Development Info Escape Velocity Nova for Windows released

Saint_Proverbius · Jul 12, 2003

Tags: Escape Velocity Nova

<A href="http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/">Escape Velocity Nova</a>. It's done, and it's <A href="ftp://ftp.planetmirror.com/pub/macgamefiles/ambrosia/win_evnova_installer.exe">now available for download</a>.
 
 
<blockquote>Rochester, NY -- July 11, 2003 -- Ambrosia Software, Inc. announced today the release of EV Nova for Windows, a port of the epic third title in the incredibly popular Escape Velocity series for the Macintosh. It features stunning graphics for throughout the game, a huge new universe and an in-depth plotline with 6 different major storylines to keep you on the edge of your seat.
 
 
You can download it here now:
 
 
<A href="http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/games/evn/">http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/games/evn/</a>
 
 
EV Nova finds you, a young pilot with a brand-new shuttlecraft, full power cells, and an entire universe to explore. You must choose which missions to take, which people to trust and which gear to buy. Will a rack of solar panels be more useful than a shiny new laser turret? Which ship has the best layout for your playing style? You'll be able to choose from literally hundreds of ships and upgrades in your journeys.
 
 
"The Auroran warlord looked out into space from the bridge of his carrier. All around his ship were strewn destroyed or disabled vessels, both Federation and Auroran. Not more than an hour ago they had been functional, powerful weapons, poised to deal death at each other across the blackness of the interstellar gulf. Now they were nothing more than torn fragments of metal..."</blockquote>
 
 
Start your downloads, gentlemen.

Greenskin13 · Jul 12, 2003

*head explodes*

Psilon · Jul 12, 2003

So how long does the shareware version last before hitting the registration barrier? Uplink, for instance, lasts about 20 minutes. Geneforge took me about a week before I registered.

Ibbz · Jul 12, 2003

I believe you can play as long as you want. You just cant do certain things - eg. Capture ships, get involved with the story etc.

EDIT: Turns out there is a 30 day time limit and you can progress only so far in the main story missions.

Psilon · Jul 12, 2003

Ahhh, what the hell. I'll download it tonight, try it tomorrow, and possibly register in time for vacation. Anyone other than greenskin13 think it's head-explodingly good?

Mr. Teatime · Jul 12, 2003

ME

I do. I loved the original EV games, some of the best games ever, and this one is no exception. Better than most commercial releases, lovely cute graphics, 6 main storylines to choose from, loads of subquests, detailed histroy... everything freelancer wasn't. this game deserves to do well

Saint_Proverbius · Jul 12, 2003

Don't forget that it has a plugin system like Morrowind does that can add new ships, new quests, new systems, and so on.

Sol Invictus · Jul 12, 2003

I just downloaded it. Can't wait to install it to see what it's like!

Vault Dweller · Jul 12, 2003

Exitium said:
I just downloaded it. Can't wait to install it to see what it's like!

Don't forget to post you review in our brand new Review forum....oops we don't have one yet :wink:, in that case go right here to see what everybody's talking about :D

Psilon · Jul 12, 2003

OK, it's cool. The Star Control analogy is valid, but another one might be a single-player mixture of Trade Wars 2002 and SubSpace. Better than even chance here of Ambrosia getting my $30.

Saint_Proverbius · Jul 13, 2003

Well, I just bought myself a fat, spanking new Turapin class freighter ship, and I'm making lots of money on those first few trade routes that Barry shows you. Of course, the Turapin, which I named "Tubby", is a heck of a little ship if you're planning on making cash by trading. It has 125 cargo holds, which means you can haul a LOT of equipment and medical supplies around. Of course, the drawback is that it's slower than molasses in January, but it's got great shields for a newbie ship and has a turret mount.

I've got to say, I like it more than Freelancer already, just because of all the damned options you have in this game. I'm not constantly getting swatted by bad guys, which is one plus already. Try soloing a freighter in Freelancer and I bet you'll give it up pretty quickly.

Lemon · Jul 14, 2003

Saint_Proverbius said:
Well, I just bought myself a fat, spanking new Turapin class freighter ship, and I'm making lots of money on those first few trade routes that Barry shows you. Of course, the Turapin, which I named "Tubby", is a heck of a little ship if you're planning on making cash by trading. It has 125 cargo holds, which means you can haul a LOT of equipment and medical supplies around. Of course, the drawback is that it's slower than molasses in January, but it's got great shields for a newbie ship and has a turret mount.

I've got to say, I like it more than Freelancer already, just because of all the damned options you have in this game. I'm not constantly getting swatted by bad guys, which is one plus already. Try soloing a freighter in Freelancer and I bet you'll give it up pretty quickly.

What Freelancer should have been. Its strange to feel so compelled, playing it into late hours. Not something I've done in years. The writing is passible, but its the only low budget drag. 3d would allow them to expand the minigames like mining, exploration would be more involved with the extra dimension, but it works without it.

