Now the Hyperion can come +++

[Hakenden]

Actually, I'm more known for criticizing X4 and complaining about the lack of progress. But 7.5 Beta has become a real game changer here. The times when all the mechanics weren't really well thought out/buggy seem to be behind us and the size of the universe with timelines (yes, timelines were annoying for me) is very enriching.

X4 needs size, new sectors, new expanses.

Publishing a roadmap (which I've been suggesting for years) is also a good step. It's finally clear what the near future will bring.

Egosoft finally seems to be growing and seems to be raising the bar for space sims to new heights.

Keep it up, I'm excited.

And this has to come out now:

Great work, thank you,

I'm looking forward to the new DLC, which will surely be added to my library.

[Bazooka]

I agree

[Gibbo]

For someone who's never played this game before they are in for a right treat. This game deserves the epic title.

[Bozz 💀]

yes they on the right track, I just hope they really focus 100% on the sandbox now

[Jaggid Edje]

I've been playing the X series since the original X:BtF 26 years ago, but I pretty much always wait to start playing each game until it has had several years' worth of patches and updates.
I just started playing X4 a few weeks ago and I have not been disappointed...over 100 hours in and I still feel very much like a rookie in the game, so much still to learn much less to do.

Anywho, I was pretty jazzed when I saw them put out a Roadmap. I have owned X4 since shortly after release, despite not playing it until now, and I have bought each DLC shortly after they release as well...so I have been following the game since it came out. Having an actual roadmap is something I hope they continue to do, not just for X4, but for all of the future X games.

[Gibbo]

I joined the party on the Split update. Cannot believe I was on the fence about buying that.

This is one of the best games I've ever played. Even with its faults.

[Mowglia]

Originally posted by Hakenden:

But 7.5 Beta has become a real game changer here. The times when all the mechanics weren't really well thought out/buggy seem to be behind us and the size of the universe with timelines (yes, timelines were annoying for me) is very enriching.

Can you be more specific regarding this? Why was 7.5 beta a "real game changer"?

Also, how did Timelines add to the size of the universe? I thought it only added a few more ships? Do we have to play/finish Timelines before we start another main playthrough (to unlock ships), or can we nibble away at Timelines while doing a main playthrough without missing stuff in said playthrough?

I've been waiting for the beta to hit the main branch before I get into it again, but I can no longer handle the wait. Gonna start again today, lol.

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by Mowglia:

Can you be more specific regarding this? Why was 7.5 beta a "real game changer"?

Also, how did Timelines add to the size of the universe? I thought it only added a few more ships? Do we have to play/finish Timelines before we start another main playthrough (to unlock ships), or can we nibble away at Timelines while doing a main playthrough without missing stuff in said playthrough?

I've been waiting for the beta to hit the main branch before I get into it again, but I can no longer handle the wait. Gonna start again today, lol.

Timelines also adds several new sectors and a new faction. You don't have to do the timelines missions before you start a sandbox, but the ships, sectors and faction aren't unlocked until you do their respective timeline missions. They are retroactively added even into existing sandbox playthroughs though, so you can totally still just nibble away at it as you are inclined.

As for how the beta is a game-changer, just the changes to how boost functions seems like a pretty major change to me. It's why I switched to the beta after only playing the game for a few hours when I started playing a few weeks ago.

There's quite a long list of other changes, fixes, and alterations, but I can't speak to their game-changing aspects because of having only played the non-beta for a few hours (and no sandbox at all, only tutorials and Timelines).

[Wolfsblut]

i really hope the HYPERION is what it was back then. hopefully we also get blueprints to make a fleet of it. hopefully the balancing is as back in x3 reunion. it was the best ship to do anything.. from fighting to exploring cuz its stats were just outstanding..

[Bazooka]

Originally posted by Mowglia:

Can you be more specific regarding this? Why was 7.5 beta a "real game changer"?

