Elite / Frontier Frontier - Xbox live - Is it possible

tobytyke

T
I'm not too sure how many people have an XBOX 360 around here. But Microsoft have started to put some Amiga classic's onto Xbox live. Currently they have Sensible world of soccer, and speedball 2.

So with that in mind would there ever be a chance that the Amiga CD32 version of Frontier could be ported. It would already be set for joypad and if it's done it would firstly introduce losts of people to the wonderful world of elite, and it would give everybody here something to play with while we're waiting for Elite 4
 

DraQ

D
I'm extremely uninterested in non-PC versions of E4, as long as the game is designed with PCs in mind, then ported on other platforms. Otherwise the game may end up "streamlined" (not buzz-word synonyms of "streamlined" include "Dumbed down") like Deus Ex: Invisible war or Oblivion and then the poverbial 'fertilizer' (it's frontier forum, after all) will hit the fan, resulting in messy aftermatch and, well, crappy end product.
 

streki

streki
I would pay good money

If Frontier were made available on Xbox live I would:

1. Jump for joy
2. Pay good money for it immediately
3. Kiss the rest of the year goodbye

Frontier 360 ? Lord yes !
 

DraQ

D
I wonder at what price? Simplified and nerfed controls (no full manual and jordanian controls)? Huge text? General dumbing down? Simplified mechanics? Stuffing space with tutti frutti nebulae? Autoaim?

Consoles have different strengths and weaknesses from gaming PCs and, among these weakneses are limited interface and limited power when it comes to handling things other than graphics (like vast proceeurally generated galaxy with vast planetary systems). They usually attract different audience, mostly people who want games that are quick to get into and easy to understand.

Now, accessibility isn't on it's own a bad thing, but it usually comes at the expense of complexity and that's an unaccptable loss.
 

streki

streki
DraQ said:
I wonder at what price? Simplified and nerfed controls (no full manual and jordanian controls)? Huge text? General dumbing down? Simplified mechanics? Stuffing space with tutti frutti nebulae? Autoaim?
Click to expand...


I don't see why this has to be the case - my xbox 360 is far more powerful a machine than my beloved Amiga 600 was. Plus I've got a USB keyboard plugged in for messenger etc....could the keyboard not provide everything the game requires in terms of controls?

I'd happily pay upto say £15 for a fully working version of Frontier on my 360 - I'd imagine that hundreds of thousands of others would too!

I'd even pay extra for a faciltiy whereby my old amiga save game could be replicated onto my xbox.
 

rgmarett

rgmarett
If they could update the graphics (maybe not to Mass Effect levels - which is brilliant by the way, everyone with an XBox360 go buy it!!) - where was I, oh yes, if they could update the graphics like they did for Prince of Persia and (soon to be released) Bionic Commando then I'd definiately buy it..............to tell you the truth I'd buy it even if it was just a straight port. (Frontier that is, not First Encounters (FE was a better game I just didn't like Earth being a brown ball)) But a quick graphics overhall would be very nice.

PS. I still have my Frontier T-Shirt, found it the other day in the loft can you believe that.....hmmm wonder how much I'd get for that on e-Bay.

Oh and..
DraQ said:
Consoles have different strengths and weaknesses from gaming PCs and, among these weakneses are limited interface and limited power when it comes to handling things other than graphics (like vast proceeurally generated galaxy with vast planetary systems). They usually attract different audience, mostly people who want games that are quick to get into and easy to understand.
Click to expand...

I used to assume the same (and you know what assume did), until I recieved an XBox 360 for Crimbo a couple years ago. What you're saying actually sounds very stereotypical and very very wrong.
 
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Steve O B Have

Steve O B Have
DraQ said:
I wonder at what price? Simplified and nerfed controls (no full manual and jordanian controls)? Huge text? General dumbing down? Simplified mechanics? Stuffing space with tutti frutti nebulae? Autoaim?

Consoles have different strengths and weaknesses from gaming PCs and, among these weakneses are limited interface and limited power when it comes to handling things other than graphics (like vast proceeurally generated galaxy with vast planetary systems). They usually attract different audience, mostly people who want games that are quick to get into and easy to understand.

Now, accessibility isn't on it's own a bad thing, but it usually comes at the expense of complexity and that's an unaccptable loss.
Click to expand...

I understand your lack of interest in an XBOX/PS3 version, I have much the same opinion but for very different reasons. I don't see why a console version should be dumbed down, there is very little difference between the current generation of consoles and the capabilities of a mid to high end PC. The real issue is that consoles as the currently exist are already becoming dated power wise. By the time that E4 is even close to coming out they will be obsolete.

Personally if the game came out on a console (pending exceedingly positive reviews) I would go out and buy a console with mouse and keyboard to play the game. My preference like yours is for a PC version simply because I have spent quite a bit of cash on my PC for gaming.

My other reason is that PC users tend to be a much more mature lot than console gamers and the idea of sharing a universe with a bunch of 12-15 year olds is certainly not in my taste but the news that there is going to be a comprehensive single player scenario and a limited multiplayer scenario is heart warming.

Who knows what the next generation of consoles might have to offer. Even the current generation offer a better level of graphics and processing power than the average desktop PC. To write them off completely as an option is, from a business perspective, foolhardy.
 

tobytyke

T
Total agree. I've fell in love with my Xbox 360 since i've had it. Mass effect is amazing. E4 should be using this as a bent mark as to what came be done. Although Mass Effect is more star Control than Elite.

I for one would have a lot to think about if the latest E4 was not available on a console.
 

rgmarett

rgmarett
Thanks Steve,

I think I've downloaded that patch before, but it doesn't create the 'proper' Earth like Frontier had (on the Amiga anyway).

PS: I like your website - have it in my favourites now.

A couple more things about this XBox vs PC contest, first off, it seems most people that have an XBox also have a PC anyway. I have an Alienware workstation but I get games for the 360 rather than the PC - I like sitting in the living room playing and everything just seems simpler. Plus, the 360 control pad is excellent - I even have one for my PC, which I use in Flight Simulator X - oh, just had a thought, it'd be great in E4 if you could create content like you can for Flight Sim, that'd be brilliant if people started adding Space centres on planets that you can download etc......which would make E4 better suited for PC (hmmm, I'm going round in circles here, mind you, downloadable content is quite popular on Xbox) where was I, oh yes;
The disadvantage of the 360 is, you're right, the young kids that play (ok you can mute them) if E4 was online then it'd be good if there was a way to block players you didn't like (a bit like MSN messenger).

But going back, this was a thread for: is the original Frontier coming out on XBox Live Arcade? I hope so, but with better graphics
 

tobytyke

T
I really doubt that this would ever be done.

But I also couldn't imagine that it would be too much work. All you would need to add this is the achievements, and maybe a touch up on the graphics. But to be honest most of the amiga games which are current on Xbox live arcade actually look and play better with there original graphics, than with new updated graphics.

I really hope something could be done but I don't hold any hope that it would. :(
 
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