What's the deal with Elite:Dangerous?

[Red Storm]

Looking forward to all these space games. I haven't backed Elite yet but have been following it. Also backed Star Citizen and Limit Theory. Good to see the genre thriving again.

Never heard of Limit Theory until your post, looks interesting. Any idea when is the general expected release date?

 

[rivethead]

You keep repeating this same line, without anything to back it and despite me and others providing examples showing this simply isn't true.

Without anything to back it? I gave you an example supporting my opinion. Fact: if the game were limited to 3 ships, the AC module would be near done by now. It's not. They still have 20+ ships to add to it. That's the biggest complaint found in the RSI forums. And they keep adding ships.......

 

[Red Storm]

Without anything to back it? I gave you an example supporting my opinion. Fact: if the game were limited to 3 ships, the AC module would be near done by now. It's not. They still have 20+ ships to add to it. That's the biggest complaint found in the RSI forums. And they keep adding ships.......

So you want the game to only have 3 ships? Um, no. Do you not realize you sound exactly like a big publisher would? I wouldn't have backed the game if I didn't expect them to shoot for the moon. There's no publisher to rush them, I want them to take their time and make it amazing, not make just another run of the mill "AAA" game that's rushed out the door.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

Just FIY, jumped the gun and bought the Beta (Standard). The Beta is limited to a bunch of SP scenarios but only before TODAY, because today they will launch the official beta which means it will add MP and a lot more stuff. (So basically I was playing the Alpha and have not seen a lot yet)

From what I saw, even with the very limited Standard Beta, I liked it a lot.

Right now I am looking into better controllers, looking into either a Thrustmaster 16000m joystick and at a later time an extra throttle like the CH Pro Throtle. (Thrustmaster Hota X would be another alternative but everyone says the 16000m is the better and more precise stick). For this game, you WANT a precise joystick

Probably the perfect game especially for an Oculus Rift. (Here I am still holding out for the CV1). Looking at some of the rigs people have for playing ED or SC for that matter, pretty crazy. Some people spend $1000s just on controllers, head trackers etc. Fun, fun. I can see me getting into this game big time.

I also like it's running decently (actually very well) on my aged PC with a 660 TI.

I didn't have the patience, I have a DK2 coming...sometime...hopefully lol. Watching the YT videos of it, def seems worth it.

Looking forward to all these space games. I haven't backed Elite yet but have been following it. Also backed Star Citizen and Limit Theory. Good to see the genre thriving again.

*Rushes off to Google Search Limit Theory*

Without anything to back it? I gave you an example supporting my opinion. Fact: if the game were limited to 3 ships, the AC module would be near done by now. It's not. They still have 20+ ships to add to it. That's the biggest complaint found in the RSI forums. And they keep adding ships.......

FACT: This game was NEVER going to ship with 3 ships. Not sure what your "fact" is showing. They're going to keep adding ships because...umm...this game. It's set in space. You kinda need ships. They were always going to have ships. They have a team that does JUST ship design, another that does ship implementation in engine + physics. They also have other dedicated teams for the economy, the server backend, for gameplay, for physics, for AI (outsourced to K), for the FPS module, for the planetary module.

It's a good design and well-managed approach. Thanks for proving my point?

 

[rivethead]

So you want the game to only have 3 ships? Um, no. Do you not realize you sound exactly like a big publisher would? I wouldn't have backed the game if I didn't expect them to shoot for the moon. There's no publisher to rush them, I want them to take their time and make it amazing, not make just another run of the mill "AAA" game that's rushed out the door.

Not at all. I want them to take their time and make it amazing as well. But "feature creep" is a very real thing with this game. Chris Roberts addresses it in his latest 10 for the chairman, but he kinda side steps the issue, in my opinion. But at least he's willing to openly talk about it.

