Ten Ton Hammer- ED needs social tools

[Hamerstein]

In my mind, the article is a perception issue. The author thinks MMO = MMORPG, so do a lot of other people apparently.

ED fits into the loose definition of MMO - It's massively multiplayer (lots of people play in the same persistent playground) and it's online. But it doesn't fit the perceived definition that many people have of that kind of game.

So these kinds of questions are acceptable and inevitable.

For me, I think what can I actually hear when I'm walking around or in my car, in someones house/hotel etc. Normally I can hear immediate conversations in my locale, if I choose to phone or text or go online to a forum/chatroom - I can speak to other people remotely, but I need a device (phone, tablet, laptop, googleglass etc.) and a physical act on my part to do that. I'm not some kind of localised or globalised telepath with semi-omniscience and that's what the chat features in typical MMOs provide.

So if a realistic social interface were placed into ED - I'd be all for it, but I've no interest in becoming Professor X just because I've logged into ED.

 

[zhaith]

Based on the general state of these forums, I for one will be pleased if there is not much in the way of chat tools until everything settles down, and if general chat in most MMO's is anything to go by if there is one then there better be a way of leaving it

 

[King Hrothgar]

RPG stands for Role Playing Game. Dungeons and Dragons is an RPG that doesn't even require electricity.

As for realism, nothing in ED is meant to be realistic except planetary motion. The ship physics are completely bogus as is the economy, weapons, sensors and pretty much everything else. Instead it's made for engaging gameplay for a large audience. But if you want realistic comms, then ok. Everyone is on voice comms all the time just like in an airplane. Muting your radio at a station/port is illegal and cause for losing your license to fly internet spaceships (aka perma ban). I can't say I'd be too fond of that option, let's do a simple chat channel so I can ignore the 13 year olds and the 50 year olds who act like 13 year olds.

 

[RobinsonUK]

Based on the general state of these forums, I for one will be pleased if there is not much in the way of chat tools until everything settles down, and if general chat in most MMO's is anything to go by if there is one then there better be a way of leaving it

This is true but I've been kind-of confused when playing, not knowing if this character is an NPC or a real player. Could just be general noobishness on my part of course. But whatever the case either way it's fine, it's just that some clarity is needed about what's going on!

 

[Hamerstein]

RPG stands for Role Playing Game. Dungeons and Dragons is an RPG that doesn't even require electricity.

As for realism, nothing in ED is meant to be realistic except planetary motion. The ship physics are completely bogus as is the economy, weapons, sensors and pretty much everything else. Instead it's made for engaging gameplay for a large audience. But if you want realistic comms, then ok. Everyone is on voice comms all the time just like in an airplane. Muting your radio at a station/port is illegal and cause for losing your license to fly internet spaceships (aka perma ban). I can't say I'd be too fond of that option, let's do a simple chat channel so I can ignore the 13 year olds and the 50 year olds who act like 13 year olds.

I used the analogy of MMORPG because - pretty much that's what all your MMOs are - role playing games. Open comms in space would be ...interesting, bearing in mind that comms channels on airplanes are moderated and abuse of airplane comm systems results in fines or worse - it should keep the chatter down after Commander Gobby racks up a 2 million credit fine for abuse of comms channel and gets dusted by the station weapons platform . Bearing in mind that while radio signals have an very long (if not infinite range) they're not effective over the vast distances in space (too slow) and we'd have to have different rules governing space communications over earth bound ones - or it'd get daft very quickly - a message sent by Commander Bob 2 LS away - you'd hear it a few years later, assuming you stuck around long enough.

While I accept your comment that none of ED is real...last time I checked we don't have FTL travel either - think you missed that one , it does try to keep game elements in the physical - asking for docking permission, having side panels in cockpit that need referencing for certain commands, stuff that could quite easily be removed or streamlined. They haven't been because FD designed the game that way, continuing on that vein is where my premise came from, not a demand for absolute realism.

I still don't want to suddenly become a telepath.

 

[LVX156]

Oh, more social tools would be LOVELY, then I wouldn't have to play Call of Duty to have 12-year-olds calling me a slur for homosexual and saying they're going to forcefully have sex with my mother.

I for one would never use them. I can't think of anything more immersion-breaking.

 

[Seonid]

This is true but I've been kind-of confused when playing, not knowing if this character is an NPC or a real player.

Scanner: Hollow icons are Players, solid icons are NPCs, square = hardpoints retracted, triangle = hardpoints deployed.
Names: Only Players have CMDR in front of the name, NPCs do not.

 

[LoSt]

So much whining for a game that:
1. Is still in Beta.
2. Has tons of scheduled updates planned even after release.
3. Has continuously pushed great updates when they do, and they have been quite timely.

I concur. But release makes or breaks software. We're getting ready for Beta 3.9, which will be Gamma, which will be Release. This is all happening this weekend.

1. Agree
2. Agree, with the caveat of a release date.
3. Agree

 

[KushHaze]

I do think there needs to be social tools present in the all group mode, I don't however want a chat window that's constantly open in your hud. We already have communication tools available to sea fairing fleets as well as aircraft, it's vital for the safety of the captains/pilots and crew not to mention any supply's they may be moving.

