There was a more recent WC type game

[Dran]

It has been 3 years, and I almost forgot about this game. Thought I would mention it just in case there are other interested parties. The game is called "Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter" I played it but lost intrest to other games. The game did not get great reviews, but it was a first to try and tie WC/Starlancer space combat with a FPS. Anyway if you have an XBOX this game is worth a look, and you can probably find it cheap. The game itself never really delievered on all it promised, but if as others mentioned there is going to be a resurgance in Space Sim games, or another WC game. I think that this type of Hybrid is the way to go. Here is link about the game if your interested.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/499/499618p1.html

 

[Manboy]

Yeah i remember this game.....and your description is apt - I got bored with it about halfway through due to the boring mechanics, decor and story. Still I agree totally that cross-genre gameworlds are nessecary for the WC universe to continue, throw in some adventure game and RPG elements too.

 

[Edx]

I think developers are afraid to alienate what they (might) percieve as two different types of gamers being forced to play part of the game they dont want to play IE. a Quake/HL fan that doesnt like space sim, and so not buy the product based on that.

 

[Dyret]

I agree totally that cross-genre gameworlds are nessecary for the WC universe to continue,

Why?

 

[Manboy]

For the simple reason that it has not continued in it´s current mould. Not that I would´nt be interested if it was, it just seems to me that the space-sim genre has reached its pinnacle with WC, I-War, X-Wing and the Freespace all contributing in some way, and it now needs to evolve. For me Wing Commander was all about the experience - the universe. Being on the ground will only add to that experience. But that´s my opinion anyway...

 

[ChrisReid]

For the simple reason that it has not continued in it´s current mould.

I don't think that's adequate justification. There's lots of reasons why space sims aren't as popular today as they used to be, and I'm not sure crossing a space sim with any other genre would do anything to change the situation today (it certainly didn't help Mace Griffin at all).

Not that I would´nt be interested if it was, it just seems to me that the space-sim genre has reached its pinnacle with WC, I-War, X-Wing and the Freespace all contributing in some way, and it now needs to evolve.

Certainly. And there's many ways it can evolve besides simply tacking on a shooter element.

 

[Manboy]

I don't think that's adequate justification. There's lots of reasons why space sims aren't as popular today as they used to be, and I'm not sure crossing a space sim with any other genre would do anything to change the situation today (it certainly didn't help Mace Griffin at all).



Certainly. And there's many ways it can evolve besides simply tacking on a shooter element.

I realize that grafting on a poor mans Doom in between flying missions isn´t going to do the genre any good, it would be another nail in the coffin. Icorporating well thought out story elements into ground based interactive enviroments would only be positive in my opinion. A FPS portion should definately not take up the bulk of the game, but it would prove useful for fleshing out characters, be it from pure observation during a stroll around your carrier (Adventure element), conversations leading to objectives (RPG element) or while under duress from being attacked (FPS element) ect ect.
I´ve has this rant before but I can see so much potential in creating more freedom within the Wing Commander universe besides a win/lose path.

 

[Death]

Hmm... one would think that "Battlecruiser 3000" would be enough to torpedo the notion that mixing in multiple gameplay types will make something worthwhile.

 

[Manboy]

Yeah but Battlecruiser 3000 was designed, programmed and paid for by one guy - a dedicated team with more time and a much larger budget should produce something a little more cohesive I think...

 

[AD]

My grandparents *LOVE* playing cards. They play cards with their friends... They even play solitaire and any other card game on the PC all the time. I can't see them finding a game where you had to walk around virtual tables in 3d to find a game any more entertaining. In fact that gets in the way of.. you guessed it: playing cards.

I could see having a walk-around-the-carrier portion being interesting for a second, but take wc4 for example. There are hallway transitions between rooms on the lexington... after the first time you saw them, did you really bother or did you just use the map to get to the next conversation? For us geeks, we LOVE to see every detail and nook and cranny of the ship, yet when it comes to actually playing the game, most people just want to get to the point.... Which in wing commander is space combat and the story. And to that effect I think the way wc2 is should be the way to go. If there are shooter elements they sure as hell better have a reason... Like fending off a kilrathi boarding party. But that should be something that is thrown in sparingly.

And in the end, most people will still say they hated having to waste time running around instead of getting to fly spaceships.

 

[Manboy]

I understand your point. I guess it's my fantasy to have a closer look at what I loved most about the WCverse, which is of course the characters and the story. This has been done very well with all games in the series so far, probably more so than any other game series that pops into mind at the moment.....I mean I'd be giving high-fives to confused people on the streets if another WC was released, even sans all the shit I was talking about earlier...

I've played games all my life (im 26) up until a few months ago. It's not laziness, just complete and utter boredom with the medium. I need to be completely sucked into the gameworld - WC has consistently done that with its continual push of technology and storytelling. It's just a case of been there done that. Time to move on imo.

