Kush

Great preview on the Firing Sqaud site. It seemed positive but not focused. I've seen better written previews of the game.

I didn't intend to offend Aramike, ooops! My apologies. I wanted to ask SC if there was a single moment in developement when he knew this was gonna kick major boootay, but I think I got my answer.

Okay, I have to admit I'm going a little stir crazy waiting for the game to be released. I intentionally stayed out of the beta because I knew I wanted that "Rush to the store and peel off the celophane" experience with this one. Fine. I can hack it. But to help deal with the excruciating pain of self denial, I wanna hear everyones 'Oh my F*** God' moment with BC3K. I'm sure I first heard about this game through Bluesnews. During some late night procrastination, I did a search for reviews and came up with a really positive review saying you can fly a giant battle cruiser, or a fighter, or a shuttle, or an ATV right on the planet surface. My first reaction was, "What are you smoking, and do you have any left." Then my wife and I are in a small town, I notice a computer store. I go in, and inside they've got it. BC3k. I bought it for kicks, brought it home, patched it. Played it. My first (of many) OMFG moments, was the first time I pulled up the Tac Ops screen. There was an immediate 'This is the way every space sim should do it.' moment. I did the ATV on the surface thing. It was great, but not earth shattering cause I knew it was coming. I got back in my ship, left the planet, and as I was in the Tacops screen, plotting a course for the moon, I discovered the 'observe' option. Suddenly I'm watching the planet, from my ship. And I notice some insurgents battling it out with some terrans, and I LOST IT! What was your first OMFG moment with BC3k? I don't care if there has been a thread covering this topic before, I wanna hear from the current crowd.

I know you want to end the thread, but I do have a request. Instead of instantly removing a stupid newbie question, could we give them a stock response first. ie This question is answered in the manual. I was ready to repost my stupid newbie question because I thought there was something wrong with the server. If you get a response, at least you know the question got through. I actually think it's a real good thread. An important thread. I think we're all gearing up for the games emminent release and we all hope that it pulls in a lot of new players. I actually think the game's redesign and training level will help with alot of newbie questions. But I think it's important to care how they're treated.

Steve, I have noticed in the New Commander and Tech threads a little attitude, but I understand where the attitude comes from. I think the BC community has had to put up with alot of crap from certain quarters outside of these forums, and after a while, it can get to you. It's understandable. I've seen it happen on other forums with other games. You get tired of people not seeing the game for what it truly is, not giving it a chance. You may not even know or feel the attitude you're giving off, but it's there. And I guess what I'm saying is we newbies, who haven't had to carry the burden of defending the game for so long, we haven't had to respond to the three thousandth request to explain how to raise shields, we can help out with a fresh attitude, free of the game's - er - history. And I know this forum is pretty well patroled, but when the game gets released, I'm sure there will be alot of people with alot of questions. It's a very complex game. That's part of its joy. I think a newbie is more suited to help out with the stupidest, dumbest questions so that everyone and anyone can feel like they can master the game. tictoc After having said all that, I also have to say that you also have to kind of have a thick skin on any forum. With any game. I don't know how many times I've played TFC or CS and had someone ask how to set a detonator, or buy weapons and the simple question gets a royal cussing out. A couple of RTFM's won't kill a person.

There is a Newbie forum, it's called New Commanders. They're pretty lenient but I know what you mean about the RTFM's. I think if the newbie is kinda polite about it, so are they. I'm sure the fan community for this game has had alot of *impolite* detractors and I think their attitude sometimes comes from that. I get the impression that they're sick and tired of people whining or griping about or insulting the game because of its complexity. At the same time, they want to help those who truly need it, so that they can get that same rush of joy when you realize how deep and free the game play truly is. So they start off with a defensive stand, and if you prove to be sincere, they give you a hand. If you're just here to cause trouble, they're ready to pounce. It's unfortunate really. I know that there are people in the gaming community ready to tear the game apart. And at first I thought it was a bad move for Derek to be so vocal and respond to every threat, but I think it has proven to everyone in the community that he believes in the game, the community and he's not going to sit and take it. I still think he should reign it in on occasion, but I am certain, at this point, that when the game is released, it will speak for itself. And yes he's going to have a whole heap of newbies on his hand. This is a GOOD THING It may be a good idea, once the game is released, for us newbies to look out for each other. I know that when the game was originally forced out the door it didn't have a complete manual, and I know that Derek has put alot of hard work into making an excellent manual, but sometimes you don't want to hunt down a simple command that you found a second ago and can't seem to locate again. I think we newbies will be a little more understanding towards other newbies and so I think we should at least try to help out.

