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[GAME ON] Eternal Silence - HL2's Freespace 2

PancakePancake Registered User regular
edited April 2009 in Games and Technology
Eternal Silence

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What is Eternal Silence?

It's the first and only space combat flight sim/first-person shooter hybrid Half-Life 2 mod.

Get into a fighter, heavy fighter, bomber, interceptor, or gunship and take the fight to the enemy, dogfighting in space or performing boarding actions against the enemy capital ship.

Can't imagine a Source based space combat flight sim works well?

Tutorial

How's all this work, then?

You are a marine, one of several different classes. You start on your team's capital ship, which is flanked by two flak corvettes.

Your goal is to get to your hangar, hop in a ship, and defend your capital ship from nukes launched from the enemy capital ship, protect your corvettes from enemy bombers, and destroy the enemy corvettes.

Once the corvettes are down, you and your team are free to board the enemy capital ship through its hangar. Once on the ship, fight your way to the various subsystems and capture them. A captured subsystem is disabled and leaves the enemy capital ship less able to fight back.


But I don't have a joystick!

That's okay. It fully supports mouse flight.


Where do I get it?

It's available from Steam now. You can get it here.

Here is how to play with other people!

We have a fancy Steam group right here, we do. It's public right now, so join it, find people to play, and let's shoot some folks down.

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Pancake on
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Posts

  • ShabootyShabooty Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    My fancy has been tickled. I'm downloading now.

    Shabooty on
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Quote from the Steam thread:
    Eternal Silence is amazing, getting on board spaceships blasting away other spaceships with players by your side and then raiding the enemy's capital ship with said players, all on the same spaceship (!), and basically destroying their shit and winning the match is pretty f-ing epic if I might say. I always have a blast playing Eternal Silence. :D

    Impersonator on
  • SatsumomoSatsumomo Rated PG! Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Whoah, I've always sorta dreamed of a game like this!

    Satsumomo on
  • EchoEcho ski-bap ba-dapModerator, Administrator admin
    edited February 2009
    Yep, I'm up for it later. I've just fooled around on a local server for now.

    Echo on
  • HylianbunnyHylianbunny Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    God damn it. The week I have essays that need doing, this comes up.

    Whyyyyyyy?

    Hylianbunny on
  • lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Things that all things are possible through:
    1. Source Engine
    2. Nintendo DS
    3. Jesus Christ

    lowlylowlycook on
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    (Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
  • AxenAxen My avatar is Excalibur. Yes, the sword.Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Dreams do come true!

    Axen on
    A Capellan's favorite sheath for any blade is your back.
  • DarlanDarlan Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Multiplayer only, I take it?

    *sigh*

    Why must there be so few good mod campaigns.

    Darlan on
  • lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Darlan wrote: »
    Multiplayer only, I take it?

    *sigh*

    Why must there be so few good mod campaigns.

    Well AI isn't easy to write.

    lowlylowlycook on
    steam_sig.png
    (Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
  • krylon666krylon666 Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    this looks pretty awesome, i'll be downloading it soon.

    but i'm not sure why anyone would think the source engine couldn't handle a game like this (or why it wouldn't be a good choice). source already does vehicles just fine, and from what i see in that video the space map isn't extremely huge or anything.

    krylon666 on
  • LittleBootsLittleBoots Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Downloading, I'm gonna fight the space wars.

    LittleBoots on

    Tofu wrote: Here be Littleboots, destroyer of threads and master of drunkposting.
  • DashuiDashui Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Eternal Silence and Dystopia mod threads just had to pop up and get me enticed. How large is the multiplayer community in this mod? I only played this when it first came out and there weren't a lot of players then. I hope there are more now, because the game looks a lot better than what it used to be.

    Dashui on
    Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
  • ZandraconZandracon Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Well, it looks like there are around 13 populated servers in ES right now.

    Zandracon on
  • PancakePancake Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Dashui wrote: »
    Eternal Silence and Dystopia mod threads just had to pop up and get me enticed. How large is the multiplayer community in this mod? I only played this when it first came out and there weren't a lot of players then. I hope there are more now, because the game looks a lot better than what it used to be.

