X Rebirth

[CottonRabbit]

X3 Rebirth is meant to be a very refined, optimized version of X3 with a updated interface, improved early game, and a lot of new content including new capital ships and tools. The game was meant to be released last year so I hope the delays translate into a better game.

X Rebirth is going to be much more than just an optimized version of X3. It's a totally new game and overhauls many game mechanics. In terms of setting, it takes place several hundred years after X3. There's now only 1 upgradable player ship (a controversial decision), a much bigger role for drones, highways for travel, a 1st person player mode, totally revamped complexes and no SETA. I was quite skeptical of all the changes they were making, but these latest videos have made me very excited again.

 

[Via]

Hmmm....

Somehow I missed the "one ship only" part. That is really disconcerting.

It sounds more like Freelancer.

 

[Nintendesert]

As was said, it's more in the vein of Privateer and Wing Commander with a more fleshed out economy and exploration. I'm not sure about the 1 ship though, my thing was always to get bigger ships and go around stomping on people. I'd have to see the details of fleet control and all that.

 

[mrwindta]

X Rebirth available for preorder starting today. You can buy your Steam keys at the egosoft webshop with 10% discount and get a the soundtrack for download immediately.

 

[Nintendesert]

Nice to know, the music in the X universe is some of the best out there.

 

[CottonRabbit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpGDSBWYsw4

New trailer. I'm surprised by how little exposure this got at Gamescon considering that the dev is also from Germany.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Damn it does look good though..ugh. I just know I'll never actually get into it. I just don't have the patience/attention span to go into a expansive non-story driven world these days. Sandbox games just lose their appeal :/

 

[JimmiG]

X Rebirth is going to be much more than just an optimized version of X3. It's a totally new game and overhauls many game mechanics. In terms of setting, it takes place several hundred years after X3. There's now only 1 upgradable player ship (a controversial decision), a much bigger role for drones, highways for travel, a 1st person player mode, totally revamped complexes and no SETA. I was quite skeptical of all the changes they were making, but these latest videos have made me very excited again.

Some swear by the mechanics of the X1 - X3 series and resist all change. I find it hard to get into, clunky and not very user friendly. Learning to get around the user interface is almost more difficult than learning the actual game. I also think the highways are a much better solution to travel than the network of jump gates.

I hope X Rebirth will be easier and more user friendly and streamlined, without feeling dumbed down. Some hardcore X fans will resist any change. Can't please everyone.

 

[thm1223]

Wait so only one player ship as in you can't control a fleet of ships?

 

[CottonRabbit]

Wait so only one player ship as in you can't control a fleet of ships?

You will still be able to buy other ships, you just won't to able to jump into the cockpit and fly them yourself. For capital ships, you'll be able to dock with them, walk around inside and perhaps visit the bridge to give orders from there. No word on whether you'll be able to go inside other fighters or freighters (I'm guessing not).

 

[Nintendesert]

We'll have to see how it's handled. If the only detailed cockpit is your ship, and the rest are controlled via drones or remote control with a drone view instead of a cockpit that won't be much different than the current X3.

I'd love to control capital ships from the bridge via commands instead of flying them like a fighter. Sit in my captain's chair and yell away! ONWARD I SAY ONWARD!

 

[bguile]

Heres a demo with Bernd from gamescon. It's in german, but it shows ships controls, and some combat.

http://www.gamestar.de/videos/specials,20/x-rebirth,71543.html

 

[thm1223]

You will still be able to buy other ships, you just won't to able to jump into the cockpit and fly them yourself. For capital ships, you'll be able to dock with them, walk around inside and perhaps visit the bridge to give orders from there. No word on whether you'll be able to go inside other fighters or freighters (I'm guessing not).

But you can still control them like a fleet in any of the other X games for the sake of pwning sectors and dominating teh known universe, right?

