🚀 go-pugleaf

Dan Lingman wrote:
> 
> What do you like and dislike about the current crop of space sim games?

Current crop? And these elusive games are ... where?  :p


> Here's my list:
> 
> 1 - not enough of the darn things.  Each year there are a dozen or so FPS,
> and strategy games, but maybe 1 or 2 space sims.  Some years not at all.

Exactly. FPSes are quick fix entertainment (blast 'em all) so they're
more popular in general. I play plenty of them so I'm not criticising
the style. 

How many still-playable space sims are there anyway? MoO 1-3, SMAC,
Galactic Civilizations ... are there others?


> 2 - flight controls - I want to be back in the wing commander days -
> joystick control, fast action.  Not wack a mole with your mouse, or hit a
> button and watch your ship spin around shooting things.

I personally think this is a different type of game -- a "flight sim set
in space". I dunno if you can merge the strategic and the flight sim but
both have their place. I am flexible and have no preference but many
gamers do. 


> 3 - a real universe that makes sense.  Planets that move.  Bases that trade
> with each other.  Cargo ships that don't vanish into the twilight zone if
> you follow them into the next sector

Absolutely!


> What's on your list?

EVE online appeals to me as a living universe but I would like the
ability to leave the ship, go planetside and explore, interact, do some
roleplaying. 

I suppose my ideal space game would allow me to roleplay an individual
person (mercinary, merchant, noble, military, etc.) who can adventure
and explore like in an FPS, who can buy-sell-trade like in EVE Online,
and who could pilot my ship like a flight sim (be it single-person
fighter or command of a battlecruiser). 

It would be a massive multiplayer game but would be expensive and have a
minimum age of 30 for all players. Yes, this would unfortunately cut out
some poor and young players who are of like-mind, and it is no guarantee
against older professional jerks, but it would seriously weed out the
hordes of basement-dwellers and antisocial punks that ruin MMORPGs. And
there would be roving (pre-screened and creative) GMs who can interact
with players to add fun. 

Since you asked.   :)


  - Sheldon