Dear Mr Braben... The poll

[Connor Caple]

The game's combat is harder than the original, I used to take out all kind of ships using my little rubber keyboard that are now hard work with a mouse! Where's my 'match speed with target' gone?

You have to be on line to play it, unlike the original which was single player in the true sense of the words.

You can't scoop every star like you could in the original. Now you can make a few bad jumps and sit and stare at a red star while you go pop.

The onboard computers are a joke - even Earth computers have progressed more than that in 30 years.

The game, by today's standards, is backwards and needs some serious work.

Yes, make it a MODERN epic space game. If I wanted 'Retro' I could play the original 1984 version - sheesh!

 

[Sargon]

I like the fact of categorizing the new players as the guys that want the game easy. As a new player I feel a bit segregated by this atitude. Never played an Elite game before, nor was interested on space sims. I decided to give this one a go. Its disapointing to join the forums and new players this and new players that everywhere. I dont give a damn if you are from the 70's or the 2000's. I want a proper game to play. I dont know how hard was the previous elite but maybe its time to drop the nostalgia. I had plenty of easy encounters so far, and I also got blown to pieces quite easily. The game released a few days ago give the team time to sort stuff out. Im serioulsy tired of this new internet whinning attitude I tend to see everywhere.
Enjoy the game for what it is, provide meaningfull feedback so it can change for the better and stop blaming other people for your fustrations with the game.
I want a challenging game.
Sincerely one of the 35$, 40$ new player.

If you want a challenging game, a proper game, and worthwhile game. No one is going to hold that against you. But don't ask us to drop nostalgia, when said nostalgia is what has brought this game back for you to enjoy it. We're all tired of the whining as I'm sure that you're tired of crappy games, whatever your age is...What I would ask you to consider is that you're speaking to people who were enjoying the game for what it painted to be and are now confronted with some changes that have nerfed it enough to matter. And when those changes are the results of OTHER PEOPLE of whatever age who just now arrive on the scene and don't have the least bit of willpower to learn to fly before they diss it... you're damn right we're going to say something about it. And not you nor anyone else has the right to demand that we keep quiet about it. Because most of the people who just now came in NEVER BELIEVED the game could even get off the ground and decided to wait and see instead of putting their money where their mouth was as many of us who did while Elite Dangerous was only on a damn piece of paper as an idea.

 

[TannakaObi]

You can personally believe whatever you want. It won't change the way things work. But you are right about one thing. The one who squeaks the loudest gets the oil. And unfortunately all the WHINERS, crybabies and pilot-skill impaired folks that would want everything served on an autopilot-platter, tend to squeak A LOT around here. All I can hope for is that Frontier stay true to their initial scope and vision and not cave in to the masses.

And this is my point, by starting the debate with a clear prejudice of the newer players the entire debate is undermined. I wholeheartedly agree with the fundamental issue the OP brings up. I feel, like many that the game is a little easy right now and in terms of difficulty it has been better during beta. To be fair to the OP I don't think he intended to offend newer players.

And now you apply a straw-man argument? You think it helps? It doesn't.

Aye, my reply was tongue in cheek, I was demonstrating the pointlessness of your

But there are a grand number of newcomers who haven't a clue about Elite lore or why things are the way they are.

It is generalising and helps no one.

Had you kindly taken the time to check and see whom you're replying to you'd understand that.

I think you take things to personally to be honest, my reply was based on the comment not the person. I meant no disrespect.

 

[tucker]

There seems to me a ton of moans and groans over the last 2 weeks about game difficulty. One camp are happy with it as is, another want it to be easier, another want it to be more difficult.

There's no way FD are every going to make everyone happy as is. However, there may be a way yet. Perhaps if (once some of the bugs are fixed up) they added a difficulty slider or option. This should only affect solo play and would mean a choice of:

1) Solo Easy - AI are easier, Creds from missions are slightly higher (but the open economy/marketplace is the same for everyone, so unaffected), more missions in each station, more items and parts in each station etc.

