[Dalqak]

Not sure if anyone has followed this one at all, but they announced that they now have a publisher, and will be using a F2P model. 

Black Prophecy (Game Trailer)	powered by Aeva

I still think if I'm going to play a space MMO, it'll be EVE, but the newer videos look nice. 

http://blackprophecy.gamigo.com/

I don't think it will take too much away from EVE's playerbase, if anything at all, but it might bring more people to the genre (being F2P). 

[GigglesNpie]

Some of those ships look very...gallentish.

[Orvidos]

I played the hell out of Freelancer, an old space game, some of you might have played it. There was a mod called Discovery for multiplayer. Very fun back when the community wasn't full of idiots.

I've been casually following Black Prophecy, and the F2P announcement made me really perk up and pay attention. I'll definitely be giving it a go when it comes out.

[Dalqak]

One of the things that people always gripe about when it comes to EVE is that it somehow feels too much like "a screensaver."  While I don't necessarily agree with that statement 100%, I do agree that BP would be wise to shake things up a bit, and inject a fair amount of action into the combat. 

[Dukault]

Yeah, I would say that BP does look like it is a bit more action - but I don't know how I feel about having to shoot the way I'm looking / manuevreing ... did look kinda cool towards the end of the video though. 

[Amobius]

As long as its not set orbit and queue weapons then it would be a step up from EVE in my book.  I missed that aspect from free lancer when we were playing EVE that you had to actively fly your ship, not just click in space somewhere and go afk.

[BlindShooter]

Ah, Freelancer, how I loved thee. Nobody else seemed to get it as right as they did back then.

Aaaanyways. More pew pew? For Freezorz? Sure, why not, I'll take a look when it is available

[Dalqak]

MMORPG.com has a GDC 2010 Writeup up now.

Similarities to EVE Online

At first glance, Black Prophecy looks similar to another sci-fi MMORPG, EVE Online. Both games are reflections of the dark and gritty “reality” of space, both games use ships only, with avatars to distinguish one player from another, but without the ability to leave their ship (though we are told that the BP people have plans to change that after launch), both games use docking at space stations as their trading and equipping hubs, and a number of other very surface level similarities.

In the end though, the similarities between the two games end on the surface as the cores of each game’s design couldn’t be more different. Where EVE Online is a slower more strategic gaming experience, Black Prophecy is designed to keep players in the fast paced action. Where EVE Online’s game is based on the political machinations of players looking to make as much profit as possible in the game’s economy, Black Prophecy is about hard combat. Where EVE Online’s combat is based on dice rolls, Black Prophecy’s is based on twitch skill.

[Dukault]

I'm not sure I'm keen on just being able to shoot where my nose is pointing... hopefully they will have more options than:

1) Face target.
2) Pew pew pew.
3) Turn around.
4) Repeat until deaders.

[CombatHermit]

I am kind of interested in this. I've always had a thing for space combat. But Eve seems to be too slow paced for my taste.

Perhaps this is something. If beta comes around. I'll definately want to be looking to be part of it.

*registers*

CH.  

[Dukault]

With regards to EVE, I think it's a delicate balance between being too slow-paced and being insta-pop if you get enough ships firing. Once you get into large, large, very large fleet battles you literally get alpha'd. But then again, I also think/know that EVE combat is more than- Press F1 through F9 and go grab a sandwich. If we had gotten into interceptors, then we really would've seen the difference.

[Dalqak]

Massively has a new article up, "An In-Depth Look at Black Prophecy." 

Unlike EVE and STO, Black Prophecy is more of a straight-up action game along the lines of classic space dogfighter games like X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter and Wing Commander. It might be easiest to think of this as a "FPS in space," as the game will reward those with skill, reflexes and nerves of steel. If you're looking to jump into quick battles without a lot of downtime, this might be the game for you.

Unlike EVE, don't expect a massive economy or crafting system. Both of these will be in the game, but they won't be the main focus. Instead, Black Prophecy's devs hope that you'll eventually turn your attention to the efforts of building and maintaining a space station. This happens at endgame, where guilds band together to purchase and construct one of these mammoth structures. This requires a great deal of resources, as you might imagine, which involves the capture of mining colonies and other resource areas from NPCs. Once you capture them, they will begin to automatically send resources to build and power your space station.

