Calling on the community to play in Open Play

[Brad Avidro]

If Open Mode truly offers to most compelling game experience, then that is where the bulk of the players will be.

I play in open and see the occasional human player. Given the vast size of the galaxy, it think the balance of human to NPC is fine.

I agree, I played in open all the way through beta & gamma, and rarely met other players but when I did I tried to chat (when chat was implemented of course), but rarely got a reply. I don't see that as a problem though I'm quite happy that it's this way because like the OP say's it's a big galaxy and that is how it should be.

On saying that it would be nice to be able to get in the same instance as players you've met in chat rooms or other forums. I know this is on the cards to be implemented (soon I hope) but if the OP is in a different part of the world, at present it is improbable you will be able to get together in game.

 

[agent1138]

I'm always in open play.

 

[Vendraen]

Nah, my time is my own, and I don't want to spend my time being "content" for other players. Sorry.

 

[Maiakaat]

I try to play in Open Play whenever possible. I switch to Solo when :

1) I get fed up of hearing "Docking request denied" messages. Without a queuing system I can't waste half an hour of my life repeatedly requesting docking permission on the random chance I get a slot. There is no fun to be had there.

2) I get fed up of being attacked by human players for no reason in "no fire zones" where I'm not allowed to defend myself without getting slapped with a "wanted" status and then destroyed by the police.

I've found that actually there is some sort of queuing system and eventually after a few minutes I have always been able to dock

I sense quite a bit of hostility to my post, its very much reminding me of the Linux forums, I hope we don't get to a point where people making suggestions are shouted down.

I've been a big supporter of the game so far, but the community is certainly one thing that could alienate me and its quite depressing thinking about it.

 

[Evil]

This really depends on the type of player you are, I'm a PvP'er a heart, it's what I love about games, there is nothing better than fighting another player or players. But, and this is it, I choose when to play online, if and when I need credits for equipment or for insurance or when I don't feel like pvp I choose to play in solo mode so I can accumulate any credits I need to cover any costs without the risk of being annoyed by other players.

If you get the chance to play with/against/alongside me in open play be thankful I gave you the opportunity to do so.

I know some of you will be like "He doesn't understand the experience", "doesn't understand the immersion" blah blah, but I truly don't, I'm not that kind of gamer, and I'm sorry for that.

I just view the game as open = PvP, solo/group = coop credit accumulation

 

[Marshall...]

I just wish folks in open play would reply to my comms once in a while. LHS 3447 was very busy when I left, so it was not for want of trying. I'm in the back of beyond now and have not seen a player in days!

 

[Riepah]

So far I'm sticking to Solo. I read the forums before launch and hearing about all the exploits and the amount of money everyone was making turned me away from the idea of playing in Open. The billionaires keeping their bug money doesn't tempt me into Open now, either.

I may hop into Open eventually, but for the time being I'd rather not.

 

[Abomination]

I agree, I played in open all the way through beta & gamma, and rarely met other players but when I did I tried to chat (when chat was implemented of course), but rarely got a reply.

I have that same issue. (edit: I mean from release date, I'm not a backer)
Don't know if text chat is broken or if really nobody want to talk to me... not that I'm a good conversationalist.. but still.
Starting to feel alone in this game.
And it's also way too friendly. Where are the interdictions, the pirates, the ravager groups, smart npc's or dangerous players. Hell! Anybody, grief me! Please!

 

[jadefriendly]

I was a backer wanting offline mode.

I started off in solo, but moved to open.

I've literally seen 2 other commanders in all my playing time (probably 20+ hours...I'm out in the sticks)
one I contacted but got no reply, then they disappeared. The other contacted me but I couldn't work out to reply, then they disappeared.

Really not interested in PvP, I might join a PvE group...but then there will be even LESS chance of seeing another human....

 

[MrPrise]

The alternative view is that I play 100% in Open, but have positioned myself somewhere where there are few real commanders. I have done this so that I can play the game and build myself up - without losing the risk that anyone can locate me and engage whenever they want. I didn't back Elite for the multiplayer angle at all - I backed it so that I could play Elite again. And I'm totally engrossed with it. However, you're more than welcome to visit me and haul a large can of whupass over me whenever you like

Same here! I would probably try some co-op with some other commanders in the future, but PvP is not really for me.

