1jocator: Can anyone who has played both please contrast these 2 games to help me decide? I only know that Starsector is 2D and cheaper (and not on GOG). Anything to make me prefer one to the other?
By this game I meant X4 (I didn't see that this forum is for the series, not a single game).
I read about Starsector for a long time and finally tried it last year. The main differences, as I see them, are these:
-X4 is a space sim with a lot (and I mean A LOT) of trading and building tacked on; you have to expand your trading business to get ahead (unlike X3, combat is no longer a sustainable way to earn credits), so just flying around often takes a backseat to setting up an automated trader or building a new base to produce and sell goods; BUT if you feel like hopping in any of your ships (from a wee fighter to a huge carrier) and just flying around, you can; you have direct control over any of your ships, if you feel like it;
-Starsector is a management game set in space; you don't have direct control over your fleet; you can buy new ships, sure, equip them, order them around; but if, say, combat happens, all you can do is watch them fight and issue new orders; the scope of the game (obviously; indie dev) is also a lot smaller; there is combat, trading and exploration, but no base building that I could see;
So, in short, if you can afford it, X4 is the game I would recommend if you are looking for a huge sandbox for building and trading that you can also just fly around in. Starsector, on the other hand, would be the way to go if you are looking for a smaller (and more affordable) sandbox for space management and exploration.
Hope that helps.
