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LEC games: X-Wing, TIE Fighter... — Page 2

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SpilkaBilka said:

X-Wing is actually what really made me fall in love with Star Wars.  I was 13 when it first came out and I spent so much (way too much!) time playing it.

 You seem to echo my thoughts :]

When X-Wing was released it revived my Star Wars interest. Bear in mind that for those living behind the Iron Courtain  Star Wars material was scarce in 1980s. Flight simulators were my first computer game love (never liked the arcade stuff), so for me it was THE game, a wish fulfillment... of course my most secret desires were catered later with... TIE Fighter :) Ah, to fly those dangerous-looking "H fighters" (as I called them being a kid).

I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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I'd love to be able to appreciate these games but I think I've been jaded. The control scheme doesn't really scream "pick up and play" but then again what flight sim does? Played the hell out of X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter when I was eight or so, though.

One of these days I'll give TIE Fighter another go.

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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I still remember the moment I saw X-Wing on the shelf at the local Electronics Boutique. I grabbed it and excitedly asked the clerk, "Is this what I think it is?"

It was a sort of life-changing moment for me, and I think it really rekindled my interest in Star Wars.

So, do all these modern X-Wing installers work on Windows XP?

You know of the rebellion against the Empire?

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bkev said:

Played the hell out of X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter.

 XvT wasn't very successful, it was a multiplayer-aimed remake, but converting the old missions was done with little playtesting... there are engine/mechanics changes I mentioned in the first post here. For single player experience I'd suggest starting with X-Wing or TIE Fighter. If you hate DOS graphics, there was a Collector Series re-release with updated textured models.

Erikstormtrooper said:

So, do all these modern X-Wing installers work on Windows XP?

 If you just want to enjoy plain old DOS editions, all you need is to introduce yourself to DOSBOX.

I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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X-Wing: Alliance does have its flaws but I consider it one of the best non-movie Star Wars stories. Fantastic game that manages to establish a serious military theme, while remaining light-hearted and adventurous like the original movies. Plus, unlike X-Wing or TIE Fighter (although I do only vaguely remember these after so many years) it has a more personal stake. At it's core XW:A a family story, with actual characters.

Definitely recommend.

If LucasArts had any clue about what they should be doing, they would have released X-Wing, TIE Fighter and XWA with massively upgraded visuals; same for Republic Commando.

...

Let's hope Disney has more sense.

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Man, I'd forgotten how hard X-wing is.  I figured, 'Hey, I used to be pretty good at this.  I'll jump straight to the Death Star campaign.'  Holy cow, I am completely stuck!  I can't seem to save my captured shuttle with Imperial advisers while fending off waves of Gunboats.  All my comrades are completely incompetent and get themselves swiftly killed while I ultimately take out every single opponent--I feel like my fellow squadron members are merely useful at keeping the heat off me for a bit.  The shuttle is so slow at getting to safety, and I can't seem to hold back the waves of baddies long enough to keep it and myself alive.  Arg!  I think this is only the third or fourth mission in the campaign!

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Are you issuing commands to your wingman/squadron? Ctrl+A, I think, when targeting a gunboat, will tell them to attack it with you.

Additionally, it helps if you have more than one character file with high ranks, so you can at least have a competent wingman (or whoever you have the ability to put in the slots)

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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These games are best SW games there is. Even though I'm a huge TIE Fighter fan I think XWA beats it with its story. I think it's the last SW thing that really captures the OT feel.

I think XWA is the only game from these that I've even finished. Don't remember XvT though, that was a little disappointing as far as story goes, but Balance of Power helped on that aspect. XvT is also pretty forgettable, as it seems. XW is damn hard. When you're making attempt #50 it's a real motivation killer. And you always get imprisoned by the Empire, LOL. I'm stuck on some mission that I started like five years ago and then I stopped playing it, again (maybe third or fourth time). IIRC, it was a mission with many transports flying in a wide formation. I think I'm stuck on TF, too, LOL. When I have time I have to try finish these.

 

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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Thanks, tim.  You know, that's what I get for jumping into the game without first reacquainting myself with its controls and gameplay mechanisms after 15 years.  I'll have to try a teamwork approach :)

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Yeah, keeping your wingmates focused on objectives is really crucial, because otherwise they really are dumb as bricks. I seem to remember obsessively commanding them to attack over and over as I approached the enemy for initial engagement, just to make sure they stayed on course, tight with me. There might even be a way to tell them to form up with you? Not sure what, but potentially ctrl+f.

You know, I bet we could find the keyboard reference sheet somewhere.

Anyway, I would then command them to attack any time I switched targets, so that our firepower was always combined. Hypothetically this wastes shots (If my shot destroys the enemy, and they fire after I fire, they've wasted energy), but I think effectively it turned out much better. Targets were destroyed faster overall, killing flights of targets piece by piece instead of all at once, which gradually decreases enemy shots fired over time (per flight) instead of all three gunboats or whatever ending at once and all having equal time to get off shots.

