[Black Wolf]

The big problem with any potential FS3 now is that an apparently somewhat resurgent Interplay would either demand to be involved, or demand considerable compensation for the IP, and Interplay have, frankly, a terrible track record with Freespace, the dismal, non functional Steam release being merely the latest example.

Tabletop games they may well be able to pull off, but anything digital... Well, without [V] involved, I'd  be very nervous. A bad FS game would be worse than no FS Game.

[Colonol Dekker]

I'm not really a tabletoppy kinda guy. I do love a bit of painting though. That side of it I could really get into.

But no ££££ from me.

[potterman28wxcv]

Even if it was just to get some nice 3D versions of ships I would buy it
Well, ok it depends on the price, but you get the idea.

[AdmiralRalwood]

One small detail I have noticed is that you are including shield markers when shields are a Great War technology

This bothered me too, and I just noticed they answered this question in the comments list:

So petty lore quibble, if this is set in the Terran-Vasudan war why is there a shields mechanic?

@Mathew: For forward compatibility. Not all scenarios use the shields.

EDIT: to -> too

[headdie]

One small detail I have noticed is that you are including shield markers when shields are a Great War technology

This bothered me to, and I just noticed they answered this question in the comments list:

So petty lore quibble, if this is set in the Terran-Vasudan war why is there a shields mechanic?

@Mathew: For forward compatibility. Not all scenarios use the shields.

That makes sense

[JediKnight]

The models look nice. And there is much room for even more fighters and bombers of FS2. But with 21 days left and only 20 - 25 % of the target money acquired I personally doubt that this project will make it into the shops

[Sandwich]

Yeah, not looking too good. The worst part is that they are using to gauge in interest in further FreeSpace computer games, which makes no sense to me - the failure of one does not mean a lack of interest in the other! For example, I have zero interest in tabletop gaming, but huge interest in further FreeSpace computer games...

[lostllama]

I was surprised to see this, as I've long thought of the FS games as not exactly being very popular. There seems to be a resurgence of space sim development recently but I'm not totally convinced that this project is intended to gauge interest in further FS computer games (or just new space sims in general).

That said, the first thing I thought of when I saw the X-Wing tabletop game in my local bookshop was LucasArts's space sims, although obviously there is no direct relationship between the two other than sharing the Star Wars license. I'm not really a tabletop / board game person, but that link alone actually made me consider buying a copy (I doubt I could find an opponent and/or time for it though). Perhaps seeing an FS tabletop game in the shops might make an FS player have the same nostalgia-type reaction I had.

I hope that if this is successful that it would have at the least a knock-on effect in encouraging more space sims being developed, whether that is partly intentional or not.

(BTW there's always Alalabeth Angel's Babylon 5 Wars FS1 and FS2 conversion rules to fall back on...assuming one has a copy of B5 Wars (now out of print)).
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=21751.msg428440#msg428440
http://knossos.firenebula.com/

[Charismatic]

Really cool. Tho i doubt its officially licensed yet.

[headdie]

Really cool. Tho i doubt its officially licensed yet.

How do you mean?  Interplay is advertising the kickstarter on their website along with the fact that they are apparently working on a new Battlechess.

[CT27]

I agree with Sandwich.  It's disappointing that this could be used to gauge interest for a possible FS3.  Go Interplay right? 


For instance, I really don't have interest in this but would certainly buy FS3.

[BirdofPrey]

I DO have an interest in tabletop and boardgames, but this specific one doesn't seem all THAT interesting, so I'm giving it a pass as well.

[Archaic]

seeing the production quality of the kickstarter video...interplay threw these guys to the dogs knowing they'd be torn apart

its very simple to make a decent freespace in Table Top Game: license rights to art and story assets from interplay, then license the x-wing mechanics from fantasy flight as others have done (looking at you attack wing). add some unique mechanics and presto, you have freespace on your table.

never going to happen with FS1 or 2, BUT maybe we could have some official WiH models made to scale and using the same socket system that xwing uses for its bases, make our own freely available cards, add those different mechanics and templates.

even print out cardcraft/plasticard models would be nifty.

you know what, f' it im bored, have drafting software and the will to use it. ill even make up my own rules and release the whole kit an kaboodle right here on HLP.

a TT game that is freely available from HLP that has papercraft models and embodies the spirit of the HLP: imagination and co-operation to bring dreams into being

[DapperDan2012]

Whoa wait, did the kick start time out? WHY IS IT CANCELLED?????

[Luis Dias]

They were most definitely not going to fund it. They are talking internally about relaunching it:

Thank you, all. We are encouraged by the suggestions. We are talking internally about relaunching, but we would love more feedback on how to make it a better campaign. We have our own ideas on how to improve it, but anything that you would care to share would be most appreciated.
In the meantime, we will cancel this project. We really believe in this game and we're going to spend a little bit of time on how to rework it to make it even better.
Thanks again!

