Complaints will never end. And that's ok.
- Thread starter Retrograde
- Start date
Since update 1.3, we have lots of players complaining that the game is going the wrong direction or failing and raging over Powerplay or CQC. Whatever they announce at Gamescom, a considerable proportion of players will almost surely hate it. Here's why I think most of these complaints should be taken with a grain of salt.
Elite is played by people with a wider range of playstyles than almost any other game. Elite ranges from social MMO players to solo people who just want to be left alone. There are older, time-strapped players and hardcore gamers putting in 100s of hours. We have traders and miners avoiding all combat and twitch players whose only interest is combat. We've got astronomy buffs who just want to explore as well as role-players, casuals, guild-mates, and those whose only goal is maximizing credits per hour.
Some of these groups overlap, but many don't. Basically no announcement or expansion can please all of us at once.
Elite supports this playstyle versatility, and it's one of its greatest strengths. But it also means that whatever is coming next might not be of any interest to you. In fact, it probably won't be, statistically. FD have said time and again that they're in this for the long haul, so whatever aspect of the game you're into, FD will probably get around to it at some point...
Of course there are lots of valid criticisms, including bugs and balance isues, but I think most of the complainers just want their own interest to be catered to first. Given the wide-ranging playstyles, such complaints won't stop. Ever.
In short, forum negativity is inevitable and means the game is thriving and evolving, not failing.
I guess this post is fairly obvious, but with the rise in complaints since 1.3, I think it's worth making the point.
In spite of the OP's clumsy attempt to disguise the fact, this is clearly another "I'm happy with the game so why don't you guys stop complaining" thread. The use of the term "negativity" alone indicates his mindset.
I'm sure he won't mind if I take it with a grain of salt.
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Cradle2Grave
Banned
So negativity's a positive thing then?
Rightio.
Rightio.
It is not negative to make a statement of opinion on a discussion forum, even if that opinion is "I think X could be better"
It is not negative to suggest that the development of some software is heading in an undesired direction.
It is negative to post that you are unhappy with with another posters contribution just because you aren't in agreement.
There are too many negative posts, most of which just say ironically "the forum is negative"
This can be evidence by the fact that comments are adding ideas to the game. When people say "stop being negative" what they are really saying is, "don't add anything to MY game I like it just like it is thank you!"
These are the people that are negative. They are trying to negate the opinion of others.
It seems there's a misunderstanding in Frontier as to what we actually want. When they talk about a roadmap, they're assuming a list of milestones with dates, and are (understandably) reluctant to release them. When we talk about it, we're simply looking for information about what's being worked on. It doesn't matter to me when those things land, but knowing that good things are coming would reduce my anxiety about the project.
^ This saves me typing it! It captures my feeling exactly - nothing new that's been added (bar ships) has been of any interest to me. I did do a couple of CGs, but only out of boredom. Don't think I've had a specific spat with Tinman about this elsewhere, but I do seem to cross his path more than once ina blue moon.
Some of their changes make no actual sense, when you track the game for over 6 months these things start to irritate you.
Constant stream of bugs and server issuess every week.
Too much grind, lets add some more grind because grind is the solution to very low actual content to do ingame besides flying pewpew.
I give them credit for fixing bugs and listening to feedback most of the time.
Powerplay is just an example, rollercoaster of bugs and on the fly changes,and in the end merit decay increase.
Constant stream of bugs and server issuess every week.
Too much grind, lets add some more grind because grind is the solution to very low actual content to do ingame besides flying pewpew.
I give them credit for fixing bugs and listening to feedback most of the time.
Powerplay is just an example, rollercoaster of bugs and on the fly changes,and in the end merit decay increase.
Deleted member 38366
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It's always going to be the case that there'll be a section of users for who an update holds no interest. What Frontier have to balance (and it's unclear whether they're thinking like this) is making sure that they vary their output such that everyone eventually feels like they're being catered for. To that end, I hope that the next update concentrates on adding depth from the DDA. In particular, I'd like to see improvements to the exploration and mining careers, and a start on persistent NPCs.^ This saves me typing it! It captures my feeling exactly - nothing new that's been added (bar ships) has been of any interest to me. I did do a couple of CGs, but only out of boredom. Don't think I've had a specific spat with Tinman about this elsewhere, but I do seem to cross his path more than once ina blue moon.
This point resonated with me the strongest.
.
Everyone who is upset with a particular aspect of the game needs to first step back and take a good long hard think: Consider that you are not the audience for this game, and this game was not made to be fun for a person like you.
.
With a more modular game like this, it's more so specific aspects that you will absolutely love or completely not enjoy, because these specific aspects were made for you or not made with you in mind.
