Space Sims - What are you playing while waiting for Star Citizen?

[Kursah]

Well I know many of us are eagerly awaiting to see if our pre-order/kickstarter title Star Citizen will be everything promised and more. I've read more disappointment about the new X:Rebirth (I think???)...and I was never able to get into the old ones.

I have recently gotten back into Evochron: Mercenary and this time I'm using a KB + Mouse and man has it been a blast! It's as challenging as ever, but it's been updated a TON since I last played a year ago. Anyone out there playing this amazing title? I was just on sale for $14.99 on steam...not sure if it still is.

I have played FS2 Open and some Wing Commander Darkest Dawn when I need my arcade fix...but when I want more content, physics, and challenge Evochron dishes it up without apologizing. The community kicks ass and I feel this title often goes ignored or overlooked.

I know myself if I end up short-tempered will give up easy as the part I want to enjoy the most is also the MOST challenging...combat. Especially with the revised weapons and AI. Tactics have changed, and challenge has increased but is it sooooo fun and awesome to finally take down a bogey! This game will teach you to not go in all yankee style...unless you like blowing up your ship and having to load the last save.

What else are you guys playing? I have quite a few space shooters...most of which lose my attention. Evochron always pulls me back...the learning curve can be a bit steep at times...but online with some help or offline with some patience (make some money, get upgrades, then hire wingmen to fight by your side!) is a game well worth investing some time into.

It's what keeps my attention and hopes up in this genre...and hoping Star Citizen paid enough attention to make their physics similar. I've read varying opinions on what it will be like..and we'll see when it's released. The fact that one man has made Evochron is amazing in it's own right...it has a demo and is worth a look!

http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmercenary/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/71000

 

[Kursah]

Noone? Well if any of ya are curious or bored and looking for something different and awesome, and like a challenge check it out!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Well, when I was waiting for it last year, Wing Commander Saga came out. I played that for quite a while and will probably replay it quite soon. It is a FANTASTIC mod for the Freespace 2 engine based in the Wing Commander universe. I HIGHLY recommend this to any space sim fans.

Website:

http://www.wcsaga.com/

EDIT: Thanks erocker, didn't know it had changed.

 

[erocker]

EDIT: why isn't my embedding working?

Pretty sure you just need to post the address now.

^Yep, it works.

 

[Kursah]

Nice! New embedded feature!

Ya I've played WC Saga...it is fun! Well worth the download and time! More arcadey for those times when ya wanna get in and frag with a storyline.

I'm looking forward to SC, but am thankful for what we have now too! Especially Evochron!

 

[erocker]

X Rebirth is playable now. Mods are already out that are improving things as well. Elite Dangerous is due out in 2014 sometime and that looks pretty good.

 

[KainXS]

I'm still playing X3 AP and sins . . . . . . I did not even know about elite dangerous but it loos like something to watch out for.

 

[Kursah]

I may have to look into X3 again...I can't afford a new game atm. I've read more bad than good on X Rebirth...I was kinda hoping that one would be amazing as it seems more combat oriented with nice graphics.

I really haven't given X3 a fair shot...maybe I will try. Elite dangerous looks good too!

I just gotta wait till SC comes out...I kickstarted that a loooooong time ago.

 

[ShiBDiB]

X Rebirth is shit compared to X3

 

[RCoon]

X Rebirth is shit compared to X3

I'm waiting for patches, then I fully intend to play some X Rebirth right after I'm done with all these lovely Indie games I bought last week. Also Elite looks pretty ballin' these days.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I am playing Kerbal Space Program.

 

[Kursah]

X Rebirth is shit compared to X3

Well I'll give X3 another shot then. Any tips or links you have for a noob going into that game?

I am getting pretty far into Evochron...gonna do some MP soon. Getting better at combat and learning my old trade lanes. Been sooo busy this week with final homework and quizes before finals next week and work and family that my gaming hour(s) has been cut down. Winter is a good space-sim season tho!

I put FS2 Open, Evochron and Darkest Dawn on my lappy.

Edit: I have Kerbal...I have played it a little but my 11-year old loves that game...I lose my seat any time I'm even updating it and he sees the icon lol.

 

[scoutingwraith]

I am re-playing currently both Freespace 1 and Freespace 2 with mods from the community.

 

[Kursah]

I haven't tried the new FSO version...still on the old one from a couple years ago or better. You on the new version?

I am gonna try some Wing Commander Darkest Dawn on my lappy hopefully this weekend to see how it runs. Evochron Merc 2.xx looks great and runs so smooth I'm hoping that's the same for these modded out FS2 games.

 

[scoutingwraith]

I haven't tried the new FSO version...still on the old one from a couple years ago or better. You on the new version?

I am gonna try some Wing Commander Darkest Dawn on my lappy hopefully this weekend to see how it runs. Evochron Merc 2.xx looks great and runs so smooth I'm hoping that's the same for these modded out FS2 games.

Yeah the new version is pretty stable and good. I am playing them on my laptop.

 

[lyndonguitar]

Looking forward to Star Citizen, Limit Theory and Elite Dangerous but I won't spend money on them until I see how it goes. I'm lucky I did not get XRebirth seeing what a shit storm that game is, last good game I played was X3: AP and I been playing since X3: Reunion. I even wrote a full guide for new players here although its a bit messy. http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=3961103

Kerbal Space Program is also a good space game but not the typical "Space Sim" you are looking for(no trading and battles) KSP is more of a simulator that closely resembles how we explore space today. I also bought Kinetic Void Early Access on steam but it is still in the early stages of dev.