[Blue Lion]

I'm still waiting on that FPS. One day.... one day.

[Thaeris]

Not going to lie - I think an FS FPS would be a lot like a battleship FPS... and that didn't go down very well.

[Akalabeth Angel]

its very simple to make a decent freespace in Table Top Game: license rights to art and story assets from interplay, then license the x-wing mechanics from fantasy flight as others have done (looking at you attack wing). add some unique mechanics and presto, you have freespace on your table.

Yes very simple to make, not so simple to make a profit.  How would a company make any sort of money when they're buying licenses from not one but two companies and presumably paying royalties or licensing fees.  That and Freespace is not exactly a big name; they didn't make Freespace 3 for a reason.  Compared to the juggernauts of Star Trek and Star Wars, Freespace is a small speck so one cannot look at the success of those games and automatically assume that a Freespace game would make money.

Kids grew up watching, reading and playing Star Wars and Star Trek games both in tabletop form and in video games. Very few people by comparison played Freespace.

[Thaeris]

True story, man.

Further, I hate to knock FS on a forum kind of, you know, dedicated to FS, but I think there's another issue at play here: the connection people have with FreeSpace. No, I do not mean familiarity, nostalgia, or other forms of endearment. Rather, there is a literal tactile feeling, or connection, which is missing with FS when you compare it Star Wars, B5, or Star Trek. In those series, you have an understanding of how people interact with their environment (including their ships), because the development of said environment and the characters within are there. Adding to that, you like the characters and the environment (which you have a good perception of), so it's easy to immerse yourself in the setting.

In contrast, FS is a computer game which abides by game mechanics. Any game pertaining to SW, ST, or B5 also has mechanics, but there exists the difference that with these series, the mechanics were secondary, accepted conditions needed in order to play the games; your perception of how things actually worked were more so governed by the cinema and imagination. FreeSpace, because it is only a game, flips this paradigm so that the game mechanics are foremost while what would be more sensible to the mind's eye takes a back seat. I believe this is the premier issue which keeps FS as "just a game." In fact, it's probably the biggest hurdle present when trying to flesh out any game beyond its game form! It's not that FreeSpace can't be what the other mentioned series are, but so long as the idea persists that the game mechanics determine reality rather than letting science fiction do the heavy lifting (e.g. the concept permits a new reality), you're stuck with something that perpetually stays "just a game." ...That goes a little beyond the scope of board game, really, but I think it also explains the lack of interest.

[ScottFreeCapital]

Further, I hate to knock FS on a forum kind of, you know, dedicated to FS, but I think there's another issue at play here: the connection people have with FreeSpace. No, I do not mean familiarity, nostalgia, or other forms of endearment. Rather, there is a literal tactile feeling, or connection, which is missing with FS when you compare it Star Wars, B5, or Star Trek. In those series, you have an understanding of how people interact with their environment (including their ships), because the development of said environment and the characters within are there. Adding to that, you like the characters and the environment (which you have a good perception of), so it's easy to immerse yourself in the setting.

I disagree completely. One difference, sure, is that FreeSpace was built from the ground up to be a game. But that's kind of beside the point. In reading the FS Bible and their source material - they certainly have enough to let the imagination run wild and to get that connection. But you play Alpha 1 - a character that's well... not a character. This can easily be changed to bring some heavy emotional connection, but I think the long term idea was to give the player more options to create themselves as a pilot (and thus a character). It just never really happened because they were too focused on making a great game.

In contrast, FS is a computer game which abides by game mechanics. Any game pertaining to SW, ST, or B5 also has mechanics, but there exists the difference that with these series, the mechanics were secondary, accepted conditions needed in order to play the games; your perception of how things actually worked were more so governed by the cinema and imagination. FreeSpace, because it is only a game, flips this paradigm so that the game mechanics are foremost while what would be more sensible to the mind's eye takes a back seat. I believe this is the premier issue which keeps FS as "just a game." In fact, it's probably the biggest hurdle present when trying to flesh out any game beyond its game form! It's not that FreeSpace can't be what the other mentioned series are, but so long as the idea persists that the game mechanics determine reality rather than letting science fiction do the heavy lifting (e.g. the concept permits a new reality), you're stuck with something that perpetually stays "just a game." ...That goes a little beyond the scope of board game, really, but I think it also explains the lack of interest.

Honestly, the inconsistency and weaseling away the explanations of physical inconsistencies in those other fictional universes gets on the nerves of nerds like myself. If you're going to create false physics, they should at least be CONSISTENT false physics so that you're consistently wrong in the right way. Characters should also be bound by those fictional limitations and when they are - it is better for the story because it creates genuine tension with an audience.