1984 Elite vs 2014 Elite

[Holven]

Basically what I see here, is a lot of "This is not what I would call a game."

The premise of ED is basically this: It is Elite remade in modern form. If they had made anything else, it would not have been Elite. They are making the game they always wanted to make and play, but couldn't. To suggest that Elite Dangerous should be something else than Elite, Elite Frontier or frontier First Encounters, is basically entirely a moot point.

OK, so the game is not what some of you want from a game. You can of course choose to be disappointed by that, but there is no point to even discussing whether it should have been something completely different. Other games will be just that. This one will not.

I believe that over time, this game will evolve into what I understand is the team's dream: A sim life in the Eliteverse. How deep it will be... we will find out.

As to whether this game is at the forefront of gaming today? I would say it is. It dares to not conform. It dares to do its own thing. It dares to offer something different to every other game. To be honest: I can no longer take playing yet another mission/story centric game. No longer can I play a hand holding MMO where you are being told where to go all the time.

One of the worlds supposedly most developed games is World of Warcraft, where your level dictates what you can do and where you can go, where you are as free as a puppet on strings. Other games are supposedly deep, because they have immersive storylines. While many of those games have very nice and very immersive stories, you are even less free. While some of the more advanced ones allow you to change the world you are in, all of those only present a rather limited set of options. While it may seem unlimited, because you can even choose multiple storylines and minor sideshows, they still force you to take part, to do one of the missions/quests lined up for you. Such a game is not really deep, it only feels deep. The storyline is deep, yes, the interactions have some depth to them, yes, but the Game? Gameplay in such games are basically; respond to what is put in front of you: a limited choice. Then go hit someone over the head until they submit or die. Those games that are really deep in that fashion are always single player, because there is no way to meaningfully play together.

MMOs that try to have such deep storylines invariably feels completely phony, why? Choose any story driven MMO; You are all heroes. You are all doing the same missions and storylines. Your interaction with that world is phoney and have no bearing. What the devs planned for to happen, will happen anyway. You do not count at all. If you had not played the game, the storyline in that MMO would still be the same. To borrow from The Big Bang Theory; You are as worthless as Indiana Jones in the first movie. Take him out of the movie and the other faction would still end up being killed by opening the ark. The only worthwhile thing Indy did, was taking custody of the ark after.

Here we have a game that does something different and is about to expand on that. We, the players, back factions and push them. We will soon be able to support powers in the galaxy. While your personal level of heroism is diminished, it is at least not a lie. Your actions matter, if only a tint bit. .. or you can perhaps rally people to the faction you want to support, be one of those lynchpins, that helps shape the history as it develops, because you where a vociferous commander, leading others.

To me, this is deeper and more realistic than any other game to date, with the possible exception of EVE. EVE fell into a trap, however. By not limiting the amount of power a single player or a group of players could wield, they essentially destroyed the game. Where there once was multiple player factions, there are now basically three humongous alliances... and the rest of the game will only, can only, consist of powerplay between those factions. The further development of that game is essentially useless and futile.

Here we have a game, where we can influence what happens. This is how a storyline develops in a realistic world. We can lend ourselves to support whomever we desire. The cost of that, the cost of this true depth, is that you are not a hero. You are not the lynchpin that gets called in to a secret meeting... unless you try to be. Unless you gather players to you and support a specific group or goal. Have a look in the Dangerous Groups forum. See all the groups there? Many of those are attempting to do just that; to be a force for change, to get the story to change in the direction they want.

If that is not your side of beef, there are other ways to make change on your own. Go explore and put your name out there for all to see. Use your trade skills and the mission system to change influence in a small system. (It is doable with small factions in an independent.) You choose how deep this game is for you and on which level you affect it.

There are no lies here, no veil over your eyes telling you, that you are a hero, when you really are an insignificant bit of code not causing any change at all.

Here you matter. Here your actions count. The measure is realistic. This.. is deep.

 

[signal11th]

Basically what I see here, is a lot of "This is not what I would call a game."

The premise of ED is basically this: It is Elite remade in modern form. If they had made anything else, it would not have been Elite. They are making the game they always wanted to make and play, but couldn't. To suggest that Elite Dangerous should be something else than Elite, Elite Frontier or frontier First Encounters, is basically entirely a moot point.

