Is anyone else in the Earth and Beyond Beta?

[jeep]

They fixed some of the initial problems people were having getting in (we're all real familiar with the login screen and the avatar's whining reminders not to swear at this point), but the game itself...it's not that good. The combat isn't really...you can't see what's going on, you just sort of take damage and click on your weapons randomly. The "exploration" is irritating, since you're just flying zone to zone to mine asteroids, periodically getting your ass kicked by monsters who - again - kill you without ever visually threatening you. I've only ever seen one thing that killed me. Also, unlike DAOC, there's no "horses" to get you from one place to another, you just have to go map to map manually.

I haven't tried the merchant trader part of this yet, but my hopes are not high. I seriously hope they're planning on pushing back the release date a lot and reworking things a lot. Even then, I couldn't recommend it...the core of the game itself is just boring.

I spent more time fighting the little jelly things from Dragon Warrior in Ragnarok Online, and I absolutely HATED that game. I just couldn't stop killing the little...porings(?)...it was like some kind of addiction. That game is so wrong, you literally are better off killing nothing but the base creature for the first TEN levels because the exp/resource ratio is so out of whack.

Looks like I didn't get into the SW:Galaxies beta, which is disappointing, but really: that franchise's track record hasn't been all that great since the raster arcade game.

/jeep/

[Mark Asher]

I played the beta and liked it better than you did, apparently. The combat reminded me of EQ more than anything. I thought at first that was strange for a space game, but it grew on me. There aren't really any visual indicators of damage in EQ, either. You just see the melee swings and spell effects.

What I really liked was the zillion little upgrades I can make as I "level" in the game. I've always liked improving my ships in space games ala Privateer. E&B has a lot of this in it.

The big question mark I have is how long the game can sustain interest. Space is a rather boring backdrop.

[Tyjenks]

The big question mark I have is how long the game can sustain interest. Space is a rather boring backdrop.

I realize this is a whole different crowd, but the space-strategy sims listed over at MPOGD are always some of the most popular. I occasionally visit that site looking for an online strategy game to try out and never do, but the space empire management games are pretty well populated. I would not think that there is much cross over between those MMPOG's and E & B, but who knows?

Myself, I cannot stand the space sub-genre so I was kind of surprised at the sheer number of space strategy sims being developed around the net.

[Derek Smart [3000AD]]

I know a few people who are in it and they like it for the same reasons Mark pointed out.

The downside (and who didn't see this coming?) is that its basically EQ in space. While not a bad thing, its not going to attract the space simmers - who, as far as I can tell, this game wasn't designed for anyway.

From where I sit, more space sims - or at least games based in space - are a good thing. Its always good for the gamer to have choices.

Eve is another one thats along the same lines of EnB. And right there, you have two similar games in the much the same way you have EQ, AC, DAOC etc.

Me? I'm just waiting and watching. All my technologies going forward have been developed (in BCG) for BCO, my MMOG alternative. As it will (again) be the first game of its kind to offer seamless play in space+planetary enviroments. I have my own ideas about how to handle this whole bizarre business of 'leveling'. Hope it pans out.

[Jim Hoffman]

Derek, I for one am looking forward to what you've got planned.
So hurry up already :!: :D

[Derek Smart [3000AD]]

Derek, I for one am looking forward to what you've got planned.
So hurry up already :!: :D

Yeah, I'm working on it. Its slow (small team), but its getting there.

[GregB]

Yeah, Derek is right. It is Everquest in space at its heart. However, it's a much cleaned up and more fun (if that word is still allowed) version of EQ. Leveling is fast thanks to EXP gained on combat, trade, or exploration. I've found the missions to be varied and interesting.

Grouping is actually useful (but not necessary). The experience bonuses you get when in groups are amazing and the formation interface is a delight. In fact, I found the entire game interface really slick and easy to figure out.

I can understand how the space setting might bore some people, but I'm so damn slick of elves, dwarves, and magic trinkets that ANY change feels like an improvement (although it's funny that AO didn't do a thing for me). Plus, you get this big ol' ship with warp drive right off the bat.

It's still missing that impression that what I'm doing actually means something, but with vast scope of space as the backdrop, I don't quite care as much.

[Lee Johnson]

Looks like I didn't get into the SW:Galaxies beta, which is disappointing, but really: that franchise's track record hasn't been all that great since the raster arcade game.

Nice bit of rationalisation there. ;)

Anyway, if you're thinking of the original Star Wars arcade machine, that was a vector machine, not a raster machine. The only Star Wars arcade game I remember with raster graphics that I remember was the Return of the Jedi game which, if I remember correctly, sucked.

ObE&BBeta: Looks like I'm in, too. 8) I'm not really sure what to expect. I submitted the application on a whim and didn't expect to get in. I played Jumpgate for awhile and actually enjoyed it; I might still be playing it today if they hadn't moved to PayPal for their payment system.

...

Awww, who am I kidding? I have the attention span of a gnat! Even though I've finished a record number of games this year, I find it hard to believe that E&B is going to hold my attention for more than a week. If any MMOG is going to do it for me, it's probably going to be SWG... but we'll see. Anyhow, I'll take a peek at E&B tonight.

[Anonymous]

I really like the Earth and Beyond beta. Being a merchant, buying low and selling high, exploring the cosmos, attacking strange aliens, running from strange aliens, and building up character skills has been a lot of fun so far.

[Lee Johnson]

Say, Mr. AF, when are you usually plying the space routes? Maybe we can hook up sometime.

[Wholly Schmidt]

I just got an email saying I'm in the beta now too. I've never played EQ, and only briefly messed with AO. Am I going to be totally lost? I guess I'll find out when I actually install tomorrow.

[GregB]

You won't be lost. There's a nice tutorial you can go through after you create your character and log in. And I found the interface the most user-friendly out there for MMPOGs (maybe until WOW comes out).

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I totally love Earth and Beyond's tutorial and character creation system. The audio tutor lady is actually helpful without being oppressive. She rocks!

Anyway yeah, ill be playing E&B most of tomorrow, my character's name is Nadalia and she is a merchant. Ship Name: Solar Wind.

Great game! Wheeee!

[Lee Johnson]

Sorry I missed you last night. I didn't get set up until later, and then I blew most of my free time in the preliminaries. The tutorial system is pretty enjoyable, i have to say. I wonder what the other factions get to do. :-)

Anybody know whether there's a way to rename or repaint your ship after it's been commissioned? I did the whole thing in gloss and only realised after it saw it lit up in space that I wanted parts of it in a flat finish instead. Right now it looks like a big shiny flying fork.

[Anonymous]

I changed my character anyway. I ended up going for a J Explorer cause the ship looks cool and they can cloak and fold space n stuff. Im almost level 11 right now, just doing some missions. Im usually hanging out around Io or somewhere in the Capella system.

Character Name: Carline

[Lee Johnson]

Yeah, the Jenquai Explorer is cool. I almost went for one of those, but picked a Terran trader instead.

According to the beta site's support database, there is no way to modify the ship's paint job after character creation (the same goes for your character's avatar as well.) I will probably restart the character and get things the way I want them; I won't have lost much time at this stage.

If I'm out Capella-way, I'll keep my eyes peeled for Carline. :)