 

[rivethead]

FACT: This game was NEVER going to ship with 3 ships. Not sure what your "fact" is showing. They're going to keep adding ships because...umm...this game. It's set in space. You kinda need ships. They were always going to have ships. They have a team that does JUST ship design, another that does ship implementation in engine + physics. They also have other dedicated teams for the economy, the server backend, for gameplay, for physics, for AI (outsourced to K), for the FPS module, for the planetary module.

It's a good design and well-managed approach. Thanks for proving my point?

I never said it was going to ship with 3 ships.

My fact is this this: the more content they add, the longer it will take to finish the game.

My opinion is this: At some point they need to balance features/content with working towards an accountable timeline to actually finishing the game.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

I never said it was going to ship with 3 ships.

My fact is this this: the more content they add, the longer it will take to finish the game.

My opinion is this: At some point they need to balance features/content with working towards an accountable timeline to actually finishing the game.

And I'm saying you don't know enough about the dev pipeline, internal timeline, time to complete, and bottlenecks to make that assertion.

Also, since this is an Elite thread:

Beta 1 - 55 Star Systems + New Mechanics is Now Live!

 

[SLU Aequitas]

Aaaaaand, I managed to dock right before servers crashed lol.

 

[DarkKnightDude]

Never heard of Limit Theory until your post, looks interesting. Any idea when is the general expected release date?

They have a prototype out for backers right now and the beta is expected in November. Though it might get pushed back, so all this beta/alpha nonsense for various games makes me wish I had the ability to hibernate for a year.

 

[Red Storm]

Tried out the beta, took a long time to get the controls working at a satisfactory level with a gamepad. Started in front of a large station, crashed around it until I finally noticed the docking bay lol. Eventually left the station and tried to plot a course to another system, but there didn't seem to be any sort of autopilot even after locking my destination, and trying to manually control the warp drive (or whatever it's called) was not very easy.

All in all, fun but aggravating at the same time. I need to spend more time with these controls.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

Tried out the beta, took a long time to get the controls working at a satisfactory level with a gamepad. Started in front of a large station, crashed around it until I finally noticed the docking bay lol. Eventually left the station and tried to plot a course to another system, but there didn't seem to be any sort of autopilot even after locking my destination, and trying to manually control the warp drive (or whatever it's called) was not very easy.

All in all, fun but aggravating at the same time. I need to spend more time with these controls.

Jumping to other systems (say from Eranin to Dahan) is automatic, just throttle up, aim towards the point, and engage the supercruise/hyperdrive button (or whatever they're calling it now). You need to have another SYSTEM locked (not just another planet, etc) in order to make the jump. The fact that you said that you were manually controlling the warp drive means that you did not have another system locked, which means you enter "supercruise" instead, which is how you navigate within system.

Another tip: pay attention to your throttle, you are most maneuverable within the blue-colored band. Likewise, this is the sweet spot to maintain while you are in supercruise--going to fast results in you overshooting your destination.

 

[QuantumPion]

Been playing this game all weekend on the oculus rift, it really is quite awesome. Basically, it's Privateer, but MMO, and with awesome graphics and very well thought out mechanics. The learning curve really isn't that bad, you quickly get used to how to land and what all the controls do.

This game really is everything Star Citizen claims it wants to be in x years, but available now lol.

 

[Red Storm]

This game really is everything Star Citizen claims it wants to be in x years, but available now lol.

Not quite. SC is also making the FPS element, being able to walk around your ship, go outside your ship, board other ships and fight, etc.

Back to ED, I ended up going back to keyboard and mouse from the gamepad. It's harder to fly, but all the controls are much easier to keep track of and access. Just gotta practice I guess.

 

[Midwayman]

Been playing this game all weekend on the oculus rift, it really is quite awesome. Basically, it's Privateer, but MMO, and with awesome graphics and very well thought out mechanics. The learning curve really isn't that bad, you quickly get used to how to land and what all the controls do.

This game really is everything Star Citizen claims it wants to be in x years, but available now lol.

I keep debating about forking over the money just to have something more polished to play with my dk2. At least until Asseto Corsa updates for dk2.