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So before filing your next complaint, ask yourself if the complaint is a problem you have personally, or some flawed relationship between one aspect of the game and another.
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Yes, this is the core of what I (and probably AnnuverScotinExile) was saying - we don't actually mind these bolt-ons in many ways as they're pretty easily ignored, bring in new players, add things for some current players to enjoy. But, it would be nice if the core features (i.e. the depth you mention from the DDA) were progressing alongside all the bling. It just hasn't been, so far.
Since update 1.3, we have lots of players complaining that the game is going the wrong direction or failing and raging over Powerplay or CQC. Whatever they announce at Gamescom, a considerable proportion of players will almost surely hate it. Here's why I think most of these complaints should be taken with a grain of salt.
Elite is played by people with a wider range of playstyles than almost any other game. Elite ranges from social MMO players to solo people who just want to be left alone. There are older, time-strapped players and hardcore gamers putting in 100s of hours. We have traders and miners avoiding all combat and twitch players whose only interest is combat. We've got astronomy buffs who just want to explore as well as role-players, casuals, guild-mates, and those whose only goal is maximizing credits per hour.
Some of these groups overlap, but many don't. Basically no announcement or expansion can please all of us at once.
Elite supports this playstyle versatility, and it's one of its greatest strengths. But it also means that whatever is coming next might not be of any interest to you. In fact, it probably won't be, statistically. FD have said time and again that they're in this for the long haul, so whatever aspect of the game you're into, FD will probably get around to it at some point...
Of course there are lots of valid criticisms, including bugs and balance isues, but I think most of the complainers just want their own interest to be catered to first. Given the wide-ranging playstyles, such complaints won't stop. Ever.
In short, forum negativity is inevitable and means the game is thriving and evolving, not failing.
I guess this post is fairly obvious, but with the rise in complaints since 1.3, I think it's worth making the point.
All good points and well made so +1 rep.
Frontier have been good at communication in the past, when their continued existence relied on backers and premium beta sales. I think looking at Frontier's Full Year Trading Update recently, that there are some significant issues (a turnover of £22m and a profit of only £1.2m) . The game has sold well (approx 650,000 units), and I suspect post XboxOne launch will tip over the 1million sales. However, many of the concerns and issues which my fellow commanders often talk about, seem to be either a) ignored vs. a Master Plan at Frontier b) not talked about in case some one 'steals' their thunder in either marketing or duplication.
Some of the design decisions since beta have been rather strange, introducing more grind and less emergent gameplay. The economics simulation remains rudimentary and the missions and AI are neither interesting enough or rewarding enough. Sadly I think Frontier missed a trick here, much of the user base is likely to have been excited by the Elite: Dangerous brand, will have been people of an older demographic (over 30's), who quite likely either play or have played EvE. Instead of focusing efforts on making the background economics simulation and giving us crafting and industry, there was a focus on delivering something else.. a very large galaxy for exploration - this was an awesome idea and I love the huge vastness of it all, however the gameplay dynamic of exploration is not exactly exhilarating (beyond the 'I got there first'! hook - there is nothing really 'to-do' other than move from one system to the next taking screenshots).
Most fascinating of all, is that the procedural generation of all of that wonderment, wasn't also used to create variety in space-stations, ships and other 'made' elements - had they done this they would have been able to deliver more assets with greater variety without the design and art overheads.
That all said, I still love the game for what it is, which is "Elite 1984 remastered" - in 1984 I played little else for the best part of a year - which is a very long time for a then 12 year old lad!
My concern is twofold a) that Frontier's management are not savy enough to realise that there is competition on the horizon in the shape of No Mans Sky (Star Citizen I fear will be a flop - I paid £40 for vapourware last year - more fool me) b) follow a typical 'old skool' British firms outlook that they don't need to compete because they have a loyal user base tied to the brand of Elite.
I fear both are true.
I'm sure CQC and the XboxOne release will bring in much needed revenue (and profit) for Frontier - however I doubt very much indeed that XboxOne sales alone will be able to keep Frontier from moving into the Red over the next 12 months. They know this too, hence the release of Planet/Rollercoaster Tychoon - pitched at a younger audience.
They have built a stunning, amazing and gobsmackingly good foundation for a long term game, but now need to move into Frame Shift Drive speed to deliver the rest of the promise, and be prepared to stick the design document in the bin, so that they can compete with the new kids on the block, in the shape of Hello Games.
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That's actually a very healthy profit to be posting for a smallish company that just completed major development of a product. If you've ever run a business or had an accountant you'll know that it is undesirable to post everything as profit straight away or you end up with a huge tax bill to deal with.
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Ah. Old is now over thirty. Logan's Run: Renew! Renew!
I have never seen *this* movie before...