The Ressurection of the Space Sim.
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 13:14
I think that the Space-sim genre has been out of the lime-light of main stream gaming for far too long. It has long been a staple of the PC gaming industry, but unfortunately died during the late 90's... Now, as the age of PC gaming wanes away to the console generation--such a title for a popular device (such as the iphone, or the PS3) can really stand to separate this particular game from the many failures that have been released in the last generation. The infamous X series comes to mind, as an incredibly designed, and well conceived product; yet completely shunned from the main stream with comparatively little commercial success.
The genre basically died with Freespace 2. Any titles released after it's failure were unfortunately doomed to obscurity, regardless of their quality.
Now, this game COULD succeed where others failed.
It needs to be carefully and meticulously manufactured, with enough drama and multi-player content to entice people from all demographics.
The nice thing about space, is that it's cold, empty, colorful, and beautiful, regardless of the the player's background. The universe is certainly subject to an observer's criticism, but cannot be personified by anyone's preconceived notions of how it "should" be-- because we all see the same sky. This gives the Space simulation genre accessibility.
I think that space sims are for everyone. They've just never been properly marketed to the main-stream. People frequently picture sci-fi fans as trekkies with no social life; dressing up for costume conventions once or twice a year--only seeing the sun in the wee hours of the morning when they scurry to their vehicles to waste away at their I.T. desk job during the day.
(I mean absolutely no offense if I've just described you in the above paragraph. My point is--that is how space-sim fans are sometimes perceived, which is... needless to say, not entirely flattering.)
So I say, "Why not change that image?"
What if the next big thing in gaming is a lowly little underdog title from an independent developer, released for the most popular hand-held gaming device since the original GAME BOY.
With over 40 MILLION iphone and ipod touch users, from all walks of life... just a fraction of that population could put this game on the map.
Anyone see the latest Star Trek?
Oh, that's right... it was baller.
This game is to space-sims as the latest star trek was to... uh, star trek.
Anyway... enough of my rantings and hype.
I'm just over-excited and fanatically supportive of the project.
Hope more people join the forums.
-Athgaan
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:04
#2
Iphone.
I have the iphone 3g-8g. Probably a representation of what most people buying the app will have...
I worked in an apple store; I don't know the specific numbers, but I can tell you the 8gb iphone 3g is most definitely the most sold.
:)
-A
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:12
#3
Cool. Your testing will be
Cool. Your testing will be very important to us.
ArcNebula has both an OpenGLES1.x engine and an OpenGLES2.0 engine.
We are doing our utmost to make the version on iPhones & iPods with the earlier GPU as impressive visually as that version on later devices.
Thu, 10/15/2009 - 20:26
#4
3G 8gig here too.
Just in support of Athgaan's statement, I too own the 8g 3G Iphone. However, I also have an 8g first generation ipod touch. Neigher of these sports the fancy new processor of the 3Gs (and the new ipod touch?), so I should be able to give some useful feedback.
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 15:45
#6
Greetings fellow SpaceSim fan. :)
Hi Athgaan,
Welcome to Ginetix Games' new website, and thanks for such a great first post. I enjoyed reading it. I certainly agree with a lot of what you have to say. I think all of us do.
Certainly one of our key aims with ArcNebula is to "reboot" the Space Sim franchise. So hopefully we won't disappoint you.
Please do come back and check in from time to time. We'll be updating daily dev shots, erm daily.. and I do plan to start posting some blogs with more insight into where we are at and where we are going with ArcNebula. Hopefully our lead Graphics guy will be doing so also. He sent some awesome pics of a "planet harvester" today... We'll try to get some shots of that up today.
When we get a spare moment we are adding to the site, and there will be some FAQs and more blogs / forum areas to discuss what people want from us, and for us to share our ideas. Obviously right now we are very focussed on getting to certain key points in our product schedule.. So it may appear quiet here from time to time, but we are busy working away behind the scenes.
Also very soon we will have an application system for our early Alpha / Beta testers.. So if you have an iPhone / iPod do be sure to check back and sign up. Places will be limited. Looking forward to us growing a community here so that we can all share our ideas and love of Space Sims. In the meantime have you checked out SpaceSimCentral? A great place to get another "fix" of SpaceSim possibilities. We also frequent those forums and have our own ArcNebula area there too.
Best regards,
scratt (Lead Dev.)
Sun, 10/11/2009 - 04:21
#7
Alpha / Beta
Hey Scratt
I do have an iphone... and I'd be more than happy to sign up for an Alpha/Beta testing slot. In concept and theory, this game sounds great. and I can't wait to get my mits on even the earliest of semi-functional versions... to be part of the process would be an honor.
Best.
-Athgaan
Sun, 10/11/2009 - 15:16
#8
Re: Alpha / Beta applications
We will be making the Alpha / Beta application form live soon, which will be here on the site. We'll do a Newsletter for that so you will be informed, as well as a front page article about it.
But I've also pencilled you in on the special list as one of our first members. :)
Out of interest which model of iPhone do you have?
Hi There
I think the demise of the space sim was caused by too many j.a.s.s games (just anothere space sim) in
the late 90s early noughtys.Space as Athgaan says may be cold empty and colouful but that is also its main
problem as a setting for a game.Its space,big and empty and proberly the downfall of the wing commander
type of game.As there only so many times you can repeat the same missions in different games before
becoming jaded to the whole genre.So it good to see Arc going down the Elite route and from what
Scatt has said about the game,its sounds like theres going to be plenty of thing to keeps the player
occupied.
like Doc Bungee blue Torpet ship,a very WWII fighter plane look to it maybe also a little reminiscent
of the Wing Commander film fighter?.