[Lorric]

733 people still do not make a significant signifier for anything. And an average rating for a particular game is in no way an average rating for the entire genre that game belongs to.

I'll give you that. It's more because it got such a low rating that I use it as a signifier. I just can't see how it can get such a low rating unless the actual genre is unpopular.

Based on what I've seen so far... I'm still having a hard time with your basic premise that G-Police is a "quality" example of the genre...

It can't compete with Freespace 2, I'll certainly give you that. But then, nothing I've ever played in the genre can compete with Freespace 2. I maintain it's a quality game though. And certainly at the price it's being offered for. I've played it to death and it's sequel. Other than that, it comes down to personal preference. If you're not bothered about spoilers, get a look at some of the later levels when things really pick up.

[Lorric]

You've got me wondering what others think now. This is interesting. 6 professional reviews of the PC game.

http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197416-g-police/articles.html

A real mixed bag. One review gives as low as 31%. While there's a 78% and a 4/5 (80%) And there's a couple of 50+s, which kind of isn't far from the ratings the game on the Playstation Store got. This suggests this might be a "marmite" kind of game, love it or hate it.

The Playstation, which the game on the store is for, is kinder:

http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197417-g-police/articles.html

Two 90s, three 80+s and a 62.

Gamefaqs reviews on Playstation:

a 9 an 8 and a 6.

PC reviews:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/197416-g-police/reviews

a 9 and a 10.

Looks like opinion is really split for this game. I've never really paid attention to what others think, I just know I love it. But those ratings do suggest it might not be quite the crisis for the genre I thought it was.

[MetalDestroyer]

The PC port has added Glide (3DFx) support for better graphics and playing it with a Joystick force feedback was so cool I stopped playing it at mission 32, I think. It was hard enought that I got mad.

[Lorric]

The PC port has added Glide (3DFx) support for better graphics and playing it with a Joystick force feedback was so cool I stopped playing it at mission 32, I think. It was hard enought that I got mad.

Might be 34, it took me FOREVER to pass 34. It's worth it though for the final level.

[haloboy100]

Okay okay, I'll ask it:

Why does this supposedly amazing game mean that we won't ever see an FS3?

[Lorric]

Okay okay, I'll ask it:

Why does this supposedly amazing game mean that we won't ever see an FS3?

You're gonna have to read the thread. If you've already read the thread, well, I don't know what to say. It's worth pointing out my stance has softened a bit since the OP though.

[haloboy100]

I did read the thread. Someone asked why it was relevant to FS3, and you replied by effectively saying "Cause it's a great game"

[Lorric]

I did read the thread. Someone asked why it was relevant to FS3, and you replied by effectively saying "Cause it's a great game"

No, no, no, it's because it's a great game and the people aren't taking to it. But it's looking like it's viewed more as a "marmite" game, which changes things.

I had always hoped someone would eventually release a big project in the genre, whether it's Freespace 3, some other sequel, or a brand new concept, and that would jump start a genre which was quite popular in the day. But there just doesn't seem to be any call for it. Why? It should be a good genre for today, it's a great way to show off modern graphics and systems, which appeals to the eye candy mentality that a lot of people seem to have. Big, gorgeous ships, big explosions, huge fleet battles, surely you'd grab people's attention with that, even the casuals.

Bottom line is I thought G-Police would do a lot better, I was encouraged to see it there, it's the first space combat game I've seen on the Playstation Store, and the PS1 had quite a few of them. But then I look at some of the dreck that has higher ratings...

[haloboy100]

Even if the game did "blow goats" as Yahtzee would put it, I don't see why, regardless of the other reasons FS3 won't happen, this particular game is one of them.

So, what; again, if the game was good, and the sci-fi shooter genre was revived, we should just abandon hopes on FS3 entirely (regardless of however many people have already)?

I'm just trying to see why G-Police = no FS3, as the OP title indicates.

[Lorric]

Even if the game did "blow goats" as Yahtzee would put it, I don't see why, regardless of the other reasons FS3 won't happen, this particular game is one of them.

So, what; again, if the game was good, and the sci-fi shooter genre was revived, we should just abandon hopes on FS3 entirely (regardless of however many people have already)?

I'm just trying to see why G-Police = no FS3, as the OP title indicates.

Alright, never is a long time, and there could be a revival in the future, who knows. I'll give you that.

If the genre gets revived, that would certainly raise hopes.

I think this topic was more an exercise in frustration than anything, because my favourite genre is basically dead in the water and people could do so much with it today. I don't get why it is that it happened though. And I did think after so long if someone were to take the plunge and make a good current gen title, whether console or PC, it could revive the genre, but now I'm just not sure, I would have thought a great game at a tiny price in a starved genre would do well. People buy these PS1 games and Minis, so it's not as if they're just not buying it because it's old.

[haloboy100]

That still doesn't answer my question. But, whatever.

I don't see why the genre needs to be revived. We're right here, aren't we? Mods are still being made and released, Wing Commander Saga was a better experience for me than the majority of games I've played that were released in the last decade. Indie sci-fi games like SOL:Exodus (another gem) are still released on steam fairly regularly.

The genre doesn't have the mass media penetration as the others - which I think should be regarded as a good thing. For now the average Sci-fi sim player is a lot more intelligent and tolerable person than the ****ing 12 year olds on COD and Halo.

All that's awaiting space-sims in the mass market is money and idiots. Both we can do without; since money corrupts and causes commercial and copyright issues, and idiots ruin the community involvement for the rest of us.

[Lorric]

That still doesn't answer my question. But, whatever.

