Ed. said:
Seneschal said:
Already downloading it.
In the meantime, I'm browsing their site, but I can't seem to find info on how much of a "sim" it is. From the trailer, I'd say it uses realistic newtonian movement, but I've yet to see a spaceflight sim that didn't overcomplicate the controls for it - like, controlling your ship with QWERASDFYXCV, one key for every thruster (?). I'm sure they've got something more elegant.
If its anything like BTRL (Precursor to this long story) you have WASDQE the mouse and a glide button that toggles if turning your ship should affect the direction of travel or simply rotate you around.
Yeah, you're spot-on.
For everyone that's wondering, the controls are surprisingly simple. You can sort of switch between newtonian spaceflight and atmospheric flight controls with a single button. The former, Glide Mode, leaves you drifting in one direction while being able to independently rotate in any other - so, for example, you can do a fly-by of a basestar while constantly pointing your weapons at it and shooting (but you won't be able to see where you're heading). The main flight mode is like classic dogfighting, and is explained as "computer assisted navigation" - it definitely helps to have an intuitive control scheme, and that you can change your trajectory by simply looking in another direction (banking, as befits a space sim, doesn't affect your movement; it merely rotates your view and maybe helps you dodge bullets).
And yes, the game has full-keyboard controls (divert power to shields/weapons/engines, change between five different view modes, adjust rate of fire, issue orders, target subsystems, etc.), but they aren't required. Targeting, movement, weapons and thrust control are everything you need.
EDIT: Oh, if it isn't clear from my post, I downloaded it and I love it. The voice-acting hiccups are only early-on and far between, everything is very top-notch and professional. The only hint that this isn't a mainstream big release is the number of options and key-bindings. Only a project unconcerned with widest-possible-appeal would have so many controls that you actually provide a Search function for them.
EDIT: Oh, forgot to mention - I actually really like the story. The game continuing despite your failures and losses (except, of course, if you get blown up) gives it that feverish, desperate atmosphere like at the beginning of BSG. I expected it to be more about the flight simulation and the combat, but I really appreciate how much attention was given to the missions and the briefings.