Freelancer looked better in alpha

Sun Aug 08, 2004 10:42 pm by Shadow121

Take a look through the Lancer's Reactor in-game screenshots section and you'll notice something: Some of the screenshots looks different from what we know as Freelancer today, are these beta/alpha shots? If so, then wow, the Freelancer alpha looked much better graphically than the finished product.

Also, just, some of the graphics were just plain better: Everything wasn't at the same level, some planets had rings, explosions were better, lighting and shading was better, why didn't they stick with what they had? It was leaps and bounds better than what was released to the public.

Also: Muzzle flashes were better, guns looked better, projectiles were better, the map was (argueably) better, and HUDs (i.e., the glass and metal you see when in first-person mode) looked better.

Heres an example of what I'm talking about:

Screenshot from: Current Retail Freelancer - http://www.lancersreactor.com/t/art/dis ... katana.jpg

Screenshot from: Alpha Freelancer - http://www.lancersreactor.com/t/art/dis ... lshot2.jpg

Edited by - Shadow121 on 8/9/2004 3:27:13 PM

Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:19 am by Dextervt

yeah microsoft always do that. that's so stupid...

Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:43 am by Apocalypse89

First of all, that doesn't look "worlds" better than current FL. The only thing that looks noticeably cooler are the clouds in the background. The ship and station are somewhat more detailed than modern FL, but otherwise aren't much different.

Second of all, promo screenshots tend to look much better than the finished game. The devs take a few small parts of the game, tune up the details and graphics in them, and then run them on the best gaming computer they can possibly assemble. Many games have pre-release screenshots which look much better than the actual release.

Third, maybe they actually had a good reason to tone down the graphics, such as making the world bigger or adding a few more factions. I'd take fun gameplay over pretty graphics any day of the week.

Or maybe you're right and this is all just Microcrap's doing. Until we get solid proof though, we can only guess.

Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:25 am by Killa

i think that Micro**** tuned down the graphics to make the game available to ppl with slower computers, like me.

Mon Aug 09, 2004 4:42 am by Heltak

killa we alll know the other names for MS but don't use them. Some of us LIKE this site.

-~-~-~-~
You have called down the Thunder. Now reap the Whirlwind.

He that humbleth himself wishes to be exalted.
Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Mon Aug 09, 2004 8:51 am by Chips

I am flabbergasted that you can make such sweeping statements about a game from just a FEW IMAGES!!!!!!

Ask those who PLAYED those early versions, like Stinger, EB and Bargib i think it was. Surely only they can inform you reliably what was better/worse, whilst the rest of you are commenting on just a few images.

Surely you are not so narrow minded to be able to compare a couple of screenshots to actual in game play!! Mainly as ANY screenshot i take in FL at the mo doesn't look as good as when in game! So simmer down, and maybe someone who PLAYED those versions could tell you...

Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:09 am by Dextervt

yeah but still it is better....

Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:21 pm by Shadow121

Chips, please re-read my post. If you'll see, I never said anything like "...the gameplay was better, systems were bigger, planets moved..." or anything that would be impossible to discern from screenshots. I commented on the graphics, the scale of planets, and how objects used to not all be on the same level.

Edited by - Shadow121 on 8/9/2004 3:25:36 PM

Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:45 pm by Reaver4k

They Graphics in FL Look Crummy.... I hate when Mirco$oft screws things like this up.. The Graphics in I-War2 look MUCH better then in Freelancer

Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:13 pm by Chips

I did point out that you were comparing screenshots of a game to actaul know gameplay..........i never said you were talking about the gameplay of the beta, hence why i said it should be those who played it who tell you whats better.

As for "I hate the way that microsoft screws things up like this" comment.

Pray, tell me what they did, can you tell me exactly what the issues were? the graphics cards requirements at all? Can you say what the fps would be during the action sequences with better graphics? People are stating that MS dumbed them down, but without actually having any knowledge of why or even IF they did, i think its daring to flame for which you know nothing about!!!

Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:21 pm by Stinger

ah, the good old days of early betas.

You give some away to make it playable...in EVERY game...from alpha/betas to gold folks.

Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:52 am by Outcast 1-1 AKA Talon

If you didn't notice, it makes a huge difference what level your graphics are on.
The standard setting is half on all the bars (video options). Changing this to full improves the graphics quite alot, while turning them right down (like me, since i have a crummy puter) makes a huge difference. some areas of space are pure black, no stars, nothing.

Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:15 pm by TrustNoOne

I think you're wasting your breath Shadow, this is a fan site and as such the moderators won't hear a bad word said against their beloved Freelancer.

Don't get me wrong i fully support your comments, this game had great potential but as we know money talks, so the game was dumbed down for the masses.

The game i think has run it's course, the forums have now become inundated with fan fiction, always a indication that things are not going to well and that the developers/publishers have long since abandoned it.

Such a shame

Tue Aug 10, 2004 3:10 pm by Chips

I've heard many a bad word - don't worry.

Would you make somethign that cost a fortune, and then limit it so that only a smaller percentile of the gaming public could buy it, therefore losing money?? Or would you have made it so that more can run it, and therefore you can make money?

Some of you would not fair well in the buisness world....mind you, thats assuming your values you think others should place in your enjoyment wouldn't change as soon as serious cash was involved!

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