The "No Game" comments

I like the flight mechanic, but it is far from a good space flight mechanic...for better space flight mechanics see: tachyon, freespace...drawing a blank I know there are more with more realistic flight in space

Neither of those games come close to the immersion of this game. Also they in no way had better flight models, that is just trolololol.
 
This recent thing of telling people they lack imagination and can't possibly enjoy the game without it is the latest way of saying "it's a alpha...beta...gamma" in order to gloss over the utter lack of feature polish in the game. Hopefully that polish is coming from FD sooner rather than later to add depth to the ocean sized potential of the puddle deep we have now.

WAYS OF ENJOYING ELITE
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=953044

WHAT'S COMING
http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Elite_Dangerous_Wiki
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Hope it helps
 
Now here comes Elite...
1 - It places you in a live galaxy.
2 - You aren't the most important person in the game.
3 - It allows you to find your own way.
4 - They provide a set of events which you can decide to interact with 'if' you want to.
5 - There are no boss fights, but your interactions actually influence how the events/story evolves.
6 - There is no end of story.

That's pure fanboyism and maybe your imagination you talk about that others should imagine as well.

Elite lacks the "live" galaxy. It's a dead and empty 400 billion times the same space place. Factions don't feature ANYTHING unique, there is just a decal on stations and ships that make them different.

A set of events? RANDOM USS, RANDOM missions that are all the same with just a different text? The epic story, wait, I mean the pointless Galnet "News" about the politics going on that have zero impact on my gameplay except I'm lucky enough to be in the area where something happens. Even if I'm there what happens? A grind for faction X to gain or make them lose influence. *clapping hands*

Other games fulfill the other points as well. Look at Minecraft for example.

Worst thing is that ED is not modable, if everyone could make mods for it everbody could get (and even better: make!) the game they want to play. But hell no, we've got that useless always on that so far does not add *anything* to the game. And don't come up with that shared influence and trading , that doesn't really have any impact on me.
 
Indeed OP. This is why i have a problem with many triple A games. Although i enjoy some of them for a quick run through i still "see" the pattern of samey samey everytime and it makes me a bit sad and bored with those games. I think this is why i always loved open games where you arent the hero that gets amazing bonuses constantly. For example playing ARMA since OFP back in 2001 you were always just that 1 soldier in a large war and not some super hero. I liked that. Felt more realistic. I was tired of being the super dood smashing everything in my way so easily. Totally forgiving and forgettable.
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Elite do the same as early ARMA where you are the little guy, and like real life you take part in a bigger world where you try to make your little "dent" in it. I love that cause it gives me freedom to play the way i want. Rewards and achievements came naturally without having it saying so on screen since you felt rewarded by being successful while playing, and you felt you achieved something when progressing through the missions. No need to slap cool graphics on the screen for picking up 5 weapons etc lol.
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Sure, Elite Dangerous need some more features to make it even better (like better coop etc), but the idea of a sandbox where you are just 1 person that isnt a super hero to save the day appeal to me. It didnt when i was younger, but with a lot of gaming through the years this is what my gaming preferences has crystalized into (love simulators which always has this model of being the small guy). Open ended, less rules, be a little guy in a big world with depth and detail to how i can go about my business. Elite need to add a little bit more of the depth and detail. Like the addition of "Wings" for example as i mentioned and more informative info and how its presented regarding events and happenings. Having portraits in GalNet of these big characters and getting info in the ship when bigger things go down in or close to your system for example. So you feel more involved and understand when things happen. I feel its just a little of that missing to make Elite really epic. But yes, this is my preferred game style, and i understand those new to it can think its a bit hard or feel "empty" when there is nothing that keeps telling you what to do. I have things to do constantly hehe. :)
 
Given that imagination seems to be so essential and highly rated, then doesn't that mean that more fleshed out features, multiple mission arcs, detailed in-game story events etc would be a massive detriment? A story that just says faction A is at war with faction B leaves a world of possibilities, is it due to different socio-political differences, internal power struggles, trade disputes etc, the skies the limit. If the story just says "onionhead" or "slaves" then all that imagination land magic is lost! Maybe ED needs less features, to allow more imagination :p
 
For those of you who have any computer gaming experience in design, there are 3 types of games and really only 1 being made now. It's called a hybrid or open-world. Most of you who play rpg or mmo's are playing a hybrid or open world game. Where you feel free to do whatever but there is the smallest influence or track you eventually will carry forward on that is predetermined. ED is what we call a sandbox and nobody makes this type of game because nearly everyone can't grasp it. They put you in the sandbox and there are no cues to make you move forward on a story line or to complete some task towards an end goal. Once people realize this and the short attentions gamers wash out, the experience will get much better.
 