    There aren't many servers at the moment, but they're all pretty populated, which is a nice change.

    From what I hear, Dystopia is the same way now. It's probably because this is both their first time being actually distributed through Steam.

    Pancake on
    wAgWt.jpg
  • plehpleh Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    While it makes me sad that it takes until now when Steam finally decides to support mods that they finally get noticed, this is a really fun mod. Kept my attention for about 3 months until I started having too much in life to do.

    pleh on
  • randombattlerandombattle Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Is this still as glitchy as it was when it came out? Cause it was damned near impossible to fight on ships back then.

    randombattle on
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    I never asked for this!
  • LittleBootsLittleBoots Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I just played for a few minutes. It's pretty clitchy while fighting on the cap ships. The flying part is pretty smooth but over all it still needs some polish, has great potential though and playing this with a few friends I'm sure could be great fun. But in it's current state it just doesn't really do it for me.

    LittleBoots on

    Tofu wrote: Here be Littleboots, destroyer of threads and master of drunkposting.
  • GoombaGoomba __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    The flying is incredibly deep and I was impressed by it.

    Goomba on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I just played for a few minutes. It's pretty clitchy while fighting on the cap ships. The flying part is pretty smooth but over all it still needs some polish, has great potential though and playing this with a few friends I'm sure could be great fun. But in it's current state it just doesn't really do it for me.

    What do you mean? You know you can't attack capital ships without first destroying the corvettes, right? :P

    Impersonator on
  • LittleBootsLittleBoots Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I just played for a few minutes. It's pretty clitchy while fighting on the cap ships. The flying part is pretty smooth but over all it still needs some polish, has great potential though and playing this with a few friends I'm sure could be great fun. But in it's current state it just doesn't really do it for me.

    What do you mean? You know you can't attack capital ships without first destroying the corvettes, right? :P

    They were attacking us, they were in our hanger shooting mans, even though it was impossible to tell which mans was shooting at who. I know what I was doing. I've played teh vydja gaims before. It was "laggy" even though I had a 40 ping. So I consider that "glitchy".

    LittleBoots on

    Tofu wrote: Here be Littleboots, destroyer of threads and master of drunkposting.
  • PancakePancake Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I just played for a few minutes. It's pretty clitchy while fighting on the cap ships. The flying part is pretty smooth but over all it still needs some polish, has great potential though and playing this with a few friends I'm sure could be great fun. But in it's current state it just doesn't really do it for me.

    What do you mean? You know you can't attack capital ships without first destroying the corvettes, right? :P

    They were attacking us, they were in our hanger shooting mans, even though it was impossible to tell which mans was shooting at who. I know what I was doing. I've played teh vydja gaims before. It was "laggy" even though I had a 40 ping. So I consider that "glitchy".

    Their netcode isn't working as well as it should be right now. They're working on it and will be distributing a patch early next week. Or is that this week now? Either way, they'll be distributing one.

    EDIT: It's first thing Monday. Which is today.

    Pancake on
    wAgWt.jpg
  • SonarSonar Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I played this tonight.

    As cool as it is that they put the HL2 engine into a (very shoehorned) space shoot em up is great.

    But really, Starwars Battlefront did this already. The mechanics are exactly the same which may have been the point, but man. All this did was make me want to reinstall SW:BF2 again.

    At least in SW:BF stopping your ship in mid space and just turning and shooting was not the best way to win. It sure as hell works well in ES though. Someone on your tail? Stop. Turn. Shoot. Win.

    I'm being a bit harsh. I actually like hitting full reverse and gunning down the person chasing me. I still would rather play SWs though. If the mechanics weren't identical I'd be all over it.

    GL with the game guys.

    Edit: Ok not identical. The difference being that you had to destroy sub systems on the cap ship instead of the corvettes before you could move in. Which actually makes a hell of a lot more sense than ES.

