I like space sims but really don't play enough of them. One thing I've found is that (and this may sound ironic) they're too futuristic. And too science-y.

Not that those are bad things, mind you, but maybe there's room for something else. Why MUST space sims be futuristic and science-y? Why so serious? The technology seems to be firmly based on current theory or actual astrophysics or near-future scientific advances, along with "well, it's only a matter of time before we develop this thing and the military is already working on something similar." That kind of stuff. And if the genre needs something fantastical for the plot, well, the aliens made it. It's always those damn aliens.

But why can't we go back to the golden age of sci-fi, when things didn't have to make sense, when the ships looked like sea vessels with wings and thrusters, when the voice acting was over-the-top, when weapons had names like Hydrolistic Killmaxion Laser or Quantor-Speculum Torpedo? Farellian Maxilizer Shield and Novothermic Armor? Just throw together some science-sounding words and, voilà, you have a weapon or shield system or thruster or teleporter or whatever.

So here's what I'd like to see:

- space opera-esque setting with a "serious" plot, yet campy at the same time.
- trading that does more than give you money to buy bigger and better stuff; make it a plot device here and there but it shouldn't be something that takes over the game. That said, it should also be useful to the character who wants to trade.
- intentionally over-the-top voice acting and script circa 40s and 50s. Think radio serials, or Freedom Force.
- No more generic "Mass Drivers" and "Plasma Cannons". I want Pelletic Thrust Streamers and Cosmic Electro-Rays. And their effects should be more than just some beam of a different color and sound. I want big zaps and zolts and pew-pew.
- Blimps. With rockets on them. Submarines. With rockets on them. Flying saucers circa late-40s Roswell alien hysteria, with Jetson-like noises in the cut-scenes and landing sequences. 1950s auto show concept cars - in space. Big bubble canopies and all that other stuff that doesn't actually work in space but that, at one time, we thought was the way of the future.
- and a general feel of what people from 1860 to 1955 felt was going to be the future of space, aliens, and the like. All done on modern PC hardware.

Does this sound a bit like Futurama blended with some Jules Verne and pulp comics, and maybe The Thunderbirds for good measure? Good. That's what I want.


I expect someone's gonna come along soon enough and say "Oh, that? Check out this indie title."

The golden age of sci-fi was when sci-fi was based around something plausible at the time. Nowadays anything with glowy bits is considered sci-fi, which is bullshit. That's fantasy with spaceships, which is also what you want.

The blimps and Rosswell and whatever, I think you'll be better off looking to steam punk. I'd go with the new Bioshock title for that.


For alien... Well, there are games where you play as them. And UFO's and blah blah blah. I think your best choice for that is going to be SPORE.

For some older titles, I can't help you very much.