Space Tactical Capital Ship Game or something like that

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

As the title hints, I have no idea how to elegantly describe what I'm thinking of. Are there any games out there that involve:

Commanding a capital ship in space in tactical combat
Managing capital ship(s) strategically - plotting courses, supply issues, staging ground operations

The picture in my mind is more grand than I'm making it out to be, so I might have to file it under "Videogames to Make."

I shouldn't be posting at 3AM, should I?

[Kekvit Irae]

I havent played any of them, but I think the Battlecruiser series allows you to play a big space battleship.
http://www.fileplanet.com/62798/6000...3000AD-v.-2.09 <-- full version of Battlecruiser 3000AD for free

[Fragony]

Freelancer should be just what you need.

[Kekvit Irae]

Unless you download a mod, Freelancer does not allow you to take control of the capital ships, only the fighters

[The_Doctor]

Freelancer is a great game, probably not what he is looking for.

Star Trek: Star Fleet Command 2 is a game you should try, in my opinion it is the best Star Trek game ever made, just don't go near the 3rd version of it.

I have not played it, but I have heard that Battlecruiser was sent by the devil.

[Sir Moody]

Battlecruiser is probably the only example of a "capital" ship simulator - its horrifically flawed and badly designed which ruins its unique position

ive always hoped that a Babylon 5 game based around capital ships would be released they at least acted like capital ships unlike the star trek ships which move and fight somewhat like fighters... alas babylon 5 is a pariah when it comes to computer games

[Sjakihata]

For a game that combines, fighter, light cruiser, cruiser, frigate, destroyer and carrier combat try Starshatter The Gathering Storm.

Or if you would like a huge space battle game, try Homeworld 2.

[Mount Suribachi]

Battlecruiser 3000AD

Isn't that the game with the longest running flame war in history on its forums?

[Beefeater]

Sword of the Stars is the best tactical space fleet battles game I have played. Strong recommend.

[BDC]

X3. Just been released on budget.

[Grey_Fox]

I second the Homeworld series. They are RTS games in space with full movement in all three dimensions. Pretty cool, with decent storylines and brilliant soundtracks.

[Geoffrey S]

Homeworld is more in an RTS style, though there are mods that incease the tactical depth (I vaguely recall something called Point Defense); if you're looking for a more detailed tactical game Nexus: The Jupiter Incident may be something for you. I remember trying the demo a while ago and being impressed, despite my computer struggling rather badly with the (beautiful) graphics. It's meant to be quite deep and got good reviews.

For a less simulation styled game you can definitely try X3. If you've got time online I've heard Eve Online is supposed to be incredible.

A fan-made game called Homeworld Invasion may also be interesting.

[Nikpalj]

Most definitely try out both Starshatter and Nexus (Nexus also has a lot of big mods for it, chek out the official forum)... I think that Starshatter might be the closest to what you're looking for - and it has a unique dynamic campaign engine.

If you're into Star Trek you could go to www.armadafleetcommand.com and check out Birth of the Federation and the mod for it called the Ultimate Dominion Mod 2 - in my opinion it's one of the best mods for this beautiful old Cx4 strategy game.

Also take a look at Star Trek: Bridge Commander for a more in yer face approach to starship combat, but still realistic and challenging enough (go to BC Filefront mod community for a ton of new game content).

And yes, it's ok to post at 3AM - I've posted some at 5AM just last night... freakin' vampire... :)

[Crazed Rabbit]

I'd recommend checking out starshatter. Very Realistic, alllows you to cammand anything from a fighter to a fleet. There should be a demo you can DL.

CR

[Crandaeolon]

Has Sword of the Stars improved since the horrible retail version? I had the game briefly, but luckily was able to return it for almost full price.

Nexus could be a good choice if you can find it in a bargain bin. Its replayability is a bit too low for a full-priced game though.

[Zenicetus]

From what I've heard, check out Starshatter and Nexus. Those seem to be the most recent stabs at this.

I tried the Nexus demo very briefly. The UI seemed a bit inscrutable and the whole thing just felt clumsy, but maybe I should give it another try.

Starshatter looks interesting and I want to try it.

Others I've played that don't quite fit the genre, but you may want to check out:

Homeworld 2 is very good as a command level fleet game (you can't fly any of the ships). It allows tactical planning and ship direction in a full 3D space, and doesn't simplify things down to a 2D grid like many of these games do.

