probably unwise.

I gotta disagree with that.. Take the original premise and story and simply improve upon it. Perhaps make planet landings  and resource gathering more challenging and envolving. Perhaps add new purchasable services to the Melnorme such as one way gates, mercenary services etc. Add more variety to your precursor ship's loadout. But don't mess with the basic gameplay principles.

Screw any multiplayer aspects other than melee battles. Screw micromanagement / colony building. Just say no to 3D of anykind other than a spinning planet or solar system graphics. This game has an old school feel and removing that might very well make it teh suk...

I think PR3 and FF should make the game they WANTED to make with SC2 ,but instead were rushed and limited by funding. What happens when I take the Orz to Quasi space? What is *heavy* space? Where do those rainbow worlds really point to on the Galaxy map?

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Re: A SC4 Suggestion Thread for those who know MMORPG is not the answer.
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2006, 03:22:57 pm »

If TFB could make a living by making games purely for your liking, that'd be a good strategy. But in the real world, a 2D remake of SC2 would have a far less likely chance of succeeding than a 3D game that possessed a story of its own, in the same universe. Besides, SC2 was probably made a 2D game back then, because the primitive 3D technology of the day would not have been a good conduit for making the game they wanted to make. But if they had today's technology, then, it probably would have been 3D and you'd now be asking for a 3D remake.

Given the amount of time that has passed since SC2, you really can't expect the same kind of game, running on a modern system (save handhelds, perhaps.)
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