Firstly I would like to say, I've been a fan for many, many years. Both BBC and Spectrum have been my haunts for this game. Im not as learned as some of the other fans here but I have played computer games....OH! I have played. My field lies as a Broadcast producer and cameraperson.
Essentially, I was completely in favour of this idea. In retrospect, as much as this might pay for the server I feel it could limit the game.
What if people held a crusade on Mcdonalds and wanted to blow up the station (which we all want to do at some point). Could we do it? Is it impossible?
Im afraid, if you let so much money enter a game like this you also let the aspect of the companies dictating what happens. Look at most racing games, they have 'real' cars and most games do not allow for those cars to be damaged.
Maybe the odd impervious bill board, or a bill board you blow up that, instanteously after destruction, ships are sent out to repair.
As for making it a MMOPRG, there are many factors which could deny or allow either.
As mentioned before...naming planets......could be a dangerous thing to do considering whether the game is going to be playing over servers. What if a player is there first but connection problems mean that a second player elects a name first? talk abotu all scale warfare?
Also, how do you make it fair for people who have just started in game as opposed to those seasoned players? I know there are many unreasonable gamers who like to excercise their force during game time in 'clans' and such that involved cheats and hacks which are unfair. Its a very difficult thing to judge.
There is alot to figure out. As much as I would love it to be a server univserse, I could just imagine....
As much as I would like to see this as a one player extravanza I would like to see it multiplayer as well.
The comments about leaving your shuttle are certainly something which I would be all for. Oxygen, Food supplies etc...all sound good but these are just small modifications of which can be brought on board at a later stage.
As Mr Braben showed us in the past, it is often the simplest of algorythms that have proven the most addictive games, so maybe simplicity is also best.
Lastly, people have made comments about 'fan base'. I wish to try to answer those by saying that 'this is Mr Braben' we are talking about, a man who has proved his talent in so many ways in the past. I, or I should say we believe in what you have done in the past and what you are about to do and we share this greatness being with you from the start and to the end. There were critics of Frontier but fans stood by you because we could see what you were doing. This wasnt a blind zealot allegiance, these were older generation people who understood the implications of the game you were creating. Your fan base now is in its 30's, people with much more expendable income. I believe the older fans will buy out of respect and younger ones out of the legend which has given birth to countless imitators of the original, yet still none have beaten.
Having played Conqueror and Zarch, I have full faith in whatever you decide Mr Braben. Please keep your fan base well informed...and remember who wants to be a tester for you *wink wink*
fozza said:Imagine a universe where current corporations have dedecated space stations. You dock and see the latest Elite styled adverts from the likes of Intel or Microsoft or Pepsi. Adverts that advertise modern products but in a futuristic way e.g Pepsi Galaxy - The latest cola for zero G drinking!
or Cobra MK VIII Intel Inside!
The revenue goes back to Frontier in order to fund the servers.
Imagine flying to a station owned by MTV where you dock and watch a live gig by an aspiring new band. The feed being fed live from the real world.
Imagine talking voice over IP ship to ship in the same system with a picture of the caller appearing on your dashboard comunication screen.
Imagine customisable ships which you would pay real world cash to shipyards for special cosmetic upgrades and liverys. Buy a custom ship off eBay?
Having a apartment which you can walkaround either on planet or at a space station. Buying items to decorate it (a bit Sims esk ). Earning lots of cash from trading buy a bigger pad or have multiple homes. Imagine a virtual real estate market.
Fozza
Essentially, I was completely in favour of this idea. In retrospect, as much as this might pay for the server I feel it could limit the game.
What if people held a crusade on Mcdonalds and wanted to blow up the station (which we all want to do at some point). Could we do it? Is it impossible?
Im afraid, if you let so much money enter a game like this you also let the aspect of the companies dictating what happens. Look at most racing games, they have 'real' cars and most games do not allow for those cars to be damaged.
Maybe the odd impervious bill board, or a bill board you blow up that, instanteously after destruction, ships are sent out to repair.
As for making it a MMOPRG, there are many factors which could deny or allow either.
As mentioned before...naming planets......could be a dangerous thing to do considering whether the game is going to be playing over servers. What if a player is there first but connection problems mean that a second player elects a name first? talk abotu all scale warfare?
Also, how do you make it fair for people who have just started in game as opposed to those seasoned players? I know there are many unreasonable gamers who like to excercise their force during game time in 'clans' and such that involved cheats and hacks which are unfair. Its a very difficult thing to judge.
There is alot to figure out. As much as I would love it to be a server univserse, I could just imagine....
As much as I would like to see this as a one player extravanza I would like to see it multiplayer as well.
The comments about leaving your shuttle are certainly something which I would be all for. Oxygen, Food supplies etc...all sound good but these are just small modifications of which can be brought on board at a later stage.
As Mr Braben showed us in the past, it is often the simplest of algorythms that have proven the most addictive games, so maybe simplicity is also best.
Lastly, people have made comments about 'fan base'. I wish to try to answer those by saying that 'this is Mr Braben' we are talking about, a man who has proved his talent in so many ways in the past. I, or I should say we believe in what you have done in the past and what you are about to do and we share this greatness being with you from the start and to the end. There were critics of Frontier but fans stood by you because we could see what you were doing. This wasnt a blind zealot allegiance, these were older generation people who understood the implications of the game you were creating. Your fan base now is in its 30's, people with much more expendable income. I believe the older fans will buy out of respect and younger ones out of the legend which has given birth to countless imitators of the original, yet still none have beaten.
Having played Conqueror and Zarch, I have full faith in whatever you decide Mr Braben. Please keep your fan base well informed...and remember who wants to be a tester for you *wink wink*
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