Banquet

I agree with Grizzle.. the AI does seem tougher. This is, of course, great.. but it would be nice to have some corner of the galaxy where you could 'get your shit together' without being attacked. If such a place exists I haven't yet found it. I've tried playing the paramedic caste and, although you have far fewer enemies, it doesn't take long before you find one, and it kills you. SC, would you consider putting in a caste where nothing attacks you? Just so you can watch it all in safety and explore?

Actually, although the FPS part of UC isn't up to a dedicated FPS standard (and this is usually because a 'proper' FPS is so scripted - and imo is usually boring anyway) I'm really impressed with the ground based ops in UC. The instant action mission where your base is attacked by a crashed gunship is really cool. Being able to hop into one of the many vehicle's.. tracking down the landing site. There are so many different ways to play it and it works pretty well. It has something of a midwinter feel to it (anyone remember that classic?!) I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time in FPS, on the ground, than I ever did in BCMG. Nothing's ever perfect of course. I wish the groans as people get hit were only hearable from a much closer distance.. and I the fact that your AE is often trying to orient himself to east/west can be frustrating, but it's a much more enjoyable part of the game than it was before and I'd far rather 'go FPS' in UC than in most FPS's available today.

I had 3 shuttles doing exactly what you described.. I re-plotted the deploy waypoints to over 2km and bingo.. it worked! Cheers

Well, I've played the game a few hours now and here are my first impressions; The Good I LOVE the new planetary terrain graphics. Absolutely fantastic. Standing in the grass and trees, watching horses, etc pass by is wonderful. I've always enjoyed the BC series for their openness and usually play more of the exploration role than the combat one.. this makes exploring and sightseeing a treat. Can't praise it enough. The game would be worth the full price, for me, for this feature alone I disagree with a previous comment about quality of textures. They look fine to me. Sure, it ain't Morrowind but what do some people expect? You could spend a lifetime exploring one planet, never mind the whole cluster provided in the game. I can't wait to get into some firefights in that terrain.. Flying a shuttle in low is so cool The space graphics are great too. Doesn't feel as much as a quantum leap as the terrain, but still very improved. The shield effects are lovely and the backdrops make a big difference. The extra vehicles provided are great. The new ones seem to be of especially nice quality. I.e, the ship shown on the back of the box.. fantastic I like the new interface, it's taking a while to re-adjust. It's familiar enough, though, that I can still find what I need to find. The new planets.. Still not completely convincing from up close, but a whole lot better and they look awesome from a little further away. I can't help wondering if you just get too close to them in the BC series. In Eve I use to try and get as close as I could to the planets and they didn't look so great from really close up either. Maybe planetfall/orbit could be done from a little further out? Probably wouldn't be as realistic from a reality sense, but would keep the planets a little further away, where they look excellent. Earth from maybe 2 or 3 times orbit distance looks a treat. Better than anything except maybe the orbiter sim with the hi res earth add on. I haven't played enough to see if/what other enhancements exist beyond the graphical changes, but these certainly bring the series much closer to the current state of the art. Considering the depth of the game is so far ahead of just about anything else available, this is a great achievement. I don't really have a 'The bad' list other than I was hoping base capture (by player and A.I) would be in the game. I've known it wasn't in for a while, so it's no disappointment now, but it would have been nice Would definitely get my vote for any future game or add on pack. Also would have been nice to have an option for pixel shaded water. I do appear to be getting some bugs. Won't go into much detail as this isn't the right forum, but to sum up.. When entering planetfall I often see some explosions or ship engine trails floating in the atmosphere (without any ship visible) Also, there seems to be some clipping problems with the buildings disappearing when getting close. The water seems to change colour/shade and small lakes kinda flicker on and off at times. I had a couple CTD's in the first 10 minutes but nothing since. I have the shuttle landing problem (drone deployment) but that's well known anyway. Finally, suggestions. I know it's too late now, and probably shouldn't post this here but, real quick.. With the wildlife.. how cool would it be if on the more alien type planets you got wierd 'alien' wildlife?! Some of it rare and hard to find. For the explorer in me that would be so cool. Also, The grass and trees draw distance seems quite small.. I totally understand why, but my computer seems to be coping quite well (apart from the occasional stutter) so an option to increase the draw distance would be great. Overall, total thumbs up. Looks like BCMG is finally heading for the dusty shelf cause it seems to improve it all round with no downsides PS.. I like that the splashscreen still shows BCG. Kinda show's it's true heritage

Hi Guys, For anyone in the UK.. The current situation seems to be that GAME have the release date set for 27 Feb. However, I've just been on the phone to SPS and they have stock now! I've just asked them to put a copy aside for me and am grabbing me car keys as I type to go pick it up. I know it ain't long to wait till the 27th. but if anyone is as impatient as me to get their mitts on UC you can get it from these guys; http://www.sps-systems.co.uk/trolleyed/134/index.htm tally ho!