 

[Dran]

Everybody here makes good points. And I would agree that the way that Mace Griffin did the FPS/Space Sim morph was a failure. I would also say that Manboy also makes some good points as well. There is a trend in the gaming industry towards using RPG elements in games. For the most part is has proven to be pretty successful with games like World of Warcraft, Battlefield 2, and perhaps the new release of Company of Hero's. I personally like games, in which I have, or my character has direct impact on the out come like Knights of the Old Republic II, and the outcome of the game is in direct result of my choices or action. When WC came out, besides the graphics, and other elements, one of the primary features was that how you played the game determined the outcome. This is one of the reasons for its success, and why one felt they were pulled into the Universe. It is true that Mace Griffin was a failure as a game, but that is because it was not done right. However, it was rather radical in its approach in trying to merge two different genres together. If say they also added in an RPG element into space stations where you could interact with characters like Knights of the Old republic, and in a leveling system for your character like Oblivion, and add in FPS type dungeons, and lastly add in the ability to customize your own ships and take space missions like Privateer, that you would have a very successful game if it was developed correctly. There is a new space sim/MMO on its way called Eve. It takes an open ended/RPG approach, and could be an eventual precursor to this type of game. I don’t know if it would be called Wing Commander VI, but it could have several elements that would be similar, and also could be produced by a company like EA. The going trend in games has been this morphing of genre’s and the incorporation of open play. If you look over the last few years, and what games have been remarked on IGN what games are the best, it has been games that have successful morphed genres. So I would believe any new Wing Commander game would probably use this type of Model.

 

[Lt.Death100]

There is a new space sim/MMO on its way called Eve.

Is this a different EVE than EVE online cause that's already out.

 

[Dran]

Is this a different EVE than EVE online cause that's already out.

Yes, my bad thought is was stil on beta. Have not been tracking it as of late.

 

[t.c.cgi]

Yes, my bad thought is was stil on beta. Have not been tracking it as of late.

There is always a portion of it in beta, but that's the next patch/content update/expansion. The normal game has been live for a few years. It's a fairly decent MMO for those who fancy space cruisers instead of elves.

 

[Manboy]

Certainly. And there's many ways it can evolve besides simply tacking on a shooter element.

Sorry to bring up old posts but I'm interested in what you think Chris, about the "space-sim" and how it could grow up? What would you change to add some extra depth into a tired but worthy genre? As a matter of fact I'm interested in what everyone thinks about this topic.....?

 

[ChrisReid]

Yeah but Battlecruiser 3000 was designed, programmed and paid for by one guy

No it wasn't. It had a crew of developers, artists, testers and so on, just like any other game. Dave Govett and George Sanger (WC1/2's Team FAT) even did the background music.

There is a new space sim/MMO on its way called Eve. It takes an open ended/RPG approach, and could be an eventual precursor to this type of game. I don’t know if it would be called Wing Commander VI, but it could have several elements that would be similar, and also could be produced by a company like EA.

Wow, you're way behind. The space sim MMO Eve Online came out in 2002. It was published by Vivendi Universal. It's no WC game.

Sorry to bring up old posts but I'm interested in what you think Chris, about the "space-sim" and how it could grow up? What would you change to add some extra depth into a tired but worthy genre? As a matter of fact I'm interested in what everyone thinks about this topic.....?

Old posts? I don't think the genre is very tired. I think either WC2 or WC3's formula would work great today. However, I don't think the next WC game will be quite like that. I think it will be a bit more action oriented, but with lots of connections back to older games in the series. If that's successful, it would pave the way for a somewhat more traditional expanded WC game.

 

[Manboy]

No it wasn't. It had a crew of developers, artists, testers and so on, just like any other game. Dave Govett and George Sanger (WC1/2's Team FAT) even did the background music.

I read an interview with Derek Smart who said that he was the only one that had anything to do with the making of the game. It must of been BC2k I think.

Old posts? I don't think the genre is very tired. I think either WC2 or WC3's formula would work great today. However, I don't think the next WC game will be quite like that. I think it will be a bit more action oriented, but with lots of connections back to older games in the series. If that's successful, it would pave the way for a somewhat more traditional expanded WC game.

I quoted you earlier - not sure on etiquette thats all....
Action orientated huh? Like bigger guns, battles and explosions? That just might work!

 

[Edfilho]

They added ground combat (both on foot and on vehicles) to StarFox. People hated it.

Guess what, it got in the way of FLYING.
I'd rather have a WC FPS and a separate WC Space sim.

 

[Delance]

A WC FPS is an old fan dream. The Bounty Hunter games sounds fun. There's nothing wrong with some good minigames. I always imagined a good Privateer game should include lots of minigames, like Sid Meier's Pirates in space, but it sounds like a job for Sid Meier himself.