[Rodo]

Never mind, I would really like to see the ending to that story, and just for the record a new FS3 doesn't mean we get to loose FS universe forever.

[IceFire]

So you're all saying it shouldnt be FS3 so that we shouldnt be disappointed? Wtf? If they go and make FS3 just because it wont be what you imagined it doesnt mean it'll be a bad game, they may very well announce FS3 and make something great.

Even If you dont like it when its released, you can simply go and mod the game into something you like.

Oh I know it'll happen.  Say they did work on FS3... I'd love it from one standpoint in that we'd be getting another FreeSpace game and maybe a conclusion to the story.  I'd probably have some qualms over what would happen with the gameplay... it'd be made console friendly for sure which may not be a bad thing but it would be simplified over what we have now and I really like the complexity that we do have.

But it would probably be rejected by many fans and somewhat liked by some but nobody would be really happy.

It would be a VERY difficult job to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make a great game that was still liked by the fans and still liked by the general gaming public.

[Scotty]

let freespace be dead as an IP on which games are released. The community is more than sufficient to carry on the legacy of FS.

 

We could still do that with FS3.  It's not like it would change much.  We already have to deal with the fact that every fan-made campaign ever is non-canon, why does it matter if we have more story to come up with said campaigns from?

[Lucika]

It would be a VERY difficult job to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make a great game that was still liked by the fans and still liked by the general gaming public.

It always is.
I speculate that if FS3 remains on the path carved by FS1 and FS2, then it wouldn't be that different. I mean, check out the changes between FS1 and FS2: improved graphics, improved AI, a fantastic new feature (beamz FTW) and a new, compelling story plus the setting it needed.
If there'll ever be an FS3, it'll hopefully continue this: mindblowing graphics, compelling story and yet still, all that made in something we can all understand: FRED3.

I might be overestimating and the game developer community as a whole... but I am a naive and believing person.
And they'll never lose my trust until a horrible FS3 doesn't come out.

[IceFire]

It would be a VERY difficult job to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make a great game that was still liked by the fans and still liked by the general gaming public.

It always is.
I speculate that if FS3 remains on the path carved by FS1 and FS2, then it wouldn't be that different. I mean, check out the changes between FS1 and FS2: improved graphics, improved AI, a fantastic new feature (beamz FTW) and a new, compelling story plus the setting it needed.
If there'll ever be an FS3, it'll hopefully continue this: mindblowing graphics, compelling story and yet still, all that made in something we can all understand: FRED3.

I might be overestimating and the game developer community as a whole... but I am a naive and believing person.
And they'll never lose my trust until a horrible FS3 doesn't come out.

I agree with you... but there is one crucial thing that has changed that hadn't changed between FS1 and FS2.  Consoles. I bet V would be doing it for console and PC release... if that were to happen then the game will have to be modified.  The stick on my PS3 or XBox 360 isn't going to be as good so probably autoaim or something like that will be needed for instance... lots of functions will be simplified.  It *could* work... but I'm not sure if I'd like it or not   It could look awesome too

[Bob-san]

The one thing that i don't like about hte lack of fs3 is that we're all left hanging on a now over-a-decade-old cliffy saying that humans probably stopped the shivan menace at capella but we really dont know yet. If nothing else, I'd like fs3 so that some new communities can pop up and we oldbies can pop in and talk about our quack theories and have fun with a real generation, evne if there are lots nd lots of trolls. I'd like a sequal so i simply know what the **** happens and then can peacefully stop thinking of it, or at least have a new topic to obsess over (ie: whatll hapen post-fs3)

[Sarafan]

Oh I know it'll happen.  Say they did work on FS3... I'd love it from one standpoint in that we'd be getting another FreeSpace game and maybe a conclusion to the story.  I'd probably have some qualms over what would happen with the gameplay... it'd be made console friendly for sure which may not be a bad thing but it would be simplified over what we have now and I really like the complexity that we do have.

But it would probably be rejected by many fans and somewhat liked by some but nobody would be really happy.

It would be a VERY difficult job to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make a great game that was still liked by the fans and still liked by the general gaming public.

Of course it'll be rejected by some, no company should have to make a game to satisfy everyone because such thing is impossible. Every sequel faces that problem. Freespace 2 faced the same problem and what did we got out of it? A incredible game which is by far better than the original and there are people who disagree with that but they still enjoy FS2 just as much because it really is a great game by its own right.

