Official Microsoft FL Add-on CD

Fri Jul 11, 2003 9:54 pm by Djay

No doubt Microsoft and Digital Anvil, with produce an add-on CD for Freelancer (they would be silly not to)... so for their benefit i think we should come up with ideas they can use for the add-on....

*Remember that MS and DA are not going to use Starwars/BS Galactica/Startrek technologies because of copyright issues*

my ideas are...

.all faction have more systems (the playmap is bigger)
.missions are now structured on your level status, which means that you can go back to liberty systems and actually do some well paid missions (i never go anywhere near liberty systems anymore which is a shame)
.more mission types (escort, rescue, package/cargo/passenger delivery, repair (using your own nanobots, the object would need to be tractored in, taken somewhere, then put back.. all while your being attacked) YOUR IDEAS?
.base building?!?!? (although this a heavy update feature)
.proper economics for stock?!?!? (again, major update required)

.the plot continues (but you dont have to do story missions until you are ready this time) - all factions want nomad technology, even corsairs (which have now formed a legal business which they hide behind) currently corsairs control the main way into nomad space and you must be at least neutral which corsairs to start new story...

...Bretonia reps contact you to help them infilrate corsair space and control jump holes into nomad space, you find another jumphole in the Unknown system (near Omicron Gamma), to you and your Bretonia wingman's amazement there is a small Rheinland outpost in this new system (it seems that the corsairs and Rheinland have been dealing with each other) as there a few Corsair fighters and Rheinland battleships protecting the outpost... once they are defeated, the outpost allows you to land (under threat)...

...as you land you notice that the outpost is built on an asteroid and is using some sort of nomad power source...

...the outpost gets attacked and they ask you to help out and defend it, you launch and the outpost gets destroyed... under very heavy nomad attack, Juni (?) contacts you and says "Trent, what you doing here"..., "Get away before you are killed"..., a few more LSF(?) ships turn up and destroy the nomads... "Phew, that was one of most difficult nomad attacks i've engaged in, your lucky to still be alive"... (your Bretonia wingman was killed in the attack)...

Juni insists that you return to known space, and she offers to escort you... you agree... Juni tells you some interesting classified information about the different factions involvement in breaking into nomad space... it seems that everybody wants in on the nomad technology, Liberty is trying to create a Jumphole between Alaska and another Nomad system (Hint, Hint

)...

...you reach Omicron Gamma, Juni goes back to unknown system... suddenly you are destroyed (damn, LOL)...

you awake in pain, and are being held for questioning somewhere in Rhienland (Rheinland and Corsair hate you now)... amazingly they dont kill you, but you have lost your ship, weapons and equipment... they have also some how frozen your assets (albeit, 20,000 credits) ( B@$T@R

$ ), they release you in Sigma 19, on a transport vessel.. .. the captains orders are to drop you on PL Honshu and you are released...

to be continued....

Is it the new Elite?

Fri Jul 11, 2003 10:02 pm by Djay

whoops, just seen the existing thread here...

but hey, reply anyway!!!

Is it the new Elite?

Fri Jul 11, 2003 10:09 pm by Nickless V2

Existing thread?
Well, at least you've got big imaginary skills.
I think general thoughts on an expansion (like The Next Generation) are that MS/DA will not release one, but that they come up with a sequal. I beleave it has something to do with the engine.

ERROR

Edited by - Nickless on 11-07-2003 23:13:06

Fri Jul 11, 2003 11:42 pm by Djay

seeing as the development time for freelancer was so long, it seems a bit silly creating a new engine for a sequel, the FL engine is fairly robust and it has only required one patch so far (which is for server-side issues anyway).. ermm, lets not mention the AI ships reversing into planets at this point (which i think is cool anyway, LOL)

the only features that will have a big impact on game dynamics/engine are:-

.dynamic stock market control (proper stock economics)
.buildable bases

which may require a huge rebuild on the engine (i'm not a modder, maybe one can answer that? )

if they do make a sequel lets hope that they keep it faithful to FL (story, technologies etc..)... the main problem with creating a sequel rather than producing an add-on (which i don't mind paying full price for), is that unlike something like Unreal Tournament, FL is, by nature character building, almost like an RPG. a complete overhaul would not be good for hardcore players, i have been faithfull to one dedicated FL server, however that server kept being updated with the Rebalance mod (which is great, btw) and that meant accounts being reset, which is very annoying after the fifth or so time... now my FL is completely unmodded and i haven't played multi-player for awhile, because i like the RPG aspect of FL... phew

i've been searching for a game that replaces Elite/Frontier for ages and it seems that FL has quenched that thirst, i been playing FL since UK release and already we are discussing sequels

, i would prefer an add-on

more ideas and plot continuation coming!!!

Is it the new Elite?

Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:39 am by gaoptimize

Hi,

I have been collecting my thoughts on this for a while. Thanks for starting the discussion.

The coolest enhancement I can imagine would be for Microsoft to buy or license http://www.seestorm.com/lipsynchrosdk.jsp#what and allow planetside or station multiplayer interactions. It would be so way cool to be sitting their at a table in the bar on planet Crete and quite litteraly talking about strategy against the Hessians with the other players, all players having chosen or created 3D persona. We all instinctively know such is very close to the end game of multiplayer software technology, and will even replace IM/conferencing in many situations. Let's get there next year with Freelancer! It is feasible.

