Any modern space combat flight sims around?

[-ZG-BUZZARD 0]

I can't afford to pay for MMOs but the fact that you can't play as a fighter craft in EVE I think is annoying - just my oppinion that there's GOT to be starfighters, blame Star Wars for it   - AFAIK the smallest craft in EVE is still a small frigate, but starfighters is what I like best...  

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

BUZZARD @ Jan. 10 2008,22:16)]I can't afford to pay for MMOs but the fact that you can't play as a fighter craft in EVE I think is annoying - just my oppinion that there's GOT to be starfighters, blame Star Wars for it - AFAIK the smallest craft in EVE is still a small frigate, but starfighters is what I like best...

What do you mean not play as a fighter?

Fighting is one of the biggest aspects of eve....

[-ZG-BUZZARD 0]

BUZZARD @ Jan. 10 2008,22:16)]I can't afford to pay for MMOs but the fact that you can't play as a fighter craft in EVE I think is annoying - just my oppinion that there's GOT to be starfighters, blame Star Wars for it   - AFAIK the smallest craft in EVE is still a small frigate, but starfighters is what I like best...  

What do you mean not play as a fighter?

Fighting is one of the biggest aspects of eve....  

As I said, not in a space fighter, the smallest craft is a small frigate, which still works as a multi-crewed vehicle. However, a single-pilot space fighter with the size of an X-Wing or a Freespace fighter, playable and joystick-controlled is something that is absent from EVE if I'm not mistaken...  

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

True you cannot control them with your joystick. You are looking for an arcade game

[Mr_Tea 0]

True you cannot control them with your joystick. You are looking for an arcade game

That`s not correct.

X3 has support for joysticks, can be bought for a little bit of money even over steam, or on DVD.

It has nice graphics, a big universe...., and you can:

Trade,Fight,Build and (must) Think.

Try it, you will not regret it.

There are mod`s out there, that more than double the amount of sectors in game, and you can find any kind of spaceships you can think of.

I recommend the use of the DDRS mod, or Xtended if you like to play an "early" beta, that requires a new start of the game, with every new version of the mod.

Around X-mas we got a patch, to fix the last little bugs.

So if you want to buy a cheap game, that causes no additional cost´s, is enjoyable for a very long time, than buy X3 Reunion.

Edit:

Here,you can find out more.

[-ZG-BUZZARD 0]

True you cannot control them with your joystick. You are looking for an arcade game

I wouldn't call Freespace and Freespace 2 exactly arcade games, they got enough buttons and tactics to earn them the title of simulations, even if they don't model gravity in a correct way, yet they're controllable with joysticks, but if that's what's nagging you then I could present you with FreeAllegiance, also a game that's controllable with joystick, but also sufficiently complex to be called a simulator. Last but not least, Universal Combat, a game with enough acronyms and complexity to rival Falcon 4, is also supposed to be playable with joystick in addition to mouse and keyboard, so I don't think your assessment of joystick = arcade game is exactly accurate (and hope that the Falcon 4 ppl don't hear ya - cuz I don't think they fly pushing only keyboard buttons and swirling the mouse around... ).

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

BUZZARD @ Jan. 11 2008,02:27)]

True you cannot control them with your joystick. You are looking for an arcade game

I wouldn't call Freespace and Freespace 2 exactly arcade games, they got enough buttons and tactics to earn them the title of simulations, even if they don't model gravity in a correct way, yet they're controllable with joysticks, but if that's what's nagging you then I could present you with FreeAllegiance, also a game that's controllable with joystick, but also sufficiently complex to be called a simulator. Last but not least, Universal Combat, a game with enough acronyms and complexity to rival Falcon 4, is also supposed to be playable with joystick in addition to mouse and keyboard, so I don't think your assessment of joystick = arcade game is exactly accurate (and hope that the Falcon 4 ppl don't hear ya - cuz I don't think they fly pushing only keyboard buttons and swirling the mouse around... ).

You diverted the whole discussion. It has nothing to do with joystick/no joystick.

