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After serious consideration I have decided, to take Freehauler out of Orion’s Arm and move it to its own setting.
There have been a number of things that have prompted me to this decision; the first reason being game design issues.
For a long time I have been struggling with the design issues of implementing a 3D Elite-like flight model under the constraints of a strictly hard science model. I have reluctantly concluded that it is extremely difficult, nigh impossible to create a model that is strictly "hard science", yet delivers the fun associated with twitch-based space combat that is prevalent in other games in this genre.
For those of you who haven’t played Elite and other Space Sims, Elite’s flight-model features a 3D, real-time first-person view. Travel within the solar system is done in a series of FTL “jumps”. Combat is a 3D, WWII style dogfight.
I know this is nothing like real space. It may sound like I’m selling out here, but as a game designer my main purpose to sell games, which means giving players what they want. If you’ve ever tried to play a realistic Space Simulation such as Orbiter, which you can incidentally download for free at http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html you will realise how complex and difficult “real” space combat is! It is not much fun for average Joe-gamer who just wants to explore, trade and shoot some things!
Ok, so I am actually not currently working on a real-time 3D Space flight model right now. The current version of Freehauler will be a 2D, third-person turn-based Space-Trading-Adventure game, but it is my ambition to see Freehauler evolve and one day boast a 3D, real-time game engine. I feel keeping the game strictly hard science within the parameters of the Orion’s Arm’s setting may, in future, pose a significant barrier of entry into this market.
My second reason is that I feel our two projects are trying to achieve different goals and draw different crowds.
FH, which is set a few 100 years from now, is limited to a single solar system, has limited tech, humans that will still be the dominate species, no concept of singularity ascension events, gengineering that is in its infancy – with only a few new species, no worm-holes, no AIs that are completely incomprehensible to humans and so-on.
Orion's Arm, which is set 10,000 years ahead of FH, is spread out over the entire galaxy and has multiple star systems, has singularity ascension events, trillions of species, worm holes, AIs that humans simply can't comprehend and very much more.
That's quite a contrast for a game that's supposed to be part of the same setting!
I have done my best to ensure Freehauler stays internally consistent with Orion's Arm, but the game just doesn't represent anywhere near the full scope of what Orion's Arm is. It does not sell the same idea.
I feel this would send a confusing message to my audience, and I would guess it could also sell the wrong image of Orion’s Arm, so after discussion with Alan last week, we agreed it would be best if Freehauler has it’s own setting with no formal ties to Orion’s Arm.
Let me stress that this is a business decision I feel had to be made. I personally regret having to make this choice as I have really enjoyed working with Steve, Alan and the many other members of the community who have been involved. I hope you guys will stay in touch in future.
The new setting will be announced in time. I can say it will be similar to the current Freehauler setting and will retain the concept of transhumanist colonies in the earth’s solar system and will be around the same time period. While I have hinted at the possibility of some softer science fiction technology, I do still wish to retain an edge of “hardness” and will only concede on this for the sake of game-play.
For those who would like to follow the project, I recommend signing up for the free newsletter which will be published regularly. The newsletter will cover development progress, the new setting, facts about Space Sims, Indie games and much more.
The sign-up facility is on the Freehauler home page at http://www.freehauler.com.
Damon |
Damon Court
Sidereal Entertainment
http://www.freehauler.com
Development Blog
damon.court@freehauler.com
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