Dr_Nick
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Posts posted by Dr_Nick
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I guess I'm going to buy a Xbox 360. Thanks for making the game...
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You are right. I did not search the board for previous topics on this subject. The reason behind my lack of investigative energy is associated with the fact that I've been watching the development of this game since BC3K. I know that the SC has considered the option of BBS missions. I also know that even though the SC will take a hard line on a topic, he will consider what you have to say.
With that said I agree with what you are saying. There is life in the game. I would like to see more. The ambitious design that is this game has evolved into a highly stable, functional, and fun game. Yet it is missing certain elements of interaction that would enhance the game. Not to say that you do n ot interact. Of course you do, but it could be improved.
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I understand the notion behind ROAM. You are responsible for making the game happen. However, what is missing for me is the immersion of galaxy life. To expand on the idea of adding BBS mission, for instance, you cannot communicate with enemy ships. No discussion is possible to either threaten them, make them drop cargo, or to simply inform them that you are about to blow them to bits.
At this point the game is running very well and I enjoy it greatly. I've played the ACM missions and I like them. However, the same ideas could work there as well...
Just some ideas...
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Why not?
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I've been playing ROAM for several days now and I've been thinking about an element of the game that I would love to see implemented...I know that this has been discussed in the past, but I just have to ask. It would be great if you could accept/reject missions at stations in space or on a planet when you check the news so to speak (BBS missions). I think it would immerse the player more so into the game...just some thoughts.
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Hello Derek!
I just managed to get my copy of UCAWA
Great job with this version. The game plays great, the missions are engaging, and the visual upgrades really made a difference for me.
One of the things that I liked about the original BC3K was the ability to transport the AE to any craft any time you wanted to do so. I realize that this had been changed a long time ago, but I still miss it because it added another level of tension to the combat that I enjoyed. Any chance of bringing back that function into the game?
I hope all is well with you and your family.
Take Care,
Nick
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Hmmm, ok. I guess I was under the impression that it was free at the stations and would go faster...I guess I was wrong...
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Is it possible to create some form of time acceleration for repairs when docked at a station? I had signficant damage to my ship so I limped home and docked at Galcom. I initiated repairs, which were extensive, and sat there waiting, and waiting, and waiting. I ended up taking my son to the park, playing on the jungle jim for one hour and then came home. When I arrived the repairs were still going!! Only two of the engineers were available. This really takes away from the gameplay. I am putting in a plea for help here...
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Ok, you were right. The solution was not associated with the video card. I set the acceleration on the video to full and slide back the music slider in the Direct X control panel to standard. Then I shut off the music in UC and disabled the model preload option. Runs smooth as a baby's bottom with no CTD's after three hours of play. Nice...
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That's what I thought. I'll try messing around with it some more. Thanks for the help. Damn gaming laptops!! When I ran Doom 3 it locked up HARD! However, Alienware immediately became aware of the issue and released new ATI drivers that solved the issue. The machine rocks for the most part...
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Hi Derek,
Well it is time for me to eat crow here. After our last discussion I thought about what you said and re-read the CGW review. I decided that my game time with UC has not been enough to warrent a fair assessment of the game. I have played the game at 45-60 intervals, but nothing extended. So I decided to re-read everything and setup several two hour gaming intervals for a fair test. After doing this for roughly two weeks I have to say that I have a new view of the game. It really takes some time and dedication to get into one of your games and cannot be done without the proper amount of time. I am having a great time now and have found that once the learning curve is complete the game is not so hard. The main point is that I have found it to be FUN. So, I apologize for my statements and take it back. UC is a great game that works on many levels.
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Hi Derek,
Well I've been playing the game, primarily, on my home system and have no problems at all. However, when I load it up on my m-51 I get a random CTD after playing for roughly 15-20 minutes. I went through the trouble shooting guide and have checked to see if everything is up to date and I think I have all of the current drivers and directX stuff loaded. I am patched up to the current version. So I went into the ATI control panel and lowered the acceleration by one and then two ticks on the slider. The first time the game ran fine for awhile and then while I was in hyperspace the CTD happened. When I lowered the acceleration again it worked ok, but now the game stutters even with all of the 3D models preloaded. The mouse flickers, but is functional. While it works I am wondering if there is anything else I can do to optimize the game. I have read everything that is posted and I'm guessing my laptop is a specific issue related to Alienware. Any help would be appreciated. Having fun as always...
