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I think that there is enough complicated items in the game that we have to simplify how and what constitutes "Space Units".

So... Here's what we've come up with as Research Items in the game.

Research Items:
1) Weather Satellite
2) Communications Satellite
3) Lauch Pad
4) Reconnaisance Satellite
5) STAR WARS!

Weather Satellite (assuming Weather Still stays in the game). Once this item is researched, the World Market will launch it for you as long as you are a member.

Communications Satellite - May or may not be included… (Should give a boost to Unit Response since this benefits your Command and Control Structure.) Will give a boost to Domestic Approval (population gets more TV channels ) Again, once you have this researched the WM to launch it for you as long as you're a member.

Launch Pads - Separate Tech Item that has to be researched before it can be built. (If you have a Launch Pad - you don't have to be a World Market Member to have Weather and Communication satellites launched.

Reconnaisance Satellite - Once researched, this would require you to have your own Launch Site (NOT ICBM Silo). When you click on the hex that has the launch site, it tells you the status of you recon satellites...

Star Wars Technology --- Requires Launch Site (NOT ICBM Silo).
Once researched, it starts launching protective satellites. When you select the Launch site hex, then it will report Recon Satellite status AND confidence in Missile Intercept.

That's about it... Other than Building a Launch Pad once the research is complete, everything is generally automatic.

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- David

Anti-Satellite Satellites in there soemwhere ?

I think the only Anti Satellite weaponry we'll be incorporated are Plane Launched Anti Satellite missiles.

Are satellites destroyable (is that a word?)
and would doing so annoy the world market?

Only defensive satellites?

What about a kind of a "golden eye" sat?
Or perhaps an orbital missile station that could target ground targets both for precision strikes as well a nuclear ones?

No ground based anti-sat lasers ?
If i remember correctly the tech was proven viable in 1997 with some successful firing tests.

Well...this thread seems to have been very silent for a long time.

Now that the beta is almost in sight Id like to know whats the final word regarding space units.

I suppose there will be satellites that can block missiles attacks but will there be satellites that can attack things on the ground?

Will there be space-stations and if yes what will they do?

We intend to support four types of satellites; Recon, Weather, Communications and Defense. None of them will be able to attack land targets. We also have no space stations. The complexities of a “space” layer on top of everything didn’t seem to add enough to warrant the time involved in development and implementation.

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Chris Latour
BattleGoat Studios
chris@battlegoat.com

FWIW, I like this simpler approach. The game is based on 2010, not 3110 or a time when space combat is mature and commonplace. The capabilities that these four types of satellites offer, closely mirror what can be found in SPAWAR (Space Warfare Research) with one minor exception that you may already be accomodating. That is "sat killer" satellites that can disable or neutralize or destroy someone's satellites. If the SR2010 Defense Sat can target another sat then IMHO, you have it already.

Will space units actually be on the map or will they be abstracted like in Alpha Centauri?

Is it possible to attack the satellites of the other players (perhaps directly on the map),or is there another way to remove them?

Currently the intent is to have all of the space units as abstract. I'm not sure how they will be take out... I'll need David to comment on that one.

_________________
Chris Latour
BattleGoat Studios
chris@battlegoat.com

Satellites are intended to be an "Abstract" but even so, we do intend to have ways to attack them. We still have some details to work out...