Elite boring?

[Herik]

I too had high hopes for ED, but they arose from checking out hours of gameplay youtube clips and determining this game was very much for me. As a result, what the game delivered was rather close to what I expected.

As I Ziggy Starduster....Even before the 'kickstarter', information on the forums said to me I should follow this closely; I did and it's close to what I hoped. My main expectancy now is for 'the expansions', to give me the complete galactic experience.

There's more coming (before the expansions), that doesn't peak my interest (and some that does). The game is moving quite nicely for me; and FD (should) please more players, not just me.

 

[Ziljan]

The galaxy is already explored, all the systems are mapped and you can plan rout to a remote system before ever visiting the systems along the way.
All we can "explore" is getting info on the start and planets in a new system but that basically gives generic description.

Again the problem for me is that it's already known where the planets are, we just do not know the name so we cannot find anything new - we just attach a description to it.

Unfortunately I agree with this. We know too much from the Galaxy Map and the Discovery Scanner. It's probably scientifically accurate that we would have this kind of basic info, but it breaks the gameplay a little by removing any terra incognita. We can do 90% of of any real exploration from a station and the other 10% while refueling at a star.

 

[signal11th]

TBH I have to agree personally its nowhere near the game I thought it was going to be (I'm from the 84 days myself) and like the OP I started playing the game and just found it tedious and soulless. I've started playing the game literally as I used to back in 84 with no more expectations than it being a thinly veiled grindothon and have sort of started to enjoy it just for that but if you actually compare it back to the old game it's just prettier nothing else. It doesn't even come close to first encounters which yes was a buggy POS but had so much more in immersion, Christ I still play that game now and I still find it more interesting that ED. Just the little things that made it better, portraits much better news, side missions, fly around the planets and flyby buildings etc etc etc


They need to start on the little things first to increase immersion not multiplayer things, I mean great I have a wingman but it's still a bodiless faceless person in the same similar ship who could be an AI player for all I care apart from the fact he talks. Little stuff like portraits, little people walking in the station or at least a body in the control tower, Bring back the different papers with different slants on the news ,, my god anything to prove I'm not the only human in the universe.

I think if you lower your expectation of the game like me you will start to enjoy it more.

 

[Ziljan]

TBH I have to agree personally its nowhere near the game I thought it was going to be (I'm from the 84 days myself) and like the OP I started playing the game and just found it tedious and soulless. I've started playing the game literally as I used to back in 84 with no more expectations than it being a thinly veiled grindothon and have sort of started to enjoy it just for that but if you actually compare it back to the old game it's just prettier nothing else. It doesn't even come close to first encounters which yes was a buggy POS but had so much more in immersion, Christ I still play that game now and I still find it more interesting that ED. Just the little things that made it better, portraits much better news, side missions, fly around the planets and flyby buildings etc etc etc

I think if you lower your expectation of the game like me you will start to enjoy it more.

...or perhaps a bit of patience? This is hardly as simple of a game as a single player romp through a low Rez polygonal universe. And FD has given us every reason to believe that the game will exceed anything that came before it in terms of breadth, depth, and beauty.

 

[Herik]

The galaxy is already explored, all the systems are mapped and you can plan rout to a remote system before ever visiting the systems along the way.
All we can "explore" is getting info on the start and planets in a new system but that basically gives generic description.

Again the problem for me is that it's already known where the planets are, we just do not know the name so we cannot find anything new - we just attach a description to it.

OH, we have explored four hundred billion star systems? Sorry not believable. Even with a million explorers, this probably wont happen in the life of the game.

Also; I expect 'exploration' to get a content boost when we can land on planets; as well as loads of missions...

 

[Pendra]

We are talking about a released product. Not an open beta. Patience and pondering on "future potential" stops when the product is released.
The problem is that this thing that does not even cut for a placeholder was sold as a complete system the way FD meant it to be.

What he meant is that the starchart is complete. It is not like you jump into a system and discover the adjacent jump destinations. I'm not sure that would save the jump in, see a random rumber I mean system. Point nose for 30 secs. Read nonsense random text. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Kiblams]

OH, we have explored four hundred billion star systems? Sorry not believable. Even with a million explorers, this probably wont happen in the life of the game.

Either you didn't read his post or have trouble understanding it?

He said the system are already on the map, so in essense we know they exist, all we get from exploring them is meta data which is slightly different to the last meta data we got from the last star/planet. I think you have to be a very special kind of person to get joy from that for longer than a few hours...

