Is there any space sim/shooters out there?

[nikomas1]

I was just thinking how i wanted to play a space sim/shooter, What I mean by that is that I DON'T! wan't to have to bother with trading and stuff and just go off hunting bounties instead. Is there any games like this out there? I heard something about ...... I think it's called "Darkstar One" and Freelancer.

Is there any games like these that won't strain the computer? Also they can be liniar "Stage" games but prefferably open world, Bottom line, More arcade less EVE Online.

 

[Wolvaroo]

Freelancer and X3 are pretty popular I think.

 

[rossatdi]

Freelancer is good for a laugh. It's not very long but it's fun ride why you're there. You can do some trade running but it's not a very major part of it. Mostly blasting mofos.

 

[Ricky_Rio]

try FreeSpace2, although its could be considered a vintage game, a healthy player/modding community still thrives at http://www.hard-light.net/

Currently is free for personal use (as in you can use it for free but you cant sell it)
Download: http://www.fsoinstaller.com/

 

[Eyclonus]

Dark Star One is good, but it requires more Omph to run. That game does require trading and bounty work initially so you can survive outside of the policed zones but it features a lot of exploration.

EDIT: Descent: Freespace is one of my favourite space-sims, Each ship feels right for its purpose and when you've got other squadrons following orders like intercepting reinforcements, or pinning the survivors in an asteroid field while you re-arm to hit their beacon.

 

[TomNook]

Star Wars Rouge Squadron or Star Wars Battlefront 2 have good space dog fights.

 

[Wewt]

FreespaceOPEN
Is an open source project of freespace, great graphics since they rehauled some things. And good mod support. Try it.
EDIT:
New website:
http://scp.indiegames.us/

 

[Mr. Moose]

Universal Combat is a pretty good sim for all kinds of vehicles.
It's got the spaceships, the planets, the submarines and the boats.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Combat

 

[TheThanatos]

If you don't mind basic graphics try out the Elite series. http://www.eliteclub.co.uk/
These are considered the yard sticks for space sims. Graphic wise they are pretty damn awful, but in terms of game play I don't think they have ever been beat. You may need dos box to run them on your PC.
http://www.dosbox.com/
And theres more retro games then you can shake a harddrive at.
For a more modern game Ill join in the cry for free space 2, once modded at bit it's really a superb space sim.

 

[Doctor Panda]

Freespace 2 is a good bet - simple and combatative right from the word go.
The escape velcoity series is about as good an example of the sim genre as you get. While trading can be a big part of it, the latest one (EV Nova that came to PC) lets you get into combat quickly enough if you try for it.
Freelancer is pretty fluffy but i had fun with it for a couple of slow afternoons. Seriously needed a multiplayer *campaign*.

 

[RufusMcLaser]

Freelancer and the X series were fun- if you can tolerate "dated" graphics. They're all based on the same basic game concept, anyway. Pioneered in, uh, Elite, wasn't it?
Space Rangers 2 and Battlecruiser 3000 are also good fun. BC3K is incredibly dense, though.
I played an MMO called Jumpgate about eight years ago, while it was still in beta. Same concept, again- trade and fight in space. It was my first proper MMO experience. I left it for a week of traveling, came back, and couldn't remember what I was grinding for.

 

[BaronAsh]

Universal Combat is a pretty good sim for all kinds of vehicles.
It's got the spaceships, the planets, the submarines and the boats.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Combat

Dude, UC was horrible. Shit graphics, worse controls, and all the user friendliness of a condom made out of sandpaper and vinegar.

I throw my vote in for Freelancer, and advise a trip to Lancer's Reactor (don't know the URL but it's probably lancersreactor.com or something like)... Find yourself the Tie Universe mod, everything in Freelancer becomes a StarWars ship. Your ships, plus all the four nations become Imperial Tie varients (larger ships are star destroyers etc), the rebels use X-Wings, B-Wings, etc, and the bounty hunters use Slave-1.

I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING THAT WAS EPIC!

 

[Hey Joe]

Freelance is good because it'll pretty much on any computer which is great because I'm currently in possession of what can charitably be called a 'shitbox'.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

A game called "Dark Horizon" just came out, it's a budget PC space shooter and you can probably find it at Frys or maybe Direct2Drive or something.

EDIT:

Here's an amazon link: Open this shit up! [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BJVKMQ]

Looks like you can pay 60 bucks for a "Dark Horizon + Kings bounty" bundle, and I've played the demo of KB and I can tell you that it's bloody addicting and fun. It sure as hell isn't a space shooter though.

 

[Gnisis]

Freelancer is the best. I spent years playing it online and as a LAN game. If you have a dedicated community, the opportunities are limitless.

www.lancersreactor.com is essentially the site you want to visit to find communities.

Other games: X3: Reunion and Dark Horizon.

*shrugs*