The X4 Beta so far... Pretty ok.

[PeaceMaker]

Well had time to give this a run on the beta and I have found out so far... (Let's remember this is Beta so a lot may change still...)

1.I like when you give an order to a pilot you're standing next to, that now you don't have his face also pop up on a mini-screen. I always thought that was pointless and probably wasted cpu resources, etc. I also noticed in one case when I tried contacting a 'criminal' drone, no video popped up either usually does. Good.

2. Ships, at least fighters appear more responsive in and out of Travel mode, yet slow to slowdown which is not necessarily a bad thing.

3. Big one for me as a major foot explorer on bases: Bases really do go into a visual danger mode now when any enemy is nearby threat. Was near that base at Hatikvah's choice and red light beams can be seen even before landing on it. I almost thought it was a Xenon base at first! Maybe a bit over the top from an outside view though. Once on it you see the alarm drones with red lights and hear an alarm. Excellent. Now you KNOW when a base is potentially in danger when walking on a base.

Although the alarms audio is a strange tone. I know it's supposed to be `futuristic` but something a bit more real world like a proper siren would work better. It's also quite quiet but I guess they do this cos some people would probably be driven crazy by it. Also the PA announcer does not seem seem to say anything, and no one runs around that i could see, but further testing needed.

Also the alarm drones just appear and disappear; they don't come or go anywhere, but this will probably be further worked out. I personally think we don't need the drones, just have the standard lights on the base go red with the audio. Might even save on resources that could be used elsewhere.

At least now we have something that shows the bases are now aware of potential danger and this warns the foot travelling Player on a base if things change, so thankyou, Egosoft.

4. On approaching the super Highway, the npc of my H ship actually said so, not sure if that is new.

Will pop up more as I see them. I'm sure others have noticed new things too.

5. Also this was a Argom defense platform with a giant dish on the side; I don't remember a giant dish there before.

6. Almost forgot - fighting and shooting without your shields emptying is quite a different experience after years with default. It is easier and also makes more sense. I'm not against easier if it actually makes sense. No more draining your shields whenever you boost to catch up or run. It'll probably make life easier for AI ships too.

Not tested if the NPC pilot is any better (quicker) at opening Lockboxes while I'm there though...

Anyway quite decent so far.

[Geist]

They probaply used the flying alarm drones because they can place them everywhere. In Beta 1 there were more of this "alarm light posts" but they popped out in the middle of the landing bay and equaliy strange places like on pathways, Looked really strange and buggy. So its working _much _better now. And I agree its a cool idea.

The PA announcer does not say anything and I agree a few "the station is under attack. please stay away from windows and open areas" would be nice. NPCs do not run around but most of them are not civilians anyway so they are supposed to do their job even under attack I guess.

"Also this was a Argom defense platform with a giant dish on the side; I don't remember a giant dish there before."

All defence plattforms of all factions (inew build and in new games) are now equipped with the new Long Distance Radar module that blueprint is available to the player too. It has a very large radar coverage and is a very good alternative to satelite spam and allows the Defence station to see enemies much earlier (no more sneeking above the ecliptic lines Xenon!) Its coverage is so big that you can cover most of a sector if you place a station with this module in its center.

https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=468254

"lmost forgot - fighting and shooting without your shields emptying is quite a different experience after years with default. "

Yes. MUCH better now.

Have you checked out the new gravidar too?

I think its a big improvement now after a few itterations of changes in Beta 3

https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=467980&start=180

[Ziplock815]

Doesn't anyone have an issue with ships\stations disappearing near jumpgates and while receiving transmissions? Npc and ship's weapons and engines are untouched

[Despiser]

Any idea when it leaves beta? I know they try to maintain compatibility but I hate the thought of broken saves. It's too many hours to risk.

[Geist]

Originally posted by Despiser:

Any idea when it leaves beta? I know they try to maintain compatibility but I hate the thought of broken saves. It's too many hours to risk.

Its supposed to release in Q1 2025.

I suggest to try it out with a new save file (backup your regular saves) if you are interested. Simply use the custom start to give you some stuff and try the new changes especialy in the flight model for yourself. It feels very different and now its still the time to give them feedback on how your favourite ships perform in the way you play, and finetune stuff before the 7.5 release.

[Zloth]

And keep that Steam recorder going!

[PeaceMaker]

Originally posted by Geist:

T

Have you checked out the new gravidar too?

I think its a big improvement now after a few itterations of changes in Beta 3

https://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=467980&start=180

You know what, I haven't really noticed it! I will look at it again.

Originally posted by Ziplock815:

Doesn't anyone have an issue with ships\stations disappearing near jumpgates and while receiving transmissions? Npc and ship's weapons and engines are untouched

hmmm. Not quite got there yet to observe that.