I don't see why the genre needs to be revived. We're right here, aren't we? Mods are still being made and released, Wing Commander Saga was a better experience for me than the majority of games I've played that were released in the last decade. Indie sci-fi games like SOL:Exodus (another gem) are still released on steam fairly regularly.

The genre doesn't have the mass media penetration as the others - which I think should be regarded as a good thing. For now the average Sci-fi sim player is a lot more intelligent and tolerable person than the ****ing 12 year olds on COD and Halo.

All that's awaiting space-sims in the mass market is money and idiots. Both we can do without; since money corrupts and causes commercial and copyright issues, and idiots ruin the community involvement for the rest of us.

I'm not sure what you want from me for the question.

I know what you're saying, as long as Freespace 2 exists and continues to be worked on the genre does not die. But wouldn't it just be great to see a really good game come out with a different storyline and a different engine, or even a Freespace 3 which was superior to what we have here?

You may have a point. I certainly despise the way gaming has gone. I'm not a multiplayer gamer though, so online idiots are not an issue for me. But you are certainly right about the community right here. So many smart people, so many intelligent conversations. The idiots would show up if the genre got popular and dilute that right down. You've made me feel a bit better with that.

[jr2]

I actually liked halo, but there's a certain type of player... a few types, actually.

1) Run-run, Dakka-dakka, boom boom lone ranger idiots who will not cooperate or try to use strategy.  If you play a game like Tremulous where getting killed means points towards easier victory for the enemy, this is really bad.

2) Possibly a variant of the above, but good enough that they can get away with it, because they have been playing in all their free time since they were 12 or use a good aimbot.  They get pissed if you use strategy to finally bring them down.

3) Tolerable players sometimes open to new ideas, but who unfortunately feel the need to chat with their friends about random things over the mics (especially irritating if they are younger).  So you have 12+ people running around, but 2 or 3 dominating the voice channels.  This isn't voice-facebook-fps, this is an fps.

[Dragon]

I don't see why the genre needs to be revived. We're right here, aren't we? Mods are still being made and released, Wing Commander Saga was a better experience for me than the majority of games I've played that were released in the last decade. Indie sci-fi games like SOL:Exodus (another gem) are still released on steam fairly regularly.

TBH, I found SOL: Exodus too arcadey. I feel games these days tend that way. Aside from FS engine conversions, there are either completely arcade shooters or spaceflight simulators (compare SOL: Exodus and Starshatter as examples of modern space sims). Nothing inbetween. They're either too hard for general market, or too arcadey to me anything more than an FPS in space. This also extends to flight sims. You either have DCS or HAWX, with no games like old Novalogic flight sims which were quite easy to learn, but also provided a realistic flight model, just without the switchology. Also, notice that modern realistic sims usually use dynamic campaigns, without a place for a good storyline, which old simulators did have.

In general, FS2 might've had it's flaws, but SCP provides the best available platform today for making a space sim. It's flight model can be configured from "WC1" to "near-Starshatter" (and the latter end of the scale is constantly being improved), with everything in between them being also an option. Not to mention it's free and often updated with new features.

[Lorric]

I'm going to tell you something. And you're going to laugh at me...

Until recently, I somehow thought Steam was a method of downloading, like BitTorrent is different to normal downloading. And I ignored it. And by until recently, I mean until last week, when someone actually told me what it really is. So basically I'm completely ignorant about all Steam games.

So once you've recovered from your fits of laughter, I wouldn't mind you throwing some at me, names of space shooter games not insults, so I can go have a look at them.

[jr2]

Humm, well if you're into other genres at all, Team Fortress 2 and Alien Swarm are free.  Space, let's see... I was going to just search for you but I can't access the Steam store ATM and apparently it's not just me.  Prolly be back up in a few mins, I'll look then.

[haloboy100]

I know what you're saying, as long as Freespace 2 exists and continues to be worked on the genre does not die. But wouldn't it just be great to see a really good game come out with a different storyline and a different engine, or even a Freespace 3 which was superior to what we have here?

Wing Commander Saga. Same engine, but still plays differently.

I don't even see why it's significant to use a different engine. Mass Effect, Unreal Tournament, Gears of War, SOL: Exodus, all run on the same (open source) engine with differing genres. All are good games.


and On SOL: Exodus. It is definitely arcade-like, but I still found it fun for the price it was worth.

[Lorric]

I know what you're saying, as long as Freespace 2 exists and continues to be worked on the genre does not die. But wouldn't it just be great to see a really good game come out with a different storyline and a different engine, or even a Freespace 3 which was superior to what we have here?

Wing Commander Saga. Same engine, but still plays differently.

I don't even see why it's significant to use a different engine. Mass Effect, Unreal Tournament, Gears of War, SOL: Exodus, all run on the same (open source) engine with differing genres. All are good games.


and On SOL: Exodus. It is definitely arcade-like, but I still found it fun for the price it was worth.

It's an exception though, isn't it? And it took them over 10 years. Unfortunately I personally wasn't very fond of the actual game, though I applaud the story and presentation, and the way they captured the feel of Wing Commander perfectly and think there's great potential to make future projects with what they have done.

I went and had a look at Sol Exodus. It looks intriguing. What engine is it run off?

[haloboy100]

It's the unreal engine. Seems nowadays you can make anything out of it. I love unreal. It presents great graphics and manages to run incredibly smooth and flexibly.

[Lorric]

It's the unreal engine. Seems nowadays you can make anything out of it. I love unreal. It presents great graphics and manages to run incredibly smooth and flexibly.

Oh... that sounds... unreal!

That's impressive diversity.