PeterD

You just described one of the very reasons they'd offer such a package -- since some players would be inclined to avoid other titles by this company they give you some bonuses to try them.

I always kind of despised Statesman, both because he comes across as a jerky version of Superman, and because as a concept, his character is really quite lame. Statesman? That's his superhero name? Really? A politician is a statesman. Wtf kind of superhero name is that?

Then yes, there was the whole Jack Emmert's ego-in-a-can thing going too. "It's my game and I'm the king!" (not a real quote. Probably)

My "main" is a magic tank wearing what would be runed armor if it was possible to make such in the game. Thus the rune aura is definitely my favorite and a must have for him.

I would recommend against using trade contracts for diamonds. For the same number of contracts you can get a ruby or a sapphire, which is worth 5-10x as much to the rare material trader (depending on market fluctuations). Thus a single sapphire or ruby will get you much closer to getting 10 diamonds than trading contracts for diamonds.

Yes, diamonds are not always available on the rare material trader, but be patient and check every time you're in town. You'll get them eventually, and much more cheaply if you use contracts to get the high value gems and sell them for the cash to buy diamonds. It only took me a couple of days to purchase the diamonds I needed from the trader and got my destroyer axe -- now I just need to build my cash reserves back up :P

Player ships weren't done notably in Pirates of the Burning Sea? :P

Well, say what you like, but it sure beats the pants off a $25 sparkle pony.

Well really, a starship WOULD handle more like a helicopter than an airplane in many ways. They're not limited to forward movement because lift and aerodynamics aren't an issue. Thrusters can point in any direction and all you have to deal with is inertia and the resultant g-forces on a crew.

The "traditional" wing commander/star wars style space combat is actually fairly ludicrous as it's modeled on WW2 style dogfighting, not a simulation of space combat.

It seems a little odd that they'd release "official" footage in the form of a video recording of a screen, rather than actually recording the gameplay digitally like most trailers.

As others have said, it does seem awfully arcade-y, like they took a top-down scrolling 2D shooter and made it 3D. Maybe it's a blast to play, it really could be, but after all the years of waiting they don't seem to have much to show for it. Time will tell I suppose.

Unless there's some photoshop flimflammery involved, the graphics looks like they've gotten a pretty significant overhaul from the original version. Which is as it should be, of course, but it's nice to see Heatwave isn't going for a budget revamp here.

The game was interesting in the original closed beta, but as others have said it most certainly was not ready for release. I would have kept playing if I'd had the chance though.

Perpetual had funding problems and had to choose between STO or G&H. STO seemed like a surer bet (Star Trek!), so they went with that. In the end, they couldn't get the funding to continue development on that either, and the company folded and sold off it's assets. Cryptic picked up STO and, apparently, Heatwave picked up G&H.

Here's hoping it works out.

I'd much rather have that than the clown suits of Blizzard's Burning Crusade, or the absolute rubbish they're releasing with Cataclysm. Have you seen the Tier 11 armors? Vomitous.