2) Solo Difficulty - AI are cruel, Creds from missions are slightly lower (but the open economy/marketplace is the same for everyone, so unaffected), less missions or less reward, parts in stations are rare or random, etc

3) Open Play - The default option. Difficulty is entirely variable, depending on the situation, the person or AI you're fighting and the group you're in.

These options would, I think, appease both new-comers and oldies alike (though I don't know where this idea that new-comers want it easier)

No I do not wan't this, I don't want 3 different games. If I wan't an easy game I pick on harmless ships and run away from Elite, I stick to safe systems for safer trade. If I want to play hard I don't take any notice of what system I trade in and take on everything.
The game is still in need of some technical content. You drop into the wrong system that you are not friendly with and you will find it hard to get out of there with your ship intact.

 

[Krait_79]

What a silly poll. Quality of life changes (like the last shot kill rule) should of course be made. These things do not affect how "dangerous" elite is, they only affect how frustrating or enjoyable it is. Frankly it should of happened in beta.

(Edit) I love how its newcomer or 84er... Because there's nothing in between right. What if you had never played an elite game before but you kickstarted? Or if you played the original elite but didn't buy in till launch? Or like me played the original elite a few years later and then really fell in love with FE2 and FFE, didn't kick start but did buy into beta?

Should they? I'd say the majority disagree. Why should i have to share my kill credits with someone who can't shoot well? Why should i be rewarded still if i don't bring my A game?! I want to be challenged because quite frankly anything less bores me!

 

[Sargon]

Aye, my reply was tongue in cheek, I was demonstrating the pointlessness of your

It is generalising and helps no one.

Ok, I'll give you that one. I am guilty of a bit of generalization... But the odds are in my favor.

I think you take things to personally to be honest, my reply was based on the comment not the person. I meant no disrespect.

Alright... My apologies... Thank you for pointing that out for me. Honestly.

 

[Sete]

Hi Sete, I only segregated the new players in the poll to see what way the vote would go, I'm glade to see that a lot of new player like you would want the game to be a challenge and Devs to stop nerfing content too.

I understand what you want. If the game is too easy honeslty it gets boring. I am mainly a RTS gamer. Love the Total War series and as of recently The new rome Total war was a complete failure on the difficulty level, too easy, too boring. I can completly understand the feeling. We can provide our opinions and feedback without going at each other. My previous comment came of a bit grumpy, manly because I forgot my launch at home. So I apologize.
Things need to cooldown a bit. Lots of players wont stick around long enough to make a difference. They play for a month or two and move along. It happened on every mmo I played so far. And unfortunately many are very vocal. My main hope for the game is the multiplayer. It can be brilliant if they develop it properly. Much more stuff will be tweaked and improved.

 

[starjump]

I just want the flying and damage to be sim-like. More realistic than simplified. If David released original Elite and this crowd were around they would scream to make it easier as well and it wouldnt have been the epic game it is. People played it, found it hard, practiced, got better and loved it from start to finish. And most at the time were usually young people playing since it was seen as a kid thing compared to today. I dont see ED as hard now. And im not saying that to be a bad person or some elitist. I just dont find it hard the way some people are saying. Why cant those people practice? Ok, so we have tutorials, solo, groups and open. So start in tuts and learn to fly. That in itself should be fun - to learn to operate a ship. No idea how that isnt funny to some people and instead they want to be awesome instantly. Dont understand that some people dont have that mindset of "oh sweet! Im gonna learn to fly a spaceship, this is gonna be so damn awesome". No idea.
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I just came up with a few ideas im gonna put in the suggestion forum. The matching speed Connor Caple wrote about for example. Not to have a button to match, but the targets speed should be displayed. That would make it easy to match it. Also FA off HUD element that feels super, and an altitude meter/bar to see when you are close to the limit fuel scooping for example. Gonna make that right now.
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Lol i didnt add the image now. What the fudge? And i cant remove it. Disregard guys. Going into the suggestion section.

 

[Soulstain]

Reality is the 84 crowd is probably the minority by a long shot, at least it better be or we're in trouble! If the game wants to flourish it will need to appeal to a much larger fan base. I'm an 84 person and I realize this is a must. Silly poll really.

No I don't want the game to be easier, just more accessible new people.