 

[signal11th]

...or perhaps a bit of patience? This is hardly as simple of a game as a single player romp through a low Rez polygonal universe. And FD has given us every reason to believe that the game will exceed anything that came before it in terms of breadth, depth, and beauty.

No offence it's quite easy to say "it's going to be great" I remember a bird saying that to me after I met her in a nightclub , well 8 beers later and a dose of antibiotics for the rash I realised it wasn't. Wings and powerplay don't add anything to the immersion of the universe either open or solo universe where you don't see anyone.,.. literally anyone or even a photo. jesus even a bit of graffiti by some bored worker cleaning the dust of the outside of the station would be nice . "Stan woz ere"
I like the game because its a literal copy of the original elite but come on...

 

[Derath]

...or perhaps a bit of patience? This is hardly as simple of a game as a single player romp through a low Rez polygonal universe. And FD has given us every reason to believe that the game will exceed anything that came before it in terms of breadth, depth, and beauty.

Or is it? Its got the shallowest multi-player features ever displayed under the guise of multiplayer, and the only reason they have given for you to believe it will exceed anything before is "because we said so".

I've got plenty of patience for games, the kind of patience that says take an extra 12 months and put the right amount of content in, i'd wait rather than getting a kick out of a beta then shelving it forever. Aiming for meh just seems a bit sad to me.

There really isn't an option anymore either, its basically wait for an xpac, reclassify the game and pretend the real launch is that one and maybe just maybe it'll live up to what it should be, but for me that will never change that they used a very substantial and committed player/fanbase as a resource to fund and test their game , it will just change if it was worth it or not, the method will always be dubious.

 

[Herik]

Either you didn't read his post or have trouble understanding it?

He said the system are already on the map, so in essense we know they exist, all we get from exploring them is meta data which is slightly different to the last meta data we got from the last star/planet. I think you have to be a very special kind of person to get joy from that for longer than a few hours...

Yeah I'm very special; I enjoy the heck out of getting all that 'meta data' and will continue doing it for the life of the game.

 

[Ziljan]

No offence it's quite easy to say "it's going to be great" I remember a bird saying that to me after I met her in a nightclub , well 8 beers later and a dose of antibiotics for the rash I realised it wasn't. Wings and powerplay don't add anything to the immersion of the universe either open or solo universe where you don't see anyone.,.. literally anyone or even a photo. jesus even a bit of graffiti by some bored worker cleaning the dust of the outside of the station would be nice . "Stan woz ere"
I like the game because its a literal copy of the original elite but come on...

i guess they could have PG face icons for space stations, and customizable icons for CMDRs. I wonder if they could have PG voicing for comms chatter? Or landing requests etc? I agree the Galaxy needs a bit more personality and uniqueness. Not 8 beers worth of personality though. Maybe 2 or 3?

 

[Jenner]

I agree with those who are saying the game needs more 'life' and more context for your actions. As is it's overly sterile. I'm really excited for Power Play because I think it can help alleviate some of this. Or at least it's a step in the right direction. I'm the kind of gamer who needs more than just a pretty world to fly around in - I prefer some story, some characters, some real stakes.

I'd really like to see exploration buffed a ton, too. That's a huge draw for this game over other space sims - a fully realized and *massive* galaxy to explore. Ironic as it is, there definitely needs to be more 'out there' to see and do.

 

[Ziljan]

Or is it? Its got the shallowest multi-player features ever displayed under the guise of multiplayer, and the only reason they have given for you to believe it will exceed anything before is "because we said so".

I've got plenty of patience for games, the kind of patience that says take an extra 12 months and put the right amount of content in, i'd wait rather than getting a kick out of a beta then shelving it forever. Aiming for meh just seems a bit sad to me.

There really isn't an option anymore either, its basically wait for an xpac, reclassify the game and pretend the real launch is that one and maybe just maybe it'll live up to what it should be, but for me that will never change that they used a very substantial and committed player/fanbase as a resource to fund and test their game , it will just change if it was worth it or not, the method will always be dubious.

It's more than mere words. Braben has decades of proven experience and a passion for this particular genre which he actually invented. If you check his more technical interviews, you will see he is actually quite a genius, if very modest about it. He is also very shrewd and realistic because his previous projects taught him what it means to actually carry out these kinds of huge ambitions.

I'll grant that multiplayer is weak, but that might have something to do with the huge fit that solo player KS backers pitched when they called in the lawyers after being told it was going to be an MMO. I think multiplayer has a lot of potential in this game, but it's no where near what it could be yet.

