Precursors - Screens @ Official Site

New screens from Precursors are up at Deep Shadows' official site.
More information.

Those are the kind of trees I like to see in my game but until this game I can't remember a game having those kind of trees. It reminds me of where I live with some really big trees.

Definitely looks great … just can't wait for it to arrive!

The genre of the game is freeplay RPG with FPS and space sim combat elements.

Well hello there!!! This sounds too good to be true.

We plan to release versions for the PC and the Xbox 360. The release date is about the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008.

Unless theres a delay the release should be anytime now!

Those really are some cool trees. I'm not much of a sci-fi rpg player, but this one has something very attractive about it.

I haven't been satisfied with a space combat sim since the Independance War series, so forgive me for being skeptical. I hope this is finally the game, but I noticed holes all over there FAQ thread. Just a small for instance: They said their "…flight physics were influenced by Freelancer, …, and X3, so it will be more simulation feel rather than arcade…" Well, I hate to lay it on them, but those games had arcade style flight, so I expect nothing different from this one. Flight physics are a really big deal for me. I spent full price on Darkstar One and only played it for 30 minutes because of that.

Still, I'll try to say something positive - The screens are pretty and the worlds look really cool. I would like to explore scenery like that. And the character and ship development possibilities sound pretty good too.

We plan to release versions for the PC and the Xbox 360. The release date is about the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008.

Originally Posted by zakhal
Unless theres a delay the release should be anytime now!

The current official release date is "spring 2008"…
( last answer on the FAQ : http://www.precursors-game.com/eng/overview/faq.html )

That said, it's not clear if both White Gold and Precursors will be on shelves the same day…
Also, the European/American publisher is still unknown !?

Originally Posted by lanael
The current official release date is "spring 2008"…
( last answer on the FAQ : http://www.precursors-game.com/eng/overview/faq.html )

That said, it's not clear if both White Gold and Precursors will be on shelves the same day…
Also, the European/American publisher is still unknown !?

Hmmm … I wonder if they'll use GamersGate or another DD source to get it out then …

Yeah the whole publisher stuff is a little worrying. They've mentioned having one but they're staying "secret" until near release. Sound a bit like diversion tactics to me.

Something like GamersGate would be fine but how would things like translations be handled?

p.s. Hey Lanael!

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Well, I hate to lay it on them, but those games had arcade style flight, so I expect nothing different from this one.

I fear that the days of Newtonian-physics space sims may have passed, and I lament it greatly. The IWars and Terminus were the most recent examples I can remember of realistic flight physics (excluding the sim Orbiter) and they were really special to me.

I remember reading in one of the Battlecruiser forums where someone said (and I paraphrase) "by this point in the future, people will have solved the problem of Newtonian physics". Even if we ignore the flight of fancy element, I had to ask "Why would you want to?" In space combat, a person restricted to atmospheric-style flight is going to be swatted down instantly by a person with more complete control of his spacecraft.

While I won't argue that it takes more experience to fly this way, where you have to control not only pitch, yaw and roll but also the ability to translate in any direction and where all that really matters is your relation to other objects. Once you've mastered it, it just is so much darn fun. And while it can be tedious for some routine tasks, flight-assist models like in Terminus make it possible to enjoy some of the conveniences of atmospheric flight without breaking with realism.

That said, I've resigned myself to just enjoying the few space sim games we get as it is. I'm still psyched about Precursors, particularly with its RPG elements, and look forward to the continuing X series as well.

Originally Posted by Guhndahb
I fear that the days of Newtonian-physics space sims may have passed, and I lament it greatly.

Elite 4 ?

Originally Posted by Guhndahb
While I won't argue that it takes more experience to fly this way, where you have to control not only pitch, yaw and roll but also the ability to translate in any direction and where all that really matters is your relation to other objects. Once you've mastered it, it just is so much darn fun.

