This idea is actually quite old I had it around the time the 1st privateer came out.
I like the privateer games and eleet etc. are ok just I don't like the combat. My idea started off as being an online version of privateer, so you could fight real people not so new eh... been done etc. but this is better :). The game would be run on a number of servers, the thing is anyone could run a server if they have a good permanent connection etc, the type of people who run quake servers now. The thing is all the servers would be connected instead of playing on one server, each server would be a star system, whenever you jump to that star system you actually connect to that server, this cuts down on the data transfer, you only need to be sent whats going on in the local area. jump bubbles or some such thing could be used to move between them. The thing is that rather than be run by the game developers... The people running the servers would be playing as well, but not as players.. they would play as systems.. they would set trade prices in there system, build new space station/ establish mines etc the common player could if he has got enough credits buy his own (or clans) spacestation. .a group could hire themselves out as mercenaries, the people running servers could declare war between 2 systems and each would send out contracts for mercenarys, or hire people to be in there army. In this game almost anything could happen, for example if someone kills you they can pick up all the cargo you dropped and then sell it (piracy) but you could after respawning on the last genetic bank or whatever. (you could pay a small on any friendly planet to have yourself 'saved') a you could then post a bounty on whoever killed you. or specifically hire a mercenary group to go after them. The way the game would play would depend entirely on those who run the servers, but as they can#t just do anything (ie just make a fleet magically appear.. they would have to buy the ore construct a shipyard and then build the ships etc). the game designers would kind of regulate the game... and add things.. like new classess of fighters etc.. global things that can appear in any area... but the peolple running areas could design there own stuff... they could come up with wierd space stations or other things.

This game would basicly depend on the comunity that plays it keep it evolving.

The tools to create new things would be available and anyone who wanted could create something new and submit it to the game designers... any new things would be automatically downloaded each time you jump to another server.

Online Space Game

GrieF@z.com

After I had spent some time thinking about your game idea, I realised that this is a very neat idea. In fact your game idea is kind of stuck in my head. Really disturbing when I have LOTS of work to do. THANKS A LOT!

Idea Reviewer:
-Vegard Aure-