If they make FS3, would it be made for the consoles as well? I dont know, they very well may choose not to do it, its not set in stone that every game today has to be a multiplataform. I certainly wouldnt mind as long as the final game for the PC was good and its better to have a simplified game than overtly complicated one. A port for the consoles does not mean the game will suck, simplifying does not mean dumbing down.

[Rick James]

Consider for a moment that if a third Freespace game is produced that it would NOT be called Freespace 3. Being as how the last installment was released about ten years ago, it hardly seems likely that Volition would willingly intimidate consumers by deciding to stick a game with a "3" at the end of its title in the market, being as how most gamers aren't familiar with the IP.

[headdie]

Consider for a moment that if a third Freespace game is produced that it would NOT be called Freespace 3. Being as how the last installment was released about ten years ago, it hardly seems likely that Volition would willingly intimidate consumers by deciding to stick a game with a "3" at the end of its title in the market, being as how most gamers aren't familiar with the IP.

Thats a good point.

If someone was to do a FS3 what would it be called?  If any one here was to be involved in such a game what would you call it?

Freespace Trilogy perhaps include FS1, ST and FS2

[Colonol Dekker]

Freespace Guerilla.
 

[Kosh]

I'm sort of hoping there never will be a FreeSpace 3... whatever they gave to us would pale in comparison to what everyone has thought up in their own minds. Plus you know it'd be watered down or at least significantly changed to not be what it used to be.

Maybe not. They have a good dev team who are hopefully smart enough to leave the FS gameplay experience more or less alone. Not sure how they could make it any better after the awesomeness of FS2, other than more realistic damage modeling. But, you do have a point: The expectations are way way up there, but if Volition actually did manage to pull it off they would prove they are the ultimate masters of 1337.

[Lucika]

It would be a VERY difficult job to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make a great game that was still liked by the fans and still liked by the general gaming public.

It always is.
I speculate that if FS3 remains on the path carved by FS1 and FS2, then it wouldn't be that different. I mean, check out the changes between FS1 and FS2: improved graphics, improved AI, a fantastic new feature (beamz FTW) and a new, compelling story plus the setting it needed.
If there'll ever be an FS3, it'll hopefully continue this: mindblowing graphics, compelling story and yet still, all that made in something we can all understand: FRED3.

I might be overestimating and the game developer community as a whole... but I am a naive and believing person.
And they'll never lose my trust until a horrible FS3 doesn't come out.

I agree with you... but there is one crucial thing that has changed that hadn't changed between FS1 and FS2.  Consoles. I bet V would be doing it for console and PC release... if that were to happen then the game will have to be modified.  The stick on my PS3 or XBox 360 isn't going to be as good so probably autoaim or something like that will be needed for instance... lots of functions will be simplified.  It *could* work... but I'm not sure if I'd like it or not   It could look awesome too

Yes, and the potential console version would surely lack FRED and such. I actually fear from a console release because it means some necessary changes... but, hey, we can hope for the best, right?

[Colonol Dekker]

Freespace Row, or Freespace Armada . . . I'd actually punch a baby if that came to pass.

[Bob-san]

Freespace Row, or Freespace Armada . . . I'd actually punch a baby if that came to pass.

To be honest, I could see Freespace rereleased with a few smaller changes. More likely, a redo of FS1 & FS2 could be the better choice. On the other hand, Fallout 1 & 2 predated Fallout 3 by a decade. While it was known, FO3 was still played by a LOT of gamers and enjoyed even without FO1 or FO2.

[IceFire]

Honestly speaking if Volition is doing a game and they want any sort of commercial success from it ... it'll probably be console and PC.  Not many games are just PC these days unless they have to be.  I suppose it could be possible for a purely PC release but Volition does console work now so...  Anyways a little thought experiment:

IF you wanted to play FreeSpace on a 360 or a PS3... how would you assign the controls?  Both systems have basically the same layout and buttons.

