I think the game is a much needed addition to the SciFi Genre. However, I really do not like the design, it looks really tacky and generic. I wish some of these Space MMOs coming out would take a hint from Relic's "Homeworld" series. More specifically it might be a good idea to hire a well known futurist concept artist rather than your 8 year old son to do conceptual drawings of spacecraft and stations.

Patient

whats with everyone talking about freelancer. that wasnt even a particularly good space sim and it didnt even use a joystick. there were a lot of greats before that. nobodys even mentioned freespace, iwar, xwing, elite. not even allegiance, which this is looking the most like so far.

aestheticity

please oh please let this be a sign that space shooters are coming back! Freespace 3 PLEEEEASE

warxsnake

With so much rich hard/military SF heritage to choose from as inspriation, this seems a bit weak. A "mysterious shift?" Tanslation: we didn't want to model local space. A relentless berserker-like enemy?

But still, a space based shooter/mmo. Sign me up. I'll give 'em a chance even if their lore seems cribed and warmed over from better sources.

olafson

I'm not that interested but i'll probably buy it to support the genre. :/

I signed up for beta like 2 years ago it seems like and i'm still not in it. ;o

innociv

@Reverend_MoJo:

I always wanted to play homeworld as an MMO, with great physics and hit detection...

little fighters weaving in and out of large capital ships in dog fights...

cookiesareafriend

@Draylorn: Freelancer had multiplayer, it just didn't make much sense. The game world was huge but you could only have a handful of players, so even on a full server, your chances of encountering other players were pretty slim.

QualityJeverage

Hey, this might make up for EVE online being BORING, and Freelancer being SINGLE-PLAYER ONLY.

YAY!

Draylorn

very pretty....

Looks like super mario Galaxy in high res.

cookiesareafriend

I'm really ready for the beta to start already, god damn it.

Atheist Jew

We're gonna roll this truckin' convoy, cross the Milky Waaaay...Convoooooooooy, Convooooooooy....

Sorry, couldn't resist.

On topic, this sounds awesome. Freespace and Wing Commander have a special place in my heart.

QualityJeverage

There are trailers of this game and ingame footage at GameTrailers. It looks very similar to Freelancer.

MarkyX

Oooo, in the tradition of X-Wing or Privateer. If it weren't for the fact playing MMO's requires a dedicated server that is out of your control (i.e., you're only renting the game until it isn't profitable and then you can never play it again) I'd pick it up in an instant.

Mommar

Looks like they are going to steal a lot of EVE players out there. Finally a space MMO that doesn't take forever to get somewhere.

Nirotu

I got really intrigued with EVE for a while about a month ago.

This was during the first half of Season 4 of BSG and they started to show EVE trailers during the episodes, and i just shifted myself with excitemnet at seeing a niche sci-fi mmo that i was playing on...well a niche sci-fi drama...but it was still awesome.

However it did showcase the problem that in EVE basically all flight and combat is WoW-style point and click. Then i saw the original Kotaku post for this and i wet myself, just a little bit...

Space shooter sims are an underappreciated part of gameings history (X-wing vs. Tie Fighter and X trilogy anyone?) and i have been waiting my entire post-pubescent life for a game like this...

Ever since i saw The Last Starfighter

wow, long post, sorry

Lorse

@aestheticity:

I am aware of its name, I just figured I'd give a description for those unaware of what newtonian physics were. Additionally, it isn't fully newtonian due to their drag factor, which is there because it works better for the game...

Also, looking at the aforementioned E3 walkthrough vids, they definitely kept their physics system in place. And yeah, you can end up w/ space jousting (X series, anyone?), but that isn't the only fighting style.

Reverend_MoJo

@Reverend_MoJo: the word youre looking for is newtonian. newtonian physics. id be surprised if they went with that, because its hard for people to understand, or learn, and in the end it actually makes for less interesting dogfights. space jousting is what you end up with. not that id mind, because i have a complete grasp of it anyway, but it wouldnt be newbie friendly.

aestheticity

@aestheticity:

Original Jumpgate played quite well w/ a mouse/keyboard, though to really get the most out of it a joystick was highly recommended. Much like Descent back in the day. Actually, the joystick I have now I have because I bought it for Jumpgate... :) I started out on mouse/keyboard, though, and it was fine.

Reverend_MoJo

@aestheticity:

A mouse-combat system like Freelancer used would probably be best for accessibility reasons. The hardcore will have a fit, though.

PapaBear434

I'm there. This looks cool to me.

