SW3DG Space-Sim Descriptions

[Vice]

Below are descriptions for each of the games.

Arvoch Alliance - is the sequel to Arvoch Conflict and is a mission based single player and multiplayer 3D space combat simulation. As a squadron leader in the Alliance Navy, you are in command as the story develops through 30 missions of diverse objectives spanning a variety of locations. You will be called upon to patrol, escort, mine, spy, capture, rescue, and even build space stations. Each mission begins with a stage based briefing detailing the conditions and objectives along with a loadout menu that lets you select the ships for your flight group along with the weapon and equipment configuration of the ship you fly. You must formulate an effective strategy both before you launch and during the mission as events unfold and conditions change. You command your team with a series of available directives for attacking, defending, holding at a position, regrouping, and repairing/reloading. The available Tactical Console lets you monitor the status of all ships in sensor range to help aid you in making the decision on which orders to give and to which ships under your command. In Arvoch Alliance, you are a pilot, squadron commander, tactician, and warrior in an epic struggle for survival.

Single player features 3 gameplay modes; Campaign, Custom Campaign, and Instant Action. The Campaign features 30 missions of diverse objectives including escorting, spying, planet surface strikes and recovery, rescuing, capturing, mining, and building. The Custom Campaign mode lets players load missions they design using the mission editor. The Instant Action mode creates a randomly generated battle scenario.

Multiplayer features 4 gameplay modes; Cooperative Campaign, Dogfight, Squadrons, and Strike. The Cooperative Campaign mode lets players join together to complete the game's built-in campaign. The Dogfight mode is a battle for survival with all players hostile to each other. The Squadrons mode is a team-vs-team battle that lets players choose which side they will fight for. The Strike mode is also a team-vs-team battle, but it adds a command ship for each team to defend. The first team to destroy the opposing team's command ship wins. The host can define a kill limit or a time limit for the latter 3 modes and can add AI controlled ships to fill in empty player slots. The multiplayer mode also lets players quickly set up battle scenarios to play on their own using the mission options available to the host.

Arvoch Alliance features some of the most advanced space combat action available on the PC with realistic Newtonian style physics (which includes optional computer assistance for easier flight control), variable input support for a wide range of flight control devices (including HOTAS controllers and up to 10 simultaneous devices), extensive HUD and display systems to aid in real-time tactical decision making, diverse weapon and equipment options, adaptive AI skill/tactics, different environment conditions, multiple target selection options and subsystem tracking, 'cone-of-vulnerability' auto-aiming weapon system, defensive options including a proximity based countermeasure system and heat signature factor, pilot view control (including TrackIR), and more.

Arvoch Alliance Basic Specifications
Physics System: Newtonian based with optional automatic inertial dampening
Gameplay Style: Mission and squadron based tactical 3D space combat
Gameplay Modes: Training (with selectable stages), Single Player, Multiplayer
Single Player Gameplay Structure/Options: Campaign, Custom Campaign, and Instant Action
Multiplayer Capable: Yes
Maximum Players in Multiplayer: 24


More details about the game are available here: http://www.starwraith.com/arvochalliance/features.htm


Evochron Mercenary - Evochron Mercenary is the sequel to Evochron Legends and rounds out a trilogy in the series culminating in the game with the highest level of technology and most extensive feature set. It is a first person 3D space combat, trader, and exploration simulation with a primary focus on 'lone-wolf' survival gameplay.

Mercenary represents the next generation of Evochron, taking gameplay, control, physics, sound/music, and graphics in several new and improved directions. Its new graphics engine supports most 3D video cards with at least shader model 2.0 support. The new planetary engine offers a much higher level of detail along with new effects including a cloud and haze system that renders clouds you can see in the distance from space then descend and fly through while in planet atmospheres. Planetary rings also provide a hazy cloud effect as you fly through them. New gas giant planets feature moving cloud layers and powerful winds that can disorient even the best pilots. The game also includes new solar systems to explore.

The sound and music has been enhanced significantly and includes dynamic music by Rich Douglas that changes with the level of hostility around you. Higher sampling rates and new sounds enhance the audio effects in the game.

The new fleet command system lets you issue orders to AI ships in single player (both in your fleet and in military war zones, once you're rank is high enough) and to human controlled ships in multiplayer (kept private for only the other players who have matching clan ID tags in their callsigns). You can order ships to form up, attack hostiles, defend you specifically, mine asteroids, or reload and refuel.

Mercenary features twice as many ship frames to choose from, both civilian and military. You can now also change the number of crew compartments, countermeasures, equipment slots, and secondary weapon hardpoints. Up to 8 equipment slots can now be installed on a civilian ship, which helps to support installing more of the new equipment items available to you.

Particle cannons now have unique ranges and also now have some unique attributes beyond just damage, range, and firing rate including kinetic effects, shield array damage, and energy depletion.

