Artemis: Spaceship Bridge Simulator (or, "The Game STO Shoulda Been?")

[Ghambit]

http://artemis.eochu.com/

Artemis is a multiplayer, multi-computer networked game for Windows computers.
Artemis simulates a spaceship bridge by networking several computers together. One computer runs the simulation and the "main screen", while the others serve as workstations for the normal jobs a bridge officer might do, like Helm, Communication, Engineering, and Weapon Control.
Artemis is a social game where several players are together in one room ("bridge") , and while they all work together, one player plays the Captain, a person who sits in the middle, doesn't have a workstation, and tells everyone what to do.

Disclaimer:  I know the standard argument here is that a trek MP design like this sux ass, but humor me.

The main goal of the game is to protect deep space stations from attack and destruction (simple enough).  Said stations can provide repairs, energy, supply, etc. also when docked to.
Newest version does have internet support instead of just LAN, so your clients dont have to be local.  The vids below seem to be examples of such play online and there doesnt seem to be too many complaints.  Also, there is now indeed PvP, which is likely where the game would shine the most.
The creator wants cash so he devved it IP neutral, hence the rather generic graphics and lack of story.  Ideally, this would've been some kind of BridgeCommander uber-mod or simply an original ST product not-for-profit.  One can dream I guess.

Sure the game looks like hammered shit but it's a nice try at a concept many have said could work as a game/simulator.   I suspect the ST-RPG crowd will be all over it as well as a few LARP groups; should be good for such things as well.  Integrated into something like Bridge Commander or Elite Force 2 it'd be quite the product.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4dUMTjFclQ&feature=&p=F3A37F52FF2F0C0F&index=0&playnext=1
(developer interview at end of series)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnZszGvpTrQ
(less fluffy, more generic LAN gameplay vid)

[Bungee]

When watching the Videos, I also get the Video "How to not pickup Women" in the recommended section...

[Ghambit]

When watching the Videos, I also get the Video "How to not pickup Women" in the recommended section...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4DC87LsKws&feature=player_embedded

[Lantyssa]

That could have been epic had anyone played along.

[Stormwaltz]

I had an idea much like this back in 1998. Teams of people playing as a Star Trek bridge crews in an MMG space.

In 1999, after getting my first MMG industry job, I discarded it as impractical.

[Zaljerem]

Seems like an interesting concept.

[Ratman_tf]

I had an idea much like this back in 1998. Teams of people playing as a Star Trek bridge crews in an MMG space.

In 1999, after getting my first MMG industry job, I discarded it as impractical.

Scuzzlebutt is that the FASA guys wanted to do something very similar, but the tech wasn't up to it at the time, so they made Battletech.

At least, that's the rumor I heard.

[Trippy]

I had an idea much like this back in 1998. Teams of people playing as a Star Trek bridge crews in an MMG space.

In 1999, after getting my first MMG industry job, I discarded it as impractical.

Anybody remember the name of the MUD that did/does this?

[Mrbloodworth]

Quite awesome.

I really want to play this. Now to find some friends. 

[Comstar]

I played that game in the mid-90's. Everything was Command Line based, and you hooked 6 PC's with CRT's up.

[Prospero]

This is effectively what Puzzle Pirates does and it's quite fun. It would be neat to see someone else pull it off for a more mainstream game.

[Ghambit]

If Techbear (the designer) does what he intends to in a timely manner, e.g. channels Notch of Minecraft,  then he'll have something nice on his hands.

I played that game in the mid-90's. Everything was Command Line based, and you hooked 6 PC's with CRT's up.

There's a Trek-Mush that basically does this but for the life of me I cant find it.

I had an idea much like this back in 1998. Teams of people playing as a Star Trek bridge crews in an MMG space.

In 1999, after getting my first MMG industry job, I discarded it as impractical.

The idea I had years ago was simply due to Bridge Commander.  Just take the game and split the LCARS screens amongst networked PCs via simple PC-sharing and some fancy display emulation or conferencing app.  Voila.  Done.
Netcode is already built in for online games and it's heavily supported with mods and leagues.  Also, it's one of the few games ever made where it's blatantly obvious having more than 1 person running the ship is an advantage, since the AI crew are a buncha dumbasses.

