X3: Terran Conflict Now Available for Pre-Order on Steam

[fitbabits]

EGOSOFT has just announced that the final chapter in the X³ series of games, Terran Conflict, is now available for pre-order on Steam.

So what's to look forward to in chapter four?

- A brand new user interface [to] allow full control using only the mouse
- New and improved mouse flight controls
- Several new races and factions, including Earth’s primary military force, the Terran United Space Command
- Independent, non-player owned corporations, complete with unique ships and stations, offering new friends or foes to players
- New group management system allowing for better control of large numbers of ships in your fleet
- Over 100 new ships and several new ship classes
- Double the amount of distinct weapons
- The ability to board and capture huge capital ships with your own mercenaries and soldiers

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/fitbabits/x3terranconflict.jpg

On the decision to choose Steam as their exclusive online distributor, EGOSOFT had this to say:

“The folks at Valve are great to work with, and we saw great success distributing over Steam with our previous titles in the X series,” said Bernd Lehahn, managing director of EGOSOFT. “With over 15 million active users and a great installed community base, we feel that Steam is a perfect fit for X3TC.”

The full game will be ready to play on October 18th, both via Steam and in retail locations across Europe.

[kropotkin]

I do like this series. Granted its not a patch on the original Elite (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Plus#Sequels) but it's something in a genre that has long since vanished for reasons I can't fathom.

[Young Al Capone]

Oh shit! So I imagine that means no more Starforce?

Count me in.

[Wasson_]

I've never played any of the X series... so the game is divided between turned based tactial combat and a strategic overworld. Mostly, but it's much more intricate?

[Young Al Capone]

I've never played any of the X series... so the game is divided between turned based tactial combat and a strategic overworld. Mostly, but it's much more intricate?

I played X2, and it was a space sim. Think something more like Freespace. From what I gather this one is still in that same vein.

[VerseD]

I wanted to play X3 but didn't want Starforce. If it's on Steam, I might try it out.

[Slack3r78]

I wanted to play X3 but couldn't figure out how the fuck you were supposed to do that.

[Dukefrukem]

I never played any of these games. Would you guys recommend them?

[Wasson_]

I played X2, and it was a space sim. Think something more like Freespace. From what I gather this one is still in that same vein.

OH...
geeze I'm thinking of freakin Xcom ..hurrr

so it's like Freespace, meaning you pilot starfighters? But there's more to it, isn't there you have like an entire fleet to take care of, right?

[Schnoogs]

I'll pick this up...I love the music and the graphics. If i can just figure the damn game out I'm sure I'll have a blast! ;)

[Sly Marbo]

This has me so curious. I'm just afraid between Fallout 3, Fable 2, Left 4 Dead and WAR that I won't have time I need to really 'get it.' Which is a shame because I haven't played a good single player space sim in years.

[Loki]

Is this a stand alone expansion or does it require X3?

[Young Al Capone]

OH...
geeze I'm thinking of freakin Xcom ..hurrr

so it's like Freespace, meaning you pilot starfighters? But there's more to it, isn't there you have like an entire fleet to take care of, right?

I never got that far in X2, in fact I mostly just did smuggling runs.

[jpublic]

The X series is very much like Elite. You start with a single basic ship, and can do missions and the like (there usually is an overriding plotline, but you can ignore it) but the main focus is on being totally freeform. You can work on building factories and a trade empire, you can go be a bounty hunter or pirate, you can do practically whatever you like.

I remember in X2, one of the big things to do was to set up a basic factory that made energy cells, and let the game run overnight. In 12h or so you had massive ammount of cash, and could buy some kick-ass ships.


My real complaint with the series is that they've got the steepest learning curve of any game in creation. There's no real guidance to get you into the game, and unless you hit the forums and get some decent guidance, you're screwed.