The point is, that whenever we do have the technology to build lighthuggers, I doubt we will see pilots sitting with their joystick in their hands controlling those crafts .

Granted, we don't know how things will look in 3-400 years, but I just find the Eve-way more like a simulator of what I can imagine will happen. That means directing the onboard flight and combat computer, which then calculates and controls the engines/turrets/launchers/drones/probes.

For those who haven't tried out Eve, this is a typical combat situation for me (when flying my battlecruiser, Drake): All is conrolled using mouse and keyboard.

You approach the enemy, and at around 50 km, you lock onto him. You command the flightcomputer to orbit the poor guy at around 20 km. Now the engines will try and stay out at 20 km from the target. This is simply because the missiles i'm using right now has exactly that at optimum range.

When I am close enough to fire (30 km), I activate all my 7 heavy launchers and hopefully will see his shield, armor and hull detariate to zero.

While I (or rather my combat computer) is fighting, I am logging on to whatever more enemies there might be around me, I will also disengage some of my launchers as they are pretty slow. This means they will have reloaded again when the first enemy is down, and I can engage this second little sucker .

How succesfull you are depends entirely on your skills (you train skills all the time), your ship, your ship fitting, in what order your killing them bastards and a tiny bit of luck.

Thanks alot Mr_Tea, I'll take a look on the X^3-game

[-ZG-BUZZARD 0]

I see your point, Espectro. I just thought that, just like you said, since we don't know how the future is going to be, dismissing space fighters (which may or not be controlled like the air fighters in existance today) as arcade-ish was a bit harsh, since it may still happen.

And you described EVE like one could perhaps describe the "Star-Trek"-style of fighting (now, don't go into details of this because I don't have too much knowledge of this, I'm just taking it as a grand example) in which there are only large ships and the computer does most of the fighting, as compared to the (admittedly WW2-dogfighting-style-inspired) "Star Wars" type of fighting where the piloting skills (let's discount the Force just for argument's sake since not every pilot has it) as well as the fighter craft characteristics, as well as, why not, a fair share of luck are what determine the outcome of combats amongst space fighters.

Those "Star Wars" principles apply to Freespace, Freeallegiance, Starlancer, and the upcoming "The Tomorrow War" (as well as most naturally the entire X-Wing series). The "Star Trek" style of fighting applies to the "X"-series of games and the two "i-War (or Independence War)" games, as well as some others if I'm not mistaken, though I haven't kept track of those, since, what I said, I was interested in, was more the "Star Wars Space-fighter"-style of gameplay, which I don't consider arcade-ish at all (though of course every now and then there pops up a title that is too simple to be called a simulation, but none that I mentioned fit that category).

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

BUZZARD @ Jan. 11 2008,11:16)]I see your point, Espectro. I just thought that, just like you said, since we don't know how the future is going to be, dismissing space fighters (which may or not be controlled like the air fighters in existance today) as arcade-ish was a bit harsh, since it may still happen.

And you described EVE like one could perhaps describe the "Star-Trek"-style of fighting (now, don't go into details of this because I don't have too much knowledge of this, I'm just taking it as a grand example) in which there are only large ships and the computer does most of the fighting, as compared to the (admittedly WW2-dogfighting-style-inspired) "Star Wars" type of fighting where the piloting skills (let's discount the Force just for argument's sake since not every pilot has it) as well as the fighter craft characteristics, as well as, why not, a fair share of luck are what determine the outcome of combats amongst space fighters.

Those "Star Wars" principles apply to Freespace, Freeallegiance, Starlancer, and the upcoming "The Tomorrow War" (as well as most naturally the entire X-Wing series). The "Star Trek" style of fighting applies to the "X"-series of games and the two "i-War (or Independence War)" games, as well as some others if I'm not mistaken, though I haven't kept track of those, since, what I said, I was interested in, was more the "Star Wars Space-fighter"-style of gameplay, which I don't consider arcade-ish at all (though of course every now and then there pops up a title that is too simple to be called a simulation, but none that I mentioned fit that category).