OK, so the game is not what some of you want from a game. You can of course choose to be disappointed by that, but there is no point to even discussing whether it should have been something completely different. Other games will be just that. This one will not.

I believe that over time, this game will evolve into what I understand is the team's dream: A sim life in the Eliteverse. How deep it will be... we will find out.

As to whether this game is at the forefront of gaming today? I would say it is. It dares to not conform. It dares to do its own thing. It dares to offer something different to every other game. To be honest: I can no longer take playing yet another mission/story centric game. No longer can I play a hand holding MMO where you are being told where to go all the time.

One of the worlds supposedly most developed games is World of Warcraft, where your level dictates what you can do and where you can go, where you are as free as a puppet on strings. Other games are supposedly deep, because they have immersive storylines. While many of those games have very nice and very immersive stories, you are even less free. While some of the more advanced ones allow you to change the world you are in, all of those only present a rather limited set of options. While it may seem unlimited, because you can even choose multiple storylines and minor sideshows, they still force you to take part, to do one of the missions/quests lined up for you. Such a game is not really deep, it only feels deep. The storyline is deep, yes, the interactions have some depth to them, yes, but the Game? Gameplay in such games are basically; respond to what is put in front of you: a limited choice. Then go hit someone over the head until they submit or die. Those games that are really deep in that fashion are always single player, because there is no way to meaningfully play together.

MMOs that try to have such deep storylines invariably feels completely phony, why? Choose any story driven MMO; You are all heroes. You are all doing the same missions and storylines. Your interaction with that world is phoney and have no bearing. What the devs planned for to happen, will happen anyway. You do not count at all. If you had not played the game, the storyline in that MMO would still be the same. To borrow from The Big Bang Theory; You are as worthless as Indiana Jones in the first movie. Take him out of the movie and the other faction would still end up being killed by opening the ark. The only worthwhile thing Indy did, was taking custody of the ark after.

Here we have a game that does something different and is about to expand on that. We, the players, back factions and push them. We will soon be able to support powers in the galaxy. While your personal level of heroism is diminished, it is at least not a lie. Your actions matter, if only a tint bit. .. or you can perhaps rally people to the faction you want to support, be one of those lynchpins, that helps shape the history as it develops, because you where a vociferous commander, leading others.

To me, this is deeper and more realistic than any other game to date, with the possible exception of EVE. EVE fell into a trap, however. By not limiting the amount of power a single player or a group of players could wield, they essentially destroyed the game. Where there once was multiple player factions, there are now basically three humongous alliances... and the rest of the game will only, can only, consist of powerplay between those factions. The further development of that game is essentially useless and futile.

Here we have a game, where we can influence what happens. This is how a storyline develops in a realistic world. We can lend ourselves to support whomever we desire. The cost of that, the cost of this true depth, is that you are not a hero. You are not the lynchpin that gets called in to a secret meeting... unless you try to be. Unless you gather players to you and support a specific group or goal. Have a look in the Dangerous Groups forum. See all the groups there? Many of those are attempting to do just that; to be a force for change, to get the story to change in the direction they want.

If that is not your side of beef, there are other ways to make change on your own. Go explore and put your name out there for all to see. Use your trade skills and the mission system to change influence in a small system. (It is doable with small factions in an independent.) You choose how deep this game is for you and on which level you affect it.

There are no lies here, no veil over your eyes telling you, that you are a hero, when you really are an insignificant bit of code not causing any change at all.

Here you matter. Here your actions count. The measure is realistic. This.. is deep.

Nice piece but the game in it's present form is Elite, it hasn't even reached Frontier level yet for all of it's shiny shiny.

 

[Holven]

Nice piece but the game in it's present form is Elite, it hasn't even reached Frontier level yet for all of it's shiny shiny.

It has more to offer than Elite, certainly. While it still lacks a few functions that existed in Frontier, such as passenger flight, actual military combat missions and planetary flight, it has several aspects Elite did not have, like missions (yes, there were a few hidden in Elite, but not many), faction standing, actual station interiors, actual exploration, more interesting multiple body systems, planetary rings with actual content (I mean rocks, not gameplay, though there is that as well,) a criminal system that certainly has surpassed EF and FFE and multiplayer. While there are still functions missing from EF/FFE, the game is certainly much closer to, and has even in some areas surpassed, EF/FFE.

