Author Topic: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!  (Read 7758 times)

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Offline Spoon

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Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
Hello friends, modders, lurkers of these forums and players of Freespace content.
I'm here, standing on my soapbox, hoping my desperate plea will reach you.

We've got some absolutely amazing content released in these past months, made by extremely talented creators who, both poured their hearts and souls into crafting and polishing these amazing singleplayer, narratively driven campaigns. The kind of gameplay that just isn't created by big professional game development studios these days anymore.
But for reasons unknown to me, both of these campaigns are just not gathering any kind of attention, at all.
And that is just downright depressing to see. These guys put like 5 years of effort into making these amazing experiences and what do they get from the community? A handful of posts, a page of troubleshooting and nothing else.

Please. Download and play these amazing mods and leave some comments, feedback, reviews, anything. Some praise and attention is all we modders ask for, when we release hours of free entertainment in the greatest spacesim engine for you.

HLP may have been slowing down over the years, sure. But this will guarante it's untimely demise. All of our remaining experienced content creators are just going to be demotivated and give up, If the community is going to ignore their efforts! And then what's left?

I'm typing this post way way past bedtime, so I'll keep this brief:
Between the Ashes made by mjn.mixael, is basically what an official Freespace 2 expansion pack could look like. Its a fully voice acted campaign with some incredible mission design and a compelling story, which all takes place in a single star system (with a starmap that you can look at from the main menu, which updates as the campaign progresses). It does an great job of showing you the civilian life side of things, as your GTA battlegroup gets entangled in a fight with a incredibly cunning, Hammer of light admiral. The mission variation in this campaign is just amazing. None of the old boring escort missions that involve fighting off 20 waves of pirate fighters here! Instead you get to hijack some poor sod's fighter by remote hacking and use it to attack the convoy he was hired to protect, to ruin his reputation. In another mission you get to prepare your defenses for an incoming attack by manually placing sentry guns and shields and such. There's just too much in this campaign to just easily sum up.
Experience it yourself.

Just another Day 2.21&2.22 made by Axem, is an amazing comedy campaign that twists and bends the poor Freespace 2 engine in ways that it was never designed for. In terms of gameplay it does away with the grim and the dark and the serious storytelling, and trades it in for lighthearted fun, with memorable, funny characters, boss battles, weapon upgrades and candy power ups that spawn from destroyed enemies.
Now you may go "but wait, didn't JAD 2.21 release some time ago already?" and you are not wrong. But it recently received a really big update, with new weapons and new art and other neat things. It's totally worth a replay too, if you've played it before. And JAD 2.22 is planned to be released next month! It has DISCO.


Do yourself a favor and enjoy these cool games! Then do the creators a favor and make a post!
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 
Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
But I already played both of those :P

I could totally go for a replay of BtA with slightly beefed up AI classes though. As soon as I'm done crawling through BPC looking for bugs(sneaky little ****ers are well hidden) I'll go for that BtA-harder replay and give mjn some love in the forums.
BtA getting like 1 conversation per month is a damn shame as it's probably the most polished mod out there, even better than the mighty Blue Planet.
[19:31] <MatthTheGeek> you all high up on your mointain looking down at everyone who doesn't beam everything on insane blindfolded

 

Offline Lepanto

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
Thanks Spoon!

I really hope more people will digest the multi-layer cake of Freespace awesomeness and narrative world-building that is BtA. We put a lot of effort into it, and the final product should be well worth folks' time.

Will give the latest JAD a look one of these days.
"We have now reached the point where every goon with a grievance, every bitter bigot, merely has to place the prefix, 'I know this is not politically correct, but...' in front of the usual string of insults in order to be not just safe from criticism, but actually a card, a lad, even a hero. Conversely, to talk about poverty and inequality, to draw attention to the reality that discrimination and injustice are still facts of life, is to commit the sin of political correctness. Anti-PC has become the latest cover for creeps. It is a godsend for every curmudgeon and crank, from fascists to the merely smug."
Finian O'Toole, The Irish Times, 5 May 1994

Blue Planet: The Battle Captains: Missions starring the Admirals of BP: WiH
Frontlines 2334+2335: T-V War campaign
GVB Ammit: Vasudan strike bomber
Player-Controlled Capship Modding Tutorial

 

Offline DefCynodont119

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
The stuff here on HLP is Unspeakably awesome,  We need to find a way to get the message out better.  :) :arrr:



My gift from Freespace to Cities Skylines:  http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=639891299

 

Offline karajorma

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
As I've said elsewhere, I'm already playing BtA and I'm definitely enjoying it.
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

[ Diaspora ] - [ Seeds Of Rebellion ] - [ Mind Games ]

 

Offline JSRNerdo

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
but neither of them are BP
Former Inferno lead, BTA fredder-ish and DE fredder. Driven out by ordinary fascists the_e, aesaar and general battuta. Will return if they're ever removed.

 

Offline karajorma

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
So?

Both of them are undoubtedly excellent.
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

[ Diaspora ] - [ Seeds Of Rebellion ] - [ Mind Games ]

 

Offline The E

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
Something not being BP is a really bad reason not to play something. JAD and BTA are among the very best of what HLP has produced, and deserve to be cherished and played.
If I'm just aching this can't go on
I came from chasing dreams to feel alone
There must be changes, miss to feel strong
I really need lifе to touch me
--Evergrey, Where August Mourns

 

Offline Makhpella

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
That's a joke, right? @Nerdo

Hey, I'm one of the lurkers Spoon was talking about. I've played quite a few of this community's mods. Yes, BP is a great mod, and was, for a time, the only thing I played. Then I took a break from FS due to Starcraft reasons, but then I saw Karajorma's post and thought: I'm gonna play this thing again (FS1 in progress). But BP being one of the best mods I've seen (and not just because I like lesbian protagonists) doesn't mean it should automatically doom everything around it.

