Traveller Computer game Intrest?
- Thread starter Chuck Anumia
- Start date
Awesome!
This is great!
Can we get this for Traveller?
(or should I say, is there enough intrest in a Traveller version to warrent one? Would people chose to do in Traveller what they can already do in Star Wars?)
This is great!
Can we get this for Traveller?
(or should I say, is there enough intrest in a Traveller version to warrent one? Would people chose to do in Traveller what they can already do in Star Wars?)
But it's still an MMORPG! Sorry but I find them incredibly dull. There is very little true gameplay. And levelling up is a drag.
I want a game I can play by myself, without having to go online and pay a subscription. And then have to suffer interaction with sub-literate kiddies.
The game concepts and engine aren't that hard to produce - it's the graphics that require a software house. The tyranny of graphics is stifling innovation.
And I want a console game. Joypad over mouse and keyboard any day!
I want a game I can play by myself, without having to go online and pay a subscription. And then have to suffer interaction with sub-literate kiddies.
The game concepts and engine aren't that hard to produce - it's the graphics that require a software house. The tyranny of graphics is stifling innovation.
And I want a console game. Joypad over mouse and keyboard any day!
I guess the biggest strength Traveller has is the huge amount of work done on the environment - between the official rules and the fanbase Traveller must have the largest and most detailed map of Known Space, collection of npc's, aliens and so on.
I too would like an offline mode, but you're right Kafka, gaming is ultimately about people.
I too would like an offline mode, but you're right Kafka, gaming is ultimately about people.
my personal view: MMORPG's are a waste.
If one is going to do it, a multi-player capable; but not MMORPG is a good way to do it. MMORPG's seem very much to be money pits; If I buy a game, I want one I can both mod and play sans net, and further, that will be enjoyable, allow the various styles of play, including merc, merchant, troubleshooter, politico, and Admiral.
EVN is a good base, but lacks the character scale... and if you don't know EVN, head over to ambrosiasw.com and check it out.
If one is going to do it, a multi-player capable; but not MMORPG is a good way to do it. MMORPG's seem very much to be money pits; If I buy a game, I want one I can both mod and play sans net, and further, that will be enjoyable, allow the various styles of play, including merc, merchant, troubleshooter, politico, and Admiral.
EVN is a good base, but lacks the character scale... and if you don't know EVN, head over to ambrosiasw.com and check it out.
jfetters
SOC-14 1K
Throwing my hat into the ring here, the best way to go from a RPG perspective would be the KOTOR model.
If you think about it, the MT computer games had a very similar method of gameplay as KOTOR: Hop from planet to planet, talk to people, buy stuff, fight occasionally.
Traveller could seriously augment this by adding trade.
Something new would have to be added to enable skill improvement over time.
The other major hurdle would be space travel/combat. Traveller's MO requires that the space travel/combat aspect be closer to ELITE rather than Wing Commander.
Net result - a fusion of KOTOR (the first one, not the unfinished, crappy sequel) and ELITE is what the next definitive Traveller computer game needs to be.
As far as setting, it should be CT/MT (maybe during FFW), but with modules/adventures for certain eras.
And no to the MMORPG. I don't want to pay a monthly fee to play a game.
If you think about it, the MT computer games had a very similar method of gameplay as KOTOR: Hop from planet to planet, talk to people, buy stuff, fight occasionally.
Traveller could seriously augment this by adding trade.
Something new would have to be added to enable skill improvement over time.
The other major hurdle would be space travel/combat. Traveller's MO requires that the space travel/combat aspect be closer to ELITE rather than Wing Commander.
Net result - a fusion of KOTOR (the first one, not the unfinished, crappy sequel) and ELITE is what the next definitive Traveller computer game needs to be.
As far as setting, it should be CT/MT (maybe during FFW), but with modules/adventures for certain eras.
And no to the MMORPG. I don't want to pay a monthly fee to play a game.
To throw my chip in, I agree with those that a MMORPG is not the way to go. It will be expensive, have a very limited fan base to build from. And yes MMORPG are boring and severely limited in game play. It usually comes down to level up much and fast as possible.
However I would like to have the possibility to play online with others much in the same way as Diablo II.
However what is KOTOR? Links please.
However I would like to have the possibility to play online with others much in the same way as Diablo II.