As far as it counts towards gameplay, only passenger missions, military missions and planetary flight are missing and I believe those will be coming down the road. While functions are missing, we have other we have never had before. As such, even if subtracting what isn't here, the game, especially with its multiplayer component, has surpassed all its predecessors already.

 

[signal11th]

It has more to offer than Elite, certainly. While it still lacks a few functions that existed in Frontier, such as passenger flight, actual military combat missions and planetary flight, it has several aspects Elite did not have, like missions (yes, there were a few hidden in Elite, but not many), faction standing, actual station interiors, actual exploration, more interesting multiple body systems, planetary rings with actual content (I mean rocks, not gameplay, though there is that as well,) a criminal system that certainly has surpassed EF and FFE and multiplayer. While there are still functions missing from EF/FFE, the game is certainly much closer to, and has even in some areas surpassed, EF/FFE.

As far as it counts towards gameplay, only passenger missions, military missions and planetary flight are missing and I believe those will be coming down the road. While functions are missing, we have other we have never had before. As such, even if subtracting what isn't here, the game, especially with its multiplayer component, has surpassed all its predecessors already.

To a degree I feel somewhat the same but I feel they are concentrating on the wrong things too much instead of actual "content"

 

[Libluini]

Hey all!

I've been playing Elite Dangerous since the start of 2015 but became curious about ED at the end of last year as I just wanted a cool space game.
I had no idea there were previous Elite games. Especially not all the way from 1984. I was only three years by that time and the only game I had tried was Super Mario.

What gets me slightly troubled is that many people seem to compare the original game to ED.
This seem quite outrageous as the industry (and its croud) has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, and the average gamer demands a whole lot more than a game from '84.
On Facebook and on other social networks, I see tons of comments from people claiming refunds because the game simply is too 'simple' in its design.

Can it be that Elite Dangerous wants to be too much like its predecessor?
Or is this just my misconception of what the franchise is all about?

No
Yes

So since this is out of the way, right now the original Elite is still the better game because you could just buy super-hyperdrives to shoot yourself to a new galaxy. Hint, hint, Frontier.

 

[medwyn]

...what you wrote...

It's very interesting how differently we can use terms like "deep", "game", and so on
Instead of addressing most of your thought I would pick one to discuss if you don't mind.

You wrote: "To me, this is deeper and more realistic than any other game to date, with the possible exception of EVE. EVE fell into a trap, however. By not limiting the amount of power a single player or a group of players could wield, they essentially destroyed the game. Where there once was multiple player factions, there are now basically three humongous alliances... and the rest of the game will only, can only, consist of powerplay between those factions. The further development of that game is essentially useless and futile."

First of all I have to say I haven't played EVE so I rely on what you described above.
You say EVE, "the game" has been destroyed as there are only 3 big alliances ruling the game whereas there have been more player factions before.
Well, that seems to be an evolution to me and a current state configured by masses of players through long years. Despite your evaluation these players have been paying a monthly fee for having their game accounts active so I guess they've been satisfied with EVE otherwise they wouldn't have shoveled money for the experience.

Let's see ED now. Do we also have 3 major factions by any chance? Yes, we do. But there's one difference: this galaxy power setup has been configured by FD by default and not by the players. At release ED was advertised as a cut throat galaxy where these super powers are competing and a certain hype had been built around fictional characters (senators, emperor and what have you) and an incoming galaxy-wide conflict to take part in.
I haven't seen that yet but I've seen some clumsy manual storytelling and manual switch-settings by FD in reaction of some unorganized player attempts of taking part in something doesn't exist so far. The sweat of Lugh was rather a test of the so called "persistent" universe and it's up to everyone to decide whether it was a success or not, personally I'm not convinced.
So do you think ED has "essentially been destroyed" too by these circumstances?

That leads to the other thought of yours, where you said: "Here we have a game, where we can influence what happens."
Again, very interesting how differently we can see the same thing because for me it seems that what happens is the last thing I can influence
I see this assumption over the months returning that players want to be heroes. Actually I don't want to be and I don't speak of others. I don't want to be a hero, I had enough game where I was a hero by the default role and actually the term "hero" has already been worn out seriously in the past ten years thanks to the games industry.
But being able to affect the world what we PLAYERS create is something very important to me when it comes to games. Is that not the very element of a sandbox game? To be able to create our own world TOGETHER? Build it up from the sand, maintain it, form it, reform it, conflict it, loose it, win it back?
I would stress the WE PLAYERS TOGETHER part. That's the game. That evolution, that creativity and the risk/reward factor.