Astromarine · Jul 14, 2003

yeah, I've been enjoying it as well. I'm currently doing the same as Saint, doing LuxGoods one way and Med the other in a Terrapin. Damn fun game. Plus, I'm playing Strict mode, so this is like my fifth pilot

DrattedTin · Jul 14, 2003

I have to say I really love the game so far, but I've noticed one little problem: It seems the ONLY way to advance at any speed is to trade. Trying to blast your way to the "top" is pure suicide. It's sort of a bummer, but I guess it makes sense.

Saint:

Wait until you get enough money to hire the better escorts. You can really turn a profit (in the 1~ million range)with a couple pegasuses along to carry cargo.

Mad_Dog · Jul 14, 2003

I played the original to death (on the Mac), and this is so much better. I tend to stick with the shuttle until I have about a million credits, then drop it all on a decent warship/cargo carrier (probably the IDA frigate in this one), tweak that ship, and then become a pirate/trader. Lots of fun, and the weapons are very much improved in this version.

Saint_Proverbius · Jul 14, 2003

I bought all the licenses I need for the IDA Frigate already, and running the newbie route, I'm getting roughly 100k in my terrapin each round trip, so I should have that IDA Frigate within two more hauls.

I think I'll miss Tubby though, it's a decent little ship. A frigate can haul twice as much, though..

I haven't bothered fighting yet, I basically rely on my shields to get me to the nearest planet.

BTW- Where exactly are LuxGoods sold at a decent price? Everywhere I've been, I've only seen "High" listed as the price tag.

DrattedTin · Jul 14, 2003

Oy. You do know you can buy a license that acts as all licenses combined for 100k, right?

Anyway, I'm not sure on the Luxgoods thing, but hailing traders for a few minutes should tell you quick enough.

Mad_Dog · Jul 14, 2003

DrattedTin said:
Oy. You do know you can buy a license that acts as all licenses combined for 100k, right?

Which one is that?

Has anyone found the upgrades to turning and acceleration yet? The original EV had them, and you could get your capital ship maneuvering like a fighter in some cases.

DrattedTin · Jul 14, 2003

Spoilers ahead!

Alright, then. The "all ships and weapons" license is the "Exotic" license. So far, I know of two upgrades to speed and maneuverability; one you can get right away from Rauther (rautherion system), called Port & Polish. The other is a Sigma tech, and as such, requires you become a member of Sigma systems, which involves a random mission (check in on the shipyard from time to time). It may also require you to be registered, I'm not sure.

Ibbz · Jul 14, 2003

BTW- Where exactly are LuxGoods sold at a decent price? Everywhere I've been, I've only seen "High" listed as the price tag.

New Ireland in Tuatha sell luxury goods at a "low" price. 3 Jumps away from Sol. Coincidentally they also buy medical goods at a high price.

Alright, then. The "all ships and weapons" license is the "Exotic" license. So far, I know of two upgrades to speed and maneuverability; one you can get right away from Rauther (rautherion system), called Port & Polish. The other is a Sigma tech, and as such, requires you become a member of Sigma systems, which involves a random mission (check in on the shipyard from time to time). It may also require you to be registered, I'm not sure.

Go and kill a couple of ships then return to the earth shipyards and you'll be approached about becoming a member. {Although its partially random as to whether you'll be approached.}

I have to say I really love the game so far, but I've noticed one little problem: It seems the ONLY way to advance at any speed is to trade. Trying to blast your way to the "top" is pure suicide. It's sort of a bummer, but I guess it makes sense.

Trading is probably the easiest and quickest way to get lots of money. But if you want a more chaotic lifestyle you can choose the pirate route and capture ships {Note: you have to be registered to actually capture ships} to sell for money or just board and steal the credits off them. I got 500000 cred's off one manticore i disabled before.

Also! Not everyone realises this but you can hire escorts which can also carry cargo - so if you hire 6 terrapins to go along with your terrapin Saint, you'll have in effect 800 or so cargo space.

DrattedTin · Jul 14, 2003

Yeah, but try taking on a Manticore with anything below a capital class ship. It's just asking for pain, and more pain.

Ibbz · Jul 14, 2003

I took one down with a Vell Os Arrow. You'd be surprised how well the medium ships go up against the capital's, because of their much better speed and maneourability.

Vault Dweller · Jul 15, 2003

I followed a line of missions that got me working for the Bureau of very unpleasant people who cut my access to the public mission boards and combat-oriented ships and upgrades till I prove my worth to them. Well, I've been proving my worth for a relatively long time now without any changes and making food/equipment run is quickly becoming boring. So does anybody know when I would get the access to the boards and some decent hardware?

Saint_Proverbius · Jul 15, 2003

Ibbz said:
Also! Not everyone realises this but you can hire escorts which can also carry cargo - so if you hire 6 terrapins to go along with your terrapin Saint, you'll have in effect 800 or so cargo space.

Yeah, I know.. I've got 250 on the frigate and I hire six terrapins.. That's 1000 holds of hauling goodness.

DrattedTin · Jul 15, 2003

Vault,

You don't. You're on the Vell-os story arc. The advantages are some really neat ships which cost no money whatsoever. The disadvantages are what you've mentioned, and the fact you basically won't want to play once the story arc is over. There's really not much else to do besides the main plot on the Vell-os arc.

Development Info Escape Velocity Nova for Windows released

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