If you want to play now I suggest playing X3 and installing mods you like. It is a hard and complicated game to learn though but once you get past it its an enjoyable game. EVE Online is also a good game but it will require you massive amounts of "farming" before you can even enjoy the game, and it costs $ monthly. also you aren't in full control of you craft you just issue commands to it like a captain.

Also, just sharing this particular tech demo from a game indev years ago that blew my mind, too bad there hasn't been news since and I think the game is dead.

 

[Easy Rhino]

Kerbal Space Program is also a good space game but not the typical "Space Sim" you are looking for(no trading and battles) KSP is more of a simulator that closely resembles how we explore space today. I also bought Kinetic Void Early Access on steam but it is still in the early stages of dev.

Ha. I am glad somebody appreciated my comment. The discussion is about space sims and KSP is as close as it gets! What you guys are really discussing is sci-fi space sims. An important distinction in the gaming world.

 

[Kursah]

So it seems X Rebirth is still getting lots of flak but also comes recommended by some folks here.

I do own X3: TC...am thinking about picking up X3: AP for $9.99.

I have $50 I could spend...shouldn't but could. I am tempted to pick up Rebirth but am going to try to wait for a sale. The more I read about TC the more I want to learn it. Evochron is fun but so damn challenging and I like the idea of more strategy and involvement in the game world around me too.

I've owned TC for years and like I said before I tried it...said meh...and went back to Evochron (I think it was Legends at that time). I'll give EM some serious credit for one developer...it's a solid pilot sci-fi space flight sim (happy Easy Rhino? ).

But the more I read about TC the more I feel I would like it if I give it a more serious chance. I loved the X-Wing and Tie Fighter series which I've read by quite a few means I should feel more at home in X3....but now-a-days I'm used to different physics because if primarily playing EM.

I haven't even had time to fire up FS2 Open or Darkest Dawn either. Those are kind of for when I have my laptop as a gaming option.

We may need to create a thread for Space Flight/Combat Sims in the Clubhouse thread. I know there's a lot of folks following Star Citizen and I am very very hopeful for the most epic Chris Robert's release yet. I don't have any ships...just whatever I get for being an original kickstarter.

But back to my initial inquiry...I am having some interest in the X-series. Thinking about buying AP since it's cheap, but starting with TC. Suggestions? Tips? It's re-downloading as we speak. As a total noob to this title anything I should be aware of?

 

[Kursah]

Well got it installed, and had a few moments to load it up. I have a horrible screeching/static type noise that is pretty darn loud at the main menu. So I get to waste time digging into that instead of playing. Anyone run into that?

EDIT: Well I found a few threads for a codec tool CCCP to change MP2 and MP3 settings to Windows from LAV. I don't have that tool. But I also found some threads that said to install K-Lite Codec Pack...I had that installed. I removed that version and installed a newer version, no change. I removed it altogether and voila, no more static on the music channel. I may have to dig into the CCCP set then if I can't make K-Lite work.

 

[Kursah]

Well doing the first couple missions in X3. So far it's a better experience than I remember. I'm just using the KB and mouse like I am for all the other sims atm. I haven't busted out the joystick yet...and might not. The KB + Mouse combo appears to work very well so far.

This game looks pretty good for being so dated. The combat so far is okay...my ship is super slow. But I am finding some enjoyment thus far and am looking forward to getting into all it has to offer.

 

[erocker]

You should really just use the XTENDED mod. It pretty much keeps things the same and gets rid of most of the annoyances. Faster SETA drive, mission time/durations aren't messed up, plus a bunch of other stuff.

 

[Kursah]

Well I played some Wing Commander Darkest Dawn...I'm stuck on the same mission that I was a year ago. It was fun, but with mouse controls it's just okay.

I may try some more X3 later too..I'm looking into that mod. Looks very promising. I also wanna check out the star wars mods.

 

[Kursah]

Well I'm watching some videos and reading some guides on X3. Thinking I'll pick up AP too and wait for Rebirth to go on sale. Though I'm watching a Let's Play and it looks really good...I realize you only get one ship but it seems like that ship has some good potential and upgradeability. Who here owns X Rebirth and can vouch if it's worth purchase or not? Should I play TC and AP first?

I need to play around with it some more...I actually find where I'm at in Evochron more entertaining so I played that for a while last night. Both handle nice with a mouse. There's a lot to do with a lot going on in X3 but I am very interested in it. I have a feeling I'll get into what I've been missing. We'll see if it drops EM from my top preference...at this point no, but I'm going to give it a fair shot to say the least. I'm getting better with Evochron combat...but still the AI updates since I last played they're still a step or two ahead of me and my lack of experience thus far...but I hired a small fleet and I'm having more fun in combat than I ever have in that game so the changes made while more challenging for me aren't all for the worst. Anyone who's played this game before should try the most updated version out.

I'm going to go back to X3 vids and guides...mixing that up with studying for my CCNA 1 final.

 

[Random Murderer]

Cars and school having been taking up most of my time I could spend gaming...
That said, I went old-school and have been playing WC Privateer in DOSbox to hold me over. Also been playing MWO, but that's not really a space-sim

 

[Frick]

I wish I had never played Freelancer because then I could play Freelancer for the first time.

I did try somethin Evochron once, but never got into it. I have a game called SpaceForce: Rouge Universe that looked almost promising until I figured out I couldn't figure out the controls. Or it was buggy or something.

I also have the X3-games, have thought about getting into them.