WCS is great. I don't know if this is an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed it. I like long campaigns, explosions, and I haven't played any WC games, but the models were nice. Sure, named ships would not have hurt (ships others than carriers, I'm talking about the Kilrathi side), and I think there were some portions with no dialogue even though your character had nothing else to do, but it was nice. Oh and, **** you, skipper missiles.

But nevermind, this was about other mods.

I did play both JAD and BtA. I enjoyed one more than the other (sorry, Axem). I'm not saying JAD is bad, all I'm saying is I prefer story-driven mods. (Loved VD.)
But who knows, JAD 2.22 comes right after my birthday, so I may just give it a shot. As for BtA, I haven't actually finished it yet, I think I was on whatever comes after the cinematic with Ozymandias (Hope I got it right) in prison, then I reset it, I think, then I just didn't open FSO anymore. Yes, that defense mission was brilliant, no, I do not enjoy spreading my forces defending different convoys, but I will finish it one of these days.
'I'm from the marksman school of conversation.' -Kovacs

 

Offline Snarks

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
Huh, I've played JAD a few months ago, so I might just wait til that new update gets pushed. BtA is something I've completely missed though. I'll give it a shot when I get some time this week!

 

Offline Luis Dias

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
I feel extremely guilty for not having played BtA already, especially. But I have downloaded it. I haven't had much time to play any games whatsoever. For instance, I have this nice DooM box given to me last year and I've only played 20 minutes of it.

It's no excuse! I will play BtA, I promise!

 
Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
The new Jad update got pushed 4 days ago. Wait no more, play it now.
[19:31] <MatthTheGeek> you all high up on your mointain looking down at everyone who doesn't beam everything on insane blindfolded

 

Offline potterman28wxcv

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
I think the problem is that there are so many campaigns and mods out there. There was a list of "what is your next campaign" but there are quite a lot of stuff in it.

These mods/campaigns would have more chance to be played if they were displayed somewhere, in a place that would not be a forum but an actual web page listing all the released campaigns, along with user comments and recommendations (I'm not talking of the Wiki page - way too much stuff in there to decide what to play. It just looks like a list of random names).

Maybe you could even have a kind of contest where you select the mods/campaigns that you find "worthy enough" to play. I don't want to downgrade those who would not be "worthy", but at some point i think it can help if someone tells the HLP lurkers that "This campaign is really a masterpiece. You should play it".

I really think it's a problem of advertisement, and encouragement to play the said campaign/mod.

Or, given that BP is really popular, maybe there could be a "Blue Planet's team recommends you ...". Just suggesting

 
Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
All the campaigns are free and the big modpack ones are 2-4 gigs. Even if you have no recommendation that a campaign is "worthy" it requires no monetary and minimal time investment to check it out and see for yourself. I really wouldn't want to make BP even more unofficially official(Blue Planet is currently "THE MOD", the one called first when you want to get someone into FSO), and doing things like "The BP team tells you what's good" wouldn't really help with that.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2017, 03:48:15 am by FrikgFeek »
[19:31] <MatthTheGeek> you all high up on your mointain looking down at everyone who doesn't beam everything on insane blindfolded

 
Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
The new Jad update got pushed 4 days ago. Wait no more, play it now.

It's not JAD 2.22, which is what I'm actually waiting for, and I think axem is shooting his own hype in the foot by wasting it on incremental releases like this.
The good Christian should beware of mathematicians, and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of Hell.

 

Offline The E

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
I've snipped out the derail. Please continue praising BtA and JAD!
If I'm just aching this can't go on
I came from chasing dreams to feel alone
There must be changes, miss to feel strong
I really need lifе to touch me
--Evergrey, Where August Mourns

 

Offline General Battuta

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
The new Jad update got pushed 4 days ago. Wait no more, play it now.

It's not JAD 2.22, which is what I'm actually waiting for, and I think axem is shooting his own hype in the foot by wasting it on incremental releases like this.

Yeah I don't play JAD releases often because I can't figure out which one is 'the' release and which one's just an incremental upgrade. (sry axem)

 

Offline General Battuta

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
Make a BtA standalone. Push it everywhere. **** the lawyers. It's the only way to grow the base. The FSO installer is too Byzantine.

And get a two-sentence elevator pitch that doesn't need any FS knowledge as a hook.

There's a Let's Player who's done some good FreeSpace coverage, imma try to push him at BtA.

 

Offline General Battuta

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
The new Jad update got pushed 4 days ago. Wait no more, play it now.

It's not JAD 2.22, which is what I'm actually waiting for, and I think axem is shooting his own hype in the foot by wasting it on incremental releases like this.

Wait, 2.22 isn't out yet? Which - what - the one with the beta testers, that was, what, 2.21?

 

Offline Lorric

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Re: Urgent call for players to start playing BtA and JAD!
This bit needs to survive the split then if we're praising BtA and JAD.

My role in the creation of BtA was a small one. But because I can see the internal forums and the SVN and saw it all taking shape, I know what went into it. Mjn put his heart and soul into that project and an immeasurable number of hours into it, I'm betting it's a four digit number easily, and I wouldn't be surprised if that number doesn't start with a 1. Day after day, week after week, month after month, that SVN got updated. It was incredible to see. Awe-inspiring. The man's a machine. His standards were exacting.

It's not going to be to everyone's tastes of course, but it is well worth checking out for yourself. The top strengths of BtA imo are the presentation, the story, the World building, the atmosphere, the new and original ways FRED has been bent and twisted to do never before seen things.