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When I bought Dominions II they sent it to me in a shrink wrapped manual with the disk inside the manual. They sent it via US mail! I would buy the game online, but would want the option of being able to buy a printed manual if one was offered.
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Hi Derek,
Thank you for your response. While I do not completely agree with your position I think I understand it more clearly now. Nevertheless please know that I am a UC/BC gamer that has appreciated the series since its inception. Perhapes we shall discuss this issue further the future. I'll be lurking...
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quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:You - like most - are MISSING the goddamn point. I PAY FOR and DEVELOP the games thatI want to play. The games I envision - and which thousands are buying and playing, have micromanagement in it because that IS an integral part of the design and premise. Thats NEVER going to change.
I'm not asking you to change or take out the micromanagment aspects of the game. As a matter of fact that is the draw for me. I'm stating an opinion that asks for more balance between the action portion of the game and the tactical aspects of the game.
quote:If I wanted to develop a run of the mill game that everyone (which is stupid in itself to even think that), I'd have done it MANY years ago.MANY space sims that have come and gone andFAILED, continue to prove this point. Making a game easy, taking out micromanagement and developing a game that SOMEONE ELSE wants to play, is NOT the key to selling games. I develop games for aNICHEaudience and I have absolutelyNOintentions of deviating from that. I make money from it; I make a tidy profit, so I keep doing it. Every now and then, if I see places where things could be make simpler and easier without detracting from the core of the game design, I do it. And the VCF of my games, prove just that.Just because my games don't sell millions of units doesn't mean SQUAT. A company like Activision can put out a mass market space sim and see if FLOP. Interplay, Particle Systems etc all all made space sims that FLOPPED - and NONE of those games had any micromanagement. X2, with all its North American ads, high reviews (for graphics mostly), has been out since LAST YEAR and has barely sold as many units as UC has in six months. Sure, the price might have something to do with it, but even at the current 2 to 1 ratio, that just kills that pricing argument right there. Even BCM/BCM Gold, sold more units than ALL of those space sims - including both X titles....and your point was what?So money is not an issue? You don't want to make more? You are happy with your profits? It seems that I was mistaken if this is the case. However, I have a hard time with the notion that you are happy with your current profits. Maybe I'm wrong but I doubt it.
quote:NOTHING pisses me off more than some clueless person - on the OUTSIDE - telling me what kind of game I should be developing; when in fact there are thousands and thousands of people BUYING those games, playing and liking them for WHAT they are. Thats just presumptious and egotistical. I don't CARE about one thousand people who like 25% aspects of my game. I care about one hundred people who like 90% of my game.So I am a "clueless person" on the "outside" who is "presumptious and egotistical." I am attempting to state an opinion as I actually like the games that you make. I own all of them and have followed the BC line for roughly 10 years. I may have a valid point, but you have to stop being so defensive in order to hear it.
quote:My games do NOT pretend to be something else. Even with Dreamcatcher'sfailedattempt at shoehorning BCG into the action genre - complete with the requisite price drop - all they ended up doing was bringing out more gamers from the woodwork, who would otherwise NOT have had the opportunity toTRY SOMETHING NEW. Now they've seen whats possible, it is HIGHLY unlikely that they will ever settle for less in any game of its type and genre. So, what does that do? It means I get to sell those people the next game, because, guess what, THEY are the ones who keep me in business and one of the reasons I keep doing this.The day I, for example, automate crew management in ANY of the BC games, is the day I declare to the BC fans that I've started going down the road of ruining the franchise. And I can do it in FIVE - yes, I said FIVE - lines of code. Or even by simply starting off all the crew with 100 AI. No more crew management. Three instructions later and you NEVER have to babysit ANY repairs or unit replacements, as long as you have a CE on board. Yeah, its in there - and thats how the AI is able to automate various aspects WITHOUT totally taking control. ICHOOSE NOT TO DO IT. Its MY choice. Its THE GAMES I want to develop.You can make this game more accesible to the general gaming community and still maintain the core integrity of its design. You choose not to at this time, but who knows about the future. It reminds me of the time when you posted a statement about implementing Glide into the game. You were adament that would NEVER happen. Months later Glide was in the game because graphics became important and you had to keep up with the what the rest of the computer industry was doing. This time it is no different. Today you say NEVER. Next month you might say "MAYBE" and then you'll finally say "OK."
