Hey,
I've been a huge fan of the X-Wing series and let's say a good fan of the Wing Commander series. Also, in those, there is one game that I very much liked, at least for the ideas, was Wing Commander Privateer. Being a smuggler and combat pilot was really nice. I liked the fact that you had to smuggle goods to make money and fight through it and improve you ship with different parts.
Since those games, the PC industry very much abandoned this style, for now, I though that maybe I had missed a good game or two like Privateer, because of lack of publicity or me not looking at the right place.
Do you guys have some suggestion?
Thanks a lot!
Theres always Infinity... http://www.infinity-universe.com/
Although it won't be out for awhile
I've seen references to Smugglers 4, but i have seen no review that upon which I could rely.
Google "smugglers-4"
If you try it, please post your review here!
I've done a quick search on Smugglers 4, but it isn't really a game similar to Privateer... Smugglers 4 seems to be more of a TBS than a space shooter...
Have you tried X3: Terran Conflict? If not, get it. Get it right now.
Look! I even include helpful links, because I'm such a swell guy.
Website:
http://www.egosoft.com/games/x3tc/info_en.php
Trailer:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-aldrin-x3-terran/49492
ugh sorry, there was a game i use to play that really did match this but i cant think of it at the moment. another one that is worth at lest looking at has to be ArmadaOnline, im not sure if its what your looking for but its not a bad game, free to, last time i checked.
Smugglers 4. There's a demo. This game reminds me vaguely somehow of ... Puzzle Quest Galactrix ... except that all the puzzle stuff is not there, conventional combat resolution. First impression of the demo is that the ship outfitting and adventure depth is much greater. Oh, no, it's not Puzzle Quest Galactrix. This really looks pretty good, but the price is a bit steep imho, $30.
OP probably is looking for something real time rather than turn based though? Maybe cheaper wouldn't hurt? Have you looked into Freespace 2? Basic game costs about $6 at www.gog.com. It is a very old game that has been brought up to date by an enormous modding project. Prepare for a bit of tinkering to get it all working, but the steps are fully described at this link.
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Getting_started There is a huge and very active community playing and modding this game. There are new mission scenarios, but I do not know if being a smuggler is part of the game. Think it is mostly combat missions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HFEmGcJcWA&feature=related freespace 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZuA9zvxs0Q&feature=related freespace 2 custom mission
Of course, there is x3 Terran Conflict sort of the ultimate game of the very type you're looking for, but also "welcome to roasting your video card 'r us." Also welcome to a steep learning curve. Very complex.
Then too, there is Freelancer. There are some big mods for it, with really large universes. And it is an adventure game with piracy, smuggling, etc.
Eve Online, your cup of tea. Darn expensive and time consuming cup of tea.
What about the brilliant Freelancer (brilliant story and single-player campaign, but also massive open universe after completing the story, loads of ships, loads of factions (including various pirates, governments and corporations), loads of upgrades, secrets etc. Jump gates for the law-abiders, and hidden jump holes in asteroid fields for those criminal types who need to avoid the law.
Amazing game. They should make a sequel damnit!
If not that, then what about DarkStar One? I never got to play it, as it won't work on either my old machine (not good enough to run it) or my new one (not compatible with Vista 64), but is supposed to be an open universe game with ship upgrading, combat etc. Got good reviews even though I can't vouch for it myself.
Darkstar 1 isn't worth it IMO.
If you want something odd try ASCII Sector. Privateer remade as a roguelike.
wow, lots of suggestions! I'll make some research and try those games, especially if there are demos out. Thanks to you all for all this, I'll surely find something I like in all this. But, keep the thread active, I'm sure there are others hehe.
I checked X3:TC. Well, I ran the demo that benchmark my PC and I don't think I can run it hehe. My average FPS is 14. But, I have a new laptop and I'll try on it.
In the meantime, even after watching the demo and the trailer, I have absolutly no idea of the gameplay. All I say is screenshots of space with ships or battles presented like a video. How do you play this game, how do you trade, etc? I can't find screenshots with text!
