Oolite Bulletins

I'm working towards installing oolite on gentoo linux.

Thought I'd ask a few q's while I wait on gcc and other things compiling for object C etc.

It looks good, but, I suspect from the tutorial and the screen shots that the flight model has been simplifed? Does this mean, 'Arcade Space'? Are ballistics (engine off mode) and gravity modeled at all?

Call me a geek, but I loved Frontier's solar system modelling, though I found it has limits that seem to prevent stable circular orbits around planets. Believe me I spent ages at it, could get all the indicators right but it would always decay to elipical after a period or 2. Probably 16bit maths.

For game play engines off was invaluable for combat, especially in and around planets.

Can anyone run through a quick Frontier -> oolite survival list?

Paul

paulc wrote:

It looks good, but, I suspect from the tutorial and the screen shots that the flight model has been simplifed? Does this mean, 'Arcade Space'? Are ballistics (engine off mode) and gravity modeled at all?

They are simplified, since they're based on Elite's flight model rather than Frontier's.

That said, unpowered objects do react according to Newtonian physics, although neither gravity nor conservation of rotational momentum is simulated (rotational momentum is on my mental must-so-sometime list).

It's not Arcade Space but it's definitely not orbital mechanics either. I hope you enjoy it though.

Trust me when I say this...

I have been a longtime BIG Frontier/FFE fan for many years, I played Oolite and it just took over completely! It may not be Newtonian (there is a good scientific reason for that involving how the wd works) but it is MUCH more in depth than Frontier.

Play it for a bit, add in lots of OXPs and bingo.

The best thing you will like over FE2/FFE as far as I am concerned: The game is not player-centric. As in, you can see other ships fighting, chasing each other and getting on with life without you.

The non player-centric bit is definitely what makes it come alive in ways that nothing else (except ArcElite) did.

Very occasionally you come across absolutely epic battles already in progress. Then you've got to decide which side you're on

BTW Giles: I really like the new explosions with the debris and multiple flashes.

Yeah, I love seeing the explosions too. I also like the fact that mid battle sometimes people will come to help you out, most games just have you helping others.

Thanks guys.

As per my other post I have a few hurdles to over come before I can play the game.

I'm looking foward to it.

I don't want to start a vs. war, but I've only just started looking for elite clones and elite-like games. What other alternatives are there you can recommend?

Eh, well before Oolite came along, plenty. My favourite being ArcElite or Amiga Elite played through Emulators or Freelancer with a load of mods attached.

Now however, it's Oolite or bust.