Elite on Kickstarter...

[Muttley]

Wow! Such negativity! Who pissed on your cornflakes?

Chris Roberts I suspect.

Indeed. The chump who is "sad and angry that PC gamers get no respect." Consoles and mobiles are better than ever. They're more than capable of delivering the fun, playable, and accessible experiences that *I* like, but he's still wanking over next year's video card. In 2012. While wearing a flightsuit.

Currently available console hardware is now 7 years old, and releases on those platforms are tightly controlled by Microsoft and Sony respectively, and this type of game (along with most non-casual games) are totally unsuited to mobile platforms due to a) screen size and b) controls. So that whittles your argument down to "I don't like how he dresses up to make a funny video".

[Flojomojo]

Currently available console hardware is now 7 years old, and releases on those platforms are tightly controlled by Microsoft and Sony respectively, and this type of game (along with most non-casual games) are totally unsuited to mobile platforms due to a) screen size and b) controls. So that whittles your argument down to "I don't like how he dresses up to make a funny video".

Your facts are indisputable, but your opinions are ... yours. Sony/Microsoft platforms are capable of delivering good fun, but let's table that. It's true that they're "old."

Wing Commander would be a great casual game. Simple controls, fun storyline, low resolution graphics. It would work very well on any modern mobile platform and could benefit from higher resolution, touch/tilt controls, always-online elements, and easy updates. The same goes for the sequels and spinoffs (as well as X-Wing and TIE Fighter). Unfortunately, this genre and universe is getting left behind for the new shiny. I think the Wing Commander franchise is being thrown away and that's what hurts the most.

My secondary problem is that Roberts Space Industries (RSI? Seriously? For a tech company?) is nerdgasming over the latest tech and promising a LOT. The promo video just screams "scope creep" and they've taken enough money to assume they have license to attempt anything. I'd prefer a focused game on modest hardware that would not require the purchase/maintenance of a big-ass Windows PC.

When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks. But as people moved more towards urban centers, people started to get into cars. I think PCs are going to be like trucks. Less people will need them. And this is going to make some people uneasy.

This.

Also, what's with console-bashing Roberts using an XBOX 360 controller to fly his tech demo spaceship, anyway?

[Dio]

X-Wing on a joypad is Rogue Squadron. Which is not a bad game, but it's a very different game.

The PC's demise is much predicted, but singularly fails to happen. It's hard to tell because the MMO companies are very tight-lipped about their numbers, but the estimated spread varies between 'somewhat down on ten years ago' to 'significantly bigger than ten years ago'. But it certainly doesn't indicate that it's vastly smaller than it was unless you only consider retail.

Note also people like Jobs and many other large corporations hate the PC because it's an open system and one he failed to conquer, so it's hard to call his statement that of a disinterested party.

[Fil]

More like shitstarter.

[Muttley]

Wing Commander would be a great casual game. Simple controls, fun storyline, low resolution graphics. It would work very well on any modern mobile platform and could benefit from higher resolution, touch/tilt controls, always-online elements, and easy updates. The same goes for the sequels and spinoffs (as well as X-Wing and TIE Fighter). Unfortunately, this genre and universe is getting left behind for the new shiny. I think the Wing Commander franchise is being thrown away and that's what hurts the most.

Well, unfortunately that wouldn't even be possible as he doesn't own the rights to Wing Commander any more, EA do. So even if they do decide to resurrect the name, you can pretty much guarantee they'd turn it into a dumbed-down, on-rails FPS.

[Flojomojo]

Well, unfortunately that wouldn't even be possible as he doesn't own the rights to Wing Commander any more, EA do. So even if they do decide to resurrect the name, you can pretty much guarantee they'd turn it into a dumbed-down, on-rails FPS.

I didn't realize that Roberts had no claim on the old games. EA would do well to reboot Wing Commander with episodic, Surviving High School decision trees, framed by pretty, first-person space shooter action. I would buy the shit out of that game.

The only thing they've done with this property has been (a) crap PSP emulation of the SNES version in EA Replay, and (b) ridiculous top down arena shooting action in Wing Commander Arena.

[Mark]

Has Limit Theory been mentioned yet?

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jos ... space-game

Looks interesting, and has a much more modest target goal (the money he's looking for, rather than the game which looks stupidly ambitious).

[RedOktober]

That seems to be a very sensible idea from a programming standpoint. He doesn't have to find artists or other specialists to work on different aspects of the game. It's a bold project, and I hope it works out.

