Guilty as charged on that last count especially, Sapient6, but still those are very much exceptions. Not that this significantly detracts from the game most of the time, but it's hard to avoid the references. This is one reason I always turn off auto-levelling (even though the game insists on turning it back on again every time I dock or enter a new system) - it helps to mask the feeling that the vertical axis has been short-changed.

Perhaps it's also because I've been playing a lot of X-Tension lately.

This whole thing is kinda weird. But, if humans built a trade lane system, it would make sense for them to make it on a 2d level. Things would be simpler. I still agree with making use of the 3rd dimension, though.

The Monkeys are coming. Beware!

I think you have way too much free time if your worrying about that

You realize of course this time of year there are LOTS of kids with free time on their hands-- Lots of schools in the Northern Hemisphere are out for the summer!

Already?! I have another 5 weeks of school...

The fact of the matter is it really doesn't matter and wouldn't add anything to the game.

FYI- Another post on subject: '3d Space' by Godlike Entity

"Got anything for me?" - Trent, A.K.A. 'Mr. Eloquent'

Lots of space games, like "Tachyon..." or "Edge of Chaos" used a 3D environment - it is a natural thing to do. Freelancer is just basically 'space Invaders' with graphics.... it doesn't need 3D cause the game play is so simplistic. Other games provided a "radar" type system (given it was invented over 50 years ago, it is hardly surprisingly to find it on an inter-stellar craft?) through which you could navigate 3D space and align your self onto whatever plane you required....

Plus: Freelancer in one of its early guises as a less simplistic, shoot' em-up game, according to preview screens, had a radar type system but obviously in the dumbing-down of the game for final release it, along with a whole dimension, got shelved....

I'm surprised it took you so long to notice. It was a programming decision. If they had put things in three dimensions, they would've had to greatly alter the map system, plus include a lot more content to fill the "added" space.

There are a number of space sims that have provided true 3D space, like Independence War and Jumpgate. I think Freelancer has offered the best 2D space sim, however. Unlike Darkspace or Starfleet Command, at least you can move in all three dimensions for combat purposes.

If you have any idea about how games are made then youd know that to make a game like freelancer include a y-axis to a more advanced level then the game would need to be TB....well actaully just about 10GB, but still that huge for a game. Everything would be slow too. I think they did a damn good job so stop complaining

Its only illegal if you get caught

to bubbawells:

Heh heh.. I'm not sure if you know any more than the poster you replied to.

For your information, Freelancer's flight engine already has a working Z-axis. If it didn't, you would only be able to maneuver in one geometric plane, like a car-driving sim.

It would be VERY EASY for DA programmers to put objects at different Z-axis levels in-flight and WILL NOT bloat a game to 10GB.

The only hangups? It would need a 3D system map interface for the user, which would be harder for the gamer to learn how to use, and DA would need to devise a more dynamic way of travelling between places in-system rather than the simplistic fixed trade lanes and non-orbiting planets. Since this is supposed to be a dumbed-down first-person-shooter in space for casual gamers, they didn't bother.

Too bad hard-core spacesimmers are too small a market for DA to cater to.

Spork.

Most solar systems lie along a relatively flat plane. It makes sense to build your bases along the same plane (or in orbit), to make it easier for pilots to navigate. So it DOES make sense that space should be "flat". In any case, you CAN travel on the Z-axis, you just won't find much in the "up" or "down" directions.

Yes, they COULD put bases above or below a planet to simulate a polar orbit or something, but why bother?

Reaper: $200,000,000.
Rockets: $100,000
The look on that pilot's face when you launch a full pod of screamers up his tailpipe: priceless

c'mon you should know this yourself if it was in 3d the sys req would be enourmus and then no one would have a computer good enough to play it!!!

Sephiroth,

Wake up. Freelancer ALREADY has a 3D flight engine. If it did not, you would only be able to maneuver in one 2D plane like driving a car-racing sim.

That "if it was in 3d the sys req would be enourmus and then no one would have a computer good enough to play it" garbage has been dead and buried ever since the Voodoo1 graphics cards came out 7 years ago.