Super Highways

[Mr. Matt]

I very much enjoyed X3 Terran Conflict and the variety it offered in the way of different ships, items, and races. I also very much enjoyed the exploration and seeing my ship hurdle through a jump gate was so wonderful that i really did feel as though i was getting somewhere. I do not like the super highway concept at all unfortunately. A super highway reminds me of something like a current in an ocean or river that would be great for a submarine to enter and increase my speed. The subject is space though and having a current in space is something i try hard to imagine, but it just doesnt work for me. I am so very much wanting to get X4: Foundations, but the super highways make it to where i might make myself not get it. I really dont feel as though there is a need for the fantasy type of super highway because i feel that everything was done right before. Before there had been slower ships that were realistic and for a patient player it was enjoyable. Sometimes it is nice to have increased speed, but that is when i would switch over to other ships with the fast speeds. I just cant understand the reason for a super highway unless it is something on a planet where no speed restrictions might be a plus. I wish that all X people could vote on the Super Highway subject. I just feel that Jump Gates are adequate and if you want faster speeds than get a faster ship, like maybe a class 'S' - ship... a Super Ship........

[Afro Luigi]

X3 Terran Conflict introduced the precursors to the Highway system, the Trans-Orbital Accelerators. Which while coded like gates, thematically where giant slingshots that fired ships at distant regions where another TOAs received them. (Acting like the Superhighways in XR)

Egosoft has discussed that they are redoing how the galaxy is layed out using the Highways. So we'll see a more logical layout to them, like how the highways in the Home of Light DLC where layed out and used.

So it has been confirmed that they are staying, they will just be used far less often.

[WellMad]

X4 will be Fully moded at some point so Maybe AND I HOPE someone will write a mod to replace the superhigh ways with gates, because I feel the same as you on this issue, SPACE is a big place and highways just dont cut it.

[CTHOMP]

Be careful you aren't critical of the direction they are going with this foundation game. Remember that Rebirth was one of the greatest games ever made and criticizing it or egosoft or the direction they are going with the x universe will get you shamed by moderators.

[WellMad]

I perfectly happy with coming out of ships and all of that, but the TWO biggest turn offs in rebirth (1 the biggests) no other ships for me to pliot and (2 to lesser exstand) because its just not really possiable to make space lanes/highways,(yes I understand gates/mini black holes no possiable) but at least mini blackholes can be seen now, so I guessing in 400 years or so we could master them for travel.

[Ketraar]

Originally posted by clthomps:

Be careful you aren't critical of the direction they are going with this foundation game. Remember that Rebirth was one of the greatest games ever made and criticizing it or egosoft or the direction they are going with the x universe will get you shamed by moderators.

I said you should stop it with the subtle trolling, I'm not going to warn you again. Discuss the topic and avoid deraling the conversations, if you have nothing to add to the discussion at hand, dont post.

MFG

Ketraar

[CTHOMP]

Can they make the superhighways like jump gates in x3. Maybe they can make it so you can enter one and have the animation skip like in x3 and you just appear at the other end. I understrand you may be able to enter/exit highways wherever, but perhaps they could hotkey in an option to just skip the highway driving stuff (glad they eliminated the minigames) and you just pop out the other end. Thoughts?

[Ketraar]

That is unlikely. The highways serve a completely different approach to IS fast travel and a global "local development" design. Their purpose is to keep things big and still enable fast paced gameplay. Highways also serve to "path" AI small ships around busy areas.

What I'm trying to say is that highways are much deeper nested in the overall design of "space cities" for them to be completely removed.

MFG

Ketraar

[CTHOMP]

Oh well, thanks for the feedback. Just trying to discuss possible solutions to the gimmick.

Can't using SETA serve the same purpose to move faster through system. Or get a faster ship? I feel that highway tubes fill the open space scenery with pipes/clutter everywhere. Kind of like how cockpits do.

