Vector Please!

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Nigel Strange
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Vector Please!

Post by Nigel Strange »

In Starshatter 4, when you requested a picture, the carrier would tell you which bogie to attack AND provide a vector. In Starshatter 5, it seems they no longer provide a vector! Why has the AI been seemingly downgraded from 4.0? I could stop and look at the map, whip out a compass, hold it against the screen, and try to figure out my own vector, but by the time I did that, my wingman, who magically knows where everything is, will already have entered combat before I even know what direction to fly! Please put this capability back into the game. I need to know which direction the fight is.
Nothing ventured, nothing lost.
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wdboyd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by wdboyd »

Quit your whining commander, and concern yourself with adapting to and overcoming the enemy forces.

So the AI doesn't hold your hand any more.... war is hell. Adapt or die. [:'(]
"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils!"
Nigel Strange
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Nigel Strange »

OK, seriously. Does anyone have anything constructive to say here? I mean, they could vector in enemies back in WWII. They could do it in Starshatter 4.0. What is the purpose of witholding that information now?

As a commander, I wouldn't send my pilots into combat without giving them all the information at my disposal to ensure their victory. I hope I'm not unique in this way.
Nothing ventured, nothing lost.
JT
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by JT »

I also miss that feature terribly.  Worse, sometimes the sitrep gives me orders to attack a target whose callsign doesn't even appear on the map screen unless I zoom in to the closest level of detail, which makes it further impossible to locate their position.

No offence to you, wdboyd, but you're a major proselyte.  Any time anyone gives even constructive criticism, you leap in telling them to either mod it to their liking (something that isn't for amateurs or casual players and certainly not a solution to most problems with the core game mechanics or game functionality) or stop complaining.  Ease up a bit, my friend. ;-)
Starshatter: The Gathering Storm is brought to you in part by Whoop-Ass -- When the Hegemony gets you down, open up a can of Whoop-Ass! Now with extra chutzpah!
Nigel Strange
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Nigel Strange »

Thanks, JT.

I suspect the issue might be the addition of the voices. With the voice talent, maybe they didn't want to have them call the 360 possible vectors. On the other hand, if they called out each digit separately, they wouldn't need to.

I would like to see a patch or an update that addresses this issue and the much more serious issue of landing on carriers. The only way I can land on a carrier is with the shift+m keys. I've gone in REALLY slow, with power on, and it just doesn't "dock" my fighter.
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JT
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by JT »

Even with the voices, it's still possible to simply avoid calling out the actual vector but include it in the text message.  There are many voice messages in the game which omit the last sentence of the message.  For instance, when you have clearance to land on a flight deck, it says "This is Archon.  You have clearance" and the text message reads "This is Archon.  You have clearance to land on deck 3."

The ideal solution would be to include a full verbal vector, but that's the "difficult" solution.  The easy solution would take about five minutes of development and testing time altogether. =)
Starshatter: The Gathering Storm is brought to you in part by Whoop-Ass -- When the Hegemony gets you down, open up a can of Whoop-Ass! Now with extra chutzpah!
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wdboyd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by wdboyd »

"Any time anyone gives even constructive criticism"
 
Constructive criticism? [X(]
 
The AI doesn't hold you hand any more... that's whining.
 
Having to zoom in to spot the enemy... that's whining.
 
Voice overs that don't state the whole displayed message... that's really whining.
 
Not being able to land on the carriers... possible pilot incompetence comes to mind.  I land on them all of the time with no problem but my experince is in flight simulators so that might not be a fair assertion.
 
Very little you two have brought up equates to constructive criticism, in my opinion. And yes, I am an advocate of the game. I love the modding capabilities especially.
 
Just keep em flying guys.  [:)]
"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils!"
Nigel Strange
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Nigel Strange »

So, let me get this straight. If I stick you in a ship and shove you blindly into the middle of a battle with orders to kill people (oh, and try not to kill your team mates) that's OK. If I actually tell you which direction the enemies are, that's hand-holding? I just want to be clear.

Anyway, I don't think these improvements would break the game. This is all stuff that was easy in the 4.0 release. You liked 4.0 right? The easy carrier landings and vectors didn't ruin the game for you? I mean, if they did, I'm sorry to suggest something that would kill all the fun for you.

Most people think that new products should provide improvements instead of new handicaps. Or is it just me? New and improved? Seems like that phrase works for me. New and less functional? Strangely, this phrase doesn't seem to have the same appeal for some reason.

