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Jumpgate:The Reconstruction Initiative.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: September 22, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Making its debut on Sep 25 2001 this multiplayer online game is the best Sci-Fi game of any type I have yet seen. I was one of the many and privilaged beta testers who were able to see first hand the fantastic aspects of this game. I put in nearly 100 hours of playing time over the last four weeks, not counting the report writing, and I am still thrilled with the game. I can not say this about ANY other game I have played in recent years.

You have the choice of three factions; Materialistic Solrain: Warlike Octavious: Religouslike Quantar: to choose from. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Their are an infinint, or nearly so, number of ways you can play your character and their are jobs you can do to gain money and experience points. In 'Missions' are Cargo transfers, Scouting missions, Mining missions, Jobs that help to increase the power of your own faction, and on and on. This is where you will gain most of your credits and experience points, At least at the beginning.

In the 'Market' your ship can be made better with engines, power plants, radar, shields, guns, so on with the monies you make. Your experience points raise you to new military levels allowing you to get better and better hardware for your ship. There are at this time three space stations for each faction and a few other stations of non-alinged peoples to fly to as well as over a hundred different jumpoints consisting of millions and millions of cubit meters of territory to explore and exploit. AND, more planed for the future. A bigger universe with more in it. This is going to be an evolving game. We decide how it elvolves through our collective actions.

You can be practically any type of person you want. Explorer, Trader, Miner, even a pirate or kill anything that moves in which case you have to be very careful or you'll end up with a big price on your head and every one else will be looking to collect. Also, if you do your evil deeds in TRI controlled space you will suffer penalties that will reduce your Exp. level and thus your ship level drasticaly. Their are areas in the map where you neerdowells and carry out your nefarious acts in safty from TRI justice but not those of us who will come to hunt you.

Also, there is an alien race known as the Conflux. Kill them if you can. Right now their are 10 levels of them; C1-C10 the higher number being more dangerous. If you are not good in combat and have low shield and weapons ratings, RUN. The Conflex are good for credits and experience points but only if you kill one. Pratice in the stations' simulator, everything that they have. Over, and over, and over. Docking, Killing Conflex, flying around asteroids (in space, what ever direction your are going your ship will want to continue in that direction). Don't go out in this game until you become good in the simulator. When you die there, their is no record; no problem. If you die in the game, and it's easy to die, your remains are revitalized and you get your ship replaced and credits for most of its equipment but your deaths go on a permanent record and your insurance rating goes down. That's money lost in equipment replacement credits on your next death. In the simulator you can also try any ship of your factions design and all the equipment that is currently available in the game. Try them out and see what the various guns, engines, power units. ect. can do. So far as I could tell, the equipment of all factions worked in my factions ship.

Under 'Missions' don't take jobs you can't do. If you fail the job it goes against you. Many jobs require ship modifications that are unavailable to you at your current rank. In some missions you have a choice of mission levels 1, 2, 3, so on. Take one to high to accomplish you die trying? Failed mission and death marked against you. Keep your missions in harmony with your abilities.

You will need a 3D video card and a joy stick as playing with a mouse just won't cut it. Automatic updates at log-on with the Jumpgate Server are included in the price.
Make a decision soon as only 30,000 copies are being released for the first wave of Jumpgate TRI pilots.

This game is a must for all Sci-Fi fans. I have not seen its equal anywhere. See you there Pilot.

Rimous of the Octavius faction.

Cool game with great promise for space sim fans

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I hesitate to give this game 5 stars because I'm not sure it has earned them yet. The online portion of the game is in it's infancy, which has it's good and bad sides. The good side is that there is lots of room for the story to expand and unfold in ways that will make this one of the most entertaining games I've ever played online. The bad is that it can become tedious and repetitive as you work your way up through the ranks.

You do start out the game with the volkswagon beetle of spaceships. Equipping it with the standard loadout provided by TRI. This makes it slow, and mostly useless. This provides the incentive to make it to the next level of ranks and make money. The starting benefits you get depend on the faction you choose which I think is a cool option. There are five factions, of which you can play for any one of three. The ships from each faction are different, but the components are interchangable, another thing I like. To make money and experience you can mine, pirate, kill Conflux (the mystery alien race in the game) and trade. Interaction with other players in the Jumpgate universe is usually pleasent, although there are players who make it a point to just shoot anything that moves. Usually, larger squads (player controlled teams) of fighters will stomp on these people. Balance of play is achieved by players. I would recommend reading the Forums on the website to check into joining a squad as well. Squad play adds much to the game.