In ED I can create my ship. That's it.
And there is a huuuuge and beautiful galaxy in the other hand everyone is very proud of but it's not offering too much gameplay at the moment. Passive factions, passive virtual characters, passive world. Get a woman like this in your bed and you'll understand what I am talking about (assuming you are man )

So don't be afraid of the flesh, it would not take away anything what's already there but could give a lot for other purposes.
And that's where I am really excited about Powerplay. After half a year's public beta test called release it might bring something I would have been happy at release (even if I had to wait longer).
That's the point where ED may take off and evolve from the legacy 1984 ground.

 

[Ydiss]

You misunderstood what Holven meant by Eve having only 3 huge alliances.

Eve is, for all intents and purposes, a game that is built on player activity. Perhaps it's different now but when I played it the pve content was secondary (actually, back then it was mining and hunting rats, both of which were worse than what we have in Elite now).

As a player entering the game, in order to have any real influence on anything, you have to be involved with other players.

Try to imagine ed with nothing but player ran content. Now imagine being a new player. Now imagine being given the choice of achieving nothing on your own. Or achieving something by being part of a Corp.

Now imagine all the good stuff happens between only the three huge alliances, formed up out of all those corps.

Then imagine needing to spend years actually building up your skills (they level up over time, you can't speed them up by playing more) so you can take part. The whole time, being utterly reliant on your Corp to progress.

Bottom line, FD didn't want this. They wanted each pilot to be able to experience the game without needing to be forced into an alliance.

Because of that, the content will mostly be pve, where pvp can a part of it.

It might seem like you have no effect on the galaxy. But you do. All the time. And that will be made richer with power play. More content for players to enjoy. Without needing to form a Corp to do it.

This game has more to it than most new releases of its kind. And it's only going to get better.

 

[Doolittle]

I think some people just don't do their research before buying to be honest. Many bought into ED off the fond memories of games like Privateer, Wing Commander, Freespace and X-Wing types of games and expected to be led by the nose through an epic story-driven game with them as the central hero. Even some of those that knew it is a sandbox still expected a fully scripted story mode and were disappointed when they found there wasn't one.

The original games had no intention of being that type of game which set it apart at the time and ED follows the same path. FD had no intention of giving the average gamer what they wanted as what we would have got is another Call of Warfare Medal of Duty clone. FD wanted to continue the Elite franchise for themselves with modern graphics and if some of the general public liked it then great. Don't think for a second that FD are pandering to the general masses though as they know that ED-style gameplay isn't for all. ED is the opposite side of the Star Citizen coin.

Many bought the game wanting the features of the originals using current technology and graphics. That didn't happen. Features nerfed or thrown out all together. Really scares me how they will handle planet landings compared to what they accomplished in Frontier. The graphic fidelity takes up so much more these days than 8 colors and some polys did in '84 that some things just still can't be accomplished with even todays tech even though they did it in '84. FD might have chosen the wrong engine for that.

 

[Ydiss]

Many bought the game wanting the features of the originals using current technology and graphics. That didn't happen. Features nerfed or thrown out all together. Really scares me how they will handle planet landings compared to what they accomplished in Frontier. The graphic fidelity takes up so much more these days than 8 colors and some polys did in '84 that some things just still can't be accomplished with even todays tech even though they did it in '84. FD might have chosen the wrong engine for that.

I liked Frontier. It was fun. But I got bored very, very quickly. I played it twice and both times I stopped playing after a much shorter time than with ED.

Different strokes and all that.

The thing is, and this is probably the main reason I got bored, Frontier was very static. Nothing changed. Nothing got more fun. It is what it is.

And the definite truth is it'll never get better than what it is now (or what it was when it came out).

I already prefer most of what ED gives. I could make a big list but I won't bore you with it. All I know is that Frontier is never getting better.

But ED will.

PS not really sharing your trepidation for the outcome of planetary landing. It'll either be good or it won't. Not worth worrying about (not our job to!)