quote:And what ANY of this has to do with a board that is primarily for PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE GAMES is beyond me. I've said it before, when I sell someone a game, I don't sell them a key to my house or the right to come here. Don't f*cking come here if you don't like the atmosphere. THIS board is NOT a part of the game, nor is it an extension.I like games Derek. THATS WHY I COME HERE!!! I don't like the atmosphere that you create at times. So I'm saying something about it. If I'm not allowed to voice my opinion then ban me from the board. Otherwise relax and listen to some opinions even if you don't like them.
quote:I don't develop games so that I would make friends (though I have made a few along the way) or organize cookouts. I develop games because it is FUN and getting my money back from publishers is usually half the fun. If someone shares my idea of fun, so be it. If they don't, it makes no goddamn difference to me. It is not my goal to inject my ideas or values into someone else and thats why people have different likes and dislikes. You - as a practicing (?) psychologist - should know that I am someone with a hardline resolve.So my stating an opinion is "injecting" my ideas or values into you? Please. Your stubborness and reactionary attitude blinds you. I've been reading your posts long enough to know that you can be a hardass, but you can also be reasonable as well. In this case your being a hardass because your angry. So be it. BE ANGRY, just grow up enough to know that people like me really do value what you do.
quote:I didn't ask anyone to be a "yes" man; all I ask is that people don't flood my board with rubbish and that all members be treated with respect. If someone doesn't like my game or the board atmosphere,NOTcoming here is the very best way to let me know that. I don't want to hear about what the game should be, isn't or whatnot. What I listen to is how to improve the game based onwhat it is and does; not a radical change to what I envision. Being a LEADER is primarily about having the power and authority to make decisions (good, bad or ugly) and the guts to deal with the consequences thereafter. When I make decisions, I stick with them - and obviously a thousand bad reviews of my games because some reviewerdoesn't get it, don't meansquatin the general scheme of things.People are intimidated by you Derek. It is obvious from the posts on the board. Sure you like to run a tight ship and want to eliminate unwanted trash on the board. I can understand that, but if someone disagrees with you, posts a naive questions, or is confused, then you will set them straight. As a result you get "yes men" who probably have good ideas but are afraid to say anything for fear of being attacked. Does that help you? No. It limits what you could learn and what your game could become.
I for one do like your games. You can rant all you want it makes no difference to me. If you want an honest opinion I'll provide you with my point of view. However, based on this post it is obvious that you want to hear what is easy for you to hear. Not the real stuff...
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quote:Originally posted by TSCavalier:I think DS has stated quite clearly in innumerable posts (here and elsewhere) that money isn't his motivation. He'll keep making more games as long as people are willing to pay for it (which they are) and in enough quantity to warrant making another installment (which it does).
