This is a tricky one and I am not sure how to vote. I thought FE2 had the 3D galaxy model 😕 , but I guess you are right Gernot, perhaps it could have been more spread out. Certainly if it had been, selecting individual systems in the star map (especially around the galactic core) would have been easier, so yea I will go for a full on 3D galaxy. Mind you its perfectly fine the way it is! 😉

What first attracted me to Frontier when I saw the box in the bargain bin was the realism. It was what first gave me a 3D mental image of the local stars. It was even used in classrooms for that purpose. I'd like Pioneer to continue that tradition. "But Dad, I am doing my homework!"

Ah, you wouldn't get away with that now Marcel, I've heard they use Orbiter here and there these days, mind you there is always the Star Trek Mod 😉

I voted 3D, as I do not mind the "finding it and getting there" to be a bit harder and a bit more realistic. Not due to fighting mind you but due to the natural facts of the universe (or at least what we conceive as being the facts today).

These are the same reasons I like fewer habitable planets and a fully fledged physics engine even if it means harder flying, landing and taking off.

That being said I think that stuff like carrier type space ships with the ability to launch and land smaller craft is more important from a GAME perspective than a 3D universe.

That. Though I can live perfectely fine with the Pioneer galaxymap as it is now, making it 3D and more realistic would be welcome. It would be nice if more preparation is needed before you make a jump. This is not number 1 on my wishlist however, but still nice 😀 .

Potsmoke once suggested to add the option to calculate each jump. That would be nice too. As long is it's not going to be extremely difficult I'm all for making things a bit harder. Adds to the gameplay, i.m.o. Spaceflight must never be too simple.

Or safe King Haggis. One of the things that used to get people all riled up was that the elite games at times could be desperately unfair on the player, throwing you into situations were all hope seems lost. I actually liked this feature because life itself can be unfair at times and it was nice to see this reflected in the game. Endings are not always happy and sugar coated 😈

3d! Why? well, I'm doing it in Orbiter Galaxy, it's not such a big deal. But be warned, you can pretty easily underestimate the dimensions. It's a 1000 lightyears thick disc we're talking about (and that's only the thin disc), with the Sun standing about 65 lightyears above the plain. It's easy to get lost, and a search function would be imperative. If it helps, I could offer a star catalogue with about 120,000 actual stars (allthough not all of them have names) with coordinates relative to the galactic center, complete with spectral class (most of them, I can sieve out those who don't). Pioneer then might have the second galaxy generator that has a realistic vicinity of the solar system. I would even provide you with my source codes if you wish, but it's an undocumented mess written by a n00b and probably wouldn't integrate too well with what you already have, plus the model isn't finished yet (still rather inacurate, really), so you're probably better off extending yours.

i would hapily sacrifice a smaller galaxy for a 3d one

im not fussed either way though

I took #4

As long as it doesn't hinder the story, I really don't care what model is used.

current e2 model is good, its way too hard to find anything in 3d one and interface wouldnt be intuitive

I vote for a 3D model of the galaxy, because I will do it in mine too.

It would be something that makes the difference between Pioneer and lots of other approaches.

I'd like to experiment with 3d galaxies, but I think not until after version 1.0, since it would shake things up too much at a time when the game is coming together.

That is a sensible move Tomm 🙂