Thanks
There is also Evochron Legends (you can even find it on Impulse). I bought it but haven't had time to play it. Looks like it could be good but I can't say for sure.
Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos is my absolute favorite in this genre. I find myself still playing it from time to time, as it has withstood time really well. The Newtonian physics that it uses are also something that I miss in about any other game.
Check it out!
http://www.i-war2.com/
My recommendation as well.
You start out with a small class-4 fighter craft. Gameplay is similar to what you know from Privateer or the earlier Elite game(s). You fly around in the cockpit, etc. Trade is done buy hauling cargo if you'd like, that is the typical buy low sell high strategy. Some sectors with a bright sun produce a lot of solar energy cells, which other darker production sectors need. You get the idea.
Trade goes further than that, though. As you begin to accumulate wealth you can aquire a freighter ship of your own, and even start building a fleet with AI captains to control your other freighters. As they gain experience they get even better and better at trading. You can set them up to create long trade routes, but you'll want to start hiring fighter jockeys to patrol with them if you've venturing into dangerous space!
If that's not enough trade for you, once you are wealthy enough you can even build your own space stations and production facilities. Do you become the biggest arms dealer in the sector, or do you instead work with the pirate factions and start your own space weed facilities in deep space...
The game's not all trade though, you play how you'd like. There's a storyline to the game that you can follow, but the game is much more about sandboxing in a universe and doing what you like. You can war with particular races, pirate ships (and by that I mean yes, you can actually carry marines and have them board other capital ships to take them over), or just play a mercenary for hire.
While I will not say the game doesn't have any issues (it does... just like any other game) I have to say it was the best space-based flying game I've probably ever played. And like you, I loved the Wing Commander / Privateer series back in the day.
Great preview, thanks goodgimp.
I must try it before... really not sure my PC will handle it It's a shame they don't have a playable demo!
First-off I also loved WC and Privateer.
Secondly, about X3:TC: IIRC it comes with Tages DRM.
And concerning Freelancer: If it doesn't bother you that it kills every other kind of media player than windows media player upon installation, go ahead and try it.
sadly there will never be a sequel. but yes, get FL. $5-$10 at target or walmart and its worth the money. the online community is still alive even though the MS list server is gone. tons of mods and the stock program is greatness. a modern computer can run the graphics at full bore and its beautiful. game play is very fun and fairly unique for a space sim. the economy is static but that becomes a very minor part of the game once you really get into it.
edit: i have installed and run FL on 4+ computers and os's since I had it, and never once had an issue with how it handles the media players on those systems.
edit2: also note the FL was developed by many of the same people that worked on WC and Privateer.
some older graphics (like it looks rather crappy) but excellent games-
Star Wraith: Shadows of Orion, Star Wraith IV: Reviction, and RiftSpace. The bonus- FREEEEEE!!!! The downside- crappy graphics, RiftSpace is SP only, and SW is combat only. RiftSpace is a freeform-styled game.
All three are available for download from the Star Wraith 3D Games website. Google it and it should be the 1st/2nd link. You'll need to go under the 'others' tab if it's the home page of the site. All three games are under 20MB each, and in total I'd say ~30 MB.
I'd go with Freelancer too, but I haven't played any of the games you mentioned so cannot say if they compare.
sadly this is a genre that has been sorely lacking of late. i too am waiting for an accessible (ie not X3) combat or trading space sim for ages
all the new contenders seem to be MMOs which is a real shame.
In other news EA just trademarked Wing Commander again, so let's hope some new life can be grown from an old IP.
tie fighter forever!!
You could also take a look at Vega Strike. It's an open source space sim like Privateer or Elite.
http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/
The one issue with Freelancer is you play it for ages and then poof - story is over and there is no more content - just doing the trade/freelance missions. Also the graphics are probably aging - it is 5-6 years old. But it was (is?) a great game...
viperfdl, I was actually also going to suggest Vega Strike. I've played it a good bit now, and I LOVE IT.
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