Granted I havent played those game you mention here.

I enjoyed the Elite series games, with which you ofcourse controlled the fighting as well.

I also played Freelancer, which was more of a scripted storytelling of Elite, and although it had very interesting points, I didn't like the narrow way of the gameplay that it actually had when you first got into it.

I play eve simply because of the enormity of the game. Eve-online is so huge you will never in a lifetime be able to visit every system and its stations. The economy-system is so complex that it simulates the real-life counterpart very well. And the most important aspect of all, the skill system. Although it at times is pretty damn heart-paining to wait several days for a skill to be trained so you can use the new tech of a certain gadget on your ship, and it was bought for your hardearned money - it is still a very nice way of simulating that you cannot just go from zip to god in no time, even though you have the money to do so.

You need to build up a reputation among the various federations before they will let you advance through missions. Another aspect that is well built into eve, is the player corporations. Wether you just want to mine, take missions or do PvP, there is room for it in eve.

My corp for example is right now saving up to build an outpost in 0.0 (high risc territory), but it will probably take us 40 players another month before we have enough money and building equipment to build it.

Let's just hope there wont come 40+ player pirates in the night trying to shoot it down when it first is online

[Black Sphere 0]

The point is, I think, that [ZG]BUZZARD prefer so called 'X-Wing' type of space simulation - where the main unit is a from the 'cockpit' controlled 'Starfighter', and where the main feature are dogfights with (mostly) other fighters, like in games as Freelancer, over the external view 'point and click' fights with capital ships like in EVE, and where the complexity of the game is the main atribute.

BTW; it's my first day behind trying EVE. Not bad at all, learning, thanks to the nice, extended and well presented help, is pretty fast and good, so I'm already quite familiar with the game. Shear vastness and the complexity of the game is really breathtaking. Only problem I had my first day was to find out how to log out  

[Mabes 0]

If you want to play Freelancer again, go and find the evolution mod, it adds a TON of new ships, weapons, galaxies, missions and even more parts of the ship to upgrade (engines, shields, armor, power plant, etc etc). You can find it somewhere on their forums here:

http://www.pathfinderstudios.com/forum/

[Dwarden 1125]

i wish someone make MMO based on Independence Wars 2

combined with FreeSpace, StarLancer, Elite, Frontier, Privateer etc

i mean EvE is nice but it's not sim (no realtime mauevring, no collisions, no newtonian physics etc)

[scousejedi 0]

i wish someone make MMO based on Independence Wars 2

combined with FreeSpace, StarLancer, Elite, Frontier, Privateer etc

i mean EvE is nice but it's not sim (no realtime mauevring, no collisions, no newtonian physics etc)

Someone is....

http://www.infinity-universe.com/

Here are some Videos

[BlackScorpion 0]

Now that we got into simulation side... space, fighting and simulation just don't go well together. Lightsabers - they'd vaporize everything in a 5m radius in real life. Without dampers flying fighter style at space speeds would make you into meatloaf due to the G-forces - assuming you can get powerful enough engines to divert the flight path (seeing as there's no drag to counter the motion in space).

Now, I know you didn't ask for it but if you wanna try something VERY different... Orbiter. Docking a Space Shuttle into ISS is interesting to say atleast, especially if you haven't read the manual.

[Necromancer- 0]

Here are some Videos

This looks really impressive...

[Dwarden 1125]

i wish someone make MMO based on Independence Wars 2

combined with FreeSpace, StarLancer, Elite, Frontier, Privateer etc

i mean EvE is nice but it's not sim (no realtime mauevring, no collisions, no newtonian physics etc)

Someone is....

http://www.infinity-universe.com/

Here are some Videos

i know about Infinity : the Quest for Earth...

posted about it year ago or so ...

yet it will be bit different than what i got in mind ... tho it's close ...

[Thunnder Bunny 0]

Actually small single ship flight can be very useful.

I wanted to scan a vast asteroid field, but I didn't wanna scuff the paint job on my corvette class -Dragon-.

