I’ve been following this game’s progress for some time now and every time I hear something new it gets my blood pumping. Recently at PAX 2008, IGN had a chance to jump into the pilot seat and get a first look at the gameplay, also if you click the link there’s a brand new trailer for the game, go watch I’ll wait. (goes to get a cup of coffee) Looks pretty kick ass right? Now not to knock Eve Online, but the combat sucks big donkey balls. I grew up playing games like X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Freespace and Wing Commander and am a huge fan of space combat sims. Which is one of the big reasons I never got into Eve Online, that and the fact that its learning curve is steep enough that only the few truely dedicated will make it, it’s almost like a rites of passage.
Anyway, I’m getting side tracked. Jumpgate Evolution not only looks bad ass, but has a lot of features that I want in my MMO. PvP is a must, which it has and is integrating with leveling, so if you’re not big on quests, you can level by enjoying some good old PvP. Traveling is also not as tedious as it is with other games as you just jump (hence the name Jumpgate) from one area to the next, although I’m sure there will be some restrictions with that. There will also be a leader board system that shows things stats like “Most kills”, “Most money earned” etc, which is pretty cool and will fuel PvP even more.
Aside from Warhammer Online, Jumpgate Evolution is probably the game I’m looking towards the most. Currently they’re accepting beta signups, so if you haven’t already, go sign up. The game is currently scheduled for release sometime in the Spring of 2009.
Played about 10 minutes worth at Pax as well. And the combat was definatly there, I did no PvP, but even the AI battles were fun to do. Nothing like Eve at all.
I am a tad concerned after viewing the in game dogfighting footage. The footage I saw had the ship on the screen in some kind of Freelancer chase cam style view….I thought we would fly like in every other flight/space sim from inside the cockpit?
I hate that Freelancer style chase cam shit. That’s too ‘arcadey’ and ‘kiddy konsole ‘ for my liking. I loved Jumpgate Classic….and I’ve had major wood since the day I heard about Jumpgate Evolution……but if the combat is what I’ve seen from that footage I won’t be touching it with a barge pole….
Dread – I highly doubt it’s just going to be a chase-cam style view. What’s more likely is that the chase-cam style view with mouse-driven simply flight mechanics will be the default setting. It’s already been fairly well covered that controls similar to the original Jumpgate game (much more hardcore & realistic) will be implemented. It seems only logical to extend that to viewpoints and add a ‘hardcore in-cockpit view’ as well.
I doubt they’d just skip on something like that when they go through the hassle of implementing proper joystick support & optional ’semi-’realistic flight mechanics. How great are realistic flight mechanics if you can only see it in action in an arcade viewpoint?
I think it’s great that they’re adding in easier controls and a more arcade chase cam style view. These are the kinds of things that will open this game up to the masses and allow it be more successful than it’s predecessor. But, at least they should offer the option of playing it like an oldschool hardcore space sim for those of us who are more into these kinds of games.
Hopefully it will attract a wealth of space sim newbies thanks to the more arcade approach of the standard settings. That would ensure two things:
#1 – Plenty of cannon fodder.
#2 – The cannon fodder (space sim newbies) shouldn’t be disillusioned by losing occasionally to a veteran, because there are plenty of other cannon fodder pilots whom they can actually shoot down themselves.
Jumpgate: Evolution won’t be as sandboxy as the original Jumpgate, but the AI in will be amazing.