If you are calling this game a paid beta, then you are alone there. The game is huge, stable, with fully realized and fun combat, and is being supported with free updates and regular dev feedback and pr releases. It's the polar opposite of star citizen in terms of financing and development.

 

[Kiblams]

How much exploring did you do Kiblams?

A few evenings worth, got my name against a few system Stars.

 

[Alien]

I agree with those who are saying the game needs more 'life' and more context for your actions. As is it's overly sterile. I'm really excited for Power Play because I think it can help alleviate some of this. Or at least it's a step in the right direction. I'm the kind of gamer who needs more than just a pretty world to fly around in - I prefer some story, some characters, some real stakes.

I'd really like to see exploration buffed a ton, too. That's a huge draw for this game over other space sims - a fully realized and *massive* galaxy to explore. Ironic as it is, there definitely needs to be more 'out there' to see and do.

I am sure that PowerPlay will make the game more interesting to those into politics in computer games, but I disagree that it adds more "life" or more "content". It does nothing but add fluff. It's like the scene at the end of Guardians Of The Galaxy ...

Spoiler

When Peter Quill is dancing and singing, and Ronan asks "What are you doing?" and Peter Quill says "I'm distracting you"
That's all PowerPlay is ... a distraction

Give me things like salvaging, ship naming, NPC interaction (for things like missions), ship reputation etc ... things that really flesh out the game, things that I can find immersion in.

PowerPlay isn't it.

 

[Cody]

Give me things like salvaging, ship naming, NPC interaction (for things like missions), ship reputation etc ... things that really flesh out the game...

<nods> All that - and don't forget hats! <grins>

 

[dayrth]

We are talking about a released product. Not an open beta. Patience and pondering on "future potential" stops when the product is released.
The problem is that this thing that does not even cut for a placeholder was sold as a complete system the way FD meant it to be.

What he meant is that the starchart is complete. It is not like you jump into a system and discover the adjacent jump destinations. I'm not sure that would save the jump in, see a random rumber I mean system. Point nose for 30 secs. Read nonsense random text. Rinse and repeat.

We are talking about a released product, but not a finished one. FD have made it clear that the game will continue to grow and features will be added for ever, (or at least as long as FD are in business and people are playing ED). It was sold with good description of what it was, (at the point of sale before people start shouting about things 'promised' in the kickstarter). The things mentioned as 'to come' such as pilots walking about ships, planetary landings etc, those are the ones you need a bit of patience for. FD have done quite well, I think in giving us the additions they already have, (new station types, wings etc), so quickly. Remember the game has only been out 5 months. That's no time at all for developing software.

If you bought in to the game because of the kickstarter aspirations, it was made clear that these were aspirations. If you bought in to the game once it was released, perhaps you should have read the description more carefully.

On the subject of the 'explored galaxy', with the technology we have now, we can see most of the bright objects in the galaxy that aren't directly obscured. We cant see other objects in those systems though, except for a few in nearby systems that have a large effect on the start they orbit. The ED galaxy seems to reflect this in a believable way.

We cant see dark objects or systems that aren't shown up by bright ones behind them. There have been hints that these will be added to the ED galaxy in the future, for us to really 'discover'.

 

[Alien]

Oh and if you think things like salvaging won't add immersion? read the first post in this link ...
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=119964

It's from the Egosoft forums, you know, the German company that made the X series. One guy, apricotslice, role-played as a salvager.

 

[Jenner]

I am sure that PowerPlay will make the game more interesting to those into politics in computer games, but I disagree that it adds more "life" or more "content". It does nothing but add fluff. It's like the scene at the end of Guardians Of The Galaxy ...

Spoiler

When Peter Quill is dancing and singing, and Ronan asks "What are you doing?" and Peter Quill says "I'm distracting you"
That's all PowerPlay is ... a distraction

Give me things like salvaging, ship naming, NPC interaction (for things like missions), ship reputation etc ... things that really flesh out the game, things that I can find immersion in.

PowerPlay isn't it.

I have a little more hope for Power Play it seems, but I'll reserve judgement until it comes out.
As for the other things you listed - I agree. I'd love to see those find their way into ED. They'd certainly help bolster immersion.

 

[Alien]

I have a little more hope for Power Play it seems, but I'll reserve judgement until it comes out.
As for the other things you listed - I agree. I'd love to see those find their way into ED. They'd certainly help bolster immersion.

We dream the same dream, we want the same things, whoa whoa whoa ...

/me shivers ... sorry, I had an 80's moment there