I carry a small ship, a -Discover- docked to my dragon. Like many (fighters / haulers / scout ships and more) they can maneuver into places big ships can't reach.

Plus fighters make good escorts , in the proper numbers they can take on bigger ships....with the right kinda weapons and tactics you can (wound , capture, destroy) almost any ship....providing they don't use fighter support

Firing capital class weapons in a busy trade lane can win you more enemy's than freinds....although you still can if you want to.

Ship flight in X3 can be hands on steering and auto turret ,or auto pilot with you firing turrets and missiles or a mix of both at the same time...it's up to you.

This game can be intimidating when you first get started. Creds must be earned, but can be lost so easily

I attempted hauling goods for profit, but found repairing my ship after a fight negated any creds I had gained. Software,weapons,cargo can all be damaged or destroyed in fights. So sometimes it's better to weigh your odds.

Besides ship pack mods, there are scripts mods that do anything you want pretty much.......*whispers* free ships, stations ,credits, engine tuning, REP,

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Yep, we got shuttles in Eve as well

Or drones for that matter...

[colligpip 0]

somebody has made a star wars physics addon for orbiter and in the next few days a laser add on will be out. You dont get any more realistic than orbiter on a pc combine this with this new addon and it should be a great space sim/game

http://orbit.m6.net/Forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=18056

[sanctuary 19]

You even can pilot the Atlantis from Albator , famous serie of the seventies (the ship is more known as the Arcadia from the Captain Harlock serie, out of my country) in Orbiter.

All those memories of my youth are coming back

[colligpip 0]

i've only just started playing orbiter in the last few weeks it really is amazing for a free download. the amount of addons for it is great, i know arma/ofp fans love addons.:-)

[Thunnder Bunny 0]

Sounds cool , I'm gona give orbiter a try.

[sanctuary 19]

Orbiter is actually just plain awesome for something that is free, the most realistic space simulation i ever played.

An important advice is to actually read the manual, it really explains how to fly, Orbiter is a real simulation and so have a learning curve with the real physics applied there.

But once you get the basis (the quickstart mission explained in the manual will get you flying in few minutes) it is very impressive and enjoyable (even with just keyboard and mouse if you have no joystick), as it is close to the dream of nearly everyone when they were a kid : being an astronaut

There are 3 kind of cockpits available to choose while playing (F8 to switch from one display to another) , one is a "simple" hud, another is using some 2D graphics, and the 3rd is modelled and the buttons are all functionnals and clickable with the mouse (and you can look around)

Recommended addon to start with the game is the OrbiterSound 3.5 , as there is no sound in default Orbiter.

And as you will certainly orbit Earth for a while, get the high res Earth texture, from this

Orbiter download page

After that , you are on your own with all the addons and high res scenery and textures available.

A screenshot of a successfull orbit after a take off from Earth

Then everything just went wrong :

[BlackScorpion 0]

I actually recall flying with a mate of mine - we went up, had a round or two around our beloved marble ball and then decided to land the thing. Well... managing to even do a re-entry took a while. Once we did it and flew a bit very high in the atmosphere, we realized we're doing thousands of kilometers per hour. OK, fine... we decided to head for Cape Canaveral - which happened to be closer if we'd fly the other way. Meh, no turns! So... there we were, flying with the engines on... he thought we were going too fast at few points, so couple of times we fired retros.

Anyways, we weren't. After flying probably over 3/4th of Earth's diameter, we were forced to (crash)land out beloved craft merely 40 kilometers off CC.

[sidhellfire 0]

BUZZARD @ Jan. 11 2008,02:27)]

How succesfull you are depends entirely on your skills (you train skills all the time), your ship, your ship fitting, in what order your killing them bastards and a tiny bit of luck.

In the other words: Each MMO, where you do have to train skills, you just don't need any in reality - you could be stupid monkey, and still gain advantage, since you do play longer than enemy, and he's going to loose to anyone, who has superior weapons, ships etc.