    Sonar on
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    caffron said: "and cat pee is not a laughing matter"
  • GoombaGoomba __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    I am sure the people that just started playing aren't ace pilots yet, Sonar. You can't fault the game for new people.

    Goomba on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I just played for a few minutes. It's pretty clitchy while fighting on the cap ships. The flying part is pretty smooth but over all it still needs some polish, has great potential though and playing this with a few friends I'm sure could be great fun. But in it's current state it just doesn't really do it for me.

    What do you mean? You know you can't attack capital ships without first destroying the corvettes, right? :P

    They were attacking us, they were in our hanger shooting mans, even though it was impossible to tell which mans was shooting at who. I know what I was doing. I've played teh vydja gaims before. It was "laggy" even though I had a 40 ping. So I consider that "glitchy".

    You're lagg- oh wait, this is not the tf2 thread :lol:

    Anyway, I didn't noticed the lag but hey what do I know, I'm used to +100 ping thanks to being a regular on the PA servers :P

    Impersonator on
  • Dark_SideDark_Side Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Yeah, the actual FPS part of it has been very glitchy from what I've played, I also hate the fact that unlike TF2, it is somewhat hard at first to distinguish between friendly and enemy, but this game has some serious potential if they iron out the netcode problems.

    Dark_Side on
  • PeregrineFalconPeregrineFalcon Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    People actually play this?

    I tried downloading this once when I saw it pop up on a Steam notification (actually it was Belo) but found the server population to be somewhere between "Jack Shit" and "Fuck All". If there's a PA group maybe I'll give it a shot and we can swarm our way onto a server or two.

    PeregrineFalcon on
    Looking for a DX:HR OnLive code for my kid brother.
    Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
  • FaffelFaffel Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I finally tried this after ho-humming about it since the first release. I went right back to Dystopia. It looks like it has potential and charm and an amazingly badass atmosphere but it really needs direction, objective waypoints and a tutorial. Or did I miss the tutorial and am just a fucking cockstick?

    Also, Peregrine, ES is well-populated now.

    Faffel on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • PancakePancake Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I am going to tell you a story about my first time playing with a joystick.

    I hadn't used it in a while and the last game I've played with it was Freespace 2. So my throttle was set to full.

    I got into an interceptor. And I immediately shot forward at full throttle straight into a wall.

    Pancake on
    wAgWt.jpg
  • LittleBootsLittleBoots Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Yeah, the ship combat seemed very solid. I'm sure this is because they put most of their effort into that area as it is what really sets this mod apart from the others. But as Dark_Side mentioned, it's very hard to tell friendlies from enemies, esp in large sections like the hanger. You also can't really tell the different classes from one another. But those, I think, are pretty easily fixable. Just need some HUD tweaks and different character models with easily identifiable silhouettes.

    As far as the "glitchy" feeling in the FPS combat it reminded me very much of trying to fight on moving ships in BF1942 and BF2.

    Also, they should just go for full awesome here and reskin and remodel the whole thing to be a X-wing v Tie fighter mod.

    LittleBoots on

    Tofu wrote: Here be Littleboots, destroyer of threads and master of drunkposting.
  • DrovekDrovek Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Played a few rounds in the weekend. Fun game while in space. Grabbed an interceptor and was doing quite well in there (rarely died and took quite a few before that).

    My problem is that once it gets to the on-foot assault it becomes rather... average.

    Drovek on
    steam_sig.png( < . . .
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Pancake wrote: »
    I am going to tell you a story about my first time playing with a joystick.

    I hadn't used it in a while and the last game I've played with it was Freespace 2. So my throttle was set to full.

    I got into an interceptor. And I immediately shot forward at full throttle straight into a wall.

    :lol::^:

    Impersonator on
  • Mustachio JonesMustachio Jones jerseyRegistered User regular
    edited February 2009
    All that needs to happen is have ES combine with Dystopia. ES provides the space sections, Dystopia provides the on-foot. Would work perfectly.

