This is the impression I get and I think it's a big problem for ED. Or at least, deciding what it is, gamer's game or dad game will be key to deciding it's success. Indeed, the devs may come under pressure from gamers to make it more gamery, or rather "less of a game, more 'real', action packed etc", which may put the "dadfolk" off it! I'm not sure there's that much crossover between the two communities (though I'd say I am one) and trying to please both can be tricky.
Who are the dadfolk? No set type but "non-gamer", in term of the breadth of their experience even if they spend all God's hours playing their games. The player base also has a higher than average "settled down, middle aged" contingent who game whilst "the wife" does what ever it is women get up to. Many of the things that attract the dadfolk: the repetition [EDIT: 'routine' would have been a better word], the regular, predictable flow of events, non-too challenging combat etc, are what will put off the gamers and vice versa. And if any of my friends are reading this, yes! I mean you! Like many players of other dadgames like World of Tanks and Warships (also dadgames) many players play those games only and nothing else, which seems to be the case with ED... Indeed, for many, one of the last games they played seriously before ED was the original Elite of yesteryear.
Come to think of it, ED was one of the few other games I have heard WoWS and WoT players talk about playing. In a way one of the reason for the enthusiastic support such games get from some of their devotees comes from the inexperience of their players. They think the game is the best thing since sliced bread, but don't have that much to compare it against. Not that this makes them bad games and or the players bad people. I have played my dadgames for many hours but in the very small sample of players I know, it seems to be the way things are.
That's not to say that dadgames are a small or invalid market, World of Tanks turns over more than $300 mil anually I believe, for example and there are plenty of other examples.
I should also say that I am not young myself. Old enough to be a dad, granddad and technically a great grand dad for a few years now, but I'd still class myself as a gamer, though I am in a sense caught between the two camps. I enjoy dadgames but also like the occasional gamergame, and recently played: Witcher 3, Dark Souls, Cities Skylines, Fallout 4. There's nothing wrong with dadgames, I play them quite a lot. I only have 1 t10 tank in WoT, the IS7, but I have it!
I'd be interested to know what other games people play or have played, if any and no judgement if not, and in conjunction with this, what you think of ED. Or rather, how much you like it. No judgements, more research material!
You could also mention your age. I am not saying mine!
Yes, I am expecting a roasting over this post. Give it your best shot!
Almost 2am here, and I was quite tired at the start of the evening, hope that makes sense!