We'll have to see how it's handled. If the only detailed cockpit is your ship, and the rest are controlled via drones or remote control with a drone view instead of a cockpit that won't be much different than the current X3.

I'd love to control capital ships from the bridge via commands instead of flying them like a fighter. Sit in my captain's chair and yell away! ONWARD I SAY ONWARD!

Oh ya that would certainly be epic. Epic indeed!

 

[GoodRevrnd]

So I guess this is out in 2 months or so. Here's a newer trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWkk395XjxM

It looks amazing, but I'm nervous about the one ship part and the potential for copy pasta inside stations and such. It sounds like even though you only have one ship you can still command/control many others. I think ultimately what will be important is how well the combat is done and how dynamic the economy is. I'm assuming eventually modders will fix the one ship problem.

 

[BrightCandle]

While I played X3 a lot I did think the interface was truly awful. Controlling other ships and stations is a large part of the game and I for one am hoping they have fixed the interface there and made things just a little but more intuitive. The one ship thing doesn't bother me much as I spent most of my time in the same class of ship anyway. But so far I haven't seen any demos of how you control other ships, and that is going to be the big potential benefit to this, I hope.

 

[JamesV]

I tried to get into X3, but just don't see the 'fun'.

This latest time, I read up on how to do things, and gave it another shot, and I guess I'm doing it wrong, because I never leave open windows to see what is graphically happening. Open Best Buy/Sell interface, autodock, SETA. Leave station, Best Buy/Sell still open, find another place, dock, and repeat.

They could remove the graphics entirely, and have you play from maps/windows, and it would play the same. Obviously combat is different, but I didn't like that either - unless you are right on top of an enemy, all you see is their box and lead indicator; like a 'chase the circle' mini-game.

If Rebirth has a demo, I'll try it, but I'm guessing all those great graphics will be covered the entire time I play by windows and maps where I will do most of my 'flying'.

 

[Anteaus]

This latest time, I read up on how to do things, and gave it another shot, and I guess I'm doing it wrong, because I never leave open windows to see what is graphically happening. Open Best Buy/Sell interface, autodock, SETA. Leave station, Best Buy/Sell still open, find another place, dock, and repeat.

What's ironic is that statement can be transposed for different types of games that have appeal to the masses. Whether its gear grinding in Diablo 3, stat grinding in Battlefield 3, or running that raid for the 15th billionth time, fun is found in what the individual wants.

I agree with you spec. The problem with X3 is that it tries to be two games at once and as a result both games suffer. First, you have the standard fare X-Wing style space sim. Second, you have space tycoon with trading, etc.

The catch is that as a sandbox game it is kin to that box of legos with had as kids. Any fun you have with it is due to your own effort. The game guides you a bit with the missions, but at some point you just have to strike off on you're own with any goals being those you set for yourself.

 

[Nintendesert]

As far as I know, no delays. I'm really looking forward to picking this game up on Friday. Does anyone know of any potentially good deals for Rebirth?

 

[Via]

I'm going to wait for some reviews and videos.

If it comes out even halfway passable I'll probably buy it.

 

[Red Storm]

This is the game that's going to occupy my time spent waiting for Star Citizen.

 

[zinfamous]

X series is amazing.

clear your schedule for the next month if you are in any way sucked in by sandbox space exploration, massive economy and empire-building models.

 

[Anteaus]

X series is amazing.

clear your schedule for the next month if you are in any way sucked in by sandbox space exploration, massive economy and empire-building models.

Don't say that! I just blew my months entertainment budget in New Orleans this weekend....hmm I might need to squeeze in one more game.

 

[el-Capitan]

I cannot wait. Have been looking for previews and details last week, but they haven't released any updated material in a while.

Very excited. But not day-one buy (i've burnt myself too often in the past)

 

[mizzou]

I never liked the fleet AI in x3, it was always a huge pain in the ass to get them to do the simplest things AND not destroy each other by ramming into shit

 

[Markbnj]

So looking forward to this.