Well. there is a new mechanic where your destroyed ships are replaced.
For me it's a game changer, maybe a little boring for hardcore x gamer.
you can nuke factions, with the new satellite system. (endgame)

[Hakenden]

@Mowglia
There are a lot of things that have been improved at the same time.
It starts with the game flow (X4 feels smoother), artwork, avatars, ships, weapon behaviour, missels, new boost without shield consumption .... .
I think you should play X4 in de to understand the depth of the changes. I've finally played through Timelines and the new sectors you can unlock here are an added bonus that gives the universe a believable breadth and depth that wasn't there before. The ships (Timelines) are of course a nice bonus too.
I think if the sector battles and expansion of the factions are expanded further, there will be a strong strategic component that will certainly make X4 even more interesting and if the economy gets new products then I think I'll melt away with enthusiasm.

[Mowglia]

Originally posted by Jaggid Edje:

Timelines also adds several new sectors and a new faction. You don't have to do the timelines missions before you start a sandbox, but the ships, sectors and faction aren't unlocked until you do their respective timeline missions. They are retroactively added even into existing sandbox playthroughs though, so you can totally still just nibble away at it as you are inclined.

Thanks for this info, it's exactly what I was after. Dammit. Think I'm gonna have to hit Timelines and unlock as much as possible there first.

Originally posted by Bazooka:

Well. there is a new mechanic where your destroyed ships are replaced.
For me it's a game changer, maybe a little boring for hardcore x gamer.
you can nuke factions, with the new satellite system. (endgame)

o.O

Originally posted by Hakenden:

I think you should play X4 to understand the depth of the changes. I've finally played through Timelines and the new sectors you can unlock here are an added bonus that gives the universe a believable breadth and depth that wasn't there before. The ships (Timelines) are of course a nice bonus too.
I think if the sector battles and expansion of the factions are expanded further, there will be a strong strategic component that will certainly make X4 even more interesting and if the economy gets new products then I think I'll melt away with enthusiasm.

I'm gonna start Timelines now then. This all sounds very promising. Like you I'm all for sector battles and the expansion of factions, and the stronger the strategic component becomes, then the more interesting X4 will get :)

Took ages just to find my flight stick and clean it up. So much dust, lol.

[chronobomb]

Originally posted by Hakenden:

X4 needs size, new sectors, new expanses.

Egosoft is very careful adding new sectors. The reason being is that everything in X4 is calculated and tossing a bunch of sectors in will cause severe slowdown late game as all those sectors fill up with stations and ships.

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by Mowglia:

Thanks for this info, it's exactly what I was after. Dammit. Think I'm gonna have to hit Timelines and unlock as much as possible there first.

It doesn't take that long. That's what I did when I first started playing and I did Timelines to completion before starting a sandbox.

My total playtime when I did finally start a sandbox was just a little shy of 30 hours, and that includes not just Timelines but also ALL of the tutorials and a lot of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around googling things while playing Timelines because I was brand new to playing X4.

I also had to repeat several of the Timelines missions multiple times....because I sucked at getting the rank required for the unlock (despite that requirement being only rank 1). So it would be faster for someone who isn't a total rookie.

[Mowglia]

Originally posted by Jaggid Edje:

Originally posted by Mowglia:

Thanks for this info, it's exactly what I was after. Dammit. Think I'm gonna have to hit Timelines and unlock as much as possible there first.

It doesn't take that long. That's what I did when I first started playing and I did Timelines to completion before starting a sandbox.

My total playtime when I did finally start a sandbox was just a little shy of 30 hours, and that includes not just Timelines but also ALL of the tutorials and a lot of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around googling things while playing Timelines because I was brand new to playing X4.

I also had to repeat several of the Timelines missions multiple times....because I sucked at getting the rank required for the unlock (despite that requirement being only rank 1). So it would be faster for someone who isn't a total rookie.

I will do the same I think, and 30 hours isn't a long time. I'm not a complete noob, but I've got no idea what I'm doing after a 2 year break, so starting again is the best idea. My flight stick seems to work ok (porting all my old settings/saves across), but I've got no idea what any keys do, and the UI looks really complicated.

One thing I noticed under Settings is some kind of "Online Feature"... Ventures? Apparently I need to enable the "Venture Extension" and I don't remember any of this. Is this some kind of multiplayer feature? There was something about meeting other players' ships.

Now to get the beta working, graphics set up (this is a different PC), and then I'm back in business :)

[Jaggid Edje]

I don't think the Ventures system is functional. It's still a "work in progress" is what I read when I googled for details. I may be wrong though, as I did not try it.