On the hunt for the best space sim

[BobTD]

So, anyways I have always wanted a good space sim. Something where you have the freedom of a good role playing game like skyrim and oblivion but in a much more sci fi setting. And of course having a ship is essential, and a crew would be a huge bonus.

I have played a number of space games, but sstrategy games like Sins of a Solar Empire and Galactic CivII are not the same kind of role playing game I want.

Even EVE, for all its greatness is still a pretty bland MMO at heart, its out of ship camera angle and player dominated world really does not allow you to make much of a connection with characters. Its like a space ship sim lacking the human element.

So if you know any good suggestions let me hear them. Im currently looking at Evochron Mercenary and The X3 series. Im thinknig I might just have to buy EM and give it a try. I wish I knew more about this category of games.

[egg-whites333]

Moon base alpha! No jk im with you I've been looking before for one but can never find one that I like. :(

[CraeSC111]

Homeworld 2. While its not a RPG it is an amazing space game and one of my favorites. It and the first are amazing and I must now play the hell outta them

[paecmaker]

I would definitly recommend X3- reunion/terran conflict. The learning curve is sky high but if you pass it you got a whole world to do whatever you want.

What I like the most about the game is the trading system, its real time so its actually kinda fun acting as a merchant and trying to find the best prices to buy and sell, if you feel crazy you can trade in illegal things and later you can buy factories and massive spaceships. I have played for hours and I have only met a few enemies in combat, if you prefer combat you can go that way too.

If you want more info just tell me.

[Exentenzed]

I would definitly recommend X3- reunion/terran conflict. The learning curve is sky high but if you pass it you got a whole world to do whatever you want.

What I like the most about the game is the trading system, its real time so its actually kinda fun acting as a merchant and trying to find the best prices to buy and sell, if you feel crazy you can trade in illegal things and later you can buy factories and massive spaceships. I have played for hours and I have only met a few enemies in combat, if you prefer combat you can go that way too.

If you want more info just tell me.

Im seconding this with a HUGE +1.

The X serie is great for us Sci-Fi / RPG fans.

I also think i have a review of it laying around on the forum somewhere, either that or i found a review of it... Not sure. :/

[BobTD]

yeah, I tried the demo for Evochron mercenary. And have played Eve a few times. The problem with almost every space sim is that its all basically numbers and a flight simulator.

I like what Mass effect does with the crew and being able to walk around your ship. Actually actively recruit specialists that impact the game.

Im almost to the point where I have to say screw it and make it myself.

[CraeSC111]

You should totally make one yourself! And share it :D

[Exentenzed]

Actually from what i have heard the guys that made the X series have decided that terran conflict will be the last one in the series and they are going to start a brand new space sim. Allegedly they are doing this so they can start fresh since the X series have a trademark universe, ship classes etc that have just been expanded on and redesigned troughout the series.

Keep in mind this is just a rumor.

[paecmaker]

Actually from what i have heard the guys that made the X series have decided that terran conflict will be the last one in the series and they are going to start a brand new space sim. Allegedly they are doing this so they can start fresh since the X series have a trademark universe, ship classes etc that have just been expanded on and redesigned troughout the series.

Keep in mind this is just a rumor.

I thought they were doing a whole new X game(perhaps X4, I dont know)

[Exentenzed]

Both are a possibillity... But to be honest, i would love if they took the experience they have gained from the X series and then created something new without the restrictions of the X universe... it would make exploration fun again since i know that universe inside out. :P

[BobTD]

I hope they do something new actually. I would love to see an experienced space sim developer try something new.

I always pictured the micro management stuff would work better on a ship scale, rather than running hundreds of planets and directing fleets. No single person could really do that so it becomes a god sim. I want to see a game where you play a ship commander who is involved in larger scale events, but their decisions (or rather options they have) are affected by the experience and type of specialists that serve on your ship. Something where you can diffuse a combat situation with certain specialists or turn the enemy against each other by exploiting their differences.

Right now everything is divided into combat, economics, and missions running. There is no real sense of exploration or decision making.

[Exentenzed]

Well thats a bit unfair, you have to make decisions for yourself in the X games all the time, and exploration in the game can be great fun if you havent explored the x universe before...

[BobTD]

Well, I have not had the chance to play the X series yet. Maybe it will have some of what Im looking for.

I guess the real decision making Im looking for is non scripted events that make you decide. Its a lot to ask for a game to throw something like that in a game, but space sims are the perfect environment to explore that possibility. By non scripted I mean variables like what aliens races your near adding a % chance of an encounter with that kind of alien within a range of possible encounter types.

[Exentenzed]

Yea you should definitely try out X, the main missions are scripted of course but other than that every world has pretty random events, or so it seems atleast. Because the economy is 100% simulated. Not scripted, Simulated. If you sell a load of silicone to a weapon factory so they can start producing parts for weapons earlier in that sector than any other, that sector immeadiatly has the advantage since less pirates means more cargo arriving where it should... which means better economy for the race which holds the sector which........ You get it. I've even played X with that in mind, i've sold something valuable to my favorite race and traced it to where it ends up. In that regard the game is AMAZING...

when it comes to encounters races are split up into big sectors which contains loads of solar systems each, but there are the random incursion which can really hurt you if you are not prepared or the systems military is currently on the other side of the system during their patrols.

There are however 2 things that you should know about this game, as mentioned it has an insane learning curve... There are SO many possibilties and at the start you only get explained the basics of flying and then you are tossed into a huge universe with nothing but a small ship and some pocketchange.

Also, there are ALOT of menu's to manouver because of the near limitless options you have.

[CraeSC111]

Is the X series free or do I have to buy it? I think I can feel the answer coming from my wallet already

[Exentenzed]

The latest of the X series is X3: Terran conflict and it's expansion pack X3: Albion prelude

X3: TC is 15,99€ on steam.
X3: AP expansion is 9,99€ on steam
You can buy both as a pack for 19,99€.

so it's realy cheap since its a few years old now but the graphics still look great.

As an even cheaper alternative may i suggest the good old Freespace 2 with community made mods and upgraded graphics?

Never underestimate a community's power to keep a game alive...

[CraeSC111]

They need to make homeworld 3. And I'll check out freespace because I have neither steam nor money