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Jumpgate Evolution: First Look Preview
Stradden
Managing EditorMember CommonPosts: 6,696
Sean Cullinan has had a chance to play in NetDevil's Jumpgate Evolution and today he shares his impressions of the upcoming space flight MMORPG.
Jumpgate Evolution is a space flight combat game with elements of commerce, crafting, and mining. The primary focus of JGE is combat, and it is here where the game is slickest and really comes to life. The universe, as far as JGE is concerned, is made up of several Non-Player Controlled (NPC) enemy races and three playable Nations: Quantar, Solrain, and Octavian. I won't go into too much detail here, as most of this can be found on Wikipedia here. Each of these three playable Nations has their own conflict and strife with one another, similar to the tripartite realm relationship found in Dark Age of Camelot (DAOC) by Mythic Entertainment. For me, this feature has the biggest potential to make this game a real winner; playing three sides off against one another, if balanced correctly, can lead to superb Player versus Player (PvP) and Realm versus Realm (RvR) or, in the case of Jumpgate Evolution, Nation versus Nation.
;)
Read the First Look Preview
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
Comments
A nice review, but did you play in Battlespace? If so what effect do you think it will have on open world play?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
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GRAAAAGGGH reading this has just made me want to play it more!
Like the Freelancer reference and if it plays anything like Freelancer i will give it a try for sure.
None, or at least not much, as the real goals action and rewards will be in open space. As open world PvP is still there, battle space is akin to the old simulator from classic.
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"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
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"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Hi all and thanks for the kind words.
I haven't played Battlespace, sorry.
Freelancer, on the other hand, was my mainstay for over a year. I have discussed flight dynamics, but i must say that JGE has the potential for far greater complexity. You can (and i did) fly in simple WASD mode if you wish and do very well. Or you can go to the other extreme and map vertical strafing, roll, pitch, yaw etc if you so choose.
There are obvious comparisons between the two. However, i would say that, as a real general comment, Freelancer felt somewhat more arcadey and much smaller than JGE.
Cheers,
Pas.
Screw freelancer (not really), Privateer is where its at! (Really)
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"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Never played the first one, but Privateer 2 brought me countless hours of fun!! Thanks for the memory man lol.
"He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance ; one cannot fly into flying"
How does JGE compare to Black Prophecy? To me JGE is more cartoony like say WoW and Black Prophecy is more realistic like say AoC.
All of this discussion about space combat simulators and no one mentions the greatest series of them all?
Long Live FreeSpace 1&2!
Netdevil has more info out about the game than Reakktor, who just did a media blitz the other day. We know (or there is more info) about Jumpgate's game play systems and mechanics than there is this title. The jump gate dancer engine has been live, and in use since September 25, 2001 (launch date for JG:Classic), the infinity engine, IF it was the same one used in Neocron, is from 2002.
Not that i care about any above. The video and shots shown were quite stunning, and my response was pointed at the graphics, as i know, or can find very little about the REAL mechanics of the game at this time.
The REAL contrast in the two game is system requirements. We have essentially what is a Low teach going up versus a high teach, or low system requirements versus a extremely high requirements game (Judging by that rendering features can pick out from that video, as even the system requirements have not been produced yet). Jumpgate developers have been trying to maintain that low barrier to entry, with very good reason. They are two different schools of thought. If i may, i will say: Its like AOC going up VS. World of Warcraft (EXAMPLE PEOPLE TRY TO KEEP TRACK), not in mechanics, but in development guidelines and tech used.
I think currently, they are both attractive titles, and i think each will do well. However, my eye is still on Jumpgate:E. For a few reasons. First i do not think we will see 50 x 50 x 50 battles in Reakktor's game...Ever. Second, Jumpgate classic was, for its time, quite well received, and quite well done, and the developers have almost 10 years of LIVE knowledge from that title to apply (not that Reakktor has nothing... But i do think this is their first space MMO). This is a refinement of the first, with modern concepts and tech tossed in, Reakktor's game, from just about every angle is an unknown.
Having said all that, you know i will be trying them both.