Originally posted by Despiser:

Any idea when it leaves beta? I know they try to maintain compatibility but I hate the thought of broken saves. It's too many hours to risk.

I made a save file copy (like Geist wisely says), so I can go back to that if everything goes screwy.

[eMYNOCK]

seriously... the password to participate in the beta is literally an instruction on its own...

make a backup of your save and all will be good if something goes sideways.

[Zloth]

Originally posted by PeaceMaker:

2. Ships, at least fighters appear more responsive in and out of Travel mode, yet slow to slowdown which is not necessarily a bad thing.

That's for sure. I just started trying it out. I began by poking around in Boron territory in a handy M mining ship. When I got off the highway... oh my.

I reverted to 7.1 and tried it again. I didn't jump off at exactly the same spot, but it looks like I drifted about half as far. Here's a quick video of it (version 7.1 first)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3392666587

Like I said in the other topic, I think I'll need to buy a lot of new thrusters!

Something from Egosoft back on their Roadmap posting:

Beyond the flight model changes, we’re also adding several new sectors to the game as part of this update, creating additional connections to the Terran and Boron areas of space that were added in their respective expansions, X4: Cradle of Humanity and X4: Kingdom End. These new connections will be paired with some adjustments to the in-game economy – we’ll be giving more details on that once the Public Beta has started.

Are these in yet?

[Geist]

Originally posted by Zloth:

Originally posted by PeaceMaker:

2. Ships, at least fighters appear more responsive in and out of Travel mode, yet slow to slowdown which is not necessarily a bad thing.

That's for sure. I just started trying it out. I began by poking around in Boron territory in a handy M mining ship. When I got off the highway... oh my.

I reverted to 7.1 and tried it again. I didn't jump off at exactly the same spot, but it looks like I drifted about half as far. Here's a quick video of it (version 7.1 first)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3392666587

Like I said in the other topic, I think I'll need to buy a lot of new thrusters!

Something from Egosoft back on their Roadmap posting:

Beyond the flight model changes, we’re also adding several new sectors to the game as part of this update, creating additional connections to the Terran and Boron areas of space that were added in their respective expansions, X4: Cradle of Humanity and X4: Kingdom End. These new connections will be paired with some adjustments to the in-game economy – we’ll be giving more details on that once the Public Beta has started.

Are these in yet?

The new sectors are in the beta yes. You can even find some cool and unique stuff in some.

And the economy changes are also in. You will now get fewer stations, but stations can have more production modules (which should in theory make the performance in lategame better because there was serious station spam going on.

Also the hull part production module does not need hullparts to make it anymore but other materials. Which should help with the sometimes "self locking" economy where the universe is out of hullparts and the factions want to build more hullpart factories but can't because there are no hullparts... This will now not happen anymore.

[Geist]

Oh and I watched your video. This is not supposed to happen, when you get of a highway the ship should come to a halt like before, and not be slingshotted into deep space. This has already been reported. :-D

[Dr.doom]

Worst and only bug i notice is the flickering everything ships ,stations ,ui, hud and map everything randomly

[PeaceMaker]

Originally posted by Zloth:

Are these in yet?

I dunno if this applies, but there was a long message announcement that came out of nowhere from the Borons that new sectors were opening up for some reason. Didn't hear it all as I was in the middle of combat, but never heard that before.

[Geist]

Originally posted by PeaceMaker:

Originally posted by Zloth:

Are these in yet?

I dunno if this applies, but there was a long message announcement that came out of nowhere from the Borons that new sectors were opening up for some reason. Didn't hear it all as I was in the middle of combat, but never heard that before.

If yo u start a new game with the boron sektors available OR if you do the boron plot and finish it it will take a while, then this message will come. (it takes a while for the boron to open the other gates) after this message the sectors are open. Don't know how long exactly could be 2 hours.

[Lethalite]

I’m curious about the new flight model. Is it like rapidly toggling flight assist on&off in the current flight model?

[Doom]

Originally posted by Lethalite:

I’m curious about the new flight model. Is it like rapidly toggling flight assist on&off in the current flight model?

(opinion)
It doesn't compare.

The immediately noticeable difference that ships now feel like they have mass and the mass is significant. There will be plenty of inertia on frigate even with flight assist on, and basically flying stuff requires more concentration and planning. It also affects NPC ship. For example, in previous versions if you ask a ship to dock at a carrier/aux, it would fly in a perfectly straight line, as if moving on a wire, instantly stop, and then fly in another perfectly straight line. Now there's slight wobbling which makes the whole thing look far more believable and organic.

Basically, I like it a lot. Flying is now fun. Will require more skill than before, though.