At least I still have 4.0. I'll just play it until Gathering Storm catches up technologically.
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JT
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by JT »

Okay, now you're just being pedantic, wdboyd. You'll note nowhere in my post was I complaining at all about the fact that it doesn't voiceover the whole message, yet somehow you inferred I was. It's one thing if someone is obviously detracting from a game you love, but another if you're assuming they are even when they aren't. =P

As for having to zoom in to closest detail to see a target, I'm not whining. I don't whine, I describe problems and potential solutions, and vectors would be an excellent solution. If there isn't a way to provide necessary information to a pilot in the field, there needs to be a way. Perhaps you could enlighten us with your solutions to these problems. ;-)

If command didn't actually know the way to the target, that's one thing, and would actually be a pretty damned cool feature all things considered ("This is Archon. Unknown contact at 340... advise caution") but if command knows enough about the target to have given it a callsign, it certainly knows where it is, and withholding that information from a pilot serves no useful purpose. Besides, a pilot shouldn't have to pull up an in-flight map just to see where an enemy is. You don't see modern pilots switching their MFDs to an extreme long-range view in the midst of a conflict area just to get a bearing when they could do the same in less than two seconds by asking their weapons officer. The U.S. military did it in the 20th century, let alone the 21st, so why can't pilots do it in the 71st?
Starshatter: The Gathering Storm is brought to you in part by Whoop-Ass -- When the Hegemony gets you down, open up a can of Whoop-Ass! Now with extra chutzpah!
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FrattonFreak
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by FrattonFreak »

Guys,
 
Unfortunately wdboyd makes a habit of knocking anyone who identifies a potential bug or item that could be improved....most see this a natural evolution. His response is aways to call it whining
 
You'll see from many other posters on this forum that this individuals comments are probably best ignored
 
I agree with JT, boyd should took note of the phrase "when you have nothing to say, say nothing"
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JT
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by JT »

I wouldn't say that his comments should be ignored, as no one should ever be ignored unless they're directly attacking other users as opposed to their ideas.  His viewpoint is clear: it adds a challenge if you don't have this feature -- his viewpoint is as welcome as anyone else's.  However, I tend to think that it's an artificial challenge that doesn't fit into a realistic space simulation like Starshatter, which tends towards realism in all other respects (well, aside from the fact that there are still conventional weapons five thousand years in the future ;-)).
Starshatter: The Gathering Storm is brought to you in part by Whoop-Ass -- When the Hegemony gets you down, open up a can of Whoop-Ass! Now with extra chutzpah!
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FrattonFreak
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by FrattonFreak »

Calling people whiners seems a little personal to me. Thats the easy way instead of attempting to debate the issue
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Zanthras
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Zanthras »

At some point we need to put this to rest, people have varying opinions and I am not looking to support anyone's in particular. This forum has seen it's fair share of opinions, good, bad and indifferent.
 
Things might get said you disagree with, state that you disagree and leave it. Ideally I believe one's way of stating an opinion shouldn't offend others. If I do it isn't my intent.
 
We are working internationally here.
Cultures from around the world have been here, ideas and opinions.
 
If I had any request it would be to try and be respectful of each other and consider cultural differences are at play here.
 
and I guess that's just my opinion, for what it's worth.
"Don't give up the ship!"
-Captain James Lawrence

Badger343rd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Badger343rd »

I've just gotta put my two cents worth in here.I can almost gurantee that once the BSG mod is released,people are gonna demand this game gets the attention it sorely needs.Not that its all that bad...its more about what it COULD be.And thats the rub.This game is not finished,and that is really what people are concerned about...ok...but its not been finished for what seems along time and they are used to it...BUT...now the game has attracted NEW people and they expect this software to be polished.I don't blame'em one bit.SO did I! And with one of the most POPULAR CURRENT Sci-Fi character sets (ie BSG ships etc etc)now being implemented into it...its just gonna get MORE POPULAR.And with that come more complaints about it gettin finished and becomming bug free.NOW MY QUESTION IS....WHY the HELL aren't the DEVS giving us any feedback on the future of this game????Where are the tools?...patches???...any hint of further developement???.We get nadda.WTF??Its like this brand new game/release is all of a sudden ABANDONWARE.And it ain't even more than a couple months old???[&:]It just don't make any sense to me guys.In fact...It only makes me mad,and considering this is a game to have fun in...thats COUNTER productive to its purpose.MY 2 CENTS[:)]BTW...release is still on schedual for bsg mod...and I think yer gonna love it.........or hate it in respect to above comments.......you know what I mean,hehe.[8D]

just a teaser...A flyby by Red Dog 1 Viper patrol.Galactica in background and Prometheus escorting her...