 

[tagos]

A big selling point in Elite is the ability to play in a real dynamic universe with other human players, much of the criticism comes from not enough contact with a vibrant MMO community, and it seems increasing numbers of players are now playing in Solo mode.

The big selling point for me was Solo Offline and look how that worked out. I play mostly Open and it's fine. ED isn't an MMO in anything other than a 13 year old pedant sense. It has no group content and what grouping and other social facilities there are, are about three stages short of 'rudimentary'.

Other people exist purely as people to shoot or run away from. Sure - that adds a certain frisson to playing Open - but most of the time you might as well be playing Solo Offline.

I'm an old Elite fan so i'm okay with the game as it is, even though it's no more than a late eighties version of elite with better graphics.

But if you want people to play Online Open ED needs a crap-ton more MMO features and content. I don't see that happening.

 

[Axeman3d]

I only ever play in Open play, I think it's the whole point of Elite. I rarely see a player though and when I do I generally avoid them as a real high risk wild card. Around stations its ok, but if I run into them out in the open around a nav point or some such I keep my distance. I'm not in any way rich enough to tangle with maniacs. I think the sheer size of the galaxy is also going to work against the game. I plan to head off exploring as soon as i have enough money for a decent ship and scanners, and with billions of star systems it's going to be a lonely trek.

 

[zombieapocalypse]

I always play in open play except on very rare occasions where I need internet bandwidth for something else. In fact since launch I've been 100% open, apart from that one time I needed to take a high-res screenshot of something - really annoying that they removed the ability to do this in Open. I'm mostly in the Empire systems around Sorbago, and only occasionally do I come across other Commanders. Would love to see more players, but it is a damn big universe.

But I believe part of the problem is all these reactionary/exaggerated threads about Open play being a griefathon, which obviously puts people off. The reality is that player attacks are very rare outside of certain systems (the core systems and event systems) or conflict zones. Since gamma I have been attacked by another Commander only twice outside of a conflict zone. Both times I was interdicted, and both times they fled because they could see I meant business by submitting to said interdiction and and immediately deploying weapons. But so what if they had destroyed me - I always have the insurance money covered and it's part of the game.

 

[Cairn]

I always play in open these days but don't often encounter other CMDRs despite returning to my starter system where my rep is nice and high with the locals. I did see a few folks a couple of nights ago, though, and two of them did try to make contact but try as I might I couldn't reply... it was only later on that I realised that I'd unbound my chat hotkey by mistake. D'oh!

 

[Viscount Hood]

I don't know what the all the fuss is about. I rarely come across any other commander and if I do I'm quite happy to see someone else!

 

[excalibus]

I only really play in open, I think I went solo 1 time for a few minutes to clear a bug or something

I have seen a few commanders in my neck of the woods since release but not that many...

Most of them I have either said hello and gotten the same back, one I struck up a brief convo with and one I killed without chatting to

And I am in one of the starting areas

Space is big and people move through it... some will bump into you have a chat, others will just continue to fly on without so much as a hello, and I think some just crap themselves when they see another player lol

 

[FX2K]

I already play in open, but with the way FD are handling some situations... I'm considering moving to solo.

 

[Matt168]

I have only played in Open mode so far but rarely seen other players. Seeing those hollow markers when I have just arrived in a system can be quite worrying and if someone starts following me to a station it makes me anxious about their intentions. I don't think (perceived) NPC threats have the same effect, so it does add something to the experience, even if it is a rare event.

 

[etien]

ideas to create more chances to meet players:

- create a network galaxy stargates (like a star shaped network 10 highways from systems 20 jumps apparts, starting from neaby core to the wings, think the x series egosoft round artifact type). This will create alot of traffic near the entrance/exit of each of those jumps, and also makes those systems a bit 'special' and that would be cool.

- create a heatmap of "number of players in the system" in the galaxy view. that would indicate the zone with high level of peeps, and probably increase the population of systems already highmy populated.

Etienne

 

[Riepah]

One thing that would have me playing in Open is at least a second CMDR slot. I'd like to keep my Solo and my Open play separate from each other.