Lack of spaceship command/management games?

Parista

Has anyone else ever wanted to command or run a ship in space? I'm not talking about an RTS in space like Homeworld or Sins of a Solar Empire, but rather a game where you have a more direct role in commanding a ship. I've been looking around and I can't seem to find any out right now. People seem to have begun making them with games like Faster Than Light and Star Command, but these appear few and aren't even out yet.

So my question is, why haven't more of these been made? Are they just not that popular? Have I not been looking hard enough or are there reasons why these kinds of games haven't been produced before?

Dhalphir

Star Trek Bridge Commander is one that comes to mind.

And I'm sure I've played another one besides that, that was still Star Trek but wasn't Bridge Commander. But I might be falling victim to flawed memory.

Dhalphir

And yes, I have definitely wanted to see a game like this for a long time set, particularly, in the Star Wars universe. However, I think they are just too niche. Most people would prefer to command many big ships with simple commands, or play a dogfighting game. Some sort of naval simulator might scratch the itch briefly?

Parista

I'll definitely have to check that out, thanks. It seems unfortunate that this should be such a niche field. I'm hopeful more will come out soon seeing as the two new ones are brand new IP's.

Echo

Artemis.

Bring some friends.

darleysam

Echo wrote: »

Artemis.

Bring some friends.

I pretty much figured the thread would be about this. I need to find some friends, and a stack of computers to play this on.

Krathoon

There is also a space station game called Startopia.

SanderJK

While it's still an inspace RTS, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident revolves around commanding very few capital ships in naval like combat.

Iceman.USAF

SanderJK wrote: »

While it's still an inspace RTS, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident revolves around commanding very few capital ships in naval like combat.

Can you ever get that game to work? It never really happened for me. I'd click "attack" and my ship would just burn in the opposite direction and not fire. I click "run away" and it closes to engagement range. I don't get it. I tried it again recently (like a month or so ago, it was on sale on Steam) and I *still* couldn't figure shit out.

Anyway, the Independence War series was excellent and available on gog.com for cheap.

SanderJK

Iceman.USAF wrote: »

SanderJK wrote: »

While it's still an inspace RTS, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident revolves around commanding very few capital ships in naval like combat.

Can you ever get that game to work? It never really happened for me. I'd click "attack" and my ship would just burn in the opposite direction and not fire. I click "run away" and it closes to engagement range. I don't get it. I tried it again recently (like a month or so ago, it was on sale on Steam) and I *still* couldn't figure shit out.

Anyway, the Independence War series was excellent and available on gog.com for cheap.

I played it when it came out, which for me was well before the steam era.

I recall enjoying it but not finishing it because it became tiresome at some point. Or maybe some other shiny thing distracted me.

xraydog

There was Star Trek Klingon Academy which is I think the same as Bridge Commander but with Klingons.

Also a long time ago there was a game in development by Red Storm called UFS Vanguard. It was exactly this kind of game. I was really looking forward to it but then it got cancelled. There's some screenshots still floating around. Don't know why I still remember it, I guess somethings just stick in your mind.

baronfel

I've only had the opportunity to play Artemis with friends once, but it was a 4-hour-long affair that we all loved. I can highly recommend it, though it does take time to learn what all the bridge stations do. We've still not managed to get the hang of helmsman and how to effectively position ourselves in combat without draining all the energy or exposing ourselves to broadsides.

kaliyama

Starshatter is up free - no longer sold because devs weren't supporting it adequately, but it's a great fleet simulator. Maybe not down the level of detail you want, but it's like a non-terrible version of BC3000 with space combat only.

http://www.spacesimcentral.com/downloads/ft2.php?dir=/Starshatter_TGS

Xagarath

Infinite Space on the DS, though it has a JRPG slant on the thing.

Parista

Wow, there looks to be a lot more than I thought existed. Thanks guys!

Dhalphir

xraydog wrote: »

There was Star Trek Klingon Academy which is I think the same as Bridge Commander but with Klingons.

Also a long time ago there was a game in development by Red Storm called UFS Vanguard. It was exactly this kind of game. I was really looking forward to it but then it got cancelled. There's some screenshots still floating around. Don't know why I still remember it, I guess somethings just stick in your mind.

thats the game I was talking about with this post

Dhalphir wrote: »

Star Trek Bridge Commander is one that comes to mind.

