You forgot one of the best board games of all time.
General / Off-Topic Love of Science Fiction - That's why we're here, right?
- Thread starter MissMeYet
- Start date
I don't think it's fair to blame your own nostalgia. I'm sure when DB was outlining what he wanted for ED he was nothing but sincere, and the stuff the team proposed in the DDF, while ambitious, was far from impossible to achieve. It just hadn't been done on that scale in a space game before. We could have had the game the DDF was aiming for, and it would have been spectacular.
But then two things happened. Extra third-party funding was obtained, which meant for the first time that investors without a passion for the game became part of the equation. Then the launch date was set for December 2014, while the game was still basically a shell. Everything since has been lowered expectations and catching up. ED is still an amazing achievement given its unique genesis and rocky development road, but it's certainly not what many of us thought we'd be getting. That's not our fault as backers. To be fair it's arguably not even FD's fault, if we assume they had no options other than the ones they went with. Their development priorities are a bit screwed up, mind, and that's totally on them.
On a more positive note, favourite SF? Being an '84er the most influential stuff is that of which the original Elite reminded me when it was launched, so obviously Star Wars, Star Trek TOS, the original Battlestar Galactica, Blakes 7. I can't say that Elite ever reminded me of specific novels, but there was a clear connection (even though it's oft denied) between the Traveller RPG and Elite, and I was a huge fan of the former.
Over the years it's been easier to note works of SF that reminded me of Elite, rather than the other way around. Babylon 5 did this to some extent, possibly helped by the early use of CG. The very early and brief description of space travel and trading in Julian May's Saga Of The Exiles is very Elite-like, even if the rest of the saga isn't. Similarly the space travel in Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn always gave me an Elite vibe, although combat is handled quite differently and arguably more realistically. I was kind of hoping for something similar in ED's combat model but it would have been more strategic and less twitch-based.
Of the more contemporary stuff, both Dark Matter and The Expanse have a definite Elite feel to them and are worth checking out for any Elite fans who haven't done so yet.
Authors:
Asimov
Some Clarke (the first two Rama's - they got a bit touchy-feely-politics after that, I felt)
E. E. 'Doc' Smith (Lensmen and Skylark mostly)
Iain M. Banks 'Culture' series (utterly superb for the most part)
Peter F. Hamilton's 'Commonwealth' universe (the benefit with him is that you get a lot of book for your money!)
Greg Bear's "Eon", "Eternity" and "The Forge of God", "Anvil of Stars"
James S. A. Corey's "Expanse" series (it's actually two authors writing under one name)
'The Martian' - super book. Loved the film as well.
Michael Moorcock's 'Eternal Champion' series (old school fantasy stuff)
TV:
Blake's 7 (my avatar, for those not in the know, is the 'Liberator' spacecraft from the first three series - utterly iconic design)
Babylon 5
Firefly
The Expanse was surprisingly good, albeit somewhat different from the books. I enjoyed both.
...and frankly far too many to mention, although I feel I must make a shoutout to the old puppet series 'Starfleet'
And one more picture of the Liberator, as I just love that ship:
Asimov
Some Clarke (the first two Rama's - they got a bit touchy-feely-politics after that, I felt)
E. E. 'Doc' Smith (Lensmen and Skylark mostly)
Iain M. Banks 'Culture' series (utterly superb for the most part)
Peter F. Hamilton's 'Commonwealth' universe (the benefit with him is that you get a lot of book for your money!)
Greg Bear's "Eon", "Eternity" and "The Forge of God", "Anvil of Stars"
James S. A. Corey's "Expanse" series (it's actually two authors writing under one name)
'The Martian' - super book. Loved the film as well.
Michael Moorcock's 'Eternal Champion' series (old school fantasy stuff)
TV:
Blake's 7 (my avatar, for those not in the know, is the 'Liberator' spacecraft from the first three series - utterly iconic design)
Babylon 5
Firefly
The Expanse was surprisingly good, albeit somewhat different from the books. I enjoyed both.
...and frankly far too many to mention, although I feel I must make a shoutout to the old puppet series 'Starfleet'
And one more picture of the Liberator, as I just love that ship:
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All of the above and:
Novels: Consider Phlebas, Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M Banks <- Iain M Banks "Culture series" SF novels are a must if you want well written "big screen" SciFi in a book. The first one, Consider Phlebas, is a "must read".
Movies: 2010, Rogue One, Chronicles of Riddick, Dune (Lynch) & Blade Runner... I also feel 5th Element should be there too!
TV: Firefly (how could you not have??!)
Videogames: Borderlands 2, Fallout 3 (I think that counts as SciFi?)
I could probably go on a bit more about books and movies...
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My shout outs go to every Stargate, Star Trek series and to BSG remake, best movies include Alien franchise, Predator among others. Best sci fi games i give to ED, Half life, and star trek Voyager Elite force. Just to name a small few Sci fi related entertainment installments that i enjoy. Believe me there are more.
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The Gap series is, without a shadow of doubt, my all-time favourite series of sci-fi books. It's absolutely epic. If I could I would have named my commander Nick Succorso (but sadly that name is already taken).
Incidentally, we named our son Geraden.
It's definitely fantasy unless you're stretching AC Clarke's line that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
The Gap series is, without a shadow of doubt, my all-time favourite series of sci-fi books. It's absolutely epic. If I could I would have named my commander Nick Succorso (but sadly that name is already taken).