 

[QuantumPion]

Not quite. SC is also making the FPS element, being able to walk around your ship, go outside your ship, board other ships and fight, etc.

Elite says that it will be including planetary landings and walking around ships as well. And I'd bet dollars to donuts that they actually release that content before SC even has a playable alpha out hehe. Not that I am trying to disparage SC, just pointing out that ED is much further ahead in development and is near final release.

Back to ED, I ended up going back to keyboard and mouse from the gamepad. It's harder to fly, but all the controls are much easier to keep track of and access. Just gotta practice I guess.

I think ED is very much joystick oriented with its flight-like dynamics. SC might be more mouse friendly due to it having a different style of flight as well as aimable weapons.

 

[QuantumPion]

I keep debating about forking over the money just to have something more polished to play with my dk2. At least until Asseto Corsa updates for dk2.

ED is the best thing to play on DK2 hands down. I can play it for hours without discomfort (although I have to crank down resolution to 1280x720 and low details to maintain 75 fps). DCS is also pretty cool, but the graphics aren't as impressive and it is very complicated realistic flight sim. But it is free so no harm in trying it out. I haven't really liked any of the first person games/demos as the movement and turning makes me queasy after a few minutes. I tried a roller coaster demo but about 6 seconds in I was like "NOPE! NOPE!". Thought I was going to barf D:

 

[SLU Aequitas]

Been playing this game all weekend on the oculus rift, it really is quite awesome. Basically, it's Privateer, but MMO, and with awesome graphics and very well thought out mechanics. The learning curve really isn't that bad, you quickly get used to how to land and what all the controls do.

This game really is everything Star Citizen claims it wants to be in x years, but available now lol.

It's not. The core gameplay is pretty good, but the longer I play it, the more I realize that both games are needed. E: D is huge, but the problem is that hugeness comes primarily from procedural generation, and a lot of it is bland and full of sameness. Don't get me wrong, there are quite a few "oh shit" and "ooooh, purrrty" moments to be had, but there just isn't enough "stuff" for the space at the moment.

Also, balance needs work for making non-trade a viable option. Grinding trade runs isn't the most fun I've had.

The biggest thing for me is to look on that gorgeous galaxy map, zoom in on a star system, and realize that I'm not going to be getting much history/back story on the system. Which means that, essentially, every G3 star with a Federation Democracy with an agricultural economy is going to be, for all intents and purposes, identical.

Basically my first "mehhh" moment with E: D, otherwise I still :wub: it.

I keep debating about forking over the money just to have something more polished to play with my dk2. At least until Asseto Corsa updates for dk2.

From all the YT that I've seen on it, it definitely seems worth it. I caved and got a DK2 just for SC and Elite

 

[Red Storm]

Elite says that it will be including planetary landings and walking around ships as well. And I'd bet dollars to donuts that they actually release that content before SC even has a playable alpha out hehe. Not that I am trying to disparage SC, just pointing out that ED is much further ahead in development and is near final release.

I don't doubt that, but it isn't a race to finish, space game fans have so few modern games to choose from that the majority of us will buy both games (I know I will). I love that both games exist, they can push each other to keep improving and we the gamers benefit.

 

[Markbnj]

It's not. The core gameplay is pretty good, but the longer I play it, the more I realize that both games are needed. E: D is huge, but the problem is that hugeness comes primarily from procedural generation, and a lot of it is bland and full of sameness. Don't get me wrong, there are quite a few "oh shit" and "ooooh, purrrty" moments to be had, but there just isn't enough "stuff" for the space at the moment.

Also, balance needs work for making non-trade a viable option. Grinding trade runs isn't the most fun I've had.

The biggest thing for me is to look on that gorgeous galaxy map, zoom in on a star system, and realize that I'm not going to be getting much history/back story on the system. Which means that, essentially, every G3 star with a Federation Democracy with an agricultural economy is going to be, for all intents and purposes, identical.