Imagine landing on a planet, getting out of your ship, walking (Ghost Recon style) into to the bar, and shooting the Bounty Hunter who ambushed your ship at the jump gate last week!

More later. Please email me if this idea grabs you and let's strategize on how to get it infront of Microsoft.

-Tom

Sat Jul 12, 2003 12:43 am by Fear Factor

Absolutely no FPS in FL! I like my heroes believable, and good only at one thing: flying. Not someone who can do EVERYTHING.

Sat Jul 12, 2003 1:19 am by Djay

hmmm, i'm two-minds about getting out a walking around on a game like freelancer...

on one hand, its a good idea, as long as it is a very small part of the game, NO running around guns blazing QUAKE style (yuck), more walking around talking to shadey characters in dark booths try to barter a good deal, the actual interaction would be small and almost not needed (like talking to someone to get a mission or just looking at the mission notice board)... the feature is there if you want it... this would require a huge amount of play testing so as not to distract from the main idea of the game (flying about in space)... but, if you take the time to interact you'll get a better mission or better price for your cargo.. etc etc...

killing people should only be done in space, ok you talk to someone on a spacestation and they could piss you off and then you could blow them up in space (plenty of mission ideas in that one)

Is it the new Elite?

Sat Jul 12, 2003 1:20 am by Setsuna

@FF: Yeah, like Trent is believeable... <sarcasm> NO ONE is that eloquent, attractive AND smart... </sarcasm>

The idea is to make your character trully yours, to let you customize and control it fully, and that requires some "FPS" elements, as well as some serious RPG elements, and not just the faint hints that currently exist in FL. I personally support this idea, and I really would like to see a game that gives you much more freedom, even if it takes another 5-6 years. But that's just me...

Careful what you wish... You might just get it.

Edited by - Chetnik on 12-07-2003 02:22:57

Sat Jul 12, 2003 1:28 am by Djay

non audio refences to your characters name and gender would be a good idea, that way you could of chosen to CREATE-A-FREELANCER (patent pending), as seen in the Tony Hawks series... bend and shape your polygon body into any shape you desire, dress your character in a skimpy, lacy number!!!

the narration, would be changed from "Why Trent, you sexy hunk on a spaceman, you're back in this neck of the universe" to... "Arrrgh, you're back, glad to see you've returned to our politically correct space station"

Is it the new Elite?

Edited by - Djay on 12-07-2003 02:28:15

Sat Jul 12, 2003 1:32 am by Djay

both FPS and 3D RPG engines exist, at this rate of development (5 years ago it was all mode 7, i.e. mariokart), i don't think it will take 5 years to happen

Sat Jul 12, 2003 9:18 am by Puke Barwalker

Change the name to Freeperson? And let the player pick which systems should be the good guys? Germans can have Liberty taken over instead of Rheinland. Hispanics can make the Kusari the pirates. Maybe turn the Golden Chrysanthemums into the Golden Pansies and have them fighting for gay rights??? Plus all weapons will be set to stun so as not to offend the peace lovers.

Juni: "Trent, we've got to go faster!"

Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:52 am by Chiggy

Ok heres the thing: In the movie at the beginning, war was goin on for like 100 years, and the sleeper ships left. 800 years later, mankind has produced roughly 30 ships. If DA and MS make an expansion/sequel/add-on, they need to get way more ships. Like in the rebalance mod. Anyway, I think that the missions would need to be more varied. If you go work for the Outcasts or Corsairs, you get one option: kill ships. Very rarely is there another mission available (only base-killing). I very much like the idea of being an escort/transporter carrying goods or a VIP. Also, in the ::unmodded version:: of FL, there are absolutely NO capital ships floating around. Sure, theres about 5 stationary battleships, but you can't fly around and find any doing patrols. I guess the main things that I would like to see in a new version of FL are more mission varieties, more ships, and more variations:

*Person in the bar*: "Can I help you?"
Trent: "What have you got?"
*Person in the bar*: "You're new around here, aren't you?"
Trent: "Uhhhh-huh."

EVERY SINGLE TIME. I guess my post turned out to be a rant about how the game could've been better. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing it more than any other game. But if the developers add more to this game, it would be a dream come true (for those of you who dream about this game and a possible sequel =P)
BTW I love the Rebalance Mods. Hats off to the developer(s)!

Sat Jul 12, 2003 6:25 pm by Tachyon

No doubt Microsoft and Digital Anvil, with produce an add-on CD for Freelancer (they would be silly not to)... so for their benefit i think we should come up with ideas they can use for the add-on....

Try not to get your hopes up by stating definites like this. There is a good possibility we may not see something for a while.

Sat Jul 12, 2003 10:24 pm by Djay

yes i agree Tachyon... a sequel will take ages... although an add-on should be quite quick... maybe it will be a Counter-Strike scenerio??? eh?

Sun Jul 13, 2003 12:06 am by Holliday

Ok, this is a guess, but none of you have an MBA do you?

Ne frustra vixisse videar

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