I'm just going to start listing them:

Left Analog Stick - Basic X/Y flight controls
Left Analog Stick Push - Select next target
Right Analog Stick - View controls to look around
Right Analog Stick Push - Select target in reticule
Left/Right Bumper - Roll control
Left Trigger - Decelerate throttle
Right Trigger - Accelerate throttle/Afterburn
X - Switch primary (alt/linked)
Y - Switch secondary
A - Primary
B - Secondary
Start
Select - Jumpdrive
D-Pad Left - Guard target
D-Pad Right - Attack target
D-Pad Up - Break formation/engage
D-Pad Down - Reform formation/disengage

What we're missing in my mind is shield and energy management, more subtle wingman commands (disable target, etc.)... stuff like that would have to be scripted into missions.  Hrmmm.... you know that isn't horrible.

EDIT: I'm forgetting a ton of stuff....

[headdie]

Honestly speaking if Volition is doing a game and they want any sort of commercial success from it ... it'll probably be console and PC.  Not many games are just PC these days unless they have to be.  I suppose it could be possible for a purely PC release but Volition does console work now so...  Anyways a little thought experiment:

IF you wanted to play FreeSpace on a 360 or a PS3... how would you assign the controls?  Both systems have basically the same layout and buttons.

I'm just going to start listing them:

Left Analog Stick - Basic X/Y flight controls
Left Analog Stick Push - Select next target
Right Analog Stick - View controls to look around
Right Analog Stick Push - Select target in reticule
Left/Right Bumper - Roll control
X - Switch primary
Y - Switch secondary
A - Primary
B - Secondary
Start
Select
D-Pad Left - Guard target
D-Pad Right - Attack target
D-Pad Up - Break formation/engage
D-Pad Down - Reform formation/disengage

What we're missing in my mind is shield and energy management, more subtle wingman commands (disable target, etc.)... stuff like that would have to be scripted into missions.  Hrmmm.... you know that isn't horrible.

not when taking into account that PS3 and XBOX 360 have a keypad add-ons so with them so you can keep the advanced key commands if you want

[The E]

Well, PS3s can use standard USB equipment....

Still, for controls, I'd look at Ace Combat 5 or Zero, those worked very well. Sure, their wingman commands were very basic, but the flying experience was there.

[Scotty]

Right Trigger - Fire Primaries
Left Trigger - Fire Secondaries
Right Bumper - Switch Primaries
Left Bumper - Switch Secondaries
Left Analog Stick - Y axis flight Control, Throttle
Right Analog Stick - X/Z axis flight control
Right Analog Stick Click - Open Order Menu (I can see this being something like Dragon Age or Mass Effect, but with ship orders instead)
Left Analog Stick Click - Quick Order (context sensitive.  Destroy-target for hostile non-critical ships, Disable/disarm-target for hostile critcal ships, Escort for friendly ships)
X - Deploy Countermeasure
Y - Target In Reticle (heh, funny how that one fits)
A - Afterburners
B - Target, Escort List
D-Pad Left - Switch Targets (previous)
D-Pad Right - Switch Targets (next)
D-Pad Up - Switch Targets (subsystem)
D-Pad Down - Switch Targets (turret)
Back - Call Support
Start - The obvious

Am I missing any of the really important ones?  Even if I am, remember you could change something like Left Trigger into a de-facto ALT key, like in Assassin's Creed.

Also note that XBox/PS3 controllers have two sets of shoulder buttons.  You forgot the triggers on this one.

EDIT:  I am missing one of the important ones.  Subspace Drive would probably be on the Start button Options Menu.

[Mongoose]

The thing is, even if were to make a cross-platform FS3, there's nothing stating that the console and PC versions have to be completely identical.  The game would be developed on PCs in the first place, so who's to say that the PC version doesn't include all of the features that we're used to from the previous games?  The console version could then be treated as somewhat of a "port," with things like energy management and wingman commands simplified somewhat to compensate for the more limited control scheme.  A lot of those little things could be handled via the equivalent of FREDding, so I don't think it'd require a massive investment of resources to tweak them.

Or hell, maybe the simplification wouldn't even be required for consoles if voice recognition was implemented.  FS2_Open already allows you to completely control all wingman commands without ever touching the keyboard, provided you're using a voice-enabled build.  I think there was a recent 360 release (Tom Clancy's End War, was it?) that relied almost entirely on voice commands, so it wouldn't be an unprecedented move.

[quadrophoeniX]

  if it is X-platform (likely) and if it is a revival of an old, almost forgotten game (not so likely) then Descent sounds much more plausible than FS, also with the S3D boom in mind - finally Descent in stereo3D on a big screen!