At least, that is my memory of years ago.

EDIT: Also, back then, I had to play with a mouse. I had a joystick briefly but it broke. Gosh flying with a mouse is a pain.

Later, I played most of XWA with a steering wheel and pedals.

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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 (Edited)

Wow, that must have been rough playing with a mouse, though the wheel and pedals probably was pretty fun.

So I'm excited to give the teamwork a try (when I get the chance, though I have an exam today and can't spend time having fun for a while).  I found a key guide here:

http://wiki.rebelsquadrons.org/index.php/Xwing_Keyboard_Commands

I also watched someone do it on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD_Uru6zt2o

I actually followed a similar pattern, though the biggest difference between him and me is that he disabled the gunboats (which requires fewer successful shots once the shields are down) with his ion cannons, and he also disabled the shuttle that attacks your mission critical shuttle rather than shooting it.  He stated that if you destroy that shuttle, all craft rush to attack in that direction, which was what happened to me.  If I simply disable that shuttle, enemy craft may remain occupied some distance away.  So I'll go for that whenever I get the chance (probably not today).  Man, I love this game!  Only problem is that it's using my sparse free time, and I've been neglecting my project for the past week.

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LexX said:

These games are best SW games there is. Even though I'm a huge TIE Fighter fan I think XWA beats it with its story. I think it's the last SW thing that really captures the OT feel.

 

Cannot agree more... I miss the adventure spirit of XWA in more recent Star Wars games.

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I still would like to know how fantastic X-Wing and TIE Fighter might look for modern hardware. Hell, I'd be happy to get a SW-themed space sim on consoles, even if the many options you had in those games (energy distribution anyone?) would have to be stripped to work with a gamepad.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECtBrplXf9Q

Just great memories.

Anyone remember a certain mission from XWA, where you have to capture a supposed Imperial defector? You are escorting the famous "medical frigate" Redemption when it gets ambushed by a Star Destroyer and an Interdictor.

One of my all-time favorite Star Wars moments, when the commander of the cruiser Liberty says "Stand by, Redemption. Help is on the way" and a few moments later, the cruiser drops in from hyperspace firing away at the Imperial ships...

Don't know why, but the entire scene is so powerful and epic. Maybe the voice acting? XWA had superb voice actors (and audio, as per usual for Star Wars games).

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I really enjoyed both “X-Wing” and “TIE Fighter”. The solo missions from “X-Wing vs TIE Fighter: Balance of Power” I only played through once. And “X-Wing Alliance” became overcomplicated for my taste.

“X-Wing” was way tougher than “TIE Fighter”, as it lacked very important features added to the successor: the function to match speed with target (as a result, Shuttles and Transports proved to be quite dangerous enemies, as you could easily crash into them), and the function to see the mission’s goals. In X-Wing, it was easy to miss out on some critical goal and be none the wiser. On the other hand, it made the victories feel more rewarding.

“TIE Fighter” is superior both in terms of the more coherent storyline, the aforementioned improvement in gameplay, the slicker graphics and sound, beloved EU characters like Thrawn. However, as far as cutscenes go, I prefer the classical disk version of those, instead of rather poorly-looking FMV from the CD edition.

Oh yeah, and the 1998 Windows versions are abominations that never should have seen the light of day.

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timdiggerm said:

In case folks have it seen it, be sure to check out X-Wing Alliance Upgrade Project: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/

This below looks pretty decent - and may be of interest for some of us old skool gamers…
 

'TFTC: Version 1.2 Released!:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7qjISrU64 - a 6 minute video at the Angel youtube channel.

Useful info can be found in the video description 👍
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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I like the graphical upgrades, but they lost me when they said they removed the function of higher turn rates at lower throttle (I.e speed) settings. That was a major function of gameplay and made the combat way more “real”. I know these are fictional spacecraft, but their flight mechanics rely HEAVILY on established real-world aircraft (particular WW2 to Vietnam era aircraft since that’s the reference that was available when the OT was made). And those real world aircraft have this thing called “cornering speed”. It’s the speed at which a fighter can make its tightest turn at the highest g-load it’s designed to sustain. Any speed above or below that speed results in a wider turn. ALSO, higher speed turns result in higher aerodynamic forces and less maneuverability (often a LOT less). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Point being an aircraft’s speed has a direct and significant impact on its maneuverability and turning radius. The game’s throttle-setting-to-turning-rate function was a decent compromise between adding a meaningful real world physics element while also maintaining a more simplified and accessible flight model to the game play. Removing it seems unnecessary and, IMO, is an oversimplification that will remove an extra layer of immersion into the simulated galaxy.