New equipment items include 5 different mining beams, most of which are optimized for recovering specific materials, an anti-missile system, shield array recharger, cannon heatsink, afterburner drive, and automatic CM launcher. Larger inventory pools offer a wider variety of items and the new scrollable inventory list lets you easily browse through more items at every station and planet docking point. Carriers now have their own dedicated inventory pools and can frequently provide secondary weapons you currently have mounted on your ship (letting you reload after a combat mission in a war zone).

The game also features smarter AI with more advanced tactics and greater challenge in war zones and high level systems. Capital ships fight more aggressively and are equipped with anti-shield torpedoes that deplete the shield arrays of an opposing capital ship. They also now carry flak cannons which inflict kinetic effects and can damage your ship if you remain in range.

You can now deploy temporary energy stations, repair stations, sensor stations, fuel processors, shield arrays, and mining probes. Temporary deployable objects can be tactically useful on the battlefield, aid in exploring for hidden items, harvest resources, or if you find yourself stranded or in need of repair. You can also build permanent trade stations, constructor stations, research stations, energy stations, and ore processors. Permanent stations allow you to dynamically expand the game's universe with new trade locations, resources, populated AI regions, and economies.

A new lobby mode is available at stations, cities, and carriers. You can now enter a lobby that give you access to full chat controls (voice and text), inventory management, the shipyard, and storage hangars. Once inside a station, city, or carrier, you are safe from attack. A new 'quest' system features multiple objectives spanning many solar systems throughout the game's universe. The quest further trains you for the game, teaches you details on the history of the game's universe, and provides information on secret locations and hidden benefits in the game.

The new multiplayer system features far better performance along with several new options. In multiplayer, station building by players is tracked and stored by the server program, letting you expand and customize the universe of a server that other players can use and share. The new integrated voice chat lets players talk to each other using their PC's mic. The new gun turret binding mode in multiplayer lets you to link your ship to another player's ship. One player controls a 360-degree gun turret attached to the player's ship they've linked to.

There are many more improvements and new options/features. For details on the new gameplay, graphics, sound, and control options in Evochron Mercenary, visit the FAQ section on the game's website here: http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmercenary/faq.htm

Evochron Mercenary Basic Specifications
Physics System: Newtonian based with optional automatic inertial dampening
Gameplay Style: Freeform 3D space combat, exploration, racing, building, and trading simulation
Gameplay Modes: Training (with selectable stages), Single Player, Multiplayer
Single Player Gameplay Structure/Options: Freeform, contract, trading, racing, escorting, cleaning, recovery, search/locate, asteroid pathway clearing, rescue, building, and exploration
Multiplayer Capable: Yes
Maximum Players in Multiplayer: 35


More details about the game are available here: http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmerce ... atures.htm


Evochron Legends - Evochron Legends is the sequel to Evochron Renegades and is a freeform mercenary space-sim that focuses on 'lone-wolf' survival gameplay. The Vonari have invaded Alliance space and are pushing toward the outer systems of Cerulean and Talison. The Alliance has placed defense forces at two war zone points near each system to stop the Vonari from reaching nearby colonial planets. You can join in these battles or complete freeform objectives as a civilian. You can also switch back and forth at any time.

Legends expands on the Evochron concept in several ways. A new dedicated military role is available that lets you fly for the Alliance military as a fighter pilot. It includes a separate ranking system that offers access to more advanced military ships as you build your combat record. Military ships offer extreme speed and agility, providing very effective combat platforms, but are limited in range and do not have cargo bays. The traditional civilian ships are also included. The game also adds new capital ships including Cruisers, Battleships, Command Ships, and Destroyers which also join in war zone battles, plus Carriers you can dock with for military objectives and ships.

Also for gameplay, Legends offers new civilian objectives as well including capital ship escort, multiple waypoint patrols, passenger transport, and planet atmosphere combat contracts. You can also acquire new commodities both through trade and other methods. Planet terrain can now be mined for additional precious metals, plus you can also recover oxygen, surface water and plant material.

New technology is also available including kinetic and subsystem missiles. New stealth generators can be installed as equipment and are reusable. Probes aid in detecting hidden items and distant/cloaked ships. The physics system has been revised to more accurately reflect the size of each ship, even the weight of the cargo you are carrying is a factor.

Legends includes a much higher level of graphics, so it generally requires a more powerful system to run well than Renegades does. Improvements to graphics include completely new stations with specular and illumination effects, new 3D cockpit, much higher planet terrain detail (including plants), and new high resolution textures. Players with moderate to high end systems looking for the latest Evochron game with the highest level of graphics/detail will likely prefer this game.