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Master_QG
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Master_QG »

Well, I'll take my 15 minutes right here:

First off You have more people working on your mod than made the game.

Second, the maker will answer your questions if email him and he thinks you are serious enough to answer you.

Third, shame on you for plugging for your mod, but our Star Wars mod(TC) will blow everything ever seen here away. I would not compare what we are doing with orignal, that's absurd.

Forth, Milo gave us the undatter, figure the rest out yourself. That is what I'm doing, trial and error.

The reason this community falls apart all the is stuff like this.

I belong to the XWA Upgrade community since 2000 and it is still growing everyday and the game is nearly 10 years old.

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wdboyd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by wdboyd »

ORIGINAL: Badger343rd

I've just gotta put my two cents worth in here.I can almost gurantee that once the BSG mod is released,people are gonna demand this game gets the attention it sorely needs.Not that its all that bad...its more about what it COULD be.And thats the rub.This game is not finished,and that is really what people are concerned about...ok...but its not been finished for what seems along time and they are used to it...BUT...now the game has attracted NEW people and they expect this software to be polished.I don't blame'em one bit.SO did I! And with one of the most POPULAR CURRENT Sci-Fi character sets (ie BSG ships etc etc)now being implemented into it...its just gonna get MORE POPULAR.And with that come more complaints about it gettin finished and becomming bug free.NOW MY QUESTION IS....WHY the HELL aren't the DEVS giving us any feedback on the future of this game????Where are the tools?...patches???...any hint of further developement???.We get nadda.WTF??Its like this brand new game/release is all of a sudden ABANDONWARE.And it ain't even more than a couple months old???[&:]It just don't make any sense to me guys.In fact...It only makes me mad,and considering this is a game to have fun in...thats COUNTER productive to its purpose.MY 2 CENTS[:)]BTW...release is still on schedual for bsg mod...and I think yer gonna love it.........or hate it in respect to above comments.......you know what I mean,hehe.[8D]

Badger and all, Starshatter as a modders creative platform will never be finished. [:'(]

The games Dynamic Campaign, which has proven primarily unmoddable, is where most of the simulations complaints come from. I think making things happen dynamically, based upon the players actions, is very difficult.

My major involvement with Starshatter for a couple years has been in modding. And believe me, there have been and are frustrations even in that. We modders consistently attempt to get the game engine to do and perform in a way in which its creator never intended.

I could get on here and complain and could do so intelligently and justifiably. Instead.... I try to contribute in a truly substantial way to Starshatter and its modding community.

Regardless, players may have different desires and expectations of the simulation than its modders.

Oh... Badger, the upcoming mod(s) will earn their praise or disdain on their own merits.

The developers have opened up almost all of their creation for us to play around in. Even then, as has been mentioned by others, one can email them with any serious problems and get help. The tools are there. Magic, SDK data, Starshatter Modding inside information.

But even with them and those currently being added or developed... they won't and can't do things for anyone. It takes alot of detailed work and time to build a quality mod. Why do you think I have been helping you and Toshiro with your mod? Oh, and by the way, my help has taken me away from my own mods update to TGS. No complaint, just an shared indication of my devotion and interest in the modding community of Starshatter.

In the end... Keep em flying guys. [:D]
"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils!"
Badger343rd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Badger343rd »

I think you both missed the point to my post entirely.

The first POINT is that this forum is sorely lacking in any feedback what so ever from those that built the game or had anything to do with its DEV.Thats obvious by the many many posts asking questions and left unanswered,or if they do get answered they aren't by theose people you'd expect in a support forum.And that has nothing to do with any mod.Thats just straight "whats wrong with this game and how do I fix it??..and If I can't fix It are you gonna????"which applies to evey game out there.The exception here is...lack of/no feedback.AND THATS what people are upset about.I Don't blame them one bit.

Secondly,the VERY purpose of this mod was to get people interested and hopefully bring the DEV's back into the forum to continue fixing this game,OR, at the very least, have an opportunity to tell us they aren't gonna fix it ,but give us the tools to do it ourselves.And maybe as last resort, attract people who could build tools to fix it on our own.

