The main things I look forward to in Freelancer, which override pretty much any issue like joystick or even multiplayer support, are a huge world to explore, lots of cool places to visit, people to interact with and tons of ships to test out. I'm also hoping Freelancer has a rollickingly good storyline, because I just haven't played a space sim with a good storyline in ages.

That's basically it. DA could have put together an upgraded Privateer (literally) and I would've been perfectly happy. Freelancer, I think, will be a large step ahead, at least in most respects!

I will like the combat. I will like being able to get better ships and equipment then going back and finding guys who gave me trouble when I was weak, and then giving them some trouble. I once read that the designers wanted to get away from the space combat where two guys run around in circles until one gets a bead on the other. I've watched a lot of the movies and it looks like the designers succeded. The combat looks intense and that will be a ton of fun.

Let's get those missiles ready to destroy the universe!!

I'm looking forward to some fighting combined with a good storyline and (at least some) freedom of choice. As for me, trading and stuff can be absent - I wouldn't mourn that. Piracy is another thing (wonder if that's gonna be possible - robbing another ship, selling the goods and upgrading my crate). Well. we'll see how it goes.

I'm looking forward to good trading and good upgrading. To freedom of action. Starlancer was technically good, but fell short for me after that. There was no freedom of choice. IW2 was much better. It had freedom of action, trading and upgrading after a fashion. Joystick vs mouse? I could care less as long as the control system is controllable. Cockpit or no cockpit? Well for realism I would like a cockpit, but if the game is designed so that third person is really needed to fight, well that's better than no game at all.

X2 - I'm looking forward to X2 having just played the original X, but I'm afraid it may be still a long time coming. I haven't seen a publisher announced yet or any work of when Beta testing starts.

I'm looking forward to the massive universe to explore (in a less is more sense. Only around 50 systems yet they are crammed full of things to do and places to see!), NPCs to get rumors from, thousands of trade routes to exploit, and of course that great feeling you get when you manage to sneak some diamonds past a gang of pirates through a jump hole

Like my fellow FL bretheren, exploration and upgrading my ship. The shear size of this open-ended universe is worth it!

I came. I saw. I conquered. And sometimes get conquered.

I am looking forward to a massive universe filled with tons of locations and characters. In addition, the stunning visuals will be a sight to behold. Laslty I am hoping for a very captivating and in-depth storyline. I have a feeling this is just going to be one of those games that you won't be able to tear yourself away from it for anything other than food or drink, and even then that'd be rare in and of itself.

I'm looking forward to exploring, just flying from one end of the universe to the other, and each time i do it i'll find something new. And on occasion team up with a random person or run from them.

OK, now this waiting is really killing me. I better eat some chocolate.

Life is like a box of chocolates some how laced with plastic explosive.

Gameplay (mostly) and storyline...

Im really looking forward to the opportunity to explore the FL galaxy. To go out and just look around and see the different architecture of the cities, the look of the planets, the different design of the ships and cap ships. Finding different spacial anomolies. Really what I want to do in FL is to buy up on goods and fly around from port to port looking for a good price, see the galaxy at the same time and get into a few fights along the way.
And then of course there is the opportunity to buy the baddest ship and stock it up with the most brutal weapons adn destroy whatever crosses my path.

Hey Mustang.. if that's the kind of game you're looking for, there is one that already exists. Earth & Beyond. I was one of the beta-testers for that game. It starts off fast and then slows down dramatically but you can explore over many systems, find plenty of anomalies, search excellent trade routes that will give you a ton of cash, etc. I hope that Freelancer gives you the same kind of freedom. The one thing missing from Earth & Beyond was good action. It seems Freelancer has that part in abundance.

Thanks for the heads up Vyse. I've heard a lot of bad reports about E&B but I can't really say I've ever had a close look at it. Might have to check it out now.

One of the reasons the game got bad reviews is because the people that reviewed didn't take the time to listen to Westwood when they said that a lot of the things the game promised would be added on over the course of time. A lot of reviews complained about a bland storyline but Earth & Beyond is a constantly evolving story. So I recommend checking it out.

I'm looking forward to spending many 100's of hours locked in my darkened computer room, only emerging when its nightime for food and drink. you know.. its got to be one of those games that makes you feel like living again.

Necker