I remember signing up to Compuserve in about 1991 I think. I thought the chat rooms were the coolest things on earth. 'I'm typing to someone half way across the world.. OH MY GOD!!' The fact that I had to pay a phone bill AND something like $5 an hour to compuserve wouldn't stop me.. the 250 quid a month bills didn't stop me.. they were a bit of a shock though! Then someone told me that Compuserve wasn't the internet.. that was a bit disappointing as I thought I was a hi tech dude on the information superhighway.. turned out it was just a glorified bulletin board. I also noticed how much more willingly people revealed themselves to be totally deranged compared to people u meet on the street, and gradually the novelty wore off. Now I could do all that and more for a tenner a month but, more often than not, I can't be arsed. How we change.

Cheers for the link, DREADA, that's a pretty cool site. The search options are fantastic! Man, was I drooling at some of the stuff there. Ahh, when I'm rich.. *starts daydreaming*

Sounds like it's pretty portable, which is really good.. and the GOTO seems damn useful too All the things I'd hoped telescopes like these would be.. but speaking to someone who's views I trust.. it's nice to confirm what I'd read in the advertising. Thanks Jaguar.. really appreciate the info

The whole Celestron range has a really good reputation I did a quick search on the web for the NextStar 114GT and it's the same sort of scope I'd be after. Retails here in the UK for 385 quid (about $580) so u got a good deal there!! Could u answer a couple questions; Does the GOTO work? I don't expect it to be dead on every time.. but does it help, or is it annoying? From the pics, the 114GT looked quite portable.. but pics can be deceptive! Do u reckon it'd be easy to put it in a car and set it up afterwards, or is it too hefty and delicate for that in your opinion? Cheers

Jaguar, May I ask what telescope you've got? I was looking into getting one. Looked at some Meade's with the GOTO function. They seemed really cool It would have had to have been a portable one cause I don't have a garden. Some of the ETX's looked nice. I'd love to have tried some astrophotography. It all went on hold for a while, but I'd be interested to hear what u have and your experiences with it.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: [QB] As for SWG, by the time they figure out that Star Wars = space flight, we'd have come and long gone I can't help wondering if the recent Star Wars films didn't also suffer because this simple fact was missed. Tonight I played BCMG again. I haven't played it for a while due to recent releases such as X2, Victoria, KOTOR and LOMAC. I did what I usually do - flew me to the moon (cue song) and deployed all shuttles to drop off mining drones.. this time.. somehow (can't watch 4 shuttles at once!) one of the shuttles got damaged and was left lifless in space. I sent another shuttle out to tow it back and watched as it did it. Absolutley beautiful and it's never happened to me before. The fact that a shuttle can be damaged like that - and that u can tow it back and repair it - is so cool. X2 can't compete.. frankly, nothing can. What's almost funny is that a game designed to be a combat oriented game is better at these moments.. better at conveying the spirit of exploration, the freedom of thought, the grandness of plans and the devastation of their downfall than all the games that might claim to be deeper. If space sims are dead, BCM is a dead man walking.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: Even the sequel (or add-on) to UC, will probably see no new addition to the space sim aspects - except probably the ability to construct bases on planets and in space. Constructing bases would be pretty damn cool

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: I am biased, so take this for what its worth. For immersion, freeform, world size, combat, AI and pretty much everything else (except for graphics, trading and empire building), X2 pales compared to BCM Gold. The two games are as different as dawn and noon, in that they both take place in space, but thats where the similarity ends. He may be biased but that's pretty accurate imo If I could only keep one, it'd be BCMG, no doubt about it. I can't help wishing Derek would include some aspects of X2's trading and empire building in a future BC game but I gather that's unlikely for a host of reasons.. not least that it's designed as a more combat oriented game.