 

[Heveabrasilien]

The fact is PC gaming and especially MMORPG has become a mainstream entertainment. It's no longer only "nerdy" kids play them, so if Frontier wants to appeal to a wider audience they pretty much have to dumb things down, to have player-friendly mechanics, to be more transparent in game mechanics. That are the norms of popular mmorpgs. It's perfectly fine to make it hard as hell and as "old school" as possible but Elite Dangerous won't be popular.

 

[Enaver]

I am a new comer to this game, I have played Freelancer in the past a lot though. This segregation on the forum between old and new is rather disappointing. I bought this game because it was known to be hard, and mainly because of the space exploration in it.

I've have been looking at the points in the original "Dear Mr Braben" post, and as a "new-comer" I have to say a lot of them seem very minor... There is a point there about docking being "too easy", honestly, why should docking be hard & difficult resulting only in new players crashing and losing their ship? Making docking hard doesn't effect the old players of the game, as you will all quite clearly know how to dock perfectly; it would just leave some poor new people frustrated for no reason.


I have been out exploring in space in anarchy systems with no stations anywhere near. I am getting interdictions all the bloody time while out there. I have died 3-4 times in the same area of space losing around 4-5 hours gameplay. I don't mind, as that is part of it and part of the challenge in my opinion, currently at 28% and trying to find a station, I love it; but to say there is no interdictions is wrong. I use mouse and keyboard and avoid some of these interdiction is near impossible at times.

The whole "last hit" thing is absolutely ridiculous.... This is just being stuck in the past with a mechanic that you are use to which serves no real benefit. It totally ruins the immersion of the game when you do 90% of the damage and then the NPC gets the last hit so you get nothing. This is not because of new players, this is because it makes a lot more damn sense and is far more enjoyable.

Most of the points seem to be combat related, and as I have only been exploring I don't have any experience with them. I am very anti dumbing down of any game, however I think a few of the points raised in that post are very nit picky.

This is my opinion as a new player to ED.

 

[Ghostile]

It's perfectly fine to make it hard as hell and as "old school" as possible but E won't be popular.

Why should they make it hard as hell from top to bottom, when they could add easy start and a progression to harder areas, thus making the game hard and giving potential to be popular?

Why does everyone think this as one line with no room for anything else?

 

[CorBlimey]

I am a new comer to this game, I have played Freelancer in the past a lot though. This segregation on the forum between old and new is rather disappointing. I bought this game because it was known to be hard, and mainly because of the space exploration in it.

I've have been looking at the points in the original "Dear Mr Braben" post, and as a "new-comer" I have to say a lot of them seem very minor... There is a point there about docking being "too easy", honestly, why should docking be hard & difficult resulting only in new players crashing and losing their ship? Making docking hard doesn't effect the old players of the game, as you will all quite clearly know how to dock perfectly; it would just leave some poor new people frustrated for no reason.


I have been out exploring in space in anarchy systems with no stations anywhere near. I am getting interdictions all the bloody time while out there. I have died 3-4 times in the same area of space losing around 4-5 hours gameplay. I don't mind, as that is part of it and part of the challenge in my opinion, currently at 28% and trying to find a station, I love it; but to say there is no interdictions is wrong. I use mouse and keyboard and avoid some of these interdiction is near impossible at times.

The whole "last hit" thing is absolutely ridiculous.... This is just being stuck in the past with a mechanic that you are use to which serves no real benefit. It totally ruins the immersion of the game when you do 90% of the damage and then the NPC gets the last hit so you get nothing. This is not because of new players, this is because it makes a lot more damn sense and is far more enjoyable.

Most of the points seem to be combat related, and as I have only been exploring I don't have any experience with them. I am very anti dumbing down of any game, however I think a few of the points raised in that post are very nit picky.

This is my opinion as a new player to ED.

agree with this.

Also, in regards the last hit thing - that discourages any kind of cooperation or teamwork. ED needs more group/wing play with missions encouraging teams of players to work together etc. A %dmg approach to the bounty would be much more conducive to working together.

 

[Flappers]

Do we have to have a thread regarding another thread?

Can't we just keep everything in one place?