X3 -- I played it for a while and tried to like it, but finally ditched it. It's an open-ended economy sandbox game, with limited diplomacy. You build up trader fleets, build factory space stations, and eventually can afford the big capital ships. You can jump into any of the ships in your fleet and fly them, but the big capital ships basically operate like big fighters... they don't really feel like cap ships aside from the physical scale (IMO). The combat is very simplistic too. The game does look very nice, and there is (or was) a big modder community, so you might want to check it out.

Independence War 2 is my favorite in-cockpit tactical combat game so far, mostly due to a very nice "flight" model that comes close to real-world physics, without being too frustrating to fly, once you get the hang of it. You can't stop on a dime, and there is no artificial speed limit like there is in most games of this type, which makes the fighting very interesting. It's not a capital ship though. You work up through smaller hulls and end up with sort of a corvette, or small frigate... basically just a very big fighter. And you don't command other ships. The missions are strictly linear, and I guess the graphics might be a little dated by now. Still, it's my current benchmark for this type of game. There is a big user mod out there somewhere that I haven't had a chance to try.

P.S. and yes... I'd avoid Battlecruiser 3000. It's the classic example of a game that tried too hard to do too many things, with the additional handicap of being driven by a single person's massive ego behind the project (sometimes that's good, but not in this case). It's been fascinating to watch this slow-motion trainwreck develop over the years, in various incarnations.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Tried Starshatter, didn't like the demo much. Maybe it was the demo, but controls seemed flunky and it just lacked something.

Have Homeworld 2, good game, not what I was thinking of.

What I really was thinking of was something where you have direct control of only one capital ship. Something like you start with a corvette or something and could work your way up in both tactical combat and strategic maneuvers.

NOT Eve Online - tried the demo, pretty boring. This ideal game of mine would not be RPG, and not necessarily MMO.

Something like Nexus but with more managing a single ship, and being able to plan movements and operations between battles.

I guess there isn't anything out there exactly like what I was thinking...

[Grey_Fox]

I think X3 is the game you want, you start off with a small ship and build your way up. I think.

[Samurai Waki]

X3 ... fantastic game, if not a bit buggy. Plus I love how much depth went into the economics.

[Zenicetus]

X3 ... fantastic game, if not a bit buggy. Plus I love how much depth went into the economics.

Yeah, but it's not a "command a capital ship" sim.

The big ships in the game look like cap ships, but they have no crew, no tactical depth, and they fly and fight just like slow fighters with more firepower. Not even a different cockpit display (at least in the version I played). I don't think that's what the OP was looking for.

Not a criticism, btw... just my opinion.

[The_Doctor]

I guess there isn't anything out there exactly like what I was thinking...

Star Trek: Star Fleet Command 2.

[Somebody Else]

Yeah, but it's not a "command a capital ship" sim.

The big ships in the game look like cap ships, but they have no crew, no tactical depth, and they fly and fight just like slow fighters with more firepower. Not even a different cockpit display (at least in the version I played). I don't think that's what the OP was looking for.

Not a criticism, btw... just my opinion.

There are mods out that alter the dynamics of capital ship combat - and various scripts that allow you to make flights of fighters and things work together. X3 is a very moddable game...

[The Wizard]

Why, Freespace 2, of course! As well as Haegemonia and that one game that originally was developed as Imperium Galactica III but then got a name and concept change. That last one is almost exactly what you're looking for.

[Bob the Insane]

Nexus is pretty cool, but very battle focused and quite linear...

Imperium Galactica III

Or Nexus the Jupiter Incident

[The Wizard]

Yeah, that. Not made by the folks who made IG2, IIRC.

Those, Digital Reality, made Hegemonia instead. Good game.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Basically I want Freespace 2 where you control and manage a single capital ship.

Tried the X3 demo, but the controls are like gah.

[Xiahou]

Tried the X3 demo, but the controls are like gah.

Ya, I'd say some sort of flight stick is a must for that game... keyboard and mouse controls can't be pleasant.

[Navaros]

Battlecruiser and any games by that developer are truly horrible. I'm surprised it got a recommendation on this site. It is often said that those games are made by "The Uwe Boll of video games". Avoid anything by that company like the Bubonic Plague.

[Fragony]

Basically I want Freespace 2 where you control and manage a single capital ship.

Tried the X3 demo, but the controls are like gah.

Got it! I-wars

You can even walk around in your ship, not my kind of game but my brother really liked it.