Starshatter TGS Improvements?

[captnkarob]

I played the original StarShatter back in 04. Even got into a little modding, but I quickly became bored. The AI mad combat repetitive and boring. I'm looking for a bit more challenge. I really like the flight modeling in Starshatter though and would love to see some support for home cockpits like multimonitor support and the ability to communicate to/from my cockpit devices. IS TGS really better than the original?

[Moriartie]

I'd guess multiplayer would alleviate any boring AI. But having never played that I can't be sure (plus you'd still have to deal with brain-dead pathfinding/navigation for any ships you aren't personally at the helm of).

[captnkarob]

Guess I'm still looking for my "perfect" space combat sim. unless TGS is a significant improvement over the original then I won't be wasting my money.

[Moriartie]

Which version number was the "original"? I don't know anything about previous versions but there are others that do.

[captnkarob]

I don't remember the version # - I have it at home. The AI was weak and navigation was definitely 2 dimensional.

[Moriartie]

Well, I must admit some AI navigation in TGS is very good. Specifically when I'm carelessly cruising around in my destroyer getting in the way of the other ships in my squadron - the other ships fly over/under me - that I'm impressed by.
Of course, as I hinted earlier, there are plenty of instances where the pathfinding is distinctly lacking - like when a ship is following nav points (I suspect because it's not actually turned in those circumstances as flying into a space station should be easily avoidable otherwise and I've seen that happen multiple times).
So it's a mixed bag. Hopefully they'll fix some of the issues.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Moriartie

Which version number was the "original"? I don't know anything about previous versions but there are others that do.

First release of Starshatter was on last millennia. Game was available for free up to version 3.7.6 until 2003-2004 when betatest for commercial version started. Starshatter 4.0 Ultimate Space Combat was release couple years ago (2004) by Matrix and I had to pay over 50 €uros to get it.

Starshatter 5.0 The Gathering Storm is more like update of the 4 version: improved graphics, virtual cockpits (one was already in 3.7.6), few new ships but with old campaigns. Definitely not worth of poor student's money when 4 is still unfinished and joystick has worn out.

[SF]

and I had to pay over 50 €uros to get it.

Did you have to pay over 50€ because of your local 15%+ (and rising, I've heard it's up to 18% and higher now in some places) VAT tax?  Are you saying you hold Matrix responsible for such a large price difference?  I can understand wanting some improvements to what you purchased, but by referring to the higher price you had to pay, it sounds like you're holding Matrix responsible for a price gap they aren't in control of and expect them to provide what you want because of how much more you had to pay.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: SF

and I had to pay over 50 €uros to get it.

Did you have to pay over 50€ because of your local 15%+ (and rising, I've heard it's up to 18% and higher now in some places) VAT tax?

Found it! Here's the costs broken down:

Code: Select all

Product      Qty  Platform  Delivery Method  Price      
 --------------------------------------------------------
 Starshatter  1    PC        Digital River    29.99 EUR  
 --------------------------------------------------------
                                  Sub Total:  29.99 EUR
                                        Tax:   8.03 EUR
                                   Shipping:   4.72 EUR
                                 Fee Amount:  11.17 EUR
                                      Total:  53.91 EUR

[Moriartie]

Matti: That's hefty - Where did the "Fee amount" come from if tax and shipping are otherwise accounted for (and much lower)? Just curious.

[Marc von Martial]

ORIGINAL: Moriartie

Matti: That's hefty - Where did the "Fee amount" come from if tax and shipping are otherwise accounted for (and much lower)? Just curious.

Wire transfer costs.

[Moriartie]

E-gads, what did you do, forward it using the "Dodgy Franco's Money Laudering Service, a subsidiary of the Mafia"