If we have that technology today there's no reason to think that there wouldn't be some form of system wide communication in the future, after all space is the most harsh environment known to man. It would be easy for systems with stations and outpost's to transmit data over a network, if the comm's can be selected only when needed I would be ok with that.

Better would be to allow the player to communicate using a set of beacons, distress, escort, rally, so on and so forth. You could select the one you need, add in a quick description of the service needed if you need to add more detailed information then broadcast, these could be added to the comm's menu of every player in that system open to receiving beacons from other players. Once the beacon is accepted by another person the jump coordinates are displayed for lock and that player is added to the group.

 

[vonFelty]

How about social tools that require you to turn them on to use?

That way you don't even have to turn them off if you want to be anti-social.

See. EVE Online succeeds because if you need help you can ask help chat.

In Elite Dangerous, you can't stop the game and you have to either watch a youtube tutorial or ask on the forums. Both you can't do while in ED.

So lord help you if you need help docking.

 

[Meths]

Social chat in stations only would make sense as everyone is docked and it would be like logging into chatroom.

 

[Asp Explorer]

So lord help you if you need help docking.

Which is precisely why they included a docking tutorial. Besides, docking is as easy as falling off a log. Actually no - that's not quite what I meant to say. Docking is straightforward. Actually accomplishing it can be challenging depending upon the environment - especially if you are being shot at and there are other ships flying at you, your landing pad is occupied, and you are receiving loitering warnings

 

[vonFelty]

Which is precisely why they included a docking tutorial. Besides, docking is as easy as falling off a log. Actually no - that's not quite what I meant to say. Docking is straightforward. Actually accomplishing it can be challenging depending upon the environment - especially if you are being shot at and there are other ships flying at you, your landing pad is occupied, and you are receiving loitering warnings

Well wouldn't engaging with real human beings add more to experience. I mean its an MMO after all. At least supposedly.

 

[Asp Explorer]

Well wouldn't engaging with real human beings add more to experience. I mean its an MMO after all. At least supposedly.

They tend to be the ones shooting at you, flying straight at you in the station, and occupying your landing pad Genuine human interaction right there!

 

[vonFelty]

They tend to be the ones shooting at you, flying straight at you in the station, and occupying your landing pad Genuine human interaction right there!

Yeah, but some nice people in EVE makes kills and give the victim pointers (though that is rare).

 

[serrasalmus]

There will be teamspeak servers popping up everywhere anyway. The in-game comms if limited wont be used by serious gamers.

 

[vonFelty]

There will be teamspeak servers popping up everywhere anyway. The in-game comms if limited wont be used by serious gamers.

Yeah, but in order to communicate with people you meet in game, you have to exchange TS addresses. Sometimes people don't want strangers on their team speak or they are already on one.

And its saying that in order to get the most social experience you must use 3rd party software.

 

[Asp Explorer]

Yeah, but some nice people in EVE makes kills and give the victim pointers (though that is rare).

What does that have to do with docking, social tools or Elite? In fact I can see it being quite obnoxious with an open newbie-help chat.

"OMG guize Imma need2no howUdock coz dis SUXXOR me crashin an has no DOCK or tractirbeemz"
"n00b u dock wif landin geer an land on pad fing wif nummers onit"
"OMG wich wan izza landin geer I needs goz I gotz 34 of dem"
"fire lazers to show pad u needs 2 land n00b - an dump yer cargo so u is lighter 4 landin and da pad byze if frums u to make 4 QWIK CA$H!"
"OMG doode fanks ammagonna <BOOM>

 

[vonFelty]

What does that have to do with docking, social tools or Elite? In fact I can see it being quite obnoxious with an open newbie-help chat.

"OMG guize Imma need2no howUdock coz dis SUXXOR me crashin an has no DOCK or tractirbeemz"
"n00b u dock wif landin geer an land on pad fing wif nummers onit"
"OMG wich wan izza landin geer I needs goz I gotz 34 of dem"
"fire lazers to show pad u needs 2 land n00b - an dump yer cargo so u is lighter 4 landin and da pad byze if frums u to make 4 QWIK CA$H!"
"OMG doode fanks ammagonna <BOOM>

I'm trying to point out that EVE has quite of few global chats. Some are actually helpful to newbies.

This is opposed to no help whatsoever.

Also... I am on a Teamspeak with former EVE players. Some who I consider close friends after a year of playing with them.

I met them on global chat which they gave me an unpublished teamspeak address.

There is no way I could have made these friendships without global chat.

 

[Asp Explorer]

I'm trying to point out that EVE has quite of few global chats. Some are actually helpful to newbies.

This is opposed to no help whatsoever.

The only thing a newbie needs is experience, and you only get that by researching the game, reading the manual, and actually playing the game and learning from it. Having someone hold your hand and walk you through everything will not help you when the time comes you have to actually do something you haven't been explicitly taught.