Incidentally, we named our son Geraden.
I've seen Nick Succurso and Angus Thermopyle flying around before.
Best SF Novels: HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Stainless Steel Rat Series, Arthur C Clarke books, Pratchett fantasy I know but still..
Best SF Movies: Alien series, 2001, Bladerunner, Serenity,
Best SF TV Shows: FireFly,
Best SF Video Games: Elite: Dangerous, Doom,
Best SF Movies: Alien series, 2001, Bladerunner, Serenity,
Best SF TV Shows: FireFly,
Best SF Video Games: Elite: Dangerous, Doom,
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Best SF Novels: The Gap Series, Use of Weapons, Only Forward
Best SF Movies: Bladerunner, Alien, Interstellar
Best SF TV Shows: FireFly, Red Dwarf, Joe 90
Best SF Video Games: Elite: Dangerous, Half-Life, Portal
Best SF Movies: Bladerunner, Alien, Interstellar
Best SF TV Shows: FireFly, Red Dwarf, Joe 90
Best SF Video Games: Elite: Dangerous, Half-Life, Portal
My wife had the pleasure of meeting him during a book signing - her best friend owned the book store so my wife was invited to a private before-the-show meeting with him. Very kindly signed a book and some drawings - someone managed to capture the affair and took a photo of my wife and the look of wonderlust on her face warms my otherwise swinging-brick of a heart.
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My wife had the pleasure of meeting him during a book signing - her best friend owned the book store so my wife was invited to a private before-the-show meeting with him. Very kindly signed a book and some drawings - someone managed to capture the affair and took a photo of my wife and the look of wonderlust on her face warms my otherwise swinging-brick of a heart.
I was lucky enough to meet him as well when Feet of Clay was released. still have the signed book, came across as a really nice person.
He put read it and reap with a drawing of Death's scythe.
Say hello to the boss for me as well. Hope she's keeping you in check.
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Novels: HGTTG, Excession (but also any Iain M Banks - RIP and so much respect), Hyperion Cantos, The Expanse
Movies: Bladerunner, Hard Ware, 2001
TV Shows: Firefly, The Expanse (so far....), DS9
Games: Omikron: The Nomad Soul, Elite, Freespace
Caveat - too many to list here, but these have always been the ones that mattered the most to me.
Why? I have loved Sci-fi from the first time I got told to 'sit quietly whilst the adults browsed' and picked up 2001 as an 8yr old from the local library. Somedays (like today - when the drink reminds of the real world) I wish I been born 3 or 4 centuries later. And when the pain really sets in you know you can find isolation, release - relief?, a fantasy of what 'could' be. Yeah ignore me ;-)
Movies: Bladerunner, Hard Ware, 2001
TV Shows: Firefly, The Expanse (so far....), DS9
Games: Omikron: The Nomad Soul, Elite, Freespace
Caveat - too many to list here, but these have always been the ones that mattered the most to me.
Why? I have loved Sci-fi from the first time I got told to 'sit quietly whilst the adults browsed' and picked up 2001 as an 8yr old from the local library. Somedays (like today - when the drink reminds of the real world) I wish I been born 3 or 4 centuries later. And when the pain really sets in you know you can find isolation, release - relief?, a fantasy of what 'could' be. Yeah ignore me ;-)
I was lucky enough to meet him as well when Feet of Clay was released. still have the signed book, came across as a really nice person.
He put read it and reap with a drawing of Death's scythe.
Say hello to the boss for me as well. Hope she's keeping you in check.
I had the enormous honour of meeting both PTerry and Neil Gaiman (and driving them to and from a train station) when they were doing signings for 'Good Omens'. Two of the nicest people I have ever met.
verminstar
Banned
Best books I ever read were by CJ Cherryh...cant remember the exact name but thats close...Chronicles of Morgaine.
Best comic series...transformers...thats the original version from the 80s not the recent rehash even though they good. Also 2000AD and judge dredd from the 80s right through till present day.
Best game...mass effect series with doom a close second, or half life 2 which is arguably the benchmark from where all games grew up.
Best movie...matrix...tricky one really because there are so many...total recall, bladerunner, serenity etc etc etc...
Best series...babylon 5, firefly...where does one even start?
Love it all, hard to pick out favorites when they all favorites.
Best comic series...transformers...thats the original version from the 80s not the recent rehash even though they good. Also 2000AD and judge dredd from the 80s right through till present day.
Best game...mass effect series with doom a close second, or half life 2 which is arguably the benchmark from where all games grew up.
Best movie...matrix...tricky one really because there are so many...total recall, bladerunner, serenity etc etc etc...
Best series...babylon 5, firefly...where does one even start?
Love it all, hard to pick out favorites when they all favorites.
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My love of science fiction stems from the real beauty of scientific findings and observations of our real universe.
Minonian
Banned
Big rep to you!
(When i can)Book Hitchiker's Guide Clarke, Asimov, Dune, And a lot more.
Sc fi series, BSG, ST, (all) SG series. (let's just forget about the last 2-3 season of SG1! It was horrible) Dr Who. Babylon 5
SF Vid games, Elite games, Deus ex, master of orion Imperium galactica 2. X series, Fallout mass effect.
Sci fi movies? Obboy if i start to count them all?! SW & ST movies, Matrix.