Additional Info
Hard drive space
Full download: 0.49 GB
Initial download: 0.32 GB
Download time
| Kb/s | 20 MB | 8 MB | 512 KB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 1mn | 3mn | 1h 01mn |
System Requirements
- Operating System: 2000/XP,
currently Vista testing - OS: Windows
Copyright
© 2000-2005 NovaLogic, Inc. NovaLogic, the NovaLogic logo, NovaWorld and Tachyon are registered trademarks and The Fringe, Jake Logan, Voice-Over-Net and the NovaWorld logo are trademarks of NovaLogic, Inc. Windows is a registered trademark and Direct 3D, DirectX are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and MMX is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. 3dfx is a trademark of 3dfx Interactive, Inc. Earthlink is a registered trademark and the Earthlink logo is a trademark of Earthlink, Inc. Bink Video is a trademark of RAD Game Tools. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Printed in the U.S.A.
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Overview
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Instructions & Tips
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Screenshots & Video
Story
In the 26th century, humankind has colonized the stars using Tachyon Gates, hyperspace tunnels that allow warp-speed travel through space. Early on, you're framed for a heinous crime and banished from the civilized galaxy, forced to live on the Fringe. Better still, war is brewing Bora colonists and the GalSpan Corporation. Between scrounging for cash and fighting other people's battles, every pilot is going to have to pick one side or the other before the region explodes. Just your luck.
Basics
Tachyon: The Fringe is a space combat game that puts you in the cockpit as Jake Logan, all-around good guy, sentenced to life in the galactic equivalent of the Wild West. There are plenty of jobs available, from delivery to escort to search and destroy missions. Successful runs will net cash you can use to spend on new ships and better weapons. Part space combat simulation, part roleplaying game, part action-adventure, Tachyon is perfect for fans of Privateer, FreeLancer and similar games.
Training
Since flying in space takes some learning, Tachyon includes a series of friendly training missions that will introduce you to the basics of flight, cockpit instrumentation, combat and so forth. This game can be played with a keyboard and mouse, but for the very best experience you'll probably want to play with a good multi-button joystick. Different ships handle differently, and their instruments are in different locations, but once you can fly one ship, you can fly 'em all. Seriously.
Jobs
Throughout the Fringe, you'll find stations and colonies that have postings for various mercenary jobs. Levels of pay tend to correspond with difficulty, though that's not always the case. Just bear in mind that the Fringe is a very dangerous place, especially early in the game when your ship and onboard weapons leave something to be desired. Choose whichever jobs you like, and be sure to take note of the employer -- politics in the Fringe are dangerous, so be careful who you irritate.
The Fringe
Let's be honest: the Fringe is a dump. It's where the galaxy's rejects and criminals come home to roost, and Jake's stuck here for the rest of his life. Your first stop in the Fringe (you'll fly some preliminary missions elsewhere before your life starts going down the tubes) is the Hub, one of the many space stations and colonies in the region. You've got a cheap ship, and you're ready to begin life as an exile. Start by checking the job board for moneymaking opportunities.
Purchases
Making money is one of the most important activities on the Fringe. Spend cash from jobs on new and improved fighters and upgrade their onboard weapons and equipment. Your goal should be to maintain a positive balance while keeping your stuff up to date. It's not just ships and weapons, either -- computer systems, scanners, afterburners and more are available to the well-heeled freelance space fighter. Experiment with different ship configurations to choose your favorite.
Choosing Sides
The Bora colonists live in a territory that's officially owned by GalSpan, but GalSpan never bothered them until rich mineral resources were discovered in Bora space. Now they're trying to relocate the Bora, who are resisting with all their might. Sooner or later you're going to have to choose between the ragtag freedom fighters (broke but noble) and the corporate monster (pays really well, but evil). You can finish the game either way, so you might want to play through twice.
Tip: Wingmen
Wingmen are pilots like you who for whatever reason have decided to try their luck out on the Fringe. You can hire them at stations and colonies; they'll back you up in combat and help out on your missions, in exchange for a percentage.
Tip: News
Watch the news in stations and colonies. It changes based on what's going on in the game, and it's a great way to keep track of all the activity on the Fringe.
Tip: Sliding
Sliding is a technique whereby you can change the direction you (and your guns) are facing, while keeping your ship going in a different direction -- like circle-strafing in a first person shooter. It's explained in the training missions, and it is a crucial combat trick.
Tip: Energy Allocation
You can adjust the amount of energy each subsystem on your ship receives by allocating it from a shared pool. Take energy away from shields to put in engines, for example, and you'll move faster but lose some defense.
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