Yes, it's fun but it brings a big learning curve that most devs/publishers are trying to avoid… (unfortunately). Mass market, blah, dumbed down, blah …

P.S. :
Hey ShadowMoses !

Originally Posted by lanael
Elite 4 ?

I'm not holding my breath, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by lanael
Yes, it's fun but it brings a big learning curve that most devs/publishers are trying to avoid… (unfortunately). Mass market, blah, dumbed down, blah …

Indeed. And, space sims/games are niche to begin with, but from what I've seen (so take with large grain of salt) in forums and discussions on this matter is that even amongst the devotees of the genre, the percentage that likes this kind of flight model is pretty small.

With Precursors, I just hope it will have at least the flight model sophistication of the X series, which is hardly ideal, but still less arcade-style than some and sufficient for me to enjoy.

You mean I'm not the only one in the universe that likes Newtonian physics?!

IW and IW2 were great games. Absolutely punishing, but so much fun. After beating one you felt completely qualified to fly anything in real life.

X3 is okay, like you said. If the physics are that good then I can live with it. Let's hope…

Originally Posted by lanael
Originally Posted by Guhndahb View Post
I fear that the days of Newtonian-physics space sims may have passed, and I lament it greatly.

Elite 4 ?

Warhead, I-War deluxe & I-War2 FTW. Allthough realism is nice I do enjoy less realistic games too that have good combat like wing commander saga or the xwing series. X series is okay but could use more of story and less of extensive trading&building options.

Looking at the precursor pictures - there are no cockipts (thats a definete minus), the space combat graphics including the "hud" looks ugly and the weapons look arcadeish - I mean the craft has 400 generic missiles?!!!i*

Overall the whole space element could be just a sideshow for everything else. As a genrebreaking game it reminds me a bit of the last dynasty (1995) from sierra that was a spaceshooter/adventure game:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/last-dynasty
http://www.mobygames.com/game/last-dynasty/screenshots

The last dynasty failed miserably - not the least for the bugs and lack of overall gamedesign. The different elements of the game didnt really come together at all.

Id rather see a real space shooter @ xwing & wing commander/privateer with real story and all instead of these eXperimental trade simulators / attempts at genrebreaking. Luckily the fans are working hard with wing commander saga, galactica, privateer and other mods to bring us the games the gamecompanies refuse to deliver.

*And that is the "space game" they are suppose to release in few months

Boy, do I love a good space sim! It sounds ambitious too. The shots with the cruiser or battleship or whatever it is…awesome!

It's really tough to balance these games, I think. Freelancer modders put hours and hours into it and still struggle. They're all a kick, though. Fun!

Yes, zakhal, that's what I was afraid of with this game - for a space combat to be done right, it really needs to be the focus of the game. IW 1&2 were so brilliant because they kept all of the action in a cockpit and yet still made you feel like part of the 'verse. They even bordered on role-playing at times, giving you alternate decision options which affected the outcome of the story.

Has anyone played Sins of A Solar Empire?? I know it's not the same thing, but may satisfy my craving for a space-based game. Anyone have thoughts?

Originally Posted by zakhal
Warhead, I-War deluxe & I-War2 FTW. Allthough realism is nice I do enjoy less realistic games too that have good combat like wing commander saga or the xwing series. X series is okay but could use more of story and less of extensive trading&building options.

Well that didnt take long. They just announced X3: Terran conflict (release Q3/08) that will concentrate on missions instead of trading:
http://www.egosoft.com/games/x3_tc/info_en.php

Derek smarts next one "Talon Elite" (release Q4/08) looks quite good too:
http://www.3000ad.com/pics/gcTE/07-11-12/index.html

He also released a new game just yesterday called "Echo Squad SE":
http://www.3000ad.com/pics/gcES/08-02-20/index.html

I think Ill try pickung up the Echo Squad SE. The cockpit graphics are quite impressive. The last time I tried his battlecruiser series was like 7 years ago.

Let me know how that game is zakhal