New player

lumin · Post by **lumin** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:00 pm

I just got through playing the demo and was really impressed. I really think this is a great game and I'm most likely going to buy it. What really makes me smile is the fact that development is still going on. So purchasing the game would be more of an investment into something even greater in the future.

Just a couple questions though.

The game runs super smooth on my system, but I read in the manual about being able enable anti-aliasing. Is there a way to do that? If so, where?

Also, I've read a few threads where it's been mentioned about 'livening-up' the planets. What kind of plans are in the works for this, how extensive?

I would honestly be happy if the terrain could be just diversified more. Mountains, hills, valleys, rocks and stuff (basically what you get from the Mars Rover images) - AND the ability to actually get out of your ship and walk around. The universe would feel so much bigger if players could put their feet on an alien world.

I don't care much for life-forms, plants or water so much, and REALLY don't care about being able to shoot stuff like an FPS. Just to explore on foot - that would be heaven.

Has anyone played Nocits? This is exactly what I'm talking about. Man, if ER could have something half as good as this, I would worship Vice.

Anyway, thanks for the hard work.

Post by **Vice** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:08 pm

Hello and welcome. Answers below.

The game runs super smooth on my system, but I read in the manual about being able enable anti-aliasing. Is there a way to do that? If so, where?

In the Nvidia or ATI display properties control panel. You can also apply settings specific for just this game (Nvidia at least, although I think ATI supports this also).

Also, I've read a few threads where it's been mentioned about 'livening-up' the planets. What kind of plans are in the works for this, how extensive?

Uncertain at this point, but some of my goals are to continue to increase detail, improved terrain effects, perhaps limited plant-life (like near cities for supporting the population with food and resources), and improving city appearances.

I would honestly be happy if the terrain could be just diversified more. Mountains, hills, valleys, rocks and stuff (basically what you get from the Mars Rover images) - AND the ability to actually get out of your ship and walk around. The universe would feel so much bigger if players could put their feet on an alien world.

The surface details are what I'm referring to above. Blending foot travel into the game probably won't happen. There are a few good arguments for it and it's not something I've dismissed entirely or anything, the obstacles to support it, especially multiplayer and media development, are simply beyond feasibility and my resources in general atm. There are also very good arguments against it, most of which (both pro and con) you can read about on this forum in previous discussions.

lumin · Post by **lumin** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:17 pm

I guess I can live with not being able to land as long as there are a few more interesting things to look at from my ship!

I thought I read somewhere that there is only 1 planet per system? Is that true? I thought it would be cool to start a community galaxy mod, where users could add new planets to a growing list to extend the universe even more.

Just browsing around I've noticed several mods by different authors. I wonder if we could have a sticky thread where users could post their mods.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:34 pm

Welcome aboard lumin.....some really good systems have been added recently....Wolf Zone and the Lost Rucker system. You will have fun in multiplayer....Cya online sometime.

Good Flying

Post by **Vice** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:36 pm

1 planet per system? No, maybe in the older games, but ER can have as many planets in a solar system as you might want. The starting location in ER has 4 planets in the solar system and there are hundreds of solar system in the Evochron Quadrant.

The community mod forum is for posting modifications like that.

[Edited on 5-21-2008 by Vice]

ASBOMAN · Post by **ASBOMAN** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:01 pm

Welcome Lumin, hope to fly with you some time, a word of advice though, steer clear of novice Fulcrum Torpedo users:o
in fact if the message comes up FULCRUM LAUNCH DETECTED
fly like the wind in the opposite direction:P

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:52 pm

U will have great fun in this game off and online. It has a great bunch of players online and it's not the kill everyone in sight type.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Thu May 22, 2008 10:08 am

Congrats and welcome...

lumin · Post by **lumin** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:52 pm

Originally posted by BraveHart
Welcome aboard lumin.....some really good systems have been added recently....Wolf Zone and the Lost Rucker system.

Just bought my copy, and was playing yesterday and noticed a news flash announcing the discovery of the Wolf Zone system. Are these systems player mods getting added to the official release? I thought you were talking about optional system downloads from the modding community. That was pretty cool to hear you talk about that and then to actually hear about it in-game.

A modding question: Is the "PlanetText" parameter for viewing textures from space, or from within the atmosphere? Where is the other variable at?

Post by **Vice** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:20 pm

Wolf Zone is a custom system that was incorporated into the official game by player request.

That parameter is for which texture to apply to the planet. You can specify a custom texture using the filename or enter a number to use one of the built-in textures. See the customizing kit for details (including sample icons).

[Edited on 5-22-2008 by Vice]

lumin · Post by **lumin** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:40 pm

Originally posted by Vice
That parameter is for which texture to apply to the planet.
[Edited on 5-22-2008 by Vice]

So, the planet uses only a single texture from space and after transitioning to the surface? I thought for sure it was loading in something separate, but I guess with the cloud layer and the atmosphere haze color it looks a lot different from far above. You weren't kidding when you said the universe was 'seamless' - very cool!

Post by **Vice** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:44 pm

There are also detail textures that fade into view as you approach the surface, those are selected with the other planet setting option, PlanetTerr.