So after reading through the thread since my last post, I have a few questions for the "imagination" crowd:

Do you think this game (apart from bugs) is complete as it stands now? Do you believe that, were FD to fix all bugs tomorrow and call it quits on development the next day, this game would be completely fine the way it is and doesn't require anything further? Do you believe any further content to be established is entirely optional, that the game right now is finished, and it's everything you expect from a full release?

I'm intensely curious about the answers to these questions.
 
In the 80's, when Elite just threw you out in space and made you make your own way in the universe, it was because it too was an incomplete game. Technology was not advanced enough, and hardware was not advanced enough to provide the systems one would truly need to be a space explorer. This is not necessarily good game design at all, but it was a marvel because games weren't as prevalent, so people fell in love with it. But it's 2014, and we're inundated with games, it's an ever day thing, and people have grown to expect more. Look, I do not want to be hand held, but I do want to know that the actions I take in the universe are not just mindless actions. It's like real life, I have to go to work. I don't necessarily want to work, but I have to. And for what? No grand purpose, just because I need money to provide shelter and food. In Elite, there really is no shelter or food, so why am I doing these menial tasks day in and day out? To buy a bigger ship? But what then? Do it all over again for an even bigger ship? But that's not the only issue. Gaining information is such a manual tedious task. It's the 34th century, but I'm making notes in a spiral notebook? I truly cannot "connect" and gain information about the next systems trading or commodity market (but they'll get advanced notice if I have a bounty or fee/fine?!?!?). I get more trading and stock information on my cell phone today than I do via this advanced technology in the year 3300. "Use your imagination" is just a clever ploy by the company and the hardcore veterans to make you believe there's a game here. But there really isn't. There's tedious and menial jobs, and hopefully someday a game will actually get added to the framework provided here.
 
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<sigh>

Its almost like you're deliberately missing the point.

I honestly don't know how to help you understand.

And frankly I don't have the energy to try, so I'm gonna fall back on the classic "perhaps this game isn't for you" cop out.

If you don't appreciate the immersive reality that this game is projecting, then why continue to beat your head against the wall? Log out...go play something else...and come back in 6 months to see if ED has become anything like what you obviously expect it to be.

I bet the FD marketing department love you!
 
Christmas, 1964: Ralph has already piloted a Piper Tr-Pacer, and personally witnessed a manned space flight shot, live. He runs down the street, arms extended, flying through space. Fortunately, he's not killed in traffic. :)

Christmas 2014: Ralph has been attending the family Christmas gathering. He's been handing out cash and presents all night. (And, feeding the dog) Needless to say, this makes silly old Ralph a popular guest. But his distant, young cousin Kyle won't accept any presents. He's too busy playing Grand Theft Auto on a console.

Ralph goes home to play Elite: Dangerous for an hour before bed, and marvels at what 50 years has done to the world- and it's inhabitants who play games.
 
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True. However the game still needs depth, tweaking and improvement or else I foresee this forum to be empty in 6 months.

For example, regarding imagination. The game needs more lore and historical context, there is virtually none in game. Nothing is explained. I have to come here and pick stuff here and there.

A good idea would be a database like "Civiclopedia" in civilization. Very easy to do from a developing point of view. It would add immensely to immersion. I was just put in the game without a context. The context from ED website is very limited.

The political intrigue and the way it develops by player interaction is a unique idea on MMOs and superb. A++ to developers for this. This is the only non repetitive part of the game.

Needs voice acting and probably a DLC to voice command your ship (not the 3rd party one). Maybe cutting scenes. You need to "fall in love" with NPCs. They need character and personality to really open up planet landing, co pilots, and FPS. With these simple things, Elite can still be one of the greatest games ever made. As it stands it's not. This is my opinion. Think of a fusion between Elite and Mass effect... with the quality of story telling of Witcher... how great would that be!
 
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So after reading through the thread since my last post, I have a few questions for the "imagination" crowd:

Do you think this game (apart from bugs) is complete as it stands now? Do you believe that, were FD to fix all bugs tomorrow and call it quits on development the next day, this game would be completely fine the way it is and doesn't require anything further? Do you believe any further content to be established is entirely optional, that the game right now is finished, and it's everything you expect from a full release?

I'm intensely curious about the answers to these questions.

There is definitely enough there to call it "finished" relative to other titles. However you can think that and still think there is room for improvement.

Your question just sets up another false dichotomy.
 
I didn't say the game was perfect or fully implemented. Yes there is still work to do, work which I guess the Devs will be continuing with in the new year.

I also didn't say anything along the lines that this is still the 1980s.

Yes, times have changed.
Yes, games have changed.

But we are now in a gaming 'rut' the same way as we were in the 1980s. Personally I think it is time for a change.
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You know, I've had 58 'rep comments' on this post which is the most I've ever had for one post.

