XCON questions

(WIP) Answered

General:

• Will there be a Linux version? - This not decided yet. But as all previous games had a linux version and part of the technology we're using (e.g. Vulkan rendering engine) is designed to work on Linux too, there's a good chance for one.
• Will X4 support Virtual Reality ? - No, not at release. Virtual Reality requires major changes to the game interface, balancing as well as severe changes to ensure a proper framerate (read: performance). Thus, if there will be a VR version, it will be a standalone game.
• What's the release date? - This is not decided yet, 2018 (maybe later).
• Will there be Early Access? - This is not decided yet.
• Will this game be moddable? (to remove highways, create ship components?) What tools will be available?  - Modding is a huge part of every X game, so it will be possible in X4, too. However, at this moment we cannot say for sure what tools will be available.
• Will players be able to create their own stories for others to download and play? - Modding will be supported. And with the dedicated scripting engine, people will be able to create their own stories.
  
• Will we be able to control ships directly via mouse? - The game is designed with mouse and keyboard being the primary controls in mind. 
• Will crafting be a part of the game? - Yes, crafting will be included in X4 and will even be extended.
• Which improvements have been made to NPC AI ships (fighting, manuvering, docking)? - The AI has been improved in many parts and will be better than in X Rebirth. It's too early to talk about specifics.
  
  Map:
• Does the map feature drag & drop? - Yes, it does.
• Is each map hex a sector as in previous X games? - Sometimes it's a system, sometimes a sector. But the scale and system size can and will be different. 
• How much can you zoom out of the map? - You can zoom completely in and out of the map, so that you can see the whole (known) universe or only a single zone.
• Will the map be constantly updated? - Similar to previous games, there will be the distinction between static and live info. As soon as you discover a zone or part of it, it will be added as statitic information to your map. Live updates (for example what ships there are currently flying through that map) will only be available, when you have an asset (a ship or a station) within a zone and only within the scanner range of that asset.  
• Can you select multiple objects in the new map e.g. a group of ships either to order or attack? - Yes, you will be able to select multiple ships by drawing a box around them using your mouse cursor.
• Can I play in X4 like RTS? - The new powerful map system allows you to manage many tasks over the map directly, which allows for an RTS-like interface. 
  

Station construction and interaction:

• Regarding stations: can you build them wherever you want (X3) or is it limited like in XR? - You can build stations almost freely! You will have to buy/rent building places in the universe, which will be more expensive with increasing size. Thus, should motivate the player to build not exclusively in the center but also in border regions of systems.
• Is the construction of stations limited in any way? - It's a connection system (similar to Lego) where you can connect station modules almost freely. There are a couple of restrictions (for example with regards to the compatibility of modules from different races) and some requirements with regads to certain module being dependent on each other, but apart from that, you're able to design your own stations. 
• Whats the purpose of "modules to live in" in factories? what are those "people" for? And what do they do? - You will need living modules for your employees working on your stations to live in.
• Will we be able to save station layouts, or sections of stations, like a default living space and storage or something we would want to use for future station designs? - You plan and design your station in a graphical editor and save the blueprints to build these stations later.
  
• Can stations be destroyed? - Stations (aside of special landmarks) will be destructible and will not reappear after leaving the zone. 
• So is there Research and Development aspects in the game or is it just scanning stations and making teleporters? - Research is part of the game, with teleportation being one of the features you can research.
  
• Are we forced to walk on stations or can we controll all aspects from cockpit? - Platform gameplay has been reduced in comparion to X Rebirth. However, there are new interaction possibilites on platforms, and walking will always have a real purpose, for example as part of missions.
• Will there be First person combat aboard ships or stations? - No, there won't.
• Can your pilot be killed while you walk around? - No.
  