Above are a few of the things that I like about the game. I hope Netdevil and 3do enhance it further. Things have changed in the two weeks since I began playing. I would recommend this game highly. Well worth the money.

Where no Game Has Gone Before

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: November 15, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game isn't for everyone.

If you are looking for nonstop shootemup action that you just react to and dont have to Think about...look elsewhere.

If you are interested in a "Space Sim" - then you may want to come a little closer and give Jumpgate a try. 30$ is cheaper than 90% of new games on the market. You get to play for a month free before the 10$ Pay-to-Play fee starts.

Dont let the 10$ put you off! I was concerned about the fee, but it does have its good parts. The servers havent been offline the whole time I have been playing. The bandwidth is very good, hardly any lag problems for me. The average jerky personality doesnt like to Pay-to-Play, so they just aren't there =D YAY

I read a review somewhere that said it took some poor Schmuck 2 weeks to upgrade his ship. This person must not have actually tried...took me all of 4 evenings. About 12 hours of game time.

This review also said the aliens will kill you in 1 shot. Simply not true. Reveiwer must not have very good aim, or maybe needs glasses. I did some practice vs. the aliens in "simulator" mode, where you cant *actually* die, and became good at killing them before trying it for real.

Oh, yes, and the flight model...to simplify matters, designers incorporated a "drag" effect, so you slow down if you are at 0 throttle. Yes you have braking thrusters, but they aren't meant to bring you to a quick stop from full speed. The CORRECT way to slow yourself in preparation for docking, is to flip 180 degrees, and use your Forward thrusters to stop quickly. After the first couple dockings, most everyone can figure out that no-brainer.

The graphics put me off a little at first, but the ship models dont look all that bad really. Besides, would you rather have graphics or gameplay?

Best game I have played in a long time. I look forward to going home and playing it tonight. My wife hates it, so I guess thats the best reccomendation...

As stated before VERY hard to walk away from

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 31, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game has come from a small group of truly cool developers who actually listen to their beta testers' input and have created an astounding game. When I was introduced, the first few hours were so-so, the next few were becoming more interesting, and the hundreds after that have been the best I've spent in any gaming world. Once you learn a few basics (how the flight model feels, chat channels, registry settings), you become totally immersed in a virtual galaxy which you can actually have an effect on, however small your actions. The community attached to this game is certainly one of the big addiction factors, where even your enemies become your friends. Caution to those who only have time to play a couple times a month, this game won't let you go once you are hooked.
T :)

Awesome game...if you can get beyond the manotony

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 07, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have been beta testing this for awhile and I am very impressed. But be warned, after so many hours the missions can get a bit on the boring side from the long travel times it can take between stations. Later, as you gain higher levels and better equipment, the fun can pick up again as you take on some of the more challenging AI aliens (Conflux). But what really makes the game fun is the role-playing you take on yourself with other players and working together with a squad. Also expect the game to get even better with NetDevils commitment to further the game in the future as it grows. If you dont have to have full blown action combat every minute, then this game is for you.

Prepare to lose sight of reality....

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

...as you immerse your self in this realistic alternate universe. Extremely addicting! You better have lots of free days available for the battles that will rage ahead. From flying recon patrol for TRI in order to get more info on the , to covering your wingleader's six while on escort duty guarding against raiders and pirates, I guarantee that you will never have a more exciting and rewarding space simulation experience than in this game. After beta testing for two versions, I still come back for more. The slogan "Welcome to your next life..." is not a far-fetched promise, it's a warning!