 

[Lobstris]

Elite: 84 was ground breaking. Does it bother me that E: D is Elite 84 with bells on - nope, I enjoy it for what it is in that respect. What does bother me is 'E: D' < 'Frontier: First Encounters' in terms of gameplay and systems at present. As to 'gamers demanding more' in this day and age. Yeah, more graphics and sound fx, but not necessarily better gameplay - see you Fallout 3's storytelling and raise you Fallout 2 and Planescape Torment. Likewise, whilst E: D has no story per se, i'll take its open universe and freedom over any of the X games.

 

[medwyn]

You misunderstood what Holven meant by Eve having only 3 huge alliances.

Eve is, for all intents and purposes, a game that is built on player activity. Perhaps it's different now but when I played it the pve content was secondary (actually, back then it was mining and hunting rats, both of which were worse than what we have in Elite now).

As a player entering the game, in order to have any real influence on anything, you have to be involved with other players.

Try to imagine ed with nothing but player ran content. Now imagine being a new player. Now imagine being given the choice of achieving nothing on your own. Or achieving something by being part of a Corp.

Now imagine all the good stuff happens between only the three huge alliances, formed up out of all those corps.

Then imagine needing to spend years actually building up your skills (they level up over time, you can't speed them up by playing more) so you can take part. The whole time, being utterly reliant on your Corp to progress.

Bottom line, FD didn't want this. They wanted each pilot to be able to experience the game without needing to be forced into an alliance.

Because of that, the content will mostly be pve, where pvp can a part of it.

It might seem like you have no effect on the galaxy. But you do. All the time. And that will be made richer with power play. More content for players to enjoy. Without needing to form a Corp to do it.

This game has more to it than most new releases of its kind. And it's only going to get better.

I see the point but I wouldn't worry about ED being overwhelmed by player-only controlled circumstances.
We are talking about 400 billion star systems after all and there are more than enough space for everyone to do what they like the best. And solo play is there too so no need to afraid of any control over anyone's gameplay who didn't choose it.

What I try to whisper is that opening up the possibilities in a virtually endless universe can only bring more players (and so more money to FD) in the game, it would thicken the plot and serve more needs and feed more hunger.
But for that FD need to establish real persistence in the universe because there's no manpower on Earth able to supervise and update the galaxy's conditions in every little corner. This is why I'm really curious about 1.3 because as I read the despcription there are seeds of this sowed in Powerplay. Fingers crossed

 

[Ydiss]

I see the point but I wouldn't worry about ED being overwhelmed by player-only controlled circumstances.
We are talking about 400 billion star systems after all and there are more than enough space for everyone to do what they like the best. And solo play is there too so no need to afraid of any control over anyone's gameplay who didn't choose it.

What I try to whisper is that opening up the possibilities in a virtually endless universe can only bring more players (and so more money to FD) in the game, it would thicken the plot and serve more needs and feed more hunger.
But for that FD need to establish real persistence in the universe because there's no manpower on Earth able to supervise and update the galaxy's conditions in every little corner. This is why I'm really curious about 1.3 because as I read the despcription there are seeds of this sowed in Powerplay. Fingers crossed

Well I'm definitely not worried because FD have made it clear it won't happen but probably best to drop that line of discussion otherwise this thread will go there.

What's obvious is FD want to keep adding to the game with things for us to do. And they're apparently going to do that with both solo and multi player in mind.

And that's just as likely to bring in plenty of players

 

[kilvenny]

As I understand it Powerplay consists of 20 powers, but there are less than 10 at the start. That gives FD scope to add powers like the Thargoids, but also eventually player powers created by players working with specific factions and enabling them to become powers. For that to happen players are going to have to band together in a disciplined fashion which effectively is a tacit player faction that eventually becomes a player power. For me Powerplay is a controlled precursor for full player created powers where players create a faction in a system and build it into a power. What FD have very carefully done is break down the master plan into sections that can be delivered on. Very astutely they have not told us the plan so we cannot see if they have to adapt it.

 

[Holven]

To a degree I feel somewhat the same but I feel they are concentrating on the wrong things too much instead of actual "content"

Depends on what you call content, really. I think we might see more storylined missions in the future, possibly even in Powerplay. Would you please define what sort of content you feel are missing.