However what is KOTOR? Links please.
jfetters
SOC-14 1K
KOTOR is Knights of the Old Republic - one of the better RPG games created by Bioware under the LucasArts aegis.
http://www.lucasarts.com/products/swkotor/
The game is basically a romp & stomp that allows interaction within a scripted environment. It is very similar to the interaction that was in the MT computer games, but the graphics are about a million times better and the conversations can affect the outcome of the game. It's Star Wars, so the whole good/evil thing is played out in a big way.
The MT game was cool because you could kill a patron right after you finished a job.
But anyway, KOTOR itself would obviously not be a good fit - its Star Wars. But the general concept - you create a character with attributes, select a career, select skills and specialties, is great.
I would prefer a more modular system, where adventures could be loaded into a base engine, but then again, I'm a dreamer.
KOTOR II is the sequel that was designed by Obsidian and was a severe letdown. THey kept the Bioware engine, but decided on shipping it on time rather than actually finish the game, so the second half of the game is basically unfinished. I am still rather bitter about the whole thing.
http://www.lucasarts.com/products/swkotor/
The game is basically a romp & stomp that allows interaction within a scripted environment. It is very similar to the interaction that was in the MT computer games, but the graphics are about a million times better and the conversations can affect the outcome of the game. It's Star Wars, so the whole good/evil thing is played out in a big way.
The MT game was cool because you could kill a patron right after you finished a job.
But anyway, KOTOR itself would obviously not be a good fit - its Star Wars. But the general concept - you create a character with attributes, select a career, select skills and specialties, is great.
I would prefer a more modular system, where adventures could be loaded into a base engine, but then again, I'm a dreamer.
KOTOR II is the sequel that was designed by Obsidian and was a severe letdown. THey kept the Bioware engine, but decided on shipping it on time rather than actually finish the game, so the second half of the game is basically unfinished. I am still rather bitter about the whole thing.
I guess one way to look at it would be an extensible interface, starting with a simple chat tool and whiteboard for maps and various ref generated images. Then various tools (dice roller, Library Data etc) could be added.
That way the core features of referee and human player interaction would be built into the software.
For a graphic-intensive Traveller game, NWN and KOTR just don't do it for me. In terms of graphics engines for a world/action sim, it simply doesn't support an adequate scale. I'm thinking something more like Operation Flashpoint, Tribes, San Andreas or the rumoured capabilities of Stalker. I'd want areas of 100+ square kilometers, with ground air and water vehicles, capable of 64+ PC's and NPC's.
Then there's jump travel, trade, mining, skills, space combat, etc.
That way the core features of referee and human player interaction would be built into the software.
For a graphic-intensive Traveller game, NWN and KOTR just don't do it for me. In terms of graphics engines for a world/action sim, it simply doesn't support an adequate scale. I'm thinking something more like Operation Flashpoint, Tribes, San Andreas or the rumoured capabilities of Stalker. I'd want areas of 100+ square kilometers, with ground air and water vehicles, capable of 64+ PC's and NPC's.
Then there's jump travel, trade, mining, skills, space combat, etc.
I am with sinistral on this one. There simply is not the richness that Traveller has to offer aviable out there. If many things could be merged we might have a viable product. But, we have not evolved too far from the MT/Ultima games...we just have prettier images.
Whilst, I love to look art, I still prefer the tabletop even if it is a virtual tabletop like what I am doing with the LARP.
Whilst, I love to look art, I still prefer the tabletop even if it is a virtual tabletop like what I am doing with the LARP.
Maladominus
SOC-14 1K
Soooo in other words, what you are REALLY trying to say is: "I wish we have superior online/software tools that allow us to play tabletop Traveller to its maximum potential."
No disagreement here. I dream of seeing that some day. GRIP is only halfway there...
Soooo in other words, what you are REALLY trying to say is: "I wish we have superior online/software tools that allow us to play tabletop Traveller to its maximum potential."
No disagreement here. I dream of seeing that some day. GRIP is only halfway there... [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]In part, I am still waiting for a total interactive movie and ultimately holographic suite in which a group of friends can go to play out Traveller. But, I am willing to settle for a free electronic game, modified paintball and a Fading Suns LARP every so often.
In the mean time, I continue to watch the skies... for signs of the Vilani taskforce.
