My friend and I started a project called Armada Online. It is running in an open alpha state, currently supporting one PvP mission. The main game that we have yet to release will have coop missions, trade, and exploration.
We hope to get feedback from other game developers early in the process and build the game based on what works for people.
Warning: fsockopen(): php_network_getaddresses: gethostbyname failed in c:\phpscripts\class.smtp.php on line 105
Warning: fsockopen(): unable to connect to www.evstream.com:25 in c:\phpscripts\class.smtp.php on line 105
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at c:\phpscripts\class.smtp.php:105) in c:\PHPScripts\alphareg.php on line 93
Those screenshots sure are purty, though. And you had me at “…Starflight and NetTrek.”
Warning: fsockopen(): php_network_getaddresses: gethostbyname failed in c:\phpscripts\class.smtp.php on line 105
Warning: fsockopen(): unable to connect to www.evstream.com:25 in c:\phpscripts\class.smtp.php on line 105
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at c:\phpscripts\class.smtp.php:105) in c:\PHPScripts\alphareg.php on line 93
We used to have a problem with Firefox, but fixed that. Maybe a browser issue? I sent your post to someone who can fix it.
I kept trying to get this type of game made at different companies, but they didn’t think it would be “screenshot-worthy” or “next-gen”, so we decided to do it ourselves.
I just went ahead and logged in. Turns out you’re registered, even with the PHP errors.
Verrrry interesting first glimpse. I went to the Neutral Zone near the end of a battle, with my (Terran) side losing badly. I mined a crystal for a while before the enemy showed up to destroy our last stations. Must have been 30-40 ships in their fleet…
One side will eventually build stations on the map and their forces will overwhelm the enemy starbase.
Players can mine crystal for energy. It is like an oasis for resting and regen. The mines are important strategic locations where your side can build new stations, which will give you stronger reinforcements. Once your team builds Sci Labs in the middle of the map, your team gets dreadnaughts. You don’t build it yourself–you escort your builders to the mine, and can speed up the building process by “seeding the mine” (mining but not grabbing).
I like what you’ve done in the PvP mission. Local versus global xp is an awesome idea, as are the tech trees within the Neutral Zone. I got a real sense of progress and accomplishment during my 2nd battle tonight despite earning only 1 “real” level.
So what are the plans for the rest of the game, outside of the Neutral Zone?
Infinite exploration and mission threads in the open sectors, and more replayable discreet maps with an end goal in the named areas. Basically Starflight/Star Control 2 in the open areas.
I like the PVP instance zone, it’s cool. I’m wary of the control system. I keep wanting to play it like that old game Subspace. You can’t really dogfight or anything. Subspace was totally different, ships had a ton of inertia, so it might not work here, but I don’t feel like I’m in control of my ship so much. It’s a bit like playing DotA in War 3 actually.
I spent a bit of time playing. It was fun right up until Voxx appeared and killed me in about 3 seconds flat. Several times. I understand the PvP angle but letting the uberplayers get a ‘champion’ bonus for wiping a level one player off the map seems a bit odd.
I’ve managed to move up one level but I think I’m missing some of the backstory here. What are those green insect things and what the hell is that brain?
Does most of the gameplay involve slowly drawing circles around enemies with the right mouse button, then picking up bonuses from outposts and then going to an enemy base and dying in four seconds?
The other players I’ve ran into were pretty cool- Ramification was very helpful. If anyone from here jumps on, I’m playing as peterf on the Terran side.
I’ve sworn off alphas and betas because they tend to ruin my enjoyment of the actual game, either because I play the early version too much because it’s good or because the problems with the early version sour me on it, but just wanted to say that Armada was one of my favorite games on the Dreamcast. Definitely looking forward to this.
You can hold down the mouse button to move more smoothly. It probably feels like War3 because we process things like an rts, which lets us have a lot of units. The difference is we allow units to move in curves and slide off of each other.
To beat Voxx, get Shadow Covenant from the Observer. Build up to get Vengeance, Ultimate Alloy, and Transcendence. Remain cloaked until he seems weak, then hit him with everything you have. He plays a risky strategy based on People’s Champion–a power that is lost forever if he dies once. He also likes to spend most of his time in the middle in your territory.
He plays a lot, and if you don’t feel like trying to kill him, join his side and he will give you a walkthrough. He is on a mad quest to hit level 30 in the alpha, and he is a cool guy.
The story and missions aren’t in yet. The Armada is a race of spacefaring biomechanical aliens. The Brain is controlling the crabs. Destroy it to stop the waves.
The main game will play like Starflight (exploration, missions, trade). The pvp map is for honing the play mechanics, shots, and effects to make sure we build the game on a fun foundation.
If you want to assault stations, get Sabotage from the Spy. You will be able to shut down the station’s main guns. Get Ultimate Alloy to increase your hull strength so you can survive a few hits, or get cloaking so you can get close before firing.