 

[Holven]

It's very interesting how differently we can use terms like "deep", "game", and so on
Instead of addressing most of your thought I would pick one to discuss if you don't mind.

You wrote: "To me, this is deeper and more realistic than any other game to date, with the possible exception of EVE. EVE fell into a trap, however. By not limiting the amount of power a single player or a group of players could wield, they essentially destroyed the game. Where there once was multiple player factions, there are now basically three humongous alliances... and the rest of the game will only, can only, consist of powerplay between those factions. The further development of that game is essentially useless and futile."

First of all I have to say I haven't played EVE so I rely on what you described above.
You say EVE, "the game" has been destroyed as there are only 3 big alliances ruling the game whereas there have been more player factions before.
Well, that seems to be an evolution to me and a current state configured by masses of players through long years. Despite your evaluation these players have been paying a monthly fee for having their game accounts active so I guess they've been satisfied with EVE otherwise they wouldn't have shoveled money for the experience.

Let's see ED now. Do we also have 3 major factions by any chance? Yes, we do. But there's one difference: this galaxy power setup has been configured by FD by default and not by the players. At release ED was advertised as a cut throat galaxy where these super powers are competing and a certain hype had been built around fictional characters (senators, emperor and what have you) and an incoming galaxy-wide conflict to take part in.
I haven't seen that yet but I've seen some clumsy manual storytelling and manual switch-settings by FD in reaction of some unorganized player attempts of taking part in something doesn't exist so far. The sweat of Lugh was rather a test of the so called "persistent" universe and it's up to everyone to decide whether it was a success or not, personally I'm not convinced.
So do you think ED has "essentially been destroyed" too by these circumstances?

That leads to the other thought of yours, where you said: "Here we have a game, where we can influence what happens."
Again, very interesting how differently we can see the same thing because for me it seems that what happens is the last thing I can influence
I see this assumption over the months returning that players want to be heroes. Actually I don't want to be and I don't speak of others. I don't want to be a hero, I had enough game where I was a hero by the default role and actually the term "hero" has already been worn out seriously in the past ten years thanks to the games industry.
But being able to affect the world what we PLAYERS create is something very important to me when it comes to games. Is that not the very element of a sandbox game? To be able to create our own world TOGETHER? Build it up from the sand, maintain it, form it, reform it, conflict it, loose it, win it back?
I would stress the WE PLAYERS TOGETHER part. That's the game. That evolution, that creativity and the risk/reward factor.

In ED I can create my ship. That's it.
And there is a huuuuge and beautiful galaxy in the other hand everyone is very proud of but it's not offering too much gameplay at the moment. Passive factions, passive virtual characters, passive world. Get a woman like this in your bed and you'll understand what I am talking about (assuming you are man )

So don't be afraid of the flesh, it would not take away anything what's already there but could give a lot for other purposes.
And that's where I am really excited about Powerplay. After half a year's public beta test called release it might bring something I would have been happy at release (even if I had to wait longer).
That's the point where ED may take off and evolve from the legacy 1984 ground.

Well, concerning EVE...
They have four major NPC factions in there and they are inviolate, just thought I should mention that first off. The reason I feel EVE has fallen to too much power to the players, is that .. if you want to join that game now, you basically have very few options in a game that was meant to be "limitless." You can stay in NPC space and do missions, but if you like building stuff, you won't have any of that there. You have to go to player dominated space for that. Thing is, that at current, that means you would have to get into a corporation (guild), which is part of an alliance, which again is part of a mega-alliance. You as a player are very restricted in what you can do and what you are allowed to do, by other players. Basically, if you want to set up a base, you need someone's approval and the moment you ally yourself with anything, you become KOS to a host of other factions. Your choices have been stripped away from you and though there exist some small areas where you can do your thing, you have to earn a lot of trust and such before people will let you. While that game is unparalleled in the scope of its battles, it is also unparallelled in the difficulties and challenges you meet just trying to get into it, these days. It has turned into a dog eat dog fest, where you are very likely to get scammed, trodden on and spit out by your fellow players. That game truly falls into the "trust no-one" category these days.