[Sir T]

I played that game in the mid-90's. Everything was Command Line based, and you hooked 6 PC's with CRT's up.

There's a Trek-Mush that basically does this but for the life of me I cant find it.

TrekMUSE used to do something like this, but it shut down years ago.

[Ghambit]

Big new update just came out:
http://artemis.eochu.com/board.html#/20101210/artemis-v12-is-now-available-252714/

Aaaannnd, I have yet to even play this thing for reals.

[Morat20]

This is effectively what Puzzle Pirates does and it's quite fun. It would be neat to see someone else pull it off for a more mainstream game.

"GODDAMN IT. SOMEONE FUCKING BILGE"

"Don't fucking gun if you don't know how!"

"STOP HAULING TREASURE! WE NEED CARPENTERS"

"Great job, assholes. You sunk us."

Needs work. :)

[UnSub]

This is effectively what Puzzle Pirates does and it's quite fun. It would be neat to see someone else pull it off for a more mainstream game.

"GODDAMN IT. SOMEONE FUCKING BILGE"

"Don't fucking gun if you don't know how!"

"STOP HAULING TREASURE! WE NEED CARPENTERS"

"Great job, assholes. You sunk us."

Needs work. :)

I've always thought that people who called for player teams running bridges in STO had never actually played a video game in a PUG situation, for the reasons you mention.

[Ghambit]

Yah but, all that stuff you just said sounded fun though.  

If anything, this particular project will demonstrate whether or not a game like this could achieve any kind of critical mass.  Right now it's mostly just tweaking the gameplay mechanics and gradually adding more and more features.  Some of the procedural ships have been replaced by custom jobs also.

He really needs to change his forum and get a bit more organized in the online part of his game though (stat tracking, a lobby, etc.).  Right now, it's still mostly just a LAN-party gimmick.

[Mrbloodworth]

This is effectively what Puzzle Pirates does and it's quite fun. It would be neat to see someone else pull it off for a more mainstream game.

"GODDAMN IT. SOMEONE FUCKING BILGE"

"Don't fucking gun if you don't know how!"

"STOP HAULING TREASURE! WE NEED CARPENTERS"

"Great job, assholes. You sunk us."

Needs work. :)

I've always thought that people who called for player teams running bridges in STO had never actually played a video game in a PUG situation, for the reasons you mention.

Who the hell would pug something like a bridge crew? See, that right there is where you got off to the wrong start.

[Ghambit]

The better question is:  why does one even HAVE to design a game with pugging in mind?
To me, the moment you balance a game down to where two total strangers can pwn an organized group, that's the moment your game is broken... not the other way around.

[tazelbain]

I agree because pug proofing a game means players can never be allowed to fail.

[Ghambit]

The procedural ship generator he used to make the game is now freely available as a modding tool on his site.  Neat toy to play with.
I think next up he's gonna enable the ability to tag .wavs and .txt to certain events in the game, so then people will be able to write their own missions.

[Mrbloodworth]

Seems this title has gotten a graphical update.

I feel a LAN party coming on.

EDIT: It also supports internet play, and PvP now.

[Amaron]

I'm going to get hit over this but it needs moar bridge.   I want to sit in my captains char with some alien talking heads on my 10 foot main screen.

I agree because pug proofing a game means players can never be allowed to fail.

That's not totally true.   You could have them fail in terms of their own personal reward without messing up the rest of the group.   Like a dpser who fails to break a certain damage threshold etc etc.  Pug proofing something like this is dumb though.

[DraconianOne]

I'm going to get hit over this but it needs moar bridge.   I want to sit in my captains char with some alien talking heads on my 10 foot main screen.

Have you been watching the LaughPong lot playing it? Because they totally did alien talking heads on their 10ft screen! 

[Strazos]

Too bad people seem to be unfunny tards on chat roulette. 

[Mrbloodworth]

So, I have interested people, hard part now is hardware. :(