As far as a "shameless plug"pfffttt...never heard such bullshit ,but theres always a first time.We're doing this mod in an attempt to hold the interest of what seems a dying game.A game that may not reach its full potential,for whatever reason,that we felt would be a sad thing to allow to occur.It was more an objective comment rather than a subjective one .In fact,we're hopeing that other people out there will IMPROVE on our attempt.We don't even really consider it OUR mod...its YOUR MOD.Not to mention that the majority of the "popular content" isn't even ours.Its someone elses.Sorry dude,there isn't any competion here...cause there's no contenders.

I have never bothered to post what I felt was wrong ,broken or neglected about this game.
(not that I'd get an answer anyway from them)but I'll be damed if i'm just gonna sit around and not do something about it...wheither it be by fixing it or just ACCEPTING ,and the very least acknowledging the posts by what seems to be very frustrated individuals,...many, many frustrated individuals,that the dev's aren't bothering to answer.Sure they may not be "many" in manpower to fix the issues...but it doesn't take manpower to come in here and show us the courtsey of an answer or update post .Not to mention as far as manpower goes, they have US ,the game users ,willing to fix the damn thing ...for FREE.

So for me ...,my post is a comment on the lack of feedback,or any hint that this game has a future,by the Dev's themselves...and I'd put money on it I'm not alone.

And yes Wboyd...the mod will be judged on its own merits...but my guaranteee still stands.People are gonna love it, ...or hate it for the very reasons stated above,that like the rest of the game,its not finished.
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wdboyd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by wdboyd »

"We're doing this mod in an attempt to hold the interest of what seems a dying game.A game that may not reach its full potential,for whatever reason,that we felt would be a sad thing to allow to occur.It was more an objective comment rather than a subjective one .In fact,we're hopeing that other people out there will IMPROVE on our attempt.We don't even really consider it OUR mod...its YOUR MOD.Not to mention that the majority of the "popular content" isn't even ours.Its someone elses.Sorry dude,there isn't any competion here...cause there's no contenders."
 
Wrong... this game has been dying for y e a r s. [:D]
 
Making the mod to hold others interest? Not me... I mod because I enjoy modding. Maybe others enjoy my modding efforts... maybe not. It's not that revelant to me. Many modding efforts and results exceed the games initial purpose and indeed, increase its potential.
 
Finally, the games creators do not have to respond to anything. The game is many years old. The TGS version is the latest itteration or patch in its long progress. As an old timer with the simulaltion... newcomers petty complaining is pretty laughable. Also, I wouldn''t worry about losing such players. In my experiance, they don't stick with any game very long. They enjoy complaining too much and do very little to improve things other than complain. Then they complain because their compaints are answered to their satisfaction or at all. [:'(]
 
So be it... I'll not waste further time discussing this here. Keep em flying. [;)]
 

 
"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils!"
Master_QG
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Master_QG »

Ok Badger, I'll give it to you that they don't respond in the open forum. I emailed Milo a few weeks ago with a question about asteroids and he answered rather quickly. Damo probably is working on his own mod and does'nt want to respond now but include examples and what not so you can see how he did it.

What I was saying is if you really want answers you have talk to other modders. When I started with XWA I did'nt know crap. The devs in now way authorized the modding of the game. Lucas Arts rushed it out and it was incomplete. The point of our mod site was to redo every single model in the game with better quality models and textures. All of tools were made from 3rd party people. Still to this day new aspects are added and inovations are being explored with no assistance from the makers.

If they were to release the source code to that game the people tere would make the best sim game ever and we would be having this conversation in those forums.

Oh BTW... Not worring about contenders, the quality of work around here are good efforts by good people but way behind the talent that I'm used to working with.

SO no i did not miss the point of your post but If see it from my view the undatter and milo's email address will do just fine.
.....and like Mr. Boyd....I'm done here.

Badger343rd
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RE: Vector Please!

Post by Badger343rd »

Okie dokie...if the guys got time to answer personal emails...then he/they...whomever,... surely must understand the whole concept of THEIR OWN SUPPORT FORUM and how it reflects on THEIR PRODUCT????...unless...I've the the whole support forum thingy wrong???Which I don't believe I do.And As a point of contention...mods aren't "fixing" anything.They are only transitioning the problems from one enviorment to another.So I guess my next question is ,with all those personal emails you've gotten from the DEV's...are they fixing the game?...or not?
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