Why is this game dying??? Because...

Mon Mar 31, 2003 6:48 pm by Daemien

I have been playing this game multiplayer for over a month now, and it really isn't hard to see why the player base has shrunk: There really isn't a lot of replayability as it stands right now!

From a server op side, there is pretty well NO customization to make your galaxy stand out from the rest. There is also a total lack of server tools to administer the galaxy with, and not much to administer anyways as per the first point.

From the player side, it is just TOO easy - even for a newbie - to find out the 'golden path' of trading and max everything out in the first week of playing. There is also NOTHING TO DO outside of fighting, trading & upgrading. There is absolutely no life to the galaxy beyond AI that either attacks immediately, or leaves you alone unless provoked.

There are many things that can and should have been implemented to make this game a keeper:

- There MUST be a penalty for death!!!.. otherwise what is the point of combat as you never have to worry - there is NO challenge! As the game stands now, the only challenge is the race to get the most money in order to get the most 'Bad-Ass' configuration of ship/weapons.
- The ability to create and/or change the galaxy. This would include planet/galaxy names & locations, what is sold & bought where (both ship equipment and commodities - perhaps even random disbursement of commodities), NPC profiles, etc..
- SLOW DOWN PROGRESSION!!!
- Player actions that actually AFFECT the system you are in (news accounts of news-worthy player actions would be a start)
- More player to player interaction - If I am in a bar with a buddy, I should be able to see him, or at least show him in a list of players in a window denoting his presence. Since we are both already landed, we should also be able to trade and conduct business while docked!
- How about using an actual radio-type setup for chat? You can have specific channels set for open chat, and players can set their own private ones by giving their channel a (hopefully) unique name! This way it is also possible to 'hack' into a clan's channel to find out what they are up to (imagine buying this channel info from an NPC at a base??)
- There should be WAY more things to do, both mission-wise and planetside. Anybody here play Tradewars back in the golden years?? Bounties on players (set by both AI in the case of criminal actions, and other players) that can be collected at bases; remote sensing devices; auto turret emplacements; the list goes on!

Don't get me wrong - this game looks nice and has a lot of potential! As it stands right now, however, we have a very basic ASCII-type game with really nice window dressing!! I really do hope these things can be addressed officially (not just with player-made mods) as after one month of play, there is no draw to get me back into the game!

D.

(PS: I really do hope they take a hard look at Tradewars! Imagine TW with this engine???? KICK ASS!!)

Mon Mar 31, 2003 7:10 pm by Apocalypse

yawn

you looking at the wrong game, fl was never meant to be something like your looking for, maybe mods can change this, but that will take time, cause we need first to programm the tools to do it.

atm freelancer is nothing more than a deathmatch game with all maps connected to each other and a little mini game included that you have to play to get ready for deathmatch.

I am fine with that. it still need a lot of skill to fight.

The first internal SE tourment will be soon start, more will follow not all will be internal

.

Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:42 pm by Daemien

"Yawn"

Actually I was looking at (and talking about) Freelancer....

And much of the initial talk about this game was very much what I was mentioning. There are many people who feel the same way - and many of them are voting with their feet. Yes, of course there will still be an audience for a game such as this; but then again, Doom & MUDs still have their fans...

D.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:57 am by Volstag

To be honest I have to agree with the original poster. I knew what FL was like, and I still really enjoy it for what it is. Unfortunately, I can't help but think how much better the game could have been. IMHO, it literally could have been a bonified classic if there was only some more "depth" to it.

I will continue to play it, and I will continue to enjoy it, but I'll always wonder "what if..."

(as I've mentioned before, this game, in a way, reminds me of DungeonSiege -- great engine, interface, graphics, music, etc, but, unfortunately, too little actual "game" to go with it all).

Out,
Volstag

Tue Apr 01, 2003 2:11 am by RadioactiveYeti

How do you know the game is "dying"? I would think at this point the user base should still be increasing...

Tue Apr 01, 2003 3:58 am by Zenic

This games been out for a month?

The multiplayer isnt great yet, but thats because Microsoft SERIOUSLY should release system that are Multiplayer only.

They need to release new system once every few months, so that players can keep exploring, and keep the game alive.

Thats a very good idea, it would add oodlez and oodlez of fun to the game

(cough)

Tue Apr 01, 2003 4:44 am by Jaabaa

What I you love to see would be a system similar to OFP, where missions are downloaded from the server.