[CombatHermit]

Some more GDC coverage:

TenTonHammer
http://www.tentonhammer.com/events/gdc2010/BlackProphecy

MMORPG.com
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/349/feature/4079/page/1

Also, it's been semi-confirmed that the closed beta will launch in april. Though at which time specifically they did not say. (Ofcourse )

CH. 

[b4nth4f3tt]

I think free is a good monthly fee.  Is there avenue to sign up for closed beta?  I'd like to give this game a shake, I'm actually quite fond of space dogfighting.

Edit: Answered my own question http://blackprophecy.gamigo.com/

[b4nth4f3tt]

Double post just for you Duk.

I'm not sure I'm keen on just being able to shoot where my nose is pointing... hopefully they will have more options than:

1) Face target.
2) Pew pew pew.
3) Turn around.
4) Repeat until deaders.

"As you duke it out in space, keep in mind that different weapons have different travel speeds, so your lasers might hit the target sooner, while a Gatling gun may require more lead time. Some missiles are automatically guided, but most weapons are manually aimed. Pilots who nail down targeting and anticipating where the enemy will be in a few seconds (versus where they are now) will have the greatest advantage in combat."

[SpawnoChaos]

Only being able to shoot where your nose is pointed?! Blasphemy!!! ... most space combat sims are that way, such as the greatest of all time, TIE Fighter.  

I'm looking forward to an actual space combat sim... the last worth noting was Decent Freespace. Since then, my flightmaster control system has been collecting dust. It'll be good to use it again.

[b4nth4f3tt]

If this game turns out to be good I may finally make the investment in a joystick, it might also help me not suck at flying a chopper in BC2.

Only being able to shoot where your nose is pointed?! Blasphemy!!! ... most space combat sims are that way, such as the greatest of all time, TIE Fighter.  

This is true.  Fighters pretty much exclusively have forward firing weapons.  Even missiles or laser guided bombs launch forward and then track in on their target.  The crucial skill in fighters, aside from being able to lead your target is 3d spacial awareness and anticipation of your opponents actions.  Good fighters wont fly right at each other then turn around and do it again, they will maneuver to get in, and stay in, trail of their opponent and light their opponent up with guns and missiles while their opponent tries to escape their tail.  This is not to say that I have any skill at this at all, it's just how actual fighter pilots operate.

[Revolude]

That's no moon. It's a space station.

[Amobius]

Is there any indication whether it will be like freelancer where you move the mouse cursor and your ship follows those directions, or is it direct input which would necessitate a joystiq.  I think that the freelancer style is more conducive to a mouse where i could see a true to form flight sim requiring a joystick. 

[b4nth4f3tt]

Is there any indication whether it will be like freelancer where you move the mouse cursor and your ship follows those directions, or is it direct input which would necessitate a joystiq.  I think that the freelancer style is more conducive to a mouse where i could see a true to form flight sim requiring a joystick.  

This is as specific as they get.

Combat-wise, Black Prophecy is a twitch game through and through. Depending on your gaming preferences, you can handle the action with a controller, keyboard and mouse, or even a flight stick. Views in the game include a third-person camera, a cockpit camera, and a first-person camera (with no cockpit dashboard).

Black Prophecy will feature an in-cockpit view from your ship (you can choose third person as well if that floats your boat), offering responsive controls that can be accessed via virtually any device be it keyboard, mouse, or joystick. The game is real time action with twitch combat, so your choice of input device could mean the difference between life and death.

...a Wing Commander style combat system...

Judging by the fact that they refer to it as a twitch game, and reference Wing Commander,  I think it will be a flight sim style.

Edit: They mention that there will be third person, first person in-cockpit, and first person no-cockpit.  I'm wondering why anyone would choose anything other than third person.  It seems like from a couple of screenshots you have the HUD in third person view, so it seems like the increased awareness that it gives you would make it a must have.  Maybe aiming is easier in 1st person, or they just felt like giving people options.