    Mustachio Jones on
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    All that needs to happen is have ES combine with Dystopia. ES provides the space sections, Dystopia provides the on-foot. Would work perfectly.

    Welcome to the most unfriendly game ever, Dystopian Silence!

    edit: Afaik, it would be a clusterfuck, Dystopia and Eternal Silence are already hard games on their own D:

    Impersonator on
  • PancakePancake Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Faffel wrote: »
    I finally tried this after ho-humming about it since the first release. I went right back to Dystopia. It looks like it has potential and charm and an amazingly badass atmosphere but it really needs direction, objective waypoints and a tutorial. Or did I miss the tutorial and am just a fucking cockstick?

    Also, Peregrine, ES is well-populated now.

    How do you mean it needs direction and objective waypoints?

    On the loading screens, it tells you your objectives on the current map and then once in-game in a fighter or interceptor, it marks enemy bombers and gunships with "ATTACK" icons and friendly bombers and gunships with "ESCORT" icons. If you're in a bomber, it marks the enemy corvettes with the same "ATTACK" icons. Once the corvettes are down, everyone gets a "LAND HERE" icon over the enemy cap ship's hangars.

    Demolition is the only game mode that doesn't give you such comprehensive waypoints because your only goal is to get onto the enemy cap ship and cap their subsystems. But once you're on the enemy cap ship, you get that minimap that tells you where you need to be. And if there aren't enough people at a subsystem to cap it, it automatically sends out a voiced request for backup at that subsystem.

    But there's not really much of a tutorial except for the big tips thing every time you join a server.

    Pancake on
    wAgWt.jpg
  • JaramrJaramr Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Ive played this since it was in some very old beta version, it has gone very far.

    Im downloading it right now and recruiting some other mans to do the same.

    I might be able to host a server, but im not sure if my connection could handle a full 24 man server.

    Jaramr on
    steam_sig.png
  • SonarSonar Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    It's called the Battlezone syndrome. This is a game where you think you should use a stick because you we people using ships.

    Don't.

    Use a mouse. Jack up the sensitivity and you'll do great. This is a fps with funky physics. Treat it like so and you'll be fine. The only add on is keys to strafe up and down. Ignore the hud, treat it like a shooter with a lock on key.

    Sonar on
    I'm building a real pirate ship. Really. Wanna help? Click here!
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    caffron said: "and cat pee is not a laughing matter"
  • GoombaGoomba __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2009
    Sonar wrote: »
    It's called the Battlezone syndrome. This is a game where you think you should use a stick because you we people using ships.

    Don't.

    Use a mouse. Jack up the sensitivity and you'll do great. This is a fps with funky physics. Treat it like so and you'll be fine. The only add on is keys to strafe up and down. Ignore the hud, treat it like a shooter with a lock on key.
    Er, not really? I don't think many people call Freespace 2 a first person shooter, for example.

    Goomba on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • PancakePancake Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Sonar wrote: »
    It's called the Battlezone syndrome. This is a game where you think you should use a stick because you we people using ships.

    Don't.

    Use a mouse. Jack up the sensitivity and you'll do great. This is a fps with funky physics. Treat it like so and you'll be fine. The only add on is keys to strafe up and down. Ignore the hud, treat it like a shooter with a lock on key.

    I as using a mouse and even liked it better, but I've gone back to using a joystick and it's far better. A lot of maneuvers that increase your survivability are next to impossible with a mouse and are simple as snapping your fingers (not that I've ever actually been able to do that, but you get the idea) with a joystick that either twists or has rudder pedals.

    Also, if you ever play with experienced players that know what they're doing, just spinning around and flying backwards won't help you.

    Pancake on
    wAgWt.jpg
  • tsplittertsplitter Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    does anyone else get an error saying the game is unavailable when they try to run it?

    tsplitter on
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  • SonarSonar Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    ...

    Ok then.

    Sonar on
    I'm building a real pirate ship. Really. Wanna help? Click here!
    steam_sig.png
    caffron said: "and cat pee is not a laughing matter"
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