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"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Similarly i've not played BP.
What i would say, is to basically reinforce my opinion in the preview: I came at JGE with a somewhat negative view, having seen quite a bit of video footage. To me it looked 'arcady' or 'cartoony' if you wish. Actual play changed my opinion quite quickly. It's a lot more of a gritty experience than i had expected, and to my way of thinking, not for those who like to shove coins into slots. I think the arcady-ness perception comes from the majority of existing footage showing the small ship avatar moving around the ui as you fly. It's reminiscent of space games of the 80's and 90's. Slip into first-person and that perception is immediately dashed.
It's hard to explain precisely. It's simply that the game didn't play how it looks like it might. This could be down to the complexity of flight and combat, the adult nature of the avatars and NPC's, or the fact that the ships you shoot down fly dowsed in flames just before they explode.
I'm not sure if that helps at all. I think you just need to get your hands on it to really see what i mean.
Pas.
What I would like to know is if Jumpgate Evolution has tactical aspects of combat such as power/shield management and countermeasures for use against guided missiles.
Does it have programmed squad communication (ala FreeSpace)?
Does it allow for NPC squadmates?
Also, how do different shiptypes match up in combat (Interceptor, bomber, heavy fighter, space superiority, etc)?
The advantage of JGE is the twitch-based combat.
The advantage of EVE Online, come Winter 2009, will be the ability to get out of your ship and walk in stations.
Of the two features, I would prefer to walk in stations. This is because socialising becomes important. After a while, you need a reason to play apart from warring. Living in a ship can feel claustrophobic, which is ironic considering you're living in space.
Exploring or adventure is important, but I don't know what this is like in JGE yet.
Bro..... Jumpgate evolution wiki.
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"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Very nice review. My space days were in SWG which was also twich combat and alot of fun but a bit basic, hopefully JGE has some depth of gameplay .
If you want full epic space effect then there is only 1 way to go! Here is a video of monster triple 24 inch monitor setup, sporting a resolution near 5000x1080.
http://kotaku.com/5064142/a-visit-to-netdevil-hands-on-with-jumpgate-evolution?cpage=1&sort=asc
Conversely, i would imagine that if you asked an astronaut, space travel is one of the most claustrophobic experiences out there. That's why we create stations, so we can exist without the shackles of environmental suits.
@Bigbudder - Hah! Strange you post that. As I speak, my other project is taking form... A triple screen setup; inspired by JGE. I have a thread open on this very subject in my squad forum. I'm getting the tech low-down on how this is achieved, and i'm really excited about it.
Good write-up Pas.
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Actually the unit that allows you to span the game across 3 monitors is called the TripleHead2Go by Matrox. Its maximum resolution is 5040x1050 (3x1680x1050) this only available when using widescreens. I can't say for sure but it looks like the demo rig they put together only had screens of a standard aspect ratio, in this case the resolution would have been 3840x1024 (3x1280x1024).
[www.matrox.com]
There is a software application which is free and proven, and uses two ordinary GPU's. Check out the thread on the Squad pages (link in Wolphards post above) for info.
Thanks a lot Pasanda!
This interview really got me excited about this game. I must say I do feel like you felt after watching in-game footage... Glad to hear the opposite. And since our taste seens to be similar I now can feel relieved
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No worries Ishkariot. I'm in the same boat: Looking forward to the full game, loads of people to fight, and side with, and a galaxy of systems to explore.
beta?!?!
/checks email.......
$#%@! nothing ....
/sad
Great read, man! I can't wait to play it!
Beau
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This looks like Air Rivals, except if it were made by Americans and was Pay to Play. Love it.
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the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
When I'm at default I'm:
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Lol according to this I'm bipolar :O
Good preview, nice to see you got to experience so much in such a short time.
I wasn't all that interested at first, but this sort of information coming out (take that all you Dev's hiding your game behind ironclad NDA's) is the sort of thing most companies should be doing. Let people see it and play it.
I didn't see a lot of negatives, perhaps its just that good, or perhaps there were some restrictions on what can be said at this time. (not a bad thing, but noticable)
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