Yeah that's the issue with procedural generation. You can't possibly model enough variables to create believable diversity across huge spaces, even just taking into account the visual aspects. We're even further away from procedural generation of story lines (Chris Crawford was going after this goal some years back with Storytron; not sure what became of it). I think the techniques need to be combined, i.e. have writers and level designers laying out the worlds, and have procedural generation populate specific areas with detail.

But even with your caveat in mind it will be almost impossible for me not to acquire this game the instant it is available.

 

[QuantumPion]

It's not. The core gameplay is pretty good, but the longer I play it, the more I realize that both games are needed. E: D is huge, but the problem is that hugeness comes primarily from procedural generation, and a lot of it is bland and full of sameness.

I agree, once I get bored with getting money I'll want some story missions/events/etc to keep things interesting.

 

[BrightCandle]

The trading grind as it were is the core Elite gameplay. I remember that is basically all I did in Elite:Frontier, over and over. I don't know if its something I will find so compelling all these years later but it is what Elite is all about, pure space trading with a little bit of combat thrown in to make it interesting.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

The trading grind as it were is the core Elite gameplay. I remember that is basically all I did in Elite:Frontier, over and over. I don't know if its something I will find so compelling all these years later but it is what Elite is all about, pure space trading with a little bit of combat thrown in to make it interesting.

Yar, but we can always hope for more To be fair, they're working on fleshing out the mission system/dynamic events even more, and there is supposed to be a campaign with the aliens as well.

 

[Red Storm]

The trading grind as it were is the core Elite gameplay. I remember that is basically all I did in Elite:Frontier, over and over. I don't know if its something I will find so compelling all these years later but it is what Elite is all about, pure space trading with a little bit of combat thrown in to make it interesting.

I never played any of the previous Elites, so this is all new to me. I can see how the trading is a grind, but I personally really enjoy how it feels like actual space in that the whole procedure of entering a station, landing/docking, undocking and exiting, warping to another system, and then cruising to your destination is all done manually in game. While these same steps in a game like EVE Online took all of one minute to do, it was really just a series of clicks and never felt immersive.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

I never played any of the previous Elites, so this is all new to me. I can see how the trading is a grind, but I personally really enjoy how it feels like actual space in that the whole procedure of entering a station, landing/docking, undocking and exiting, warping to another system, and then cruising to your destination is all done manually in game. While these same steps in a game like EVE Online took all of one minute to do, it was really just a series of clicks and never felt immersive.

This. They did a good job capturing the feel of flying in space. I do think, that the more repetition that you get, there could be a couple of improvements, namely better acceleration/deceleration in supercruise, and have supercruise take you out around the 10km mark rather than 20 (although I do understand there are reasons for the latter). I know in PB, the closer in supercruise you were to the station, when you dropped out you would be MUCH closer (I was able to time it so I was usually 5km or less from station...some people dropped out INSIDE the station lol); however, I haven't been able to do this in Beta 1, so I'm assuming it was removed.

Sound is also excellent in this game (I don't subscribe to the perfect realism mode of no sounds from outside).

I also think there needs to be another balance pass with jump distance and ship speed. For instance, I have gone from Sidewinder --> Hauler --> Lakon Type 6. The last jump is an amazing difference in performance. I can haul over 6 times the cargo as the Hauler, with a MUCH larger jump radius, and at a 50m/s speed advantage with all of the same maneuverability minus deceleration (almost became one with Chango Dock before I discovered that lol). You would think the smaller Hauler, while indeed being about 1/5 the price, would have some sort of redeeming quality (I was thinking high speed, short jump radius, acting as a light courier), but it simply doesn't. As soon as you get your 240k or so (cargo money + insurance pocket), it's straight to the Type-6.

Such a fracking grind to get there using the Hauler though :vomit:

 

[flexy]

Absolutely FANTASTIC game, but still many very annoying glitches.

In the beginning it is very easy to get thrown back to square zero, having to
restart your career from scratch because of glitches etc.

Multi player still suffers from occasional hangs...etc..

Otherwise amazing game.