Evochron Legends Basic Specifications
Physics System: Newtonian based with optional automatic inertial dampening
Gameplay Style: Freeform 3D space combat, exploration, racing, mercenary, and trading simulation
Gameplay Modes: Training (with selectable stages), Single Player, Multiplayer
Single Player Gameplay Structure/Options: Freeform, contract, trading, racing, escorting, cleaning, recovery, search/locate, asteroid pathway clearing, and exploration
Multiplayer Capable: Yes
Maximum Players in Multiplayer: 35


More details about the game are available here: http://www.starwraith.com/evochronlegends/features.htm


Evochron Renegades - Evochron Renegades is the sequel to Evochron Alliance. In short, Evochron Renegades is unique among freeform space-sims in that it offers a wide range of gameplay choices and activities including buying, trading, negotiating, bribing, spying, racing, transporting, mining, exploring, cleaning equipment, clearing paths through asteroid fields, recruiting, protecting, hiring crew members, fuel harvesting, and designing your ship. The upgrades, ships, equipment, money, and commodities you earn in the game can be used in both the single player and multiplayer modes. You don't have to give up your progress in the game when switching between single player and multiplayer, nor do you have to give up what you earn when you join different multiplayer sessions.

Also, everything you do in the game takes place in a seamless universe without system 'walls', there are no required warp gates or trade lanes to restrict your travel and hold you back. You can travel anywhere you want, with or without jump drives and gates, as long as you have the fuel and time to get there. You can descend into planet atmospheres (without loading screens or sudden environment flipping) to land at city trade stations or explore for hidden items. You can escape to nebula clouds for sensor cover or hide in a massive asteroid cave for protection. If you're low on fuel and don't have money, but you have a tractor beam and fuel converter, then retrieve photon particles from nearby stars and emissive nebulae which can be processed into fuel.

Design your ship for the role you want to play and customize the appearance by adjusting the position/scaling of the various parts of your ship. Whether it's combat, exploration, mining, trading, racing, or a variety of other activities, you'll find many ways to play and advance in the game.

Renegades has a steeper learning curve than Alliance and requires more complex navigation with its use of sectors in conjunction with local coordinates, but it offers a wider range of gameplay choices and capabilities along with more advanced graphics. Players looking for a deeper space trading/mercenary game with a large seamless universe and focus on freeform gameplay will likely prefer this game or its sequel listed above.


Evochron Renegades Basic Specifications
Physics System: Newtonian based with optional automatic inertial dampening
Gameplay Style: Freeform 3D space combat, exploration, racing, mercenary, and trading simulation
Gameplay Modes: Training, Single Player, Multiplayer
Single Player Gameplay Structure/Options: Freeform, contract, trading, racing, cleaning, recovery, search/locate, asteroid pathway clearing, and exploration
Multiplayer Capable: Yes
Maximum Players in Multiplayer: 24


More details about the game are available here: http://www.starwraith.com/evochronreneg ... atures.htm


Arvoch Conflict - Arvoch Conflict introduces new gameplay objectives to the traditional space combat theme. Building defense networks with shield casters, rescuing stranded pilots, recovering lost technology, striking stations on the surface of planets, and clearing mine fields are just some of the new objectives in the game. New system technology and control options include individual directional shielding (with augment control), gunsight target selection, hull damage monitor, target subsystem tracking, player initiated ship specific command directives, high powered inertial dampening system, and continuously operating open space jump drives. The new graphics engine features an in-scene 3D cockpit (with gauges and readouts also rendered using the 3D engine, not a flat 2D overlay of icons and text) that reacts to the pilot's control input, environment lighting, and weapon/object impacts. Seamless environment transitions, broad control support (keyboard, mouse, joystick, and gamepad), player controlled mission scenarios, manageable newtonian physics system, diverse offensive/defensive combat tactics, cloaking devices, complete freedom of movement, and multiplayer with command of AI wingmen highlight some of the unique features and gameplay found only in Arvoch Conflict.

Arvoch Conflict focuses on a consistent 3D first person perspective viewpoint. You are in the cockpit and in the action with full control over your fighter and its weapons at all times. All command directives and combat decisions are made directly from the cockpit.

Arvoch Conflict is technically a space combat simulation, although there are many other objectives in the game such as building shield defense networks, mining asteroids for resources, rescuing stranded pilots, high speed reconnassaince, minefield clearing, object recovery, and more.


Arvoch Conflict Basic Specifications
Physics System: Newtonian based with optional automatic inertial dampening
Gameplay Style: 3D space combat/starfighter simulation with additional non-combat objectives such as item recovery, pilot rescue, mining, reconnaissance, and shield network construction
Gameplay Modes: Training, Campaign, Instant Action, Multiplayer, Freeflight
Single Player Gameplay Structure: Linear mission based with player adjustable mission conditions and environments
Multiplayer Capable: Yes
Maximum Players in Multiplayer: 8 (4 for squadrons and cooperative modes)


More details about the game are available here: http://www.starwraith.com/arvoch/features.htm

For information on how Arvoch Conflict is different from other space combat games, visit:
http://www.starwraith.com/arvoch/faq.htm#200

[Edited on 11-9-2011 by Vice]