Is elite dangerous really a full game?

[DreadPirateRoberts]

If frontier had acknowledged that the game needs more content, and plan on releasing them via free updates, then why are they calling it a full release?

Should they call it a "half-release?" Also, where did they call it a "full release" for that matter?

In fact, this is from the store page:
This release of Elite: Dangerous will not mark the end of development.
We intend to continue expanding the game both with new content and new features. A good example of this is planetary landings. We have an ambitious goal for landings to include new gameplay and a rich variety of worlds to explore. To achieve our goal we want the planets to come to life. We also want to add leaving the ships so you can explore space stations or board enemy vessels or even just to look around your own. We intend to release small, free updates but major expansions including rich new features will be charged for, unless you have bought the expansion pass

 

[Drunk Si]

No it isn't a full game and it needs a lot of additional content and refinements outside of paid expansion packs before it starts to become one and that has nothing to do with wanting to be led by the nose from a to b. Hell, I like to explore, I like to find things but despite the advertised vastness of the playing space there's too much RNG and not enough hand crafted content. Why would I explore in this game at present? What is there to actually see? I don't need credits in exchange for my time in a game, if I did I'd grind trade routes but all those guys who have done the travelling 100s of light years around the galaxy, what have any of them actually seen or found? A handful of the same things you see in (god awful) supercruise at any given system anyway without spending hours jumping around. The odd black hole.

I define a full game as something where the individual elements have enough depth to keep you engrossed. Tetris is the most repetitive thing in the world but it doesn't get boring, the increased speed brings increased intensity and the fact that you generally hold off making lines to get a four line tetris means you can trip yourself up and it can be competitive. And it has that music going for it (though to be fair, the music in Elite is pretty good). A lot of people crap on shooters here, but there can be a lot of depth to the maps especially if you play with your mates. None of the disparate (and repetitive) elements of ED have enough depth to be engrossing and without that they become boring, you notice the repetitive nature of it as a result and you don't want to subject yourself to the grind.

 

[Zvanya]

David Braben and the Devs have said, repeatedly, that release is just the beginning, and they plan to continually add content (not just paid for DLC content). All you have to do is listen to what they say, and it's obvious that they are enthusiasts.

Perhaps some people just aren't paying attention. My sig was spoken by Braben in a recent video at YT. I think that sums it up.

 

[Vasea Azure]

David Braben and the Devs have said, repeatedly, that release is just the beginning, and they plan to continually add content (not just paid for DLC content). All you have to do is listen to what they say, and it's obvious that they are enthusiasts.

Perhaps some people just aren't paying attention. My sig was spoken by Braben in a recent video at YT. I think that sums it up.

Plus +10 to what you said Commander

 

[Drunk Si]

Yeah and from little acorns mighty oaks do grow but realistically the game should have been sold as "early access".

 

[BLACKHOUND]

Firstly, the lack of content in this game is very concerning. Even if you ignore the bugs, and balancing issues, the game still feels very rushed and unfinished.
£35-39 is the price of the common aaa game, but right now elite dangerous feels like half a game. The game is enjoyable, and the basics are there, but they are in desperate need of expansion.
The release trailer made the game seem like a fast paced space combat game, full of live action, and player interaction; but at the moment the game is nothing like that.
If frontier had acknowledged that the game needs more content, and plan on releasing them via free updates, then why are they calling it a full release?
They may have rushed it to get a release before christmas, and around the anniversary of the original, but this is no real excuse.
There are very few flyable ships.
No exterior ship customization, unless you want to pay for a skin.
No real progression for each job type.
Lack of additional things to do such as races, raids.
Npc's are all soul less and are too easy- they should all be 'elite'.
400 billion star systems; almost identical.
Every profitable activity feels like a grind.
I shouldn't have to use imagination as an excuse to repeat the same activity over and over. Right now its just: grind-> money-> more expensive ship-> repeat.
You could argue that the game will get more content over time, but the game version says 1.0, so any additional content could be charged for.
While micro transactions may be necessary to keep the servers running; Adding paid dlc's like planetary expansion will most likely damage the game. Players will become even more separated, and the galaxy will feel even more empty.
I'm pretty sure many other dlc's are planned, involving content that should already be in the game, all because they rushed the release.
Its already being described as "an ocean as deep as a puddle", "a sandbox without the sand" which is why Frontier needs to start acknowledging user feedback if they want to gain a decent player base.

Face it... it is not your type of game. I've done it 100x times in boxed games or on steam. I buy stuff and realize I don't like it.

You say DLC are coming but you want them NOW? You want it all and not wait and not pay. FD needs to make money and pay all their employees.

What's damaging the game is the fact that you dig those "puddle" and "sand" analogies out of other threads just for the sake of trying to sound important. You're not getting anywhere. They won't pull it out of sales because you're not happy with your investment. Player reviews and industry reviews are great. You're wrong face it.

You can play as it is. Move on to other games you may like better. You can wait for Star Citizen. You can wait for the DLC to come out.

But please spare us you whining.

Thanks!

 

[tomPhoenix]

No of course it isn't. They are releasing it in phases. It will become a full game over time. There is no DLC though either, nor a monthly fee, so what you pay now gets you everything to come.

 

[Black Ops]

I feel the game is designed around a massive time sink.

Doesn't matter what you do, there always seems to be a massive time sink to slow your progress down to a tedious crawl. I hope they sort these out soon. The time sinks are top of my list of things they need to address.