  Ship travel and interaction:
• Will the fact we have a copilot mean that if we eject, the ship can continue to fight whilst I run away? - Once you leave a ship, your copilot will take the pilot seat and continue flying the ship.
• Will SETA be a part of X4? - Yes, SETA will be part of the game.
• I'm curious about the travel system how all that is gonna work? - Travel will be similar to XR, whereby the highways will be mostly in straight lines or single radius curves. Not all zones will have highways and you will be able to boost over longer distances. This is following the steps we did in the Home of Light DLC. Additionally, using a feature called "Teleportation" you will be able to teleport between your ships, to travel much more quickly. 
• Do you have to pay the crews? - You don't have to pay them a daily salary.
• How does the Story of X4 connects to X Rebirth or X3? - In X4 you play a new story, which is not directly connected to XR or X3. Lore-wise, however, it plays in the same universe. And time-wise after the events in X Rebirth.
• Will we be able to fly and command capital ships? with a bridge? - Yes, you will be able to fly all ships from their cockpit or bridge in case of Capital ships.
• Will it be possible to place own pictures on player ships and Buildings much like a own Faction Logo? - Yes, Faction logos are a thing in X4.
• Are capital ships modular? - Not in the same extent as stations. However, there are numerous upgrades you can adjust and change (weapons, engines, turrets etc.). These will also be visually different. 
• Will ship roles be more strict? (Like frigates vs destroyers) - Ships will cover certain roles, but there will not be one ship that can do anything. This means only certain ships will be able to install shields, weapons and upgrades.
• Will we be able to shot from turrets directly? - No, this is currently not planned.
• Can we still fly freely in space suit? - This isn't possible right now. (But it's on our "maybe" list.)
  
  Story and missions
• What mission types do you currently have planned?  - There should be more happening in the universe which can than trigger missions based on those events. There will still be generic missions which may 'fabricate' the scenario as it was in previous games, but we do of course want these to have as little fakery as possible.
• Will there be a campaign in X4 ? - There will be different gamestarts with different personalities and different little storylines for each of them. Additionally, there will be a central plot everyone can play.
  
  

(WIP) Not answered yet

• Any planet based operations? E.g. trade or HQ.
• Will there be a stock market in X4, like their was in X3:AP?
• Will there be any new alien races? 
• can you build the factory to create new station modules yourself?
• Will this be pure singleplayer or also multiplayer (in a way, COOP etc.)?
• Will NPC interaction be completely optional or is it required to access certain features?
• will the gravidar work like X3, in revealing everything within range, or will the scanning of [i] elements around stations from X:R be retained?
• Are cap ships vital points better protected than in Rebirth? :
• Do stations have a build limit per station?
• Is station walking now linked with docking? Will we be forced to walk on stations?
• Can I create my own empire in my own sectors?
  
• Are there plans to reward players with their own sector again? Or features that allow to take over sectors/systems?
• So when I click on MedicalSupplies on one station, that station's price is SELL price, and the other stations are the BUY price for them?
•  in x rebirth i have build a station to build rockets. but i cant transfer the rockets to the playership. can i trade this in X4?
• Will all previous ship designs be available in X4?
• Will automated trading ships be able to use the highways in an optimal way ?
• Can player build/destroy highways?
• What about weapons? How they will work, like X3 where you can equip weapons you want or XR where you shot one charged pre designed to ship?
• Will the crew for the ships be expanded from X:R so we have more jobs, or stay the same?
• Could we have a description of weapon systems please? Is it similar to past games with Energy weapons and Missiles?
• Will trade ships and command ships owned by the player be scripted, in the likes of CAG, CLS or CODEA and SRS?
  
• Can you write question about weapons, please? How they will work, like they did in X3 or XR?
• As ships are being built using the factories now, Does this mean we can now buy and own a "Nova" factory?
• Will the XR capital ships come back in X4? i loved the look of those ships like the Balor Frigate and the Arwan
• What is your favourite change in X4 over the previous games?
• About how many ships are in the game?
• can you build the factory to create new station modules yourself?
• Will there be shield effects when you hit something?Will ship roles be more strict? Like frigates vs destroyers
• Will ships have distinct designs again depending on the species that built it? For example, red-ish ships for Split?
• will the ship have different characteristics like in X3, eg. Teladi being tanky and slow, Argon being balanced, Split bring fast, fragile but with much firepoer etc ?
• what's the situation with boarding/capping/piloting/etc xenon ships?
• Are there plans for making the lategame more interesting?