And I'm sure I've played another one besides that, that was still Star Trek but wasn't Bridge Commander. But I might be falling victim to flawed memory.

Kadoken

Artemis sounds awesome. Too bad most (read: all) of my friends are console players.

TychoCelchuuu

A new spaceship command game is being Kickstarted although it's so amazingly nerdy there's no chance it will succeed.

Darmak

Kadoken wrote: »

Artemis sounds awesome. Too bad most (read: all) of my friends are console players.

You can play it over the internet so you don't need your real life friends anymore!

POKÉMON MASTER WT SHERMAN

Derek Smart

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

Drake

TychoCelchuuu wrote: »

A new spaceship command game is being Kickstarted although it's so amazingly nerdy there's no chance it will succeed.

It makes me sad that this game probably won't get to its funding goal.

Spam

Eve Online and the Starfleet Command series also come to mind.

Buford

I have been playing the poo outta the new Sins Rebellion expandalone. Frackin space ponies!

lu tze

xraydog wrote: »

There was Star Trek Klingon Academy which is I think the same as Bridge Commander but with Klingons.

Did Bridge Commander have awesome Klingon opera playing as you blew the puny Federation to pieces?

No. Not the same.

RoyceSraphim

The sad part is that we would be happy with this game running on tjw Unreal 1 engine if it let us have that math and command that makes it fun. All ahead full.

Uzul

You might be interested in this:
starshipcorporation.com

NFyt

The X series sounds like it might be a fit. There are ships, you can command them, one directly by sitting in it, the others by loading them up with command softwares and telling them to do stuff. Your choice of combat or capitalism, too. (or both if you're feisty).

Dhalphir

i would pay a lot of money for a starship bridge commander game set in the Star Wars universe around the time of the original movie trilogy

start off commanding small patrol ships and work your way up to admiral piett on the executor.

edit: bonus money if i actually get a 3rd person avatar which I can actually walk around on a physical bridge to look over crewmen's shoulders.

Sir Carcass

Dhalphir wrote: »

i would pay a lot of money for a starship bridge commander game set in the Star Wars universe around the time of the original movie trilogy

start off commanding small patrol ships and work your way up to admiral piett on the executor.

edit: bonus money if i actually get a 3rd person avatar which I can actually walk around on a physical bridge to look over crewmen's shoulders.

"Let's see what's on my calendar for this month.... ship resupply next week, good. Black Anvil squadron arriving on the 12th.

Oh... oh no. Lord Vader coming to inspect the ship on the 20th."

Bigity

I want to try Bridge Commanded but apparently it was never made into a digital release anywhere, boo.

Sir Carcass

Bigity wrote: »

I want to try Bridge Commanded but apparently it was never made into a digital release anywhere, boo.

I'm sure that's a license thing because I don't believe any Star Trek games are available digitally (except for STO). A shame, because there are some really good ones.

Heir

Sir Carcass wrote: »

Dhalphir wrote: »

i would pay a lot of money for a starship bridge commander game set in the Star Wars universe around the time of the original movie trilogy

start off commanding small patrol ships and work your way up to admiral piett on the executor.

edit: bonus money if i actually get a 3rd person avatar which I can actually walk around on a physical bridge to look over crewmen's shoulders.

"Let's see what's on my calendar for this month.... ship resupply next week, good. Black Anvil squadron arriving on the 12th.

Oh... oh no. Lord Vader coming to inspect the ship on the 20th."

This would be actually really cool. If you fail a couple times, he arrives to "oversee" your efforts. If you screw up in front of him there's a chance he Force Chokes you.

robithnurielhaq

there are some games I can recommend.
1. space empire v: starfury (an open space trading/battle game). you can roam around different star systems freely. you can encounter enemies/pirates that you can fight and planets where you can trade items/improve your starship. there are also quests available.
2. nexus jupiter incident. for starters, it may be difficult. but after a while, you will find it an addictive game that is relatively easy to play.

if you also love commanding ships (ones that float on the ocean), you may want to try
1. overboard / shipwreckers (an old PS one game)
2. assassin's creed III
3. paradox EIC