Multiplayer networking...

[Caseck]

You guys should "Assimilate" Darkspace.

I feel bad for Faustus over there, it seems like he's a one-man-band.

In unity there is strength!

[Diabolico]

I have never played dark space as there is a fee to play it online.
I rather pay my game in a single fee and play online for as much as I can without any other cost (other than my Internet connection [:D]).

Last I've heard of that game (from a community member who plays SS now), there seems to be a "community problem" with Dark Space.

Some people seem to be abandoning Darkspace because of the people who play it - as it can only be played online - and some sides seem to have more advantages than others (like the factions controlled by the DEVs that made the game), so I heard.

As of now, the few MP experiences I've had so far with SS have been great. But we do need a MP server or at least a Battleclient.
In fact, if anybody here wants tho develop a battle client, SSC may be able to host it for the community...

Here's my 2 cents...

=S=

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Diabolico

I have never played dark space as there is a fee to play it online.

I have played the game and I didn't pay anything for it.

If someone feels himself ... confused, let me explain. It is possible play for free but available starships are limited for few light ships only. Those are needed too, so it is not disadvantage if you like the game.

[Caseck]

I appologize for being cryptic as is my habit.

Really what I was getting at, is there seems to be so much redundancy with two groups of people creating virtual online universes. Darkspace is impressive if you look at what the online persistant campaigns are like. It really is a lot of fun. I found the sides to be fairly balanced, but gamewise, it's 2-D and doesn't hold a candle to Starshatter. But starshatter seems bare bones on the strategic side of the equation.

The multiplayer network engine is really what I'm getting at. If you look what Darkspace does, and think of Starshatter as the "combat engine", wow. It could be something really special.

The multiverse (persistant online campaign) using Starshatter would be simply astounding.

The sum of the parts would be far far far greater than either of the wholes.

I continue to dream my perfect game.

But regardless, I can only hope these two sides speak and take a look at each other's work and what they've been doing.

It would be so mutually complimentary.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Caseck

The multiplayer network engine is really what I'm getting at. If you look what Darkspace does, and think of Starshatter as the "combat engine", wow. It could be something really special.

The multiverse (persistant online campaign) using Starshatter would be simply astounding.

Take a look at BattleTech campaigns. If I have understood it right, there are predefined maps and units available. 1st scenario of campaign is played as it is described in the book. 2nd scenario of the campaign is played according which side won. There might be even different maps according which side won/lost. And units are of course out of action either becouse they are destroyed or damaged.

Something similar could be done with Starshatter. Difference is instead rolling dices players twist joysticks [:'(]
But seriously speking, at end of the 1st MP game you check out what you have left and start 2nd game with those forces you have left (if you so choose). Sector (or starsystem) could be different from 1st depending which side won. And so on.

[edit]
Just to add that campaigns described above are used to played with X-Wing Alliance.

If you want play MMO type game, recommendations go to Starfleet Command 2-3, Freelancer and Jump to Lightspeed.

[Caseck]

Been there, done that.

The SFC games as far as online campaigns are permanently porked. The system tried to be too big, and too many things, and then of course, the publishers kicked it out the door before it could fully mature. The community has kept them on life support for many moons, but it is not a very large community, and it's growth potential is limited. Once again, a case of the wheel being reinvented. The Darkspace engine, as far as multiplayer campaign goes is pretty nifty. If SFC had gone that way, they'd be much better off. It is humorous that SFC's engine isn't realtime like DS, but SFC had a lot more money thrown behind it than Darkspace.

I get the impression that Faustus over at Darkspace is pretty much soley responsible for building that game--especially the network kernel, from the ground up. I have a lot of sympathy for the guy. Like I say, he's pretty much a one man band. Maybe I'm wrong, but that is my impression.

But regardless, when you look at the online campaign display in darkspace, it is strikingly similar in appearance to the system display in Starshatter.

Strength in numbers. Look at the F4 community, when the Unified Team got together, that community was at it's peak. When it fractured, things went down hill quickly from there. (I still feel that's criminal because that was a spectacular game. Too bad the integration of Gunship and M1 Tank Platoon never got anywhere near complete with that campaign engine before Microprose went belly-up. That would have been something.)

[Diabolico]

I have played the game and I didn't pay anything for it.

No longer. Now it is paying all the way. I know an insider who has reported me this. There is a small demo server where you can play a limited number of ships. Perhaps you were referring to that drakspace server?

[Caseck]

Yup.

Darkspace is pay to play, tho the free demo server is free.

It used to be dirt cheap, $3.99 a month, but then they raised the prices. Too bad, it was worth about $3.99 a month. Maybe they'll go back down.

A lot of good concepts, and the multiverse is very interesting.