PapaBear434

unless they include a mouse control scheme their audience is going to be cut to a tenth what it could be.

nobody owns joysticks these days. there hasnt been anything to even use them with for years now. my ancient, non feedback sidewinder hasnt had its shaft grasped in probably 5 years (and its not even saving itself for anyone). or joypads either.

no problem, you might say - give it a mouse scheme. problem is, there are major issues designing a control scheme that works on joysticks and mice, the technical aspects of which would bore anyone not already familiar with it.

however - it would be interesting to see an mmo that actually depends on player skill again, which we havent since planetside. i used to be an artist with a joystick. my ship in any space sim would trace a spiralling nightmare cats cradle in combat.

aestheticity

Already sold. This might get me away from Warcraft...

Highlander Wolf

Looks like EVE to me.

yoshinatsu

I remember stuff about this game being posted a while ago and wanting to play it cuz it was supposed to come out in... like... March or something? Anyway, Kotaku, please post about it when the beta opens up. I wanna play it!

DaveKap

(Ok, now I look like a raging fanboy, and I'm not entirely sure that the description is inaccurate...)

Another thing that I hope they left in, which may sound odd initially, is their docking system. You could auto-dock w/ a station, but it took time to line up the entry and slowly ride into the docking tube (had to be doing < 20 m/s or some such to dock). So, all the newbies would auto dock, otherwise you risk ramming the station and exploding.

Thing is, if you knew your ship well enough, you could, instead of auto-docking, manually dock and do some seriously amazing stuff. It was awesome to see, in the middle of massive space battles, the guys who needed to dock for repairs would come screaming at the station, full speed, cut their engines, do a 180 spin, and nail the thrusters in such a manner that they coast (quickly) into the docking tube -- backwards, mind you -- and come to a complete stop just inside the tube.

God... I think I need to take a cold shower. Cannot wait for this.

Reverend_MoJo

Need Beta NAO!!!!!

MightyKAC

@sarcasmOD:

Fantastic! Seriously... more space-sim games need realistic physics. It makes it so much more entertaining. (And it looks awesome to bystanders, too.)

Reverend_MoJo

@Reverend_MoJo: In the walkthrough on gametrailers that I just watched it looked like the dev did that flipping the ship around thing.

sarcasmOD

Looks good. Might have to pick up a copy of the first Jumpgate.

Is this new Jumpgate game require players to pay a sub fee? I might have asked this question before somewhere.

RtFusion

When I played EVE, it was incredibly boring, I couldn't tell where the hell I was going. A spaceship game that actually uses regular ship steering and shooting seems awesome.

Ashurahori

Also... (damn, triple posting... apologies) I sincerely hope they kept their flight physics intact. Jumpgate had amazing physics. They didn't go the arcade route. Instead, momentum kept you moving in whatever direction you were going in when last you fired your thrusters (with some slight drag, hardly existent, actually). This made for some fantastic dogfights. Think BSG -- hard thrust in one direction, cut engines, flip your ship around and fire behind you. God... so much fun.

Reverend_MoJo

Looks really nice. Just wish the value of the game wasn't dependent on the community.

wild homes loves you but chooses darkness!

It's exciting to see a fresh take on an mmo and give breath to a dying genre at the same time, I hope its good

eboku

@deathtastic:

Bite your tongue! Jumpgate was around YEARS before EVE showed up!

Reverend_MoJo

The original Jumpgate was a blast. I left before capital ships, too (stupid, stupid me!). I joined an awesome crew while I was playing. They targeted me for a bit of fun not long after I'd begun playing, and when I didn't run, but faced them down, the offered me a place among their ranks. Ahh, the good ol' days. One of the best MMOs I've ever played. Can't wait for the new one.

Reverend_MoJo

I can't wait for this. Finally a space MMO that isn't EVE.

will52

For not being a PC gamer this looks like something I might have to pick up. Very neat idea.

Satis24

@lenandude: 6 screenshots and it's weird? Give it half a chance, jeez.

sarcasmOD

Wow, this sounds excellent. Will definitely keep a close eye on this one.

HaydenTenno

Sounds like a dream. (hurriedly signs up)

Only problem: my old flight stick doesn't work with Vista, 'cause it uses a gameport, not USB. Damn and blast.

freakout

Sounds fantastic, this, DC online and the agency are all looking excellent.

crayola77

It looks like they took eve and gave it a fun leveling system.

deathtastic

Looks weird. I probably won't end up playing it.

lenandude

I don't believe this a space shooter!? I will buy it just so other developers start making them again.

Gunloc

This looks like THE ONLY MMO I would everplay!

