Angel Dust on 20/9/2007 at 06:15
Just fired up SS1 today and I forgot all about how great hacking was in this game. When I say hacking I mean cyberspace not the door puzzles (which were great too). I've often wondered why SS2 never went the cyberspace route. Especially since SS2 has the mouse + keyboard control scheme. We could have had some awesome Descent-style cyberspace action going on.
JayDee on 20/9/2007 at 08:48
I'm with you on Cyberspace being awesome. I vaguely remember reading that there were intentions to have cyberspace in SS2, but they couldn't get it working to their satisfaction. On reflection, that doesn't seem right, if it were done like SS1 the physics wouldn't be all that different from swimming, surely.
We did have the training which took place in a similar looking environment.
Oh and the control scheme, I may well be alone in this, but I prefer shock 1 here too. I like the fact that I can shoot at things that aren't in the center of my field of vision.
Angel Dust on 20/9/2007 at 10:04
I like that part of the SS1 controls too but I do like the ease of movement you get with the standard keyboard + mouse combo.
Firefreak on 20/9/2007 at 10:29
Let me see - back in the days of announcing SS2 and developer chats on IRC and so forth I asked this very question on such a chat: "Why is there no cyberspace like in SS1?".
The reply was... rather disappointing - it was in the sense of "Well, they [if memory serves right, 'they' were the builders of the FTL ship] went through time back to 1994 and saw that it was crap."
I remember this very well, since I expected a bit more elaborate answer about such a cool cyberpunk-ish element... But I can't remember who said that. (So, don't pinpoint Ken for this statement :p )
Ahh... memories.
Angel Dust on 20/9/2007 at 13:40
Man I played SS1 the year it came out and loved it. So when I saw a tiny column in some magazine announcing a sequel was being made I was tremendously excited. However due to lack of magazine funds and no internet access that was all the preview I saw! I bought it day one and was immediately disappointed by the hacking. Everything else was great though.
Do you guys have any other info regarding the development of SS2 since I missed out on all that? Its always interesting reading about the creative process.
Firefreak on 20/9/2007 at 13:48
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
Do you guys have any other info regarding the development of SS2 since I missed out on all that? Its always interesting reading about the creative process.
I'd recommend reading the (
http://www.sshock2.com/archive.asp) news archive from TTLG's sub-site sshock2.com - It dates way back to 1999.
Look what I found:
Quote Posted by 1999
Q: So the character creation happens ALL in the game... no setup screen like UW?
A: The character creation has no set up screen. You never leave the 3d. We do our best...it wasn't always that way, but we sat down and looked at and said, hey, we've got this great engine, why build a whole bunch of 2d screens when we can keep you immersed and utilize our technology.
Yay! Groundbreaking revolution - instead of clicking three check boxes we have to run down three lanes! :p
Angel Dust on 20/9/2007 at 13:53
Thanks! Should be some interesting reading.
ZylonBane on 20/9/2007 at 15:57
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
Just fired up SS1 today and I forgot all about how great hacking was in this game. When I say hacking I mean cyberspace
If you mean cyberspace, then why did you say "hacking"? :erg:
Angel Dust on 20/9/2007 at 16:10
It is hacking isn't it? You are infiltrating the computer system, breaking through protections, encryptions, changing security levels etc. The re-wiring puzzles and the like are forms of hacking too I guess but when I think hacking in SS1 I think cyberspace.
ZylonBane on 20/9/2007 at 17:13
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
It is hacking isn't it?
No, it's Descent with worse graphics.