[Ketraar]

Well SETA fits a different aspect and it does not convey the notion of "city". I'm biased against SETA tbh, since that usually means I press a button and watch the game play pass me by, I rather have fast paced gameplay where I can be hands on.

But since all 3 options are available I think anyone's preference is met by having a balanced amound of open space and some "cluttered" areas with highways (like in HoL) and then also have SETA. This shoud cover most people.

The uglyness is debatable, sure some tubes in Xr were a bit jarring, but some did fit the scenery and hopfully in X4 the ones fitting will be the ones implemented, we'll see.

MFG

Ketraar

[Obiwan Kenobiwan]

Well I couldn´t disagree mor on the Highway Subject.

This Game simulates Space, to have in iniftive amount of Space a tiny tube rigged Transport System ist just wrong. The X-Series at their Core where always about free Movement, this Design Idea is a valid Choice for a knew Take on the Series Concept (For me it´s a Dealbreaker so I don´t play Rebirth), witch then becomes a completly different kind of Game. To implement this Concept into X4 makes it not a follow up to Albion but turns the Game into to an effective Rebirth Sequel (witch I also will not play !)

It makes no Sence from an Economic Point, it would be far more efficient for any Gamer to use their ony Nav Sats to choose their own trading Paths, it´s far more Fun and interesting to play. if you are into Pirating you actually have to look for Targets and not have them bottled up at one Place to snatch the one Target to your liking, there is no Enjoyment in that Scenario for me !
From a fighting Point it is just boring, i want to hunt and stalk my Prey.

The Accelerators in Albion were far mor to my liking, you couldn´t target them with your Jump drive but they got you to another Sector without the Dealbreaking Highway Tube Part.

My Fear over all is that to many Dealbreaking Concepts and Design Ideas implemented in Rebirth are going to be transported over to X4. Since X4 should have Nothing to do with Rebirth, both for me a two completly different kind of Games. The Albion Gaming Experience should be enhanced and a few more Ideas added or changed, on a small Scale !!

[CTHOMP]

Careful calling x4 rebirth 2, they say it isn't. Despite having seemingly more of a rebirth look/feel.

[bulbatrs]

I don't think there is any sort of large differense between highways and jumpgates, both ment to speedup travel where with jumpgates you just "jump" from one point of interest to the other while with highways it takes an extra X amount of time to travel at high speed on the map - end result is the same apart from highways can add some extra twists while traveling.
The problem is with what you travel to and from and how it has changed from x3 to rebirth and I think that making one huge station over a bunch of small stations with implementation of 3d walking around stations and ship just made the game unfun and switched focus of the game in some areas. also it took away exploration as exploring sectors is way more fun than exploring the same station over and over.
I think the new x4 will be the same as rebirth at this regard so there is little hope that it will be a good game for x3 fans.

[Ketraar]

Originally posted by bulbatrs:

I think the new x4 will be the same as rebirth at this regard so there is little hope that it will be a good game for x3 fans.

As an X3 fan, please refrain from speaking in my behalf, I think its OK if you just represent your own opinion.

As for exploration, I dont know what X3 you played, but there was no exploration at all other than uncovering stations and gates. If anything, this is much better implemented in Rebirth and hopefully so in X4, where you can actually go off the beaten path and find stuff by ACTIVELY explore the surroundings, ie using the long range scanner. There is always room for improvement and/or additional depth, but saying X3 had better exploration I cant agree at all.

MFG

Ketraar

[CTHOMP]

I do prefer the triplex scanner in x3. Having to constantly press a scan button to see what's out there instead of it being mapped as you fly around seems an unnecessary hassle/gimmicky element to me.

[bulbatrs]

Originally posted by Ketraar:

Originally posted by bulbatrs:

I think the new x4 will be the same as rebirth at this regard so there is little hope that it will be a good game for x3 fans.

As an X3 fan, please refrain from speaking in my behalf, I think its OK if you just represent your own opinion.

sorry for that, I ment all the x3 fans that didn't like the rebirth.