[OT] Earth & Beyond

Goodsport · 16th August 2002, 04:36 PM

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Anyone know anything about this upcoming game?

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I heard that it's an MMPORPG ala Everquest and Anarchy Online, but is there anything that sets this game apart from the other ones of its type?

-G

Tsyr · 16th August 2002, 04:40 PM

I've been beta-testing this game since it's fairly early stages... basicly I was among the first "outside" beta testers.

Anyhow... it's a lot of fun. What sets it apart is that your not roleplaying a character so much... your character itself is basicly statless and gearless. What you ARE is the pilot of a starship. And you basicly roleplay that role... fighting, mining, trading, etc. But unlike a few games that have tried to be similar (Jumpgate for example), you don't have to be a stick-jockey to play the game... the piloting controls are very simplistic, it's all mouse and keyboard driven. It's more about the game, not about your actual flying ability.

go to www.earthandbeyond.com to learn more

Fast Learner · 16th August 2002, 06:05 PM

I've been beta testing for a few weeks, now. I'm enjoying it quite a lot.

I can compare it to EverQuest (since that's the only other MMORPG I've played at length): at first I wasn't too hot on the idea of my primary avatar (except when I'm in a starbase) being a ship, as it seemed cold and/or mechanic. But before long you feel like you're interacting with the pilots of those ships, and it all works out fine. One great thing it has over EQ is that the best equipment (engines, weapons, etc.) is player-made. The amount of "camping" is considerablly less than EQ, though it's not entirely eliminated. While there are some dynamic quests (that is, semi-random quests), they're not very impressive. The non-dynamic quests (intentionally designed) are pretty good, though.

All in all I'm impressed.

Psychotic Dreamer · 16th August 2002, 06:10 PM

I must say this game looks very cool from what I have seen. I'm just sad because my computer can't play newer games (mostly because it crashes waaaay to often) and I don't see myself getting a new computer soon.

Oh well...

Furn_Darkside · 16th August 2002, 06:16 PM

I beta-tested it for a couple of weeks- and realized how poor of a game it was- so I quit.

It is a shame it is going to be a MMRPG- as a standalone, it could be a lot of fun. They have some cool ideas.

They also have a lot of bad ones- and once again, like most mmrpg, force you to group to be involved in combat.

I would have characters try personal missions (you can get your own quests from this little machine at bases)- and would often be slaughtered by missions that were many levels lower then me.

There are also a lot of strange bugs through out the game- that strike me as easy to fix, but were not addressed during my time there.

I wish the game luck, but its graphics are already dated and they seem to be stuck in a form of limbo with getting the game up and running on regular basis. (IIRC, it is only up 12 hours a day now.)

Star Wars, Shadowbane (or whatever it is called), and Planetside are going to wipe this game off the map.

FD

Welverin · 16th August 2002, 08:25 PM

What's the combat actually like? Is similar to a standard space combat sim (even if watered down) or is it something else?

Tsyr · 16th August 2002, 08:37 PM

Nah... Actualy, it's closer to like an RTS game, or similar. Like I said, you don't need piloting skills to play the game. If you have played Anarchy Online, it's alot like that.

Furn_Darkside · 16th August 2002, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Welverin
What's the combat actually like? Is similar to a standard space combat sim (even if watered down) or is it something else?

It is character skilled based- i.e. the better your character is at skills, then the more often you will hit and the better damage you will do.

It is not like most combat sims where you need to worry about speed, range, direction you are moving, direction they are moving- and trying to aim with all that in mind.

You just need to be within range and be looking in your targets direction. The game does the rest.

All of the above IIRC
FD

Goodsport · 17th August 2002, 06:46 AM

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Thanks for the info, everyone!

-G

Zappo · 17th August 2002, 01:03 PM

For those who know what I'm talking about... can it be called a multiplayer Elite/Frontier? I would love that.

Welverin · 17th August 2002, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the replies Tsyr and Furn. It pretty much what I was expecting and just furthers the "They canceled Wing Commander Online for THIS!" mentality I've had for the last year or two.

My hatred for EA knows no bounds.

Goodsport · 20th August 2002, 04:41 PM

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Any word on when the game should hit stores?

-G

Furn_Darkside · 20th August 2002, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Goodsport
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Any word on when the game should hit stores?

The last I heard- late september or early october.

I would be really surprised if they are ready to go when that time period arrives.

FD

Fast Learner · 21st August 2002, 07:56 AM

Tons of bugs have been fixed, it's getting smoother and smoother all the time.

The graphics are far from dated.

That said, it does indeed seem like they've got a lot of work yet to do if they plan to go live in October, unless they plan on fixing a lot of the bugs after it goes live.

It's weird, in a way, that the current beta is considered a stress test when there are still so many bug issues.

Ah, well. I'm having a great time!

Welverin · 21st August 2002, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fast Learner
That said, it does indeed seem like they've got a lot of work yet to do if they plan to go live in October, unless they plan on fixing a lot of the bugs after it goes live.

So what you're saying is it will be out in October. This is how MMOG's work after all.