I was thinking about this yesterday. I did a "slave" mission out of eravate, had to go to Abazi to find slaves. there and back literally took hours in an eagle. the time sink, IMO, is there to give the devs time to fill out the game. the slowdown is somewhat intentional.

No, it's not a full game. they wanted it out before christmas, when, in truth, they could have waited a month and delivered a much more polished, bug-free product on launch with mechanics that work, and more to do.

just my opinion.

 

[Olrik]

Npc's... they should all be 'elite'.

No.

400 billion star systems; almost identical.

Not at all...

there always seems to be a massive time sink to slow your progress down

Thank you Frontier

It's the dullest game I've ever played

It's easily the most entertaining game I've ever played.

...death penalities that makes you loose progress

Thank you, Frontier.

It is a full game and more will be added in time.

This.

Perhaps some people just aren't paying attention. My sig was spoken by Braben in a recent video at YT. I think that sums it up.

They are not willing to pay attention.

 

[tomPhoenix]

could have? i think should have is more accurate

 

[DCello]

To be quite honest, this game is a blast to fly. That's what makes it brilliant. Flying feels so good I could visit all 400 billion systems twice and would still feel the price I paid was fair. Don't care how random the systems are, because flying in this game is the most amazing and responsive feeling I've had next to a real plane. Flying in this game makes you believe you are in space. It feels good, it sounds good, it looks good, and I wouldn't trade this game for any other content-filled, variety-packed, non-repetitive game out there that can't accomplish 10% of the flying immersion this game can.

That's how good flying is.

 

[Moriarte]

Of course it's a full game. What's wrong with you people?

If you're not led by the nose from point A to point B while being treated like you're the center of the universe and having the context fed to you pre-chewed you don't feel like you're playing a full game?

How do you fellers define "A Full Game"? Must have FPS? When you're playing Call of Duty, does it also bother you you are bound to a planet? When will you devs implement space travel!?

Maybe the game isn't your cuppa, that's fair.

A fellow civfanatic?

Yes, it's a full game!!! No human imagination can come up with anything deeper and more immersive than Elite in current state. Thus, development MUST stop NOW. Denying this is heresy.

 

[schuesseled]

One thing I would like to see is actual news broadcasts. The text based news is alright, but have some news shows with a cast of characters and things get a lot more flavourful.

Space is almost entirely empty, so it's fine that once I leave a dock, it's just me out there in the black. But I do wish stations felt a bit more... lively. Getting out and walking will help, for those who can be bothered but it's not all that would be required to make this universe feel alive. Like actual places.

 

[BLACKHOUND]

This is Elite: Dangerous...

It is well built and solid. It just needs to be filled out.

I think it will be in time, we just have to be patient.

You know I like your idea. But I think you have the wrong picture.
To me it is more like this : http://lesediclean.co.za/images/Slides-EmptyHouse.jpg

The game is playable and bug free. It is a finished house but it needs furnitures but it is livable in it....

IMHO.

 

[steviebuk]

No of course it isn't. They are releasing it in phases. It will become a full game over time. There is no DLC though either, nor a monthly fee, so what you pay now gets you everything to come.

Not everything. It was a kickstarter goal I believe or a limited time extra after where you could pay a lump some extra and you'd get all the DLC for free. If you didn't pay for that, then any DLC that isn't free anyway, you'll have to pay for.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

You know I like your idea. But I think you have the wrong picture.
To me it is more like this : http://lesediclean.co.za/images/Slides-EmptyHouse.jpg

The game is playable and bug free. It is a finished house but it needs furnitures but it is livable in it....

IMHO.

No, it's certainly not bug free.

 

[MirageGuardian]

This is Elite: Dangerous...

It is well built and solid. It just needs to be filled out.

I think it will be in time, we just have to be patient.

Simply brilliant dude repped

 

[nickson]

20 bux for a paint job you can't even see and that is stuck to one ship model. It's more expansive than the ones in free to play games except this one is really not free.. and empty. Do you really think any other content will be free? Everyone will be bored before the release of the next expansion and will not want to pay for it.
If I choose just to bounty hunt which is the ONLY fun thing to do, it's a chore to find a battle. The coolest thing I found in the game (supercruise) transformed really fast into a chore. Is there an unidentified signal scanner in the game??? If you want to fight pirates for missions you waste you time slowing down for biowaste containers instead of your obectives and you get destroyed by something even not related to your mission and makes you loose your mission reward, your ship, your bounties, you data that they can't even upload to a station or icloud or Whatever? Yeah 3300 my *ss. Something I really don't get. Maybe they want my real money too? I'm better at staying parked at a station to be sure not to lose money AND my ship? The only goal of the game.

 

[JR1911]

ED has the potential to be a great game, but in its current state it's far from it.

 

[Phier]

While it certainly needs much more to be added, content wise, I feel I have had my moneys worth.

This.

I want so much more because the potential for this game is HUGE, but if they were "done" I feel I got my moneys worth. I'd be grossly disappointed though.

 

[zaccheus44]

No of course it isn't. They are releasing it in phases. It will become a full game over time. There is no DLC though either, nor a monthly fee, so what you pay now gets you everything to come.

This is false. Part of my premium beta included all future expansions at no additional cost (listed at 75 dollar value). So at the moment they intend to make more content but they also intend to make you pay more for it. Hopefully that won't include the things promised at release, but my mercenary pack went from expect loads if digital stuff and paint jobs in release to, oh you already got all the merc pack stuff minus an art book.