In FL, the DL could be a complete system in a single file. No ini editing to inegrate it (I've had a look at the changes required just to get Orion integrated, jeez).

Open documentation: File formats, Values, etc. There should be no need to pull apart all the files, they should be explained.

IMHO the MP was thrown in as an additional thought, but not as a core direction for the game, which really is a pity. It has all the right stuff to be a massive game but I think that the developers either missed the mark(et) or the sales team forced an early release. I would assume the latter.

The original poster mentioned several points that I can only agree with.
Frieghter missions, different types of thrusters (e.g. more speed, less burn time),
etc., etc..

The game would really benefit from an "addons" concept like OFP has, I guess that that is why people are still playing it, and building extensions (FL:ships/bases/cargo), missions(FL:missions), islands(FL:systems,races,factions), etc for it.

The game has serious JOMT appeal, UNTIL you have a Titan/Sabre (whatever) with all you favourite weapons, and then ...... ? Thrash Hessians/Corsirs until eternity ?

Tue Apr 01, 2003 5:06 am by Ein-7919

Actually, the original concept of FL was that it would be the closest thing to a MMO-game...without being quite so MMO (namely, have about 100 or so players). Multiplay was one of the major things the Roberts brothers wanted in FL. From the beginning I believe the idea was to have a game that had a strong single-player experience, but was also a huge multiplayer experience. Unfortunately, I too believe that the game was slightly rushed out...but I don't think sales or marketing is the source of the problem. Remember, this game has been in development for 6 years...what would one more be after many ppl already considered it vaporware? My guess is that the direction of the game changed in something of a big way after the Roberts brothers left. Heck, I'm just glad this game came out...but, I still feel that FL could have been so much more. But, there's always hope for expansions or large content-altering patches. Cheers.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 5:17 am by Stinger

During the testing phase it was questioned why there were so few people playing MP when in fact, many were...just on their own servers. If you look at the global, there are hundreds of people playing it in the community, but there's no way of knowing how many may still be playing MP on their own servers. Food for thought.

I don't think it's "going away" in the sense that people are not playing it anymore. I think many are just not publically viewable. And when the European's get the release, there will be even more.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 5:30 am by Whiplash

In my opinion, the reason so many people feel that the game is lacking is due alot to the content that WAS put into the game. What I mean is, if the MP was just simple deathmatch, people wouldn't expect as much out of it. But what they gave us is sort of an "MMORPG lite". And so when you play it, it's easy to start wishing "man I wish they'd given us MORE!". They GIVE enough to make you WANT more, if you know what I mean.

Ok, so it wasn't "meant" to be an MMORPG. That's fine. But I don't think these kinds of discussions are futile, since the game is mod-able. Maybe one day mod-ers can add some of these features to the game, for those who want it. Who knows, maybe DA would even add more content to the game if people ask for it and the game has done well. Maybe the game will even get an expansion pack. But at the very least, I think (and hope) that some people will find ways to add more depth to the game, for those that want it.

Edited by - Whiplash on 01-04-2003 06:34:12

Tue Apr 01, 2003 5:44 am by Apocalypse

The game has serious JOMT appeal, UNTIL you have a Titan/Sabre (whatever) with all you favourite weapons, and then ...... ? Thrash Hessians/Corsirs until eternity ?

fight me :p
or run from neo

or whatever, after all is done, there is one thing that is left, PVP, and its a great pvp game.

but well, if you want MORE, what I can understand, you seem to go and create it.
And I know most are to lazy to do it.
I do not care I have my little elite to play, and enough players to fight ... though a update on the player numbers on elite would be fine.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 5:59 am by Jaabaa

Stinger wrote: "I don't think it's "going away" in the sense that people are not playing it anymore. I think many are just not publically viewable. And when the European's get the release, there will be even more."

I dread to think . . . . . . It takes long enough now to load the server list.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 8:34 am by crow eater

< waits for 'Elite 4' patiently

Edited by - crow eater on 01-04-2003 09:34:01

Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:18 pm by Halsey

I hope these patches will solve everyones problems!!!

Are you mocking me[!

Important Message

You are browsing the archived Lancers Reactor forums. You cannot register or login.
The content may be outdated and links may not be functional.

To get the latest in Freelancer news, mods, modding and downloads, go to
The-Starport