I'm biased
, but if this is the case, I like what Mr. Maladominus has done by combining a real time chat etc... program (GRiP), with a guild/forum site for an online campaign. It allows the active play (could be done with something other than GRiP), and means for the players to stay up to date and have side info etc. The ref could also post "News of the Realm" and handle other non player-involved events to take place.A NWNish type game would work for me. Add ability to travel and the Ref and Community to create adventures, plus being able to purchase stand alone games as well. Maybe OTU stuff...
Tom
I think we're talking about two diferent bits of sofware. One a kind of Grip-2, the other a graphic-intensive, possibly singleplayer game.
The next morrowind is coming out soon, maybe that'd be a better candidate than NWN. NWN and KOTR's scenes are rather limited both in size and complexity.
Maybe the Cenega UFO game would be more suitable, it does after all have firearms combat built into the engine.
The next morrowind is coming out soon, maybe that'd be a better candidate than NWN. NWN and KOTR's scenes are rather limited both in size and complexity.
Maybe the Cenega UFO game would be more suitable, it does after all have firearms combat built into the engine.
I've been playing Grand Theft Auto-San Andreas PC version lately and the engine in that stikes me as a good starting point for a Traveller game. There is an extensive array of vehicles to ride, drive, fly, and navigate/opperate. Also a sufficiently wide array of melee and shooter weapons including rockets, certainly sufficient for a traveller situation. The mapped area is quite large too. Larger area than many FPS games I've played in the past.
When we are talking about an online version of Traveller...we are talking about something like this: http://www.ddo.com/?page_id=118 Watch the video and drool. Has Marc or Hunter been in contact with any of these good folks, I know that we are very small potatoes compared to Wizards/Hasbro but if anyone who does the research would know the name - Traveller.
Scarecrow
SOC-14 1K
So we're looking at a MOG and a KOTOR to keep everyone happy.
For me - wether it's single player of multiplayer - You need to be able to create a character from any of the major races, with a variety of faces, skin colours, shape, sizes and clothing options.
You should be able to buy or hire a ship and recruit a crew. You can then explore any planet in a given subsector - maybe a dozen or so planets, with unmapped and unexplored ones further out so that you can be an explorer. A Scout in the true sense of the word if you want.
Alternatively you can be a trader, mercenary, bounty hunter, whatever.
How did they handle PC crew on ships in SWG? Could you have a team of players on a single ship or was it 'one player - one ship'?
How would you handle the 1 week in jump space if it was a MOG? You'd have to get rid of it. You can't spend a week of real time in JumpSpace and if you spent a week of game time in JumpSpace but Jumped instantly in realtime it'd knock you out of synch with the rest of the Traveller Verse.
How did they handle Hyperspace travel in SWG?
I like the idea of NWN where there was a single player game straight out of the box. Or you could team up with players online and co-op the single player game - OR - a GM could write their own games and GM them, creating custom environments and scripting events to suit. Sort of like a table top RPG with a 3D engine.
That for me is the next step for programs like GRiP. 3D maps and realtime movement and animation for player avatars - a tall order but it'd be cool. Man, if someone wanted to write it, I'd volunteer my considerable realtime modelling and texturing expertise and experience =)
Crow
For me - wether it's single player of multiplayer - You need to be able to create a character from any of the major races, with a variety of faces, skin colours, shape, sizes and clothing options.
You should be able to buy or hire a ship and recruit a crew. You can then explore any planet in a given subsector - maybe a dozen or so planets, with unmapped and unexplored ones further out so that you can be an explorer. A Scout in the true sense of the word if you want.
Alternatively you can be a trader, mercenary, bounty hunter, whatever.
How did they handle PC crew on ships in SWG? Could you have a team of players on a single ship or was it 'one player - one ship'?
How would you handle the 1 week in jump space if it was a MOG? You'd have to get rid of it. You can't spend a week of real time in JumpSpace and if you spent a week of game time in JumpSpace but Jumped instantly in realtime it'd knock you out of synch with the rest of the Traveller Verse.
How did they handle Hyperspace travel in SWG?
I like the idea of NWN where there was a single player game straight out of the box. Or you could team up with players online and co-op the single player game - OR - a GM could write their own games and GM them, creating custom environments and scripting events to suit. Sort of like a table top RPG with a 3D engine.
That for me is the next step for programs like GRiP. 3D maps and realtime movement and animation for player avatars - a tall order but it'd be cool. Man, if someone wanted to write it, I'd volunteer my considerable realtime modelling and texturing expertise and experience =)
Crow
