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Author Topic: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.  (Read 10127 times)

Mini

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #30 on: December 06, 2011, 09:51:16 am »

Why is it that this genre seems to have more or less died out? The only thing I can think of is Murphy's Law seeing as I love games like Freespace and Freelancer.
The only series that still seems to be going is x^n n>0 and even though I really, reeeally want to, I just can't get into those.

So are there any good space sims, preferably with some ship customization and exploration that might have flown under my radar these last few years?

What are you looking for in a space sim?
There is orbiter but I'm not sure if it's too realistic and not enough to explore for you.

Nah that is too realistic, I am thinking futuristic sandboxy space exploration, with trading, some combat, customization and hidden "secrets" to find in the galaxy, an overarching story wouldn't hurt either.
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Person

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #31 on: December 06, 2011, 10:59:19 am »

Aurora 4x is good but it has a learning curve bigger than dwarf fortress, at least in my experience. Though it may be a little too in depth depending on what you want.
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Satarus

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #32 on: December 06, 2011, 12:57:22 pm »

X Rebirth is supposed to come out early next year.
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jhxmt

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #33 on: December 06, 2011, 01:33:12 pm »

Actually, the Escape Velocity series might give you a bit of what you're after.  Escape Velocity Nova is pretty good and has some good ship management/mission picking/cargo running/piracy performing aspects to it too.  http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/

Storylines (yes, plural) aren't bad either, and it's highly moddable so there are quite a few complete conversions out there.  Bit dated now, but not immensely so, and still very enjoyable!  :)
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Sonlirain

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #34 on: December 06, 2011, 01:44:08 pm »

Good space sim?
Let's think...

Darkstar One offers a lot of customization since the main ship is biomechanical and evolves after collecting artifacts.
On top of that there are not enough artifacts in the galaxy to evolve everything (Engine wings and hull) to the max level (10).
Basically your ship can become a slow but unstoppable battleship (max hull) or a fast fighter (engines and wings) or just about anything in between.

The X series... it's probably the most complete single player Space sim there is. The newest version even has a boarding mechanic that allous certain ships launch shuttles with Space Marienes (who will then take out the ship or capture it from the inside.
You can build a trade empire with factories mines and... well you can do a LOT.
The game is pretty rough at the start tho.

Battlecruiser Millenium... Even tho Derek Smart has a VERY shitty reputation the latest version of BCM is somewhat bug free.
Basically you play as a Commander of a Military Battlecruiser in a somewhat large galaxy.
You can trade, send mining drones, commence orbital bombardment, order around a bunch of fighter craft your battlecruider is equipped with and more.
The only problem is the ridiculously steep learning curve.
Also BCM is freeware.

Flatspace 1 and 2 is a pretty interesting (but unforgiving) space game. basically it's Elite... set in a flat universe.
Both are more or less the same but FS2 adds some new ships and an alien race to compete with.
Personally still have it on my HD.
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Aklyon

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #35 on: December 06, 2011, 02:50:08 pm »

the game Space Pirates And Zombies is somewhat relevant here, I think.
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Satarus

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #36 on: December 06, 2011, 02:57:23 pm »


The X series... it's probably the most complete single player Space sim there is. The newest version even has a boarding mechanic that allows certain ships launch shuttles with Space Marines (who will then take out the ship or capture it from the inside.
Point of order:  Marines space walk it if launched from a corvette (M6) or personnel transport (TP).  You also can launch them from missile pods from most missile frigates (M7M) and is the only way to board Terran ships.  There are no boarding shuttles.
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MonkeyHead

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #37 on: December 06, 2011, 03:17:07 pm »

Transcendence. Very cool free space exploration/shooter/trader/roguelike with ship customisation. In constant develoment but been a while since an update.
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Aptus

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #38 on: December 07, 2011, 11:36:29 am »

Holy armok I have a ton of games to check out now, thank you fellow nerds!
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chaosavy

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #39 on: December 07, 2011, 03:13:23 pm »

Check out my project: http://www.VoidDestroyer.com  a space sim/rts hybrid in alpha stage (free download). Currently adding a polish and new models.

I posted about it a while back on these forums: http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=79623.0

Also I'd like to echo about SPAZ, a quality game, a lot of fun, they used the 2dness of it to an advantage.

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Check out my indie 3D space sim/rts hybrid: Void Destroyer http://www.VoidDestroyer.com

puke

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #40 on: December 08, 2011, 12:33:07 am »

take a gander at http://spacesimcentral.com/

Their forums have links to lots of amazing old, new, and in-development games of every kind -- from blockbuster to single-developer basement projects.

