I don't know if you guys have seen this before. I don't know how reliable this info is and it was posted a long time ago (10 May 02). (I'm also not sure this topic belongs here but...)
http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=3273Kevin Ar18
Outpost 3
Just as Outpost 2 was drastically different than Outpost 1, Outpost 3, would be just as dramatic of a difference.
Outpost 3 was being developed by a company called Stellarwave. From personally talking to the developer / owner of the company, the game sounded quite interesting.
It was gonna be in true 3D (no more 2D). It would be real time of course. The game would stick to the Outpost 2 model with a combination of colony management and combat. However, the game would expand on Outpost 2's style with better combat as well as more involved colony building and management. A better AI would also being included. He game me the example of say you attack a certain canyon a number of times, the AI will set up guard posts or better protection in that area as a result.
However, the game would also offer a choice of 3 styles of gameplay.
1. no combat - aka just building a colony
2. Outpost 2 style
3. and the new Outpost 3 style (whatever that would be)
Some other features:
There would be a surface level, underground, and underwater.
In Outpost 1, you had to switch between the undground and surface, however, in Outpost 3, a transparency layer would be used so that you can see the underground from the surface (thus, no switching).
The game would take the weapons technology of Outpost 2, keep it, and expand on it with a new level of weapons technology. The game would also introduce aircraft as well as more space related stuff. Combat would take on a new level in the game (compared to Outpost 2).
In addition, the game would have the option to build colonies in space. You could play on a solor system level and colonize in space as well as on multiple planets in the solor system. I remember one day talking to him where he told me he was working on the 3D model for the agridome for space.
In addition to this, they were considering a massively multipalyer version, where you play on a constantly running universe and colonize planets throughout the galaxy (while competing with other people).
I was also told about where he played a game (I guess of the alpha version) where the other person made a sneak attack by sending his units underwater and sneaking up on his base. Sounded interestig to me.
In addition to the combat aspect, Outpost 3 would keep and expand on the colony strategy elements. Monorails would be reintroduced as well as more colony control requirements.
Well, anyways, several month's ago, Stellarwave sold their assets to another company. The guy who owned the company now works for the company. However, last I heard that company decided not to finish Outpost 3 due to "lack of interest."
It's a little disappointing. It would have been nice to play a game that combines war and colony building at the same time. Outpost 2 can only be played for so long, and like I said, it does have its limitations.
Interesting: Flying units, water, and space colonization. I think these are all ideas entertained elsewhere in the OP3 forums... Well, like I said, it's pretty old so you've probably all seen it before.
