Here is an idea, since most plugins contain mostly mission info, sprites, system info etc. Couldn't you make a 3d engine that would do the in game rendering (flight) but still use the old galaxy and mission sets? What i mean is the actual game play could be run in a 3d engine while the planets you land on could be the same as the old EV/O. You would of course have to write a 3d engine and make it work but the missions would stay the same. Ships would now be 3d rendered but use the same values for shields and weapons systems as the old EV.
Just a wild idea but is it possible or is the game play engine too entiwined into the "layout" of the galaxy?

GT

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You can't render a 3D model from a 2D PICT.

I mean, we all know how easy a 3D EV would be to program, so I guess we could just add a few more hours of coding in there to make the engine do the impossible.

EV3D = Stupid

3D Space shooter with the freedom of EV but with more cool things like:
The ability to fly your own carried fighters
Knock of cargo and tracter beam them in
The ability to fly inside a planets atmosphere
Bomb space ports
Disable ships with special weapons - without destroying them
And so on...
= Bad ass

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tear it down / AIM: G2uidehatr

Im quite aware of that. but you missed my point. The 3d engine would have its own graphics for game play. I was just trying to think of a way to keep the same missions and storylines from EV/O instead of having to create new ones. This would allow for a lot more ready to go content in the form of plugins that already work with EV.

GT

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Bah, a new engine needs a new story. A 3D EV would be too complex to allow EV/O plugins to be dropped in and used as is. Besides, the chances of EV3D happening are even less than EV Multiplayer.

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"We shouldn't have pissed off the judge."
- Source inside Microsoft following verdict in the Microsoft antitrust case.

I think EV3 should be fully 3D and you can make super fun ships. The interface should project from your screen into real life, and have a telepathic user interface, too. It should be fully multiplayer, run on any OS (including Atari and Game Boy) and make you money while you play. It should also be free, and the tech manual should be candy. After you eat it, you should be able to print out another one. If you don't have a computer capible of playing it, they should give you one, and assign you a personal tech support guy in case you have any problems. Even if you don't, he can write plugs for you. It should be massively multiplayer and if you don't have internet, Ambrosia SW should give you a free 100000000k connection. It should have LOTS of cheat codes so I can win every battle and it shold have MILLIONS of systems.

Of course, I am just mocking you whiney little EV Basterds. NYAAAAAH!

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World War 1 was fought with Machine Guns and Cannons.
World War 2 was fought with bombs and missiles.
I don't know what World War 3 will be fought with, but it will be so terrible that
World War 4 will be fought with stone clubs.
Steven Hawkings,
-A Brief History of Time

There is a new game coming out by Digital Anvil that does exactly what you guys are wanting. 3D space, EV-type freedom (you can just roam around in space if you like), some NICE graphics (you have to see them for yourself). But Digital Anvil is owned by Microsucks (Microsoft) so it probably won't make it to the Mac or the PS2 now thanks to the X-Box. Anyway, just an idea...

Mike

I was just considering some options for those of us who want a 3D version of ev. I know Ambrosia does not have the resources to write it, it was more of a thought for other shareware developers. As for games similar to the EV 3d concept my favorite so far is terminus.

GT

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If you really want a 3DEV, I suggest you check out Wing Commander: Privateer. It is a game, much like EV, only it has a bit of Wing Commander tossed in there, too. I enjoy it, you might, too. I hear that Terminus is supposed to be like EV, too.

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"All will bow before the Icelandic Emperor."

"Join the Icelandic Coalition -- or be killed!" Someone should understand that.

Quote

Originally posted by GTokar:
**I was just considering some options for those of us who want a 3D version of ev. I know Ambrosia does not have the resources to write it, it was more of a thought for other shareware developers. As for games similar to the EV 3d concept my favorite so far is terminus.

GT
**

We do in fact have the resources to write "EV 3D" if we wanted to; we don't want to. We think it's a bad idea for a number of reasons.

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Andrew Welch / el Presidente / Ambrosia Software, Inc.

Wow, straight from the horses mouth. Why is it a bad idea?

Anyway WingCommander: Privateer is probably my all time favorite game. The second one was a very poor sequel.

GT

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Check out -X-'s strand, "The Project" if u like the idea of EV3D...nifty screenshots!..."Blatant Plug!" thwap

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"It's not the years, it's the mileage..." ---Indiana Jones

Quote

Originally posted by Soviet mikee:
**You can't render a 3D model from a 2D PICT.

I mean, we all know how easy a 3D EV would be to program, so I guess we could just add a few more hours of coding in there to make the engine do the impossible.

EV3D = Stupid

3D Space shooter with the freedom of EV but with more cool things like:
The ability to fly your own carried fighters
Knock of cargo and tracter beam them in
The ability to fly inside a planets atmosphere
Bomb space ports
Disable ships with special weapons - without destroying them
And so on...
= Bad ass

**

Quess what, I've been doing some reading and there is a game called Freelancer (done by the people who designed Freespace) and it should be like a 3D EV. It has like the BEST graphics ever, a totally free universe, you can go anywhere and do anything, trading fighting anything, just like in EV. Man it will KICK!! Of course it's only for PCs, good thing I got both!

Dragon

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