Yes, all you can do is outfit your ship, at current. I think it is unlikely that Elite will go in the direction of letting us build bases directly ourselves, simply because it would quickly get in the way of the background simulation. However, things that have been mentioned and probably will show up later; Ability to land on planets, ability to create caches on planets, ability to ride vehicles on planets and explore them on foot. Also mentioned as an idea: Owning quarters on a station.

Things will change and I dare not promise into what. They are staying true to the Elite formula, however.. which is that you are a pilot with a space ship.

I have to say I feel I can change things and have in fact been in on doing that a few times (or resisting change). I'm sorry you feel you aren't affecting anything. I hope you will find your footing.

 

[signal11th]

Depends on what you call content, really. I think we might see more storylined missions in the future, possibly even in Powerplay. Would you please define what sort of content you feel are missing.

Well for us "offline" players there is no content apart from what we had on day one, some new ships etc but nothing else. I actually logged on again last night for the first time in a couple of months and played for an hour or so, nice and pretty with my new gfx card. From what I can see with Wings and Powerplay that the game is just going to end up a poor mans EVE, a pretty poor man no shadow of a doubt but poor none the less.


Whne I mean "us offline" players I mean people like me who never had any interest in "multiplayer" and only ever saw Elite as a solo game. If I want space multiplayer there are already much better games out there doing it. Unfortunately I think the scism between offline and online modes will end up alienating one or both sections of the community as will harm the game basically because DB will end up trying to please everyone all of the time which we all know doesn't work.

 

[Mrjupp]

ED IS more complex than Elite 1984. There is more to the flight mechanics, missions etc (albeit not as fleshed out as the later elite games yet... 1.3 fingers crossed!) and just more "stuff" in general, not to mention multiplayer and the size!. Also what we have now is only the start. hopefully there is much more to come.

That being said, it is very rare for a sequel to go totally away from its roots and indeed it would be silly for them to in elite imo.

look at the assassins creed games, or farcry, or forza, Gran turismo, GTA (forgetting the 2D games when the hardware could not do 3D) or the X games (rebirth is possibly the exception here and look how badly that was received!). All are essentially more of the same, just improving the eye candy and tweaking things........

that is not to say I do not want more stuff in ED, or that indeed it needs more stuff if the game is to last long term....................... but I would be terribly dissapointed if ED ventured too far from its roots.

One word.... Thargoids! Sends shivers down my spine even now.

 

[Holven]

Well for us "offline" players there is no content apart from what we had on day one, some new ships etc but nothing else. I actually logged on again last night for the first time in a couple of months and played for an hour or so, nice and pretty with my new gfx card. From what I can see with Wings and Powerplay that the game is just going to end up a poor mans EVE, a pretty poor man no shadow of a doubt but poor none the less.


Whne I mean "us offline" players I mean people like me who never had any interest in "multiplayer" and only ever saw Elite as a solo game. If I want space multiplayer there are already much better games out there doing it. Unfortunately I think the scism between offline and online modes will end up alienating one or both sections of the community as will harm the game basically because DB will end up trying to please everyone all of the time which we all know doesn't work.

You still didn't define what sort of content you feel are missing. And know what? I mostly play in Open because it isn't that dangerous. I could as well play in Solo. Sometimes I play with some friends in Grouped. I don't consider PvP as being content.

So, what sort of content do you feel are missing?

 

[Moony2]

Elite 84 was a ground breaking game to be sure - but I think the real genius came with Frontier which implemented real newtonian physics (to the point you could even pull off gravitational slingshots), a fully procedural galaxy with stars, planets, moons, asteroids etc. It had seamless planetary landings and even implemented curved bezier surfaces (something you rarely if ever see in games - even today).

Frontier took Elite to a whole other level.

Yes the mission system was a bit samey after a while - but considering what they had to work with, it was pretty awesome.

With ED - it appears that although the graphics and immersion etc have got a lot better and we now have online multiplayer etc - it just doesn't seem that much more advanced in terms of mission generation, AI interaction etc than Frontier was, and in some respects (i.e. lack of planetary landings) - almost seems like a backwards step in some ways.

Graphically ED is a million miles away from Frontier - but would it be fair to say that the other aspects of the game are only a few hops skips and jumps ahead?

 

[Super_Duty]

I missed the 84 version, buried in college and full time job to pay for it, chasing women and what not. I now find myself thinking that I should check out the original, just for reference.