X3: Terran Conflict

[WhiteNoise]

So I wrote an entire huge post on this and then proceeded to delete it. FUUUGH. Okay I'm calm, its been several hours...I've made peace with stupidity and I'm ready to start over.

So I've been playing this game since last week. Last Friday night to be exact. First I'd like to state this game is not for everyone; in fact it's not for most anyone at all. But for the few that will like it; Will love it. This is not a game for the typical console gamer of today. This game requires a mind to play. Not to say any of you Tech power-UP peops aren't up to it but lets be honest....not all of you are.

So I have put maybe 20 hours into this game so far. Of that time maybe 3/4 of that time was spent mapping out the star systems, (I haven't even scratched the surface as far as mapping goes.) The other 1/4 was spent making money via trading. All in 700,000 credits PROFIT. Yes trading can make you a lot of money fast if you figure out what the fuck you are supposed to do. And that leads me to the main issue for most people that buy this game; WTF are you to do? I mean the game drops you off in space literally. Like you, a ship and then nothing. No tutorial.

So you start a game of X3 TC. You press start. You load into the game and you find yourself drifting in space. Literally drifting with no mission, no objective given. So the first thought you have is this: "WTF?" And that tends to be your thought for the next hour or more. Eventually you figure out (without the help of the game) how to use the thrusters on your craft and you start drifting towards a station, or open space; depending on you and you alone. No input from the developer thats for sure.

So you manage to drift somewhere. Again you don't know WTF to do so you start hitting buttons, seeing what happens, reading posts online, maybe read a guide or two...and by this time about 97% of the players say F#@& this shit and uninstall the game. The other 3% plug on...and find pure gaming bliss. Slow paced, unadulterated bliss. Kinda like when you first kiss a girl and you realize this is what you have been put on this earth for...well maybe not quite that good but when you get it, you get it...

So I have spent the majority of my time mapping the systems because nothing in this game is done for you. Even something as simple as flying around space becomes a challenge in this game as you have to find the gateways to other sectors, as well as other key locations in the game.

let me step back a second. Did you or do you love EVE Online? Then you will love this game. This is EVE Online without the ONLINE component but with the COCKPIT component. You get to fly the ships...AWESOME.

Okay this post is getting long. I'll add to it but I hope that this finds that 3% and hits home. Play it. You'll love it. But its not an action game. I mean combat can be action but ultimately this is a game that requires thought...and brains.The manual is nearly 400 pages. C'mon; this game demands a brain. and patience.

Load it and enjoy. I should add that I'm a Star Citizen fan and that game lead me to this one. SC has not released yet but I wanted to try something in the same frame....

I couldn't be happier.

 

[Deleted member 74752]

crickets chirping...

 

[WhiteLotus]

Isn't there a new X3 coming out?

 

[erocker]

I am the 97%. Though, I'm going to try it again.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Yes, X: Rebirth...but that's basically X4. New engine and all. There's X3: Albion Prelude which is between X3:Terran Conflict and X: Rebirth. It is only available on Steam I think and it is an expansion (not sure if saves carry over, don't think they do) on X3: Terran Conflict so you have to have both on Steam.

The fastest way I found to make money is the assassination missions. When destroying M7s or larger, you can make millions in one whack. I leave the trading to an auto-piloted fleet of Mercury Super Tankers.

 

[WhiteLotus]

Have research paper to finish...

Must not buy game...

Must resist...


trying so hard...

Resistance is futile...

(Throws wallet across room to prevent purchase)

SCREW YOU STEAM. I GOT A DEGREE TO EARN!

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I would wait to buy it when it is on sale again.

Oh, and I actually did homework while playing X3: Reunion (I think it was). There is no cruise function like in Freelancer--you can only go as fast as your ship (and most are pretty dang slow). If you don't use SETA (the game's fast-forward function), you can get a lot done while the ship auto-pilots from sector to sector. Evening docking takes 30+ seconds on most stations because there's a 100 m/s speed limit on approach.

 

[erocker]

Here's the game manual if anyone is interested: http://cdn.steampowered.com/Manuals/2820/manual_english.pdf?t=1350581574

 

[lyndonguitar]

BIG FAN and player of this game too, X Series Generally

Actually I made a guide here for newcomers, posted on the official forum guides list, its for the newer game, Albion Prelude, but also still applies to Terran Conflict, Although I don't update it anymore

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=3961103

 

[ivicagmc]

I have finished X3 this time last year. Some piece of advice, don't waste time building large flotila, because just when I had nicefleet of ships campaign was over. I was very disappointed, I mean you can continue playing for creds, but that is just not it. Alibion Prelude is much harder to play because of some tweaks in game play.
Another thing, if you don't have tons of time, and have active social life don't even try to play, because when you get in it takes 3h at least to get out. It is like morning, you pres play, and next what you see is dark outside and tons of missed calls and messages on phone...

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The most fun I have in the game is buying an M2 and arming it with the best weapons. That often involves building massive factory complexs to manufacturer the guns, a fleet of support ships, and ships dedicated to servicing me (supplying energy cells, buying guns/shields at other stations, and other on-demand jobs) while I jump sector to sector looking for assassination jobs in a combat ship (M3, M6, M7, or M2).


There's nothing more satisfying than watching your M2 rape two-three enemy M2s and M1s simutaneously. And what's better than one M2? How about three? XD

 

[TheHunter]

Great game, really really massive gameplay. But yea I agree it can be a little confusing for newcomers.


The only thing I changed was ship keys for better maneuvering and I kept rest at default, got use to those keys pretty quickly

I've been playing X3 reunion for over 90hrs+ in total, I think i opened almost all sectors and in the end I started building my own Stations and even bought a sector or two

 

[WhiteNoise]

Yeah I have X3: Albion Prelude as well. It's stand alone and saves do not carry over from TC. The only reason I started TC is because I read that it is more newb friendly. X3: Albion Prelude actually looks slightly better too.

Yeah you aren't kidding about how long it takes to travel in this game. I set a course and then read parts of the manual, BS with my Wife or kid and just keep tabs on the game. It's a different experience for me to play a game but not actually play for long periods of time lol. And still love it!

I just can't believe that I never tried this game sooner.

 

[brandonwh64]

I have this game as well but never installed it. I may locate the discs and test it out LOL

 

[WhiteNoise]

Oh and I agree too about making a lot of money doing the assassin's missions. i was earning around 20k cr per freight run and then i took my M3 out to do a couple of assassin missions. Each one earned me over 40k credits and took maybe 30 minutes of my time at most for both.

Now that I have enough money though I can get my haulers setup to run by themselves. I need to get that handled so I have constant money coming in while I fly around in my M3 doing combat missions.

 

[lyndonguitar]

The upcoming game X Rebirth looks very awesome, It will be built from the ground up, with new gameplay, graphics, and engine, unlike X3 which uses the same engine from the first game only heavily modified,

they have delayed it several times now, release was to be on 2011, then 2012, now moved back to 2013. One of the big problems of the X series are tons of bugs, I think they are trying to fix that now.

I can't wait for it.