And for this particular thing, it's just a pedantic, and silly thing to put a poll on.
They have to make changes if required to attract new audiences. This is a product that needs selling at the end of the day.
If they don't sell enough copies, then you can say goodbye to ED altogether.

Comparing price points, and age groups for specific sets of entitlement, again is just plain ridiculous.

 

[Obsidian Ant]

The fact is PC gaming and especially MMORPG has become a mainstream entertainment. It's no longer only "nerdy" kids play them, so if Frontier wants to appeal to a wider audience they pretty much have to dumb things down, to have player-friendly mechanics, to be more transparent in game mechanics. That are the norms of popular mmorpgs. It's perfectly fine to make it hard as hell and as "old school" as possible but E won't be popular.

Yet, DayZ, Rust and many other PC games say otherwise...

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Why should they make it hard as hell from top to bottom, when they could add easy start and a progression to harder areas, thus making the game hard and giving potential to be popular?

Why does everyone think this as one line with no room for anything else?

There are 400 billion systems in the game. The game is procedurally generated.

No reason in the world that there can't be enough variations in systems to please everyone.

 

[tucker]

And this is my point, by starting the debate with a clear prejudice of the newer players the entire debate is undermined. I wholeheartedly agree with the fundamental issue the OP brings up. I feel, like many that the game is a little easy right now and in terms of difficulty it has been better during beta. To be fair to the OP I don't think he intended to offend newer players.

The poll wasn't intended to offend new players, that's why I gave them the option to answer the poll.

I just wanted to see what the difference is in opinion with new and classic Elite players, because of the changes Frontier have made to the game that seem to me just to entice other new players in or keeping others happy by giving in to demands.

 

[hobblygobbly]

People need to think of the game's future.

Right now, ED has most of what the original has + more bells and whistles. As it currently stands, it needs more, things like how missions work at the moment aren't really fulfilling in terms of design in 2014. Missions need to be much more, more procedurally generated events from them, more branching, PCG is endless in possibilities. The missions in my opinion need to be reinvigorated and can't stay at the levels of design of the originals, it needs to exceed it.

Other aspects of the game such as the flight model and the difficulty of the game's flight in general and consequences are just fine as it is, it's improved in every way from the originals and that is all of what a modern game should have. The combat/flight model is what a game at this stage should have. There are just a lot of improvements that need to be made that needs to bring it out some of the shackles of its original design which was limited due to the time.

I have no problem with challenge, I love challenge in games in any genre, these last years with the Souls (Demon's Souls, Dark Souls) has made it to my favourite series of games for its design. ED is great too, its challenge is fine and paced just right, the design that is holding some things back from extending the challenge are things like the mission framework being very basic and not engaging as it should be.

 

[Tyler-Rid]

I think we're a bit too caught up in the idea that most players, new or old, read these forums and bother to give input. Frontier will know how many players the game current has, and how many different player accounts are posting on these forums. If this runs true to the trend of many other games, us that are sitting here reading this are the minority of the games current players. If we are the minority, as many forum communities are, do we have any right to argue either way?

Personally, I wouldn't want to see Elite Dangerous get any easier, but that's just me. One person sees changes that enhance gameplay, another sees those same changes as breaking the game. Frontier should make the game they want to make. If they wish to listen to advice from the minority of players, though granted those minority do tend to be the most invested, that's up to them.

 

[Zvanya]

I've put in quite a lot of money into this game, and really only for this game. Being an 84er and paying into premium beta, skins, Rift, gtx970 and a new ECU, MB, memory. I've easily spent £1000+ and I know a lot of others that have paid that kind of money into this game just because of the promise of a rebuild of the classic Elite.

All the input through the beta stages seems to be worthless if they start to change the game to accommodate the £35-£40 new comers.

Some players are more important and entitled than others. Congratulations on being one of the important ones.

 

[BigDuke6ixx]

The problem with today's way of thinking is that people are under the impression that everyone's opinion matters, when in fact, this is seldom the case.

Exactly, we are all entitled to an opinion, but we can't all be right. How often do you hear someone say 'You make a valid point, and I have changed my mind as a result'?