I've been meaning to pick up Starpoint Gemini (http://www.starpointgemini.com/) which looks like good casual fun.  Also, Captain Jameson might have promise (http://www.farbs.org/SupportCaptainForever.html) and if you like more strategy 4x type, I've always meant to check out Light of Altair (http://www.saintxi.com/)

I know its pretty lame to recommend three games that I havent even played, but I guess I spend more time reading about games now than I do actually playing them.  I'll second some of the above recommendations.  Transcendance is a great roguelike in space.  Not the best game engine (sprite based ships with choppy rotation, and hard to aim), but great random replayable gameplay.  Space Rangers 2 was fun, but I think it tried to wrap too much into one game.  all the sub-games seemed a little thin.  I know you said no X games, but maybe some of the mods would bring you around?

Ad Astra is a forgotten little game, but it was a good one too.  http://www.a-astra.com/index.htm

I played Naev for a little while, too.  It looks like development has come a long way, and I should pick it up again.  Was a good 2d (with 3d ships...) space combat / trading game.  http://blog.naev.org/

Probably no one remembers Star Raiders, but it was one of my favorite games back on the old 800.... Anyway, I see there is a remake now, which doesnt look half bad.  I dont have steam, nor do I want them deleting my porn, so I havent picked it up yet.  http://www.atari.com/starraiders

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Aptus

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #41 on: January 28, 2012, 08:03:07 am »

Sorry for the thread necro but I just had to take a break from laughing at my own stupidity to share this. I just had my first hour or so in Evochron Mercenary (got it off steam.) and so far my impression is that it's good, it seems fairly complex but has a pretty good tutorial. Now to the good stuff. I had forgotten that space sims have a habit of wanting to punish stupidity, well let's just say I got a wake-up call.

Tutorials complete I jumped in with my civvie trader/miner ready to take my first steps towards a multi-trillion space-dorrah conglomerate. Immidiately I get some lowly space scrubs pestering me about docking in a station for some mercenary work. Well I told them to take a hike to the nearest singularity and quickly located the closest asteroid field.
After spending a few minutes showing those rocks who the big boss lady is I get a distress call about a water shortage. With an inventory full of various minerals (well I have no idea if it actually was full, just how much can the cargo holds actually hold anyways?) my mind formed a cunning plan.
If I quickly head to the planet closeby and sell all these rocks to those weird rock collecting enthusiasts I can use those sweet sweet moneys to buy that precious H20, which I can then sell at ridiculous prices to those perishing colonists: "What? You think a hundred thousand dorrahs is too much for a glass of liquid? Well then you can drink space dust for all I care Nyeeehhh".
With my plan fully formed and with dollarsigns in my eyes I set forth on my epic quest to become rich in a computer game... and... used my FTL drive to propel me at relativistic speeds into the asteroid I was mining. Game over.

Now I just need my laughing fit to calm down and it is time for round 2.
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mattie2009

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #42 on: January 28, 2012, 08:33:59 am »

Sorry for the thread necro but I just had to take a break from laughing at my own stupidity to share this. I just had my first hour or so in Evochron Mercenary (got it off steam.) and so far my impression is that it's good, it seems fairly complex but has a pretty good tutorial. Now to the good stuff. I had forgotten that space sims have a habit of wanting to punish stupidity, well let's just say I got a wake-up call.

Tutorials complete I jumped in with my civvie trader/miner ready to take my first steps towards a multi-trillion space-dorrah conglomerate. Immidiately I get some lowly space scrubs pestering me about docking in a station for some mercenary work. Well I told them to take a hike to the nearest singularity and quickly located the closest asteroid field.
After spending a few minutes showing those rocks who the big boss lady is I get a distress call about a water shortage. With an inventory full of various minerals (well I have no idea if it actually was full, just how much can the cargo holds actually hold anyways?) my mind formed a cunning plan.
If I quickly head to the planet closeby and sell all these rocks to those weird rock collecting enthusiasts I can use those sweet sweet moneys to buy that precious H20, which I can then sell at ridiculous prices to those perishing colonists: "What? You think a hundred thousand dorrahs is too much for a glass of liquid? Well then you can drink space dust for all I care Nyeeehhh".
With my plan fully formed and with dollarsigns in my eyes I set forth on my epic quest to become rich in a computer game... and... used my FTL drive to propel me at relativistic speeds into the asteroid I was mining. Game over.

Now I just need my laughing fit to calm down and it is time for round 2.

WARNING: Do not use FTL drive if your path is blocked by asteroids, planets, suns, exploding suns, supernovae or space cows.
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Darkmere

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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #43 on: January 28, 2012, 11:19:48 am »

...... Yeah. As soon as that bad boy goes on sale, it'll be mine. You convinced me. Is it as Privateer as it looks?
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Re: I need to hit a lick on a space sim and go ham on it.
« Reply #44 on: January 28, 2012, 11:49:16 am »

I want to thank you for the necro, because I was sifting through links and decided to give Pioneer a try.  :D
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