KroKan

@aestheticity: It was good *especially* because it didn't use a joystick and it wasn't much of a sim. It was simply action-packed arcade fun, with a sufficient level of depth.

exeprime

could this be the 3d multiplayer equivalent of Escape Velocity that I've dreamed of for over a decade?

probably not... but fingers crossed all the same!

exion

Bah, AirRivals/SCO is/was better D:

betto

@freakout: A simple web search would show gameport to usb adapters available online for purchasing in that regard. I got mine through Radioshack for about 7 bucks, and I find it works fine for the wheel I have.

7ruthslayer

@yoshinatsu:

ROFL

It is ANYTHING but EvE.

EvE = point and click. Aim does not matter.

Jumpgate = You can take down someone flying a heavy fighter with a basic scout if you know how to aim and the other dude doesn't.

Skill based MMO. And by skill, not the character's skill, the players'.

ImmortalZ

Ill play since i have beta access

Sparkyuk

I'll stick with my Eve online for now. Let's see where they are after six or so months, then maybe I'll check it out.

bigdonthedj

Wait--there's a developer still making a space-sim shooter?

Golly. Sign me up. In fact, I think everyone should sign up, if only to increase the chance that a Freespace 3 might one day be produced.

JustThisGuy

I signed up for the beta but didn't get in. EVE is way too complicated for me. I like a complicated game, but I don't want to sit through an hours worth of tutorial before I actually get taught how to fly my damn ship!

This might be my first MMO, and with the X3 expansion coming soon, it might be the renaissance for space games this year!

Silent_Shark

I lust for a Freelancer sequel. This definetly has my attention.

Shiryu

Games like this make me hate MS, because they basically dropped support for their Joysticks under XP. I know there are drivers, but the Force Feedback on my stick didn't work with them.

Boy, the stick is physically one of the most durable and in my opinion best sticks there ever were, and then you're left out in the woods regarding drivers. :(

Not that my current Laptop would have a gameport, anyway.

FranUnFine

@7ruthslayer: Yup, they do work, but not with force feedback. I have an old MS Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro, and I don't want to have to give up its coolest feature. :( Think I'll just wind up shelling out for a new stick instead - if this game turns out to be any good, that is...

freakout

If the flying/fighting is half as good as X-Wing Alliance, I'm sold.

Northernsky

MMO Wing Commander? Co-op privateer?

So then Eve Online with action? If they don't have the same training system as Eve, I could get hooked on this. And if it really is twitch action, I know others who turned Eve down who might like this...

fuchikoma

X-wing vs. Tie Fighter? Oh no what have they done to Jumpgate... the original was so awesome with its vector based flight. I'll still more than likely end up playing it but damn if I wasn't expecting a more realistic type space flight

Daizaru1

Why is the main story exactly the same as Freelancer, just with names changed??

ultimateedition

Freespace 2 and Homeworld always have that special place in my heart. I think Jumpgate Evolution might get one as well if i get to weave my fighter through pew pew lazerbeams of cruisers/battleships fighting each other.

Jazzrat

One of the biggest problems with Freelancer, and most trading games is keeping the economy balanced. If someone can find a trade route that has a very high yield and just runs it over and over the game could end up with a few players having a ton on money.

I'd also be cool if there will be guilds of pirate players.

whitepawn

I've been watching this one for about a year now, i'm a massive fan of the genre and am looking forward to its triumphant return (one can only live for so long playing freelancer over and over again with your friends). Part of me is desperate for everyone to see it and discover the awesomeness, but is it wrong that the other part of me recoils in disgust at the thought of some pre pubescent xbox live crossover douchebag picking me off when i have no armor left and managing to find some animation glitch whereby he makes his ship appear to be "teabagging" my wreckage, and proclaiming himself the lord of all creation... Where was i going with that again...? Anyways! Just hope they manage to implement a system that is rewarding to the skilled players and discourages douchebaggery. From everything i've read, most of the mechanics are still up in the air.
Can't wait to test my all too rusty flying skills against everyone!

riccochet

I hope I enter this game's beta... It really looks promissing

Solidus

Some people were asking about the flight physics earlier on. I thought I would provide some answers for you.

Basicly, as it goes from what we've been told, you ship defaults to having Inertial dampeners, meaning the arcade style flight option (Freelancer and others) However, with a simple press of a button, you can turn your dampeners off, and fly without them in a good old fashioned Newtonian style.

Also, It has Mouse/Keyboard, Joystick and Gamepad compatability

Also, to answer undoubtable future questions:

The game will have capital ships, but they will be AI controled. You will not be able to pilot one. a player may pilot fighter/trader/haulers style vessels.

StrikerF2