33... and loving it.

I could be wrong, but I think the best way to set a way point on a planet from space is to go to the tac ops screen, click on the centre of the planet and it should ask if you would like to observe the planet. From there you can set way points for the ship, shuttles or anything else. I could be wrong but it should work.

I want to know if Tony got his Christmas wish! (I can't believe sc was answering support questions christmas day. I would have taken the day off!)

Awesome!!! March? I can hack it. Do what you can. I don't want to beat this over the head, but I'm not looking for a detailed tutorial that takes me through every feature in the game. Just the basics. And I honestly wasn't suggesting you do it personally. I know you're strapped for time. I am soooo PUMPED about this game. 'The moons of Jupiter are a safe haven.' he says. Just like that. This game is going to ROCK!!!!!!!!

I have an idea. Instead of training missions, could you create a kind of small 'level' called a Lab. In this 'level' would be a number of objects in the BCM game that would be stationary and you could experiment at will. Is it possible to create a safe place in the game world where I can sit with the manual at my side if I wish, and practice interacting with stuff. There would be no enemies that would attack you. Just one example of a few of the main things you will run into in the BCM universe; ie a star base, a planet, whatever you think are the fundamental things a player will run into alot. (And I'm not suggesting you do it Derek. I'm suggesting you do that thing that you said yourself you're learning to get better at; delegate! There has to be someone other than you who can code a very small, simple section of space with a bunch of stuff all crammed together in it.) The key of what I'm looking for is a place where you don't have to worry about enemies attacking you. Where you could screw up as much as you want with no consequences. As I said earlier in my post, personally, I don't mind goofing around with a game to learn it, but my gaming buddies like to ease into things. And I honestly believe that giving new players something to help them learn just the fundamental skills will sell more games. I know I'll be able to sell at least four.

I honestly think it's worth the new Battle Cruiser fans you will gain, to take the time and make a polished training mission to learn the basics. I know everyone has been waiting for this title forever, and that asking to spend more time on it may seem insane, but honestly, it would be worth it to even find someone who is good at creating single player missions, and asking them to make three or four training missions. I think I know enough about BCM to buy it and play it anyway, but I also want to be able to convince my friends that the game is going to be fun and easy to learn so that they will all buy copies and we can play multi-player missions together. If I can do that, you've not only sold one copy, you've sold four more. But I know for a fact that it's going to be a struggle to get my friends on board if the learning curve it too steep. I guess I'm kinda begging. Please put in a training mission. Even if it is a simple mission explaining how to use the ships weapons and sheilds, and how to move around from place to place, and then leave the rest to us. Please. (Okay, I am begging.)

I just read the interview at GA-Sim and I am very excited about the game, but also a little worried. I'm new to the BC series, and I'm a little worried about the learning curve. I know Derek you want to make a version for the hardcore fans that made the game so succesful, I know you don't want to simplify the game, and I would feel insulted if I was sold a game that was dumbed down because marketing people felt I'm too stupid to read a manual. But I also know myself. I like training missions that take me step by step through the simple things. I want to be able to master the fundamental things and then discover the deeper more complex things on my own. Will there be step by step training missions? Will they be X-Wing style (You whatever you want, whenever you want)? Will they be Starfleet command style? (Narrated, with a more linear approach) I'm very excited about getting into this game, and discovering what it is that everyone is going crazy about, but I think I'm going to need a little help to get me started.

Ah, Ottawa. I remember it well. I was born and raised there, and never growing up, did I ever suspect that there are places on this earth that have less snow. When I moved here to T.O. (That's Toronto) I felt guilty about how warm it is. (We only had a foot of snow) I do miss the cross country skiing.