Okay, okay, I know there are no plans at this time to allow players to land on planets, but after reading the backstory I can't help but think that planetary colonies play such a large role in Vendetta's history, there must be some way to feasibly implement landing on planets sometime in the future (perhaps the next expansion pack after we get cap ships?).

Here's my idea:

When a player is in a sector that has a planet, an option appears in the nav screen that says "jump to planet." This will work the same way as a sector jump, but the loading screen will show a 2D rendering of the player's ship entering the planetary atmosphere. The player will then immediately be taken to the planet's "spaceport" which would be just like any other station, but would have some artwork of the planetscape in the background.

Players will not be able to fly around the planet's surface, nor will they be able to "walk around" the spaceport. Most of the features needed are already implemented (except for some extra artwork). This would just add a little bit of extra immersion by allowing players to visit all the places mentioned in the backstory.

In-station background noise would add to the immersion, too...

And a brief description of the planet/spaceport ala EV nova ;)

I think since scientifically speaking most planets are probably uninhabitable anyhow, it would be pretty cool to have an endless "planetary" area to have traditional aircraft dogfights in. Random scenery with mountains to dodge, maybe even cool tunnels to fly in and out/through. And yes, even add a distant "station" waypoint.

All of this would be cool to add depth to the game, one thing that a space shooter like this desperately needs. (Don't misinterpret me there... I like this game a lot, it's just that the few other similar games that have come out before didn't do well or are hanging on to a small niche following. Vendetta is going to have to do some cool and original stuff to be a serious contender and keep peoples attention for a while I think).

Fenris: mmmmm, good idea. :) Some planet scenery would be interesting, and you only need a unique "type" of scenery for dogfights etc, don't need towns or centers of industry or whatever. I've often gazed at those planet backround and wished I could go there. :) I like the system we have now where planets can be seen from various sectors.........it would be nice if we could fly directly to the planet, no special waypoint needed (it would basically be a very simplified re-entry......planet might only be accessible from one sector, though). If the devs really want to get crazy, they could tailor some ships to atmospheric flight (most of the ships we have now wouldn't suit well to atmospheric flight, from a physics standpoint). Hey, it could even be used to lose attackers: general purpose ship capable of atmospheric flight gets chased by a space-only hotrod fighter - the former heads to the planet, the latter either leaves or loses control by entering the atmosphere, and crashes into the surface. :)

-Matt Bailey

You mean something like the old sector 7 roid but bigger? That'd be fun, and fairly easily done... Devs?

actually if you think about it, making planets is just as easy as making a star system. the only thing(it seems)that would be needed made, is "random" planet textures. planets could be as large as a sector, and maybe have domes where you fly into one, it acts like a space station. dogfighting would be interesting, and it would allow you to add "Biological enemies".

but then again, im not the programer.

Yes, being able to fly around on a planet's surface would be cool, but I don't think it would be feasible. If you want to know why dig up some of the older threads on this topic and find the devs' posts.

If anything, I could envision a 3d realtime vista of the planet that you could see from the spaceport. Mountains stretching off into the distance with clouds moving overhead, something like that. But I seriously doubt we'll be able to 'fly around' planets. Just jumping to and from the spaceport is the most I'm hoping for.

i think this idea would be great when i read the backstory sadly but true i was hoping for better in the game allt he game is like a normal game installed on a pc except with the ocsinal enemy and a irc channel

...

Wha?

Ya I read that and thought just about the same thing LOL