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Jumpgate

	Author: Brian Rubin Article Type: PC Game Review Publication Date: 10/21/2003 Developer: NetDevil Publisher: NetDevil Related Categories: Science Fiction, Tactical, Online or Multi-Player, Spaceship Combat

Choices, Choices, and More Choices…(continued)

Regardless of the ship or equipment used, there's always something to do in Jumpgate, thanks to randomly generated missions and a dynamic economy. Missions, as mentioned, are acquired at mission computers. There are several types of missions, including combat, mining, transport, cargo hauling, scanning, and so on. Each of these missions also has three levels of difficulty, so a level one cargo mission will be easier to accomplish than a level three cargo mission.

Once the gamer has chosen a mission, he will have to plot a course to his destination, and this is done with the map screen. Upon clicking "Map" on the station screen (or the map button while in flight), a fully 3D, scalable map of the entire universe will appear. From here, the gamer clicks each system in the desired flight path to set up a series of waypoints. Once he gets back to his cockpit, highlighted systems will have their gates marked with a "Waypoint" marker in the HUD, to help him find the way.

Depending on the mission, he might need to make several stops along the way. For example, if the gamer has chosen a mining mission, he'll need to find specific asteroids in order to mine enough materials to complete the mission. If he has chosen a combat mission, he will have to kill a certain amount of enemy Conflux to complete your mission. Occasionally there will also be factional-based missions that usually unveil new ships or equipment. Eventually once the gamer makes enough money, he can also own his very own space station.

Beyond missions, there can be several events sponsored by other players or Game Masters (GMs). There are also ongoing role playing plotlines promoted again by players and GMs. Gamers can also haul cargo, due to the game's fully dynamic economy which is based on supply and demand. Overall, there's always something to do in Jumpgate, and the more levels gained, the more opportunities will open up.

Docking at a station after a harried battle, in which I was lucky to escape with zero armor. Notice the "A0%" indicated in the middle of the HUD.	Mining an asteroid while under attack by a C1 "Squid" Conflux.

It's a Dangerous Universe Out There

While it's nice to be able to haul cargo or mine asteroids, there are dangers out there that will try to prevent gamers from accomplishing their goals. The first of these are other players. While most players will usually leave other players alone, especially new players or those marked as civilians, there are pirates who will demand tributes for continued passage. Usually, however, if they are paid they'll let the gamer go, but "Civ Ripping", the act of downing a civilian ship isn't uncommon.

The second threat are the Conflux, the AI creatures of the game. Conflux are space-borne creatures whose whole purpose in life is to destroy Humans and stop our expansion. Conflux come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiniest C0 "Jellyfish" conflux, which are usually meant as fodder for new pilots, to higher level conflux such as the deadly C9 "Kraken", which are small and hard to hit, yet deadly accurate with their weapons. Certain systems spawn certain types of flux, and gamers will spawn more flux as they rise in experience levels. Eventually gamers can purchase an "Antiflux" ECM, which prevents them from spawning, but it doesn't wholly alleviate this threat.

Overall, while the Jumpgate universe is filled with fun and adventure, it's also filled with dangers that any new pilot should be made aware of. It will take practice and skill to avoid or deal with these dangers, but like the rest of the game, there's a high level of satisfaction involved with learning something new.