Merry Christmas to all You have a lovely looking family there Jaguar.. the mother-in-law looks like she could use a shave but apart from that they look great

DREADA, Yeah, you only see planetside and interior views in the cutscenes (which are pretty cheesy anyway) Not ingame. You can eject from the ship into a space suit and fly around inside a space station to some extent (in fact u can do this a your ship too) but that's about it. I'm having a sort of love/hate relationship with the game at the moment. Aspects of the empire building and trading are great but I get attacked either by Khaak or pirates every damn 5 minutes. 'One of your factories is under attack' I have heard this phrase thousands of times!! It's driving me nuts!! The only alternative I have to launching my head through the monitor is to play with the volume off. I finally managed to kill/force a retreat of the attackers and then my current savegame corrupted.. argh!! It can be deeply satisfying to sail the spacelanes watching your ships plying their trade and bringing you money but it's also infuriating to be constantly attacked all the time. (buy a new ship - other ship gets destroyed - buy another ship - lose another ship.. argh!!) There appears to be an element of this stuff only showing up where u are. So you can check out a sector.. all seems gloriously quiet and yet, once u purchase a station there, suddendly all manor of unfavourable types appear and suddently it's turkeyshoot alley! Yet it still has great moments! I've heard the aspect of constantly being attacked by the khaak was fixed by a patch, but I think u maybe have to start the game again to see the benefit.. not sure I can be arsed doing this, although losing my savegame may make the decision easier. I can give u a link to a UK shop that imports the game if u want.. let me know.. I've used them for lots of stuff and they are top class.

Glad to hear it's a good film. I'm actually a big fan of Tom Cruise. Vanilla Sky and Magnolia are two of the best films I've seen.

Hi Dra'an'tier, I'm a lurker too, but it's a nice place here And the games are great as well

If DC do release, and you're dragged through the shit because of it, I'll stand up for you where ever I hear u critised. So will everyone else on this forum. I would personally prefer to have the game asap, and wait for a patch.. as opposed to waiting until it's bug free (as the bugs seem minor) But reading this thread, DC are totally up themselves. I'm sure all Publishers are similar, but doesn't it just get on your tits?! Half of me say's 'screw em' the other half says 'life's too short' Either way, SC, you have my respect. You stand up for what u believe in.. and that's worth something to me.

If DC do release, and you're dragged through the shit because of it, I'll stand up for you where ever I hear u critised. So will everyone else on this forum. I would personally prefer to have the game asap, and wait for a patch.. as opposed to waiting until it's bug free (as the bugs seem minor) But reading this thread, DC are totally up themselves. I'm sure all Publishers are similar, but doesn't it just get on your tits?! Half of me say's 'screw em' the other half says 'life's too short' Either way, SC, you have my respect. You stand up for what u believe in.. and that's worth something to me.

'GDR http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/.../dec03/x2.html' Have to say that review is bollocks.. X2 certainly has weak points but the reviewer misses the point of the whole game. Saying it takes 12 hours to get into the game is wrong. They even give you 2 ships (one a trader) to get going. I'd bought my own factory within 3 hours of playing and I always go slow in any games. Then he makes this point; 'Also, the game isn't very well balanced in the beginning. You are allowed to push forward into areas even when lacking the ship needed to survive their denizens.' Is this guy a scripted mission man, or what? X2 is obviously out of his league.

I just bought Tiger Woods 2004 and, though I'm not into Golf in real life, this game is totally addictive. Definitely recommended if you're even at all into golf games. This one reminds me a bit of the old Microprose Golf. Other games that stay on my hard drive and get played a lot are; Morrowind.. never stop loving that. With 3d glasses it's totally 'whooa' Hearts of Iron.. My all time favourite war/strategy game. BCMG.. fav space game! No intro needed here Can't wait for UC and X2 is also looking good. FS2004.. Awesome if you're into flying. Atmospherics in the new version are superb. If you're looking for a good FPS that's out now, Medal of Honor and Max Payne were two I enjoyed a lot

Good old Sean Penn.. he ain't in much but it's usually good.. except for the film called 'Sam' or something like that.. that was a bit dodgy.

Works for me. I don't need the demo to know I'm buying it. If it means I get me grubby mitts on the full version sooner, then all the better! I just hope we get it in England at the same time. I won't be able to stand coming here, reading about how good it is otherwise

Those screenshots look amazing! Can't wait for the release.. gonna need a fortnight off work! Cometh the hour.. cometh the battlecruiser!

That's all the internet needs.. even more people talking out their arse!