A Few official reviews for Starshatter

[jpinard]

Matrix - why are there ZERO offical reviews of "Starshatter" out there? I do not purchase a game anymore unless it receives an 80% cumulative review score: http://www.gamerankings.com/itemranking ... p?platid=5

I think you're hurting potential sales by not getting this game reviewed because there are a TON of people out there that do not buy anymore until an analytical favorable review is garnered. I have purchased many great games over the years I would have otherwise never seen because of favorable reviews such as:

* Combat Mission (all 3).
* Strategic Command.
* Galactic Civilizations.
* City of Heroes.

[Erik Rutins]

Review copies were sent out earlier in the summer. It takes time, unfortunately, for reviews to appear. We are following up and also setting up a new press area for all of our games.

Regards,

- Erik

[jpinard]

Well I'm disappointed in game magazines and on-line mags. It's not like there's been a huge amount of pc game's this summer.

[Master]

Play the demo. If you like the demo the game is exponentially better.

BTW you are missing out on some truely great game that didnt get over 80%. Most of my favorite simulations never got above 75%. This is because they do not cater to the mindless masses. Never the less it is not my place to question your philosophy.

Examples of great games

Soldiers: Heroes of WWII PC 78.0%
World War II Online: Blitzkrieg - PC 57.0%
WarBirds III PC 78.0%
Silent Hunter II PC 72.8%
Viper Racing - PC 78%

These are some of the best games of their genera that didnt get above 80 because they didnt cater to the masses. But its your loss.

[jpinard]

I totally take into consideration niche value. WWII ONline is one of those , Silent Hunter II as well

I will not purchase Soldiers Heroes of WWII because of the hidden drivers their copy protection installs aka starforce: http://www.boycottstarforce.org/games/ At least not until starforce demonstrates 100% it will not conflict with hardware.

[altmunster]

I would not base my opinion solely on the demo.
Some of the problems with the game are exposed only after you have advanced to higher level fleet command, which is not covered extensively in the demo (suicidal fighter pilots, anyone?)
Though I already own the game, I am waiting for a review as well if only to confirm my personal opinion. I have a hunch that reviews will give high points for modding potential but will give low points for tactical depth, depending on how long the reviewer plays the game. My hunch would be overall 75%.
Its still worth buying even at that rating, because its breadth provides a gameplay experience that I don't believe one can get anywhere else.

[jpinard]

Well, I played the first version of the demo and did not like it. However, I didn't play it long and had no documentation. This is why I wanted to wait for reviews as my taste of a game during a demo is almost always different than my feelings of a full game.

[Butsch]

I can't imagine Starshatter is going to get a very good rating.
1. As stated above it is way to complicated for the average Command & Conquer 52 player.
2. The story is relatively thin for other space operas like Wing Commander
3. It lacks cinematic story elements
4. There is no option to start as commodore or something so most players won't get to command a carrier or even a cruiser

Abot Silent Hunter II (and Destroyer Command which had the same engine): Either I had a really bugged version or the AI there was totally sucking. In Destroyer Command I drove my DD into a whole cruiser battlegroup and they didn't start shooting at my until I opened fire first. Silent Hunter II was no better.

[jpinard]

I enjoy thin storylines if it has amazing open-ended replay value. So that facet would not bother me.

[Burzmali]

Actually, you can create a character as an Admiral, so YMMV.

[Wolfox]

Well, first one I've found... on Gamespot:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/starshatter/review.html

I'm not sure if the reviewer got the "spirit" of the game. Make sure you contribute your own mini-reviews if you feel like it.

[Slick91]

OFF TOPIC

ORIGINAL: Butsch
Abot Silent Hunter II (and Destroyer Command which had the same engine): Either I had a really bugged version or the AI there was totally sucking. In Destroyer Command I drove my DD into a whole cruiser battlegroup and they didn't start shooting at my until I opened fire first. Silent Hunter II was no better.

I think the overall consensus is that those two games were flops. Ultimation (the developers) is no longer in business. They are the same company that was handed the Harpoon4 fiasco to salvage. It was to have the same game engine as SH & DC.

Regarding Silent Hunter II, the guys over at Subsim.com have done an outstanding job at fixing its flaws. They have even built a Pacific theater mod (at a relatively small fee) that is jaw dropping!

Check them out at www.subsim.com

They are also the official forum for the upcoming Sonalysts game Dangerous Waters. That one looks promising as well and as far as I know they are still looking for a publisher (hint, hint).

[Phoenix-D]

WWII Online didn't get a bad review because it was a niche game; it got a bad review because at launch it was a bug-ridden, damn near unplayable mess.

Going by the demo I'd give Starshatter about a 60%, myself. Keep in mind that I weigh the modding ability heavily and for me Starshatter just didn't stand up in that department; you can't even try to make your own dynamic campaigns without dev approval since without that you can't get the tools and in general it added a lot of modding complexity compared to the games I normally work with without adding enough extra features to really use that complexity.

[John DiCamillo]

Hi Phoenix-D,

I'm curious what games you are using that are significantly easier to mod than Starshatter. What's an example of extra complexity that you feel was not justified by the game design?

Thanks,

[DamoclesX]

i"m just glad john didnt cater to the typical 14 year old ADD child who cant concentrate for more then 0.5 seconds and its not "i33t" unless something is blowing up every 0.1 seconds.

man I weep for the future

if you want to see what I mean load up isonews.. I swear the combined iq of everybody on that forum is negative.

[Master]

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/starshatter/review.html

WWIIonline has been reviewed SEVERAL different times throughout its life and even in its current state I doubt reviewers would give it more then a 75% because it is a niche game alone.

Here is a good example from the review posted above.

The craft you control are just as vulnerable as those you're fighting against, which compels you to maintain modest mission goals instead of striving to heroically dispatch hordes of enemies. Once you run out of missiles, it's very difficult to survive for long against multiple opponents, so you're frequently forced to cut-and-run unless you're close enough to friendly forces to quickly obtain reinforcements.

While fighter combat may be more realistic as a result of the limited capabilities of your craft, its difficulty and the relatively small number of weapon and ship types also make battles less engaging.

They praised the game except for its combat which they found too hard/unappealing. This is interesting because every negative point that they bring out I find to be accurately modeled and adds to the gameplay (of this simulation).

IMHO they need to hire people to review simulations for those of us looking for simulations and let the quakeheads have their... whatever it is that a quakehead wants.

[Mr.Frag]

They praised the game except for its combat which they found too hard/unappealing. This is interesting because every negative point that they bring out I find to be accurately modeled and adds to the gameplay (of this simulation).

And I find that funny, that is *exactly* the reason I bought it. Thanks, but I don't need any more FPS shooters in "space"

No physics makes for a click fest, physics makes for skill. This is not the "lone ranger" in space.

If and when John kicks out some more campaigns, he's got my money.

[Erik Rutins]

I have to say we all thought that if you just read the review, you'd assume a score higher than what was given. I don't think a score that low was deserved at all and I don't find that the review makes a good case for it. IIRC, the lowest rating was for sound, which is pretty silly.

Regards,

- Erik

[Burzmali]

Not to argue Frag, but there is plenty of room in Space simluators for a little FPS action. As it stands, the genre has an unnatural facsination with fixed mounting every weapon on a fighter. I argee that games like Freelancer are too far in that direction, but giving the twick reflexes a little workout isn't a bad thing.

[DamoclesX]

maby

but not this game:)