I'm still baffled by people so vehemently arguing that there can be NO comparison to EVE, and there is *nothing* EVE has accomplished that should be eventually put into ED. Saying that is simply untrue. The fact that a moderator actually came in here and said they aren't comparable is MIND-BOGGLING to me.
Nobody is saying that EVE is perfect, nobody is saying that ED should take everything from EVE. We are suggesting that *some systems from EVE* would be useful in ED. Allow me to list just ten off the top of my head...
1) In-game systems that allow you to view market prices at different stations
2) In-game notepads, calculators and browser to help you crunch those market prices
3) In-game flavor text for weapons, modules, etc.
4) An in-depth lore excuse for getting blown up and immediately reappearing back in a station
5) The option to settle into an orbit around something (orbiting planets/stars in supercruise could be useful)
6) Comprehensive communication options with other players
7) More immediate, harsher police response to pirating/pvp in policed systems
8) More mechanics to encourage PvP in non-policed systems
9) Galaxy map options for traders to plot routes *avoiding* non-policed systems
10) Galaxy map that actually allows you to quickly plot an extremely long route (there are already browser apps that do this in seconds, not sure what the problem is in-game)
And that's LITTLE stuff. Stuff that will almost certainly be added naturally over the course of ED's life. I'm not pooh-poohing ED for not having these already, and I'm not saying they are specific to EVE. I'm saying that comparisons can be drawn, easily, and mechanics can be borrowed without being a big deal.
I have played Eve, and I also played Elite back in the day, I've also played a number of other MMO's. I've beta tested a number of them, I even worked as volunteer customer service for one of them, and saw, from the inside, what went on with users/players/customers.
I'm by no means an expert, even with all of this experience with online and offline games, but I do have opinions based on those experiences.
Eve may very well have some features that, if implemented correctly, and without major dumbing down of Elite, be used. But too many features listed above, dumb it down to the point it's not worth loading the game.
Elite has always been one for thinkers, strategists, not primarily the FPS players. For those aspects that do require skills, those skills are personal skills, born of active practice, hard work, and not just click here, click there. Guiding your ship requires patience, combat requires skills, hand eye coordination, etc. Eve has removed the majority of these aspects, and made it more like click watch the action, click, watch the action.
Eve has it's niche, Elite has it's niche, they can both run, but they do not need to be merged.
For those that love Eve, fine, no problem, enjoy it, for those that love Elite, the same. For those that love both, great, fine and dandy. But we still don't need to merge them by making one look and feel like the other.
If you can't figure out how to operate a tablet, or get a notepad to be accessible when needed, then I'm sorry, but that's just how Elite is, and I personally trust FD and David Braben, to make the right choices. He's already stated their vision, very clearly, and to date, with very little deviation, has stuck to that vision.
For those that don't like Elite, I'm sorry, it's not for everyone, and you gave it your best shot. There are other games out there for you. It's wrong of you to try to take away what others love, because you don't like it, when there's something else for you.