I would like to believe that money is not an issue here, but I think it is. Derek has created a labor of love so to speak, but he needs money to keep this machine moving. Money may not be his motivation, but it is certainly is a necessity. Also, there is nothing wrong with making money and letting it be a part of your motivation.
quote:I agree with you that there appear to be a lot of "yes men" on this board. However, understand that this IShisboard and the people who remain here are positive or at least minimally neutral toward him. Would you let thugs trash your house? No.I would want people to be honest and straight forward when providing me with feedback about my product. It's one of the few ways that it would get better. I've seen people on this board attack others and create an air that is negative to those who want to ask simple questions. When people align in this way on the board they place objectivity on the shelf so that they can be part of the group. That process does not help Derek to make a better game and, as a result, Derek may not get the feedback that helps him to make better design decisions.
quote:I also agree with you that the game has a lack of "Hollywood BOOM factor", but if that's what you want, you're looking at the wrong game. Play the game for what it is, not for what it isn't. And if you don't like its style or presentation, no one is twisting your arm to play it. There are other games out there to play that have a BOOM factor if that's what you're looking for.This is what I'm talking about. If the post does not fit into the BC/UC mold then "go play something else." I've seen that thought written many times since the release of UC and previous BC games. I was a beta tester for the original BC3K. I have been following the series for some time and want to see it get better. Of, course nobody is forcing me to play it, but I could see how the game could be better. In fact, I could see it being the best game ever made. The concept is great and vision is coming to life. It is my opinion that the BOOM factor would greatly engance UC and not take away from the parts of it that make it good now. The CGW review made a valid point about the FUN factor. Perhapes that point should be considered.
quote:But I, too, feel what I think you are saying. You want one of your favorite games to be even better... cooler... prettier... and you want other people to understand what a cool game BC/UC ultimately is (and that a designer paint job might do the trick).Agreed.
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Well I guess I'm going to get a serious lashing for this, but I have to say that the CGW review hits on a central game play issue. The fact is that the game is not easy and as a result most people will not like it or will miss the point. I have felt, and continue to believe, that UC would have sold way more copies had it more of the BOOM factor, instead of micromanagement. I have been watching these forums for months and nobody is saying this out loud. Instead we have a bunch of "yes men" telling Derek how great the game is and that people are missing the point. Is the game FUN? People buy space sims to blow things up and then trade and then blow things up again. The Hollywood factor is sorely missing from this installment. I used to love it when I could be transported from fighter to fighter in BC3K. The FUN was there and the BOOM factor was there.
My guess is that Derek wants his game to sell and that he wants to make back the money that he has poured into it. This is not going to happen if you keep designing a game for a small niche market. However, you won't make the masses happy and as a result you won't make money. It's that simple.
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How about a planetary attack. The planet launches NPS crafts to stop the invasion, but has a limited amount of resources. This could make for fun space battles along with great land, sea, and air battles. Maybe a small moon base if the planet is too big...
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Excellent suggestions!! Thank you I will try them right away!!
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I've used the "set two waypoints" routine to deploy mining drones and have had mixed results. In some instances it takes forever for the shuttle to land and deploy the drone. Before anyone asks, yes I set the first waypoint with the "proceed to next" command and the second waypoint with the "deploy drone" command. I was able to fly to Alpha Centauri and back to HQ without the shuttle deploying the drone!
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Very nice. I am looking forward to having my hand held...
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Ola SC,
I know that UC is a specialized game and that it takes some time to learn the game. It is just so damn hard to engage the enemy in a dogfight that it takes some of the FUN out of the game. Don't get me wrong. You know I love this game, why can't it be just a little easier?
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Ah, I understand now about this combat thing. Just a comparison, I have been playing X2 along side UC. I think UC is a better game, but that X2 makes dogfighting so much easier. You can actaully get close to the ships in UC. So here is the request, can a "dumbed down" switch be created to let us, less than perfect wanna-be pilots, be created? It would round out the game for me in many ways and make it more playable to people in the general gaming community.
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OK, so the armor levels are not going to drop slowly...right?
BBS Missions in ROAM
in Universal Combat Series
Posted
It's kind of like what I have to go through to get human subjects approval for psychological testing. One of my friends picked up a new xbox360 and he showed me some of the games. The racing and boxing game was fun. The other games really did not intrigue me, short of Call of Duty 2. I just can't imagine that you would not make games for the PC since that's really the only platform that can handle the design concepts that you come up with. I can only imagine the conversation at MS about you. "Oh yeah, Dr. Smart is requesting permission to..." How the hell are you going to make a dumbed down game? You won't be able to sleep at night...