Space is the Place
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:49 am
Okay, so. I really like this game. The current wave of bugs aside, it's probably the smoothest execution of an RTS game I've ever encountered. AND you can make custom ships, which with the new expanded catalog of parts and weapons should be even more fun. (especially for me, who likes ballistic weapons more than energy weapons)
So yeah, as far as the game elements goes, I have no real complaints. But whenever I'm playing, or designing a ship, the engineer/scientist within me can't help but start writhing in agony over this game's general handling of "space." I'm not exactly complaining or demanding changes mind you, since such changes would make the game too different. But I still can't help but to think about it.
As such, I've compiled a list of links containing articles (all from one of the greatest websites ever) that pretty much hit upon every strange depiction of space in Battleships Forever. Sure, BF doesn't do too awfully much that other SF pieces aren't guilty of, and some of you might find this all to be tl;dr. But others might find it interesting and informative, and it is for such curious folks that I have done this. So, without further adieu...
One that actually bothers me as far as gameplay goes:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... oidThicket
Some considerations for more realistic handling of space combat:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... ogfighting
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... utoffRange
Typical stuff, though we can just say the ships are purposefully slowing down or holding certain speeds:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... ceFriction
True, but I'd never change this in a game:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SpaceIsNoisy
Can't really be avoided considering the nature of the game:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Two-DSpace
So, that's the list pretty much. Maybe somebody will enjoy it. Of course, one could very easily counter any one of these entries with either of these two concepts that pretty much every single thing in entertainment bows down to:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfCool
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfFun
Though, I suppose there could be those that find realism cool and fun, so the issue is subjective.
So yeah, as far as the game elements goes, I have no real complaints. But whenever I'm playing, or designing a ship, the engineer/scientist within me can't help but start writhing in agony over this game's general handling of "space." I'm not exactly complaining or demanding changes mind you, since such changes would make the game too different. But I still can't help but to think about it.
As such, I've compiled a list of links containing articles (all from one of the greatest websites ever) that pretty much hit upon every strange depiction of space in Battleships Forever. Sure, BF doesn't do too awfully much that other SF pieces aren't guilty of, and some of you might find this all to be tl;dr. But others might find it interesting and informative, and it is for such curious folks that I have done this. So, without further adieu...
One that actually bothers me as far as gameplay goes:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... oidThicket
Some considerations for more realistic handling of space combat:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... ogfighting
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... utoffRange
Typical stuff, though we can just say the ships are purposefully slowing down or holding certain speeds:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... ceFriction
True, but I'd never change this in a game:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SpaceIsNoisy
Can't really be avoided considering the nature of the game:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Two-DSpace
So, that's the list pretty much. Maybe somebody will enjoy it. Of course, one could very easily counter any one of these entries with either of these two concepts that pretty much every single thing in entertainment bows down to:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfCool
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfFun
Though, I suppose there could be those that find realism cool and fun, so the issue is subjective.