55 of them have been positive... However three of them have been negative 'Reps'. And those three people that did them, haven't even bothered to contribute to the thread.
 
You know, I've had 58 'rep comments' on this post which is the most I've ever had for one post.

55 of them have been positive... However three of them have been negative 'Reps'. And those three people that did them, haven't even bothered to contribute to the thread.

Not surprising if you think about it. While I'd not down rep your OP as it is well written, I do think your giving FD far too much credit. Elite responsible for breaking the mold and making games like EvE, GTA etc possible is doing a MAJOR disservice to many of the great game development companies of old that didn't just make platformers! If you'd mentioned some procedurally generated modern games then you'd have a point, as that was the main innovation that elite introduced to the gaming world.
 
rep comments are a broken system, only intended to be abused to disagree with someone without actually contributing to the discussion. Many boards have tried them in the past, not one has ever succeeded. It is remarkably easy to "farm" +Rep on game boards and high rep often has nothing to do with post quality
 
Wow, people are still unable to buy a game they know they will like. Lots of stuff written about ED on the net, so I have no sympathy for those that bought it thinking it was Call of Duty in Space.
 
What many here are requesting in the way of features can be performed in live, face-to-face, game-mastered tabletop RPG's.

Programming such a game, and replicating the perfect game-master for it, is a mega project on the order of the Manhattan Project, or the manned moon landings.

This game is not perfect, nor is it finished. They finally got a printed manual out after release, for Elvis' sake!

But, I am having fun playing it.
 
What many here are requesting in the way of features can be performed in live, face-to-face, game-mastered tabletop RPG's.

Programming such a game, and replicating the perfect game-master for it, is a mega project on the order of the Manhattan Project, or the manned moon landings.

This game is not perfect, nor is it finished. They finally got a printed manual out after release, for Elvis' sake!

But, I am having fun playing it.
Me too... I'm just sad I have a life and cannot play the game more often! :D

I don't think what I said is a "Manhatan Project" I am very aware of what is difficult or not since my brother is a developer. X3 has way more voice acting than this game and it's also kind of a sandbox. Don't take X3 as an example of how it should be done though. From all my years of gaming I have never seen such a bad acting and lines as in X3.
 
Your question just sets up another false dichotomy.

No, it doesn't. I was very particular with my words. You either think the game is finished or it isn't. I'm not creating a dichotomy by implying that it can't be improved, or that you can't believe it's finished while still thinking it can be improved. I want to know if others think "this game is complete and good as it is" or not, and whether they believe additional content to be optional or "missing pieces." You tell me where my false dichotomy is, because I'm pretty sure I've segmented those questions sufficiently.

I didn't say the game was perfect or fully implemented. Yes there is still work to do

And an answer like this is all I'm looking for. I completely understand where the "seriously stop complaining now" crowd is coming from, believe me, but I want to know if the members of said crowd lean more towards thinking the game is finished or not.

It is remarkably easy to "farm" +Rep on game boards and high rep often has nothing to do with post quality

Yep, as has always been the case. It's less about post quality and more about popularity contests, but some forums are much better than others. I DO know of a forum with a rep system that works pretty well, you know who's been there a while and you can tell by not just their rep but their posts that they really know what they're talking about, factually speaking.
 
The core mechanics (trade, combat, explorationThe universe itself)are near perfect.. People aren't stressing over that.. they are stressing over the fluff that could house the mechanics. Personally. If you are complaining about the game and it's "lack in actual game".. there's a good chance you don't understand it. Everytime i hear things like "The game is suppose to.... " from people who aren't the game developers....i shudder.... i think the game does exactly what it is supposed to and has demonstrated that it will deliver so much more.

I wanted a game that challenged me. I hate being force fed a story and my style of gaming always displayed an appreciation for user driven experience. This game has so many options with each passing minute i guess some people become so overwhelmed with the game as a whole that they quickly look for faults to disguise their own short comings in game. If you aren't entertained..... it is hard to "imagine" it's the games fault. FOR ME, this is one of the greatest games i have played in the last decade and there is still so much more to look forward to.(if none of this pertains to you, don't get offended.)

At the end of the day ... the users that don't like the game are entitled to that. But i really wish you would think twice about saying things like "i don't want to use my imagination" ... every game you have ever played in the history of games required some imagination.

SideNote: Me and Cmdr Llandor have been having a ball together running trade routes and increasing individual faction status and maintaining system trade stability by patrolling our small part of the galaxy. We use external comms (teamspeak) but i do that with every mmo style game, not to mention that the actual in game comms sounds AWESOME! All this fun and the "wingman update" is on its way.

This game is all about role play......and generating stories around your own actions and the ever evolving universe.....Basically..... If you can't roleplay i feel sorry for your Mrs.

Over and Out.
 
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