Privateer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First, let me say I am hooked! my wife is ready to burn the 3DO servers to the ground. I stumbled onto this game by accident, and my life has not been the same since SLEEP I NEED SLEEP. enough of that. This game offers a realistic physics model that you really must account for. If you are moving in one direction you have to apply counter thrust in the other to stop,I like that concept in a game. Also the creators have fleshed out a plausable explaination for thier universe, this helps one initally get into the game. Thwey have gone to some lengths to make it frowned upon to shoot new players before they are into and comfortable with the game, and the other players police those who shoot newbies,(really a rare occasion, very Well You can really do what you want I have been a miner, cargo haul, patrol man and an explorer one night i flew 500000kilometers in one of the sectors of space it was great. there is also combat if you are so inclined. There are squads, groups of pilots who have banded to gether to help one another, and further variuos interests. The graphics are stunning and the soundtrack is very good , the company also has servers that are dedicated to the game to support the squad pages and discussion boards. It is an easy yet complex game with a multitude of options and opprotunity for combaty roll playing or just seeing the sights a great game I will never have to buy another computer game forthe rest of my life. HEL squad-SOLRAIN SUPREME

Freedom at best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

You get to be whatever you want to be in this universe. Its big, flying around pushes your adrenaline even after 300 duty hours. Its fast to learn, requires negotiation, organisation, practice and a good bit of care to build up your own realm. Teamwork is vital for success no matter which way you chose for yourself to go.
The universe keeps evolving along the storylines the players create, even new ships and equipment are manufactured given the players take care of the research support and raw material supplies. Trading as well as spare part supply are vital for any squad and even the fleets to stay operational.
Player interaction is a big factor of influence on the happenings in this game, the borders between operations commissioned by government and player characters become blurred.
The continuous menace coming from the hostile alien race of the confluxx rounds off the whole experience of this consistent yet ever advancing universe.
This game is strongly recommended for any space sim, scifi trade, and massive multiplayer game fan.

Awesome game with greatest online community!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you like space sims and interacting with thousands of friends you will love this game. Although there are couple of levels in the beginning it may seem boring and repetitive, but once you pass level 7 and established friends and became member of a scout or a team, JG will suck your life into it. Your sleeping, eating working patterns will soon change. JG community is just far the best compared to any other online game. The developers are extremely dedicated and above all they build this game because they love games. In contrast to other MMOGs this game has very few bugs or problems. Well, I got to go now, to run faction missions, we have to finish our science factory, Sols are beating us.....

Boring to death

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: November 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I bought JumpGate because someone said, "oh wow, it's the best on-line game i ever played" and "it's like privateer". Well, IT'S NOT anything like privateer, that game was fun. This game is about the same as going to work only it takes longer then 8 hours to do anyway. Ok, ok the facts are:

1. (...)
2. You start the game with a slow ship and can't get a fast one for about 2 weeks of loooooooong hours playing it.
3. No video card need apply (cheesy ships VERY cheesy)
4. Can you say, "loco motion"? I knew you could.

Or should i say boooooring hours, it wouldn't be so bad if there was something to look at but there is not. The ships should be named "Polygon 1" and "Polygon 2" because that's how many they used to model them. The best looking thing in the game is the box. Which brings up another point, EVERY time EVERY time you do ANYTHING even if you dock or change something on your ship you can't do anything until the little robot loader finishes some stupid animation (about 20-30 seconds). The loco-motion ship controls make it very tricky to dock, there is no auto-pilot whatsoever, which means you have to fly to the station, dock with the station (SLOWLY) and make one mistake on a mission and tap something, BOOM, you go back to the last station you docked with. There is no room for error your ship even a good ship will die instantly if you hit something and with loco-motion flight its almost impossible not to unless you go slow all the time. Yes there are breaking thrusters; they take about 1 minute to come to a complete stop from a full burn on even a slow ship. To move around you must travel (again no auto-pilot) from gate to gate, across the sectors, we are talking about 70,000 clicks apart at some points, needless to say that takes forever or about 30-40 minutes a short mission. True there are real people on-line you can talk to but don't forget yourself because your ship will just keep right on going while you type till it hits something. Don't worry though if you sit still you will get attacked by the "enemy" also known as the con-flux they look like pink squid/snails/manta-rays and till you get a real ship can kill you in one shot, they are also a lot faster then you are so if they hang around a sector where you need to be you'll need some other players to take them out before you can enter. They also can follow you through a jumpgate and you won't out run them. Well there is a lot more but let's just say I *HATE* this game (...)

I plan on selling it if anyone wants a copy? hahahahaaaaaaaaaha

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