[Darkflame]

A few more Elite tip-bits:

There will be both scripted and procedural missions. Some missions will be implied rather than explicitly signed up to – ie you will simply encounter something and you can choose to engage or not. An example of this is an incoming distress call or a derelict ship. They might be what they seem, or they might not…

I really hope they nail this as no game has ever got the "star trek like" feel of exploring and encountering stuff for me. Space Rangers almost had it at times, but never reached its potential.

[axel000]

Hmmm honestly all these space sims look great. Think I'll need to start saving up for a new PC, it been a while.

[Jamesac]

Has Limit Theory been mentioned yet?

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jos ... space-game

Looks interesting, and has a much more modest target goal (the money he's looking for, rather than the game which looks stupidly ambitious).

I want Limit Theory to be real but my bullshit alarm is ringing hard on this one. If he makes it and achieves his vision I'll be first in line to buy it, but there's something about the presentation that's telling me to stay far away.

James

[melkig1967]

Your facts are indisputable, but your opinions are ... yours. Sony/Microsoft platforms are capable of delivering good fun, but let's table that. It's true that they're "old."

The issue is not the hardware; it's Sony/Microsoft making it closed.

Why have Llamasoft not done anything on Xbox 360 since Space Giraffe? Why have they done nothing on any Sony Platform?

Because it's a nightmare to get anything done and get approval. Sure there's the 'casual XNA route, but that *still* requires approval. PC dev does not. It's called being free to do what you want and as long as that stays, PC gaming will never die.

(& yes iPhone does require approval but all they do is check basic functionality. In truth Apple don't really check quality and will still let any old crap out. They don't say "Oh you can't release the shooter; we've already got one a bit like that....)

[Dio]

As long as you're not trying to shift a mapping application that's better than theirs...

[gilesgoat]

Your facts are indisputable, but your opinions are ... yours. Sony/Microsoft platforms are capable of delivering good fun, but let's table that. It's true that they're "old."

The issue is not the hardware; it's Sony/Microsoft making it closed.

Why have Llamasoft not done anything on Xbox 360 since Space Giraffe? Why have they done nothing on any Sony Platform?

Because it's a nightmare to get anything done and get approval. Sure there's the 'casual XNA route, but that *still* requires approval. PC dev does not. It's called being free to do what you want and as long as that stays, PC gaming will never die.

(& yes iPhone does require approval but all they do is check basic functionality. In truth Apple don't really check quality and will still let any old crap out. They don't say "Oh you can't release the shooter; we've already got one a bit like that....)

Well .. this has a bit of pro & cons, the pro I agree with you is definitely EASIER to publish stuff on the iOS thing AND
have it immediately "ready for sale on a big shop", the cons of course is that "everyone can do it" so you have lot
of others in that same shop selling LOT of stuff as well and coming out with new stuff every minute.

On the other side "the other things" are really difficult to get into and stay into and keep everyone happy and
yeah in all and all is lot more difficult ( and stressful ) to be there than let's say "on the Apple store".

But then there's "another side of the story", I would dare to say that if you are going to do really something
for 360/Sony "it has to be something really something", you are not going to do "the 2 months project" you need
quite something more than that, you are talking more about a 6 months project that with all the times in the
middle and such turns out to be at the very least an 8 months project if you put "6 only for development time".

I have to say I do appreciate/appreciated some of the "control" that for example MS puts on some stuff BUT I
also have to say "I am NOT 100% convinced it totally delivers what all that stuff supposedly should do" in the end
of the day "you are always betting on something and betting it goes good" which the "added" thing you are
betting on more gain but with lot more risks too.

About why never Sony answer is simply "we never had any big contact/introduction in there" and I think at the time
Sony was interested in all other things, then again as I said before "if you are ever going to do something there
I think you need to do something a bit more high profile taking lot more development time".

Which is doable sure provided there is "something behind" but so far quite often there's quite a lot going on
the developer's shoulders and not much behind so it's not an easy route.

Who knows maybe the future is really into Ubuntu and the Ouya console

[RedOktober]

I want Limit Theory to be real but my bullshit alarm is ringing hard on this one. If he makes it and achieves his vision I'll be first in line to buy it, but there's something about the presentation that's telling me to stay far away.
James

To me, it seems to be a lot of trouble to go to if you don't have a product. If the funding isn't covered in the time allowed, then they get nothing. If they get the money, then don't produce anything in a reasonable time, they get a lot of irate people chasing them down. Making yourself a big target doesn't seem the best way to con people.

The Limit Theory programmer already has an engine, and has given himself plenty of breathing space. I know there are never any guarantees, but you can't assume that everyone is pulling a fast one, and the total cost seems very reasonable.

I'll probably give it a few quid. It doesn't seem a lot of risk for a game I'd really like to play.