Is Elite Dangerous a Dad's Game Played mainly by "non-gamers"?

[CMDR Kantos Kan]

I'm pretty sure you can answer that question yourself.

Got it. So, it's for showing off, since I've never seen computers that needed to be cooled off by liquids or, even rarer, by inert gases (well, I've heard about the Cray but it was not a gaming machine, IIRC). Thanks for confirming!

 

[Asp Explorer]

Got it. So, it's for showing off, since I've never seen computers that needed to be cooled off by liquids or, even rarer, by inert gases (well, I've heard about the Cray but it was not a gaming machine, IIRC). Thanks for confirming!

But you drive a car that needs to be cooled off by liquids. You keep your beer in a fridge that needs to be cooled off by liquids. You've never seen a car that someone wants to show off? Hardcore Extreme Beer Fridging is an art form all of itself.

 

[DefiledDragon]

Got it. So, it's for showing off, since I've never seen computers that needed to be cooled off by liquids or, even rarer, by inert gases (well, I've heard about the Cray but it was not a gaming machine, IIRC). Thanks for confirming!

Liquid cooling isn't a big deal these days you know. It might have been a few years ago, but now it's pretty commonplace. In fact, you can buy graphics cards which come with liquid cooling already installed. My i7 4790k is liquid cooled, I bought a kit made by corsair that cost about the same as a decent hs/fan combo.

Is a beautiful hand crafted piece of furniture for "showing off", or is it a thing of beauty, a work of art? It's a matter of perspective, no?

 

[CaptainSeriousFun]

Got it. So, it's for showing off, since I've never seen computers that needed to be cooled off by liquids or, even rarer, by inert gases (well, I've heard about the Cray but it was not a gaming machine, IIRC). Thanks for confirming!

Thank god we don't live in a world with linear functionality was the only axiological principle; there's a true function to beautiful design, it actually contributes to the well-being of both the designer and the viewer. Cities (like Vancouver, and its design/architecture aesthetic, "Vancouverism") deploy it, civil engineers deploy it, creators of all kinds...so why not in the building of PCs, and why must it be reduced to "showing off?"

 

[CMDR Kantos Kan]

Thank god we don't live in a world with linear functionality was the only axiological principle; there's a true function to beautiful design, it actually contributes to the well-being of both the designer and the viewer. Cities (like Vancouver, and its design/architecture aesthetic, "Vancouverism") deploy it, civil engineers deploy it, creators of all kinds...so why not in the building of PCs, and why must it be reduced to "showing off?"

Yes, I think I get it. Like the following car, since someone mentioned cars:

View attachment 93243

Truly a work of art, where you can clearly see the true function to the beautiful design. Doesn't make the car go much faster but, heh, some really like that look...

 

[Asp Explorer]

Doesn't make the car go much faster but, heh, some really like that look...

That doesn't make it go "faster" at all "Quicker" - very possibly! The true function of it's design is readily apparent.

Seeing as you don't build car's or PC's, but you do have an Apple in your avatar - I don't feel bad in assuming that you prefer others to do your product design and optimisation for you. Pre-built packaged perfection makes many people happy

 

[imadot]

I don't think you'd come away with that impression if you'd read the whole thing.

What a silly question, a "dad-game"? Really? As opposed to a "kiddie-game"?

And yea that is the impression I got as well. It may be because older gamers like me take offense to being boxed and labeled like that.

 

[Cargobane]

This thread deserves a mug

 

[f1lupo]

sure Dad Gamer I suppose since I'm a dad and played the original Elite on my C64 when I was a teenager Find myself playing alot more Mario maker with my kids than ED lately but hey I can roll with Galaxians (8 bit) or ED and still have fun!

 

[Tyzah]

In the current version the game is more or less running OK. So I currently enjoy "gaming" a lot.
How interesting this idea of the thread starter is... maybe I'll have a baby later this year ^^ It would make perfect sense then.

*shouts to the kitchen* "Wife? ... Darling? ... meet me in the play room in 15 mins!" ;-)

 

[WR3ND]

This thread deserves a mug

I think it's funny that some people think there is all that much of a distinction... Maybe grandpa gamers vs. teen gamers would be more apt? Man-child gamers are getting old these days.

 

[skypine27]

Ive thought about a wall build. Might do one in the future when I move back home to the US (currently an expat living overseas).

I recently did my first custom loop. Im pretty proud of how it turned out and its dead silent under max gaming.

Shameless self promotion pics:








(before you make fun of the bubbles in this pic, this was right after filling the system, they have all gone away since)

(And yes Im a dads gamer. Loved ED for a for a while but eventually grew bored of it. Currently the only think Im playing is Ark as a server admin on my own server)

 

[WR3ND]

While we're not on the subject, I don't really care for anything too flashy, especially not needless additional LED lighting and the like. I use industrial water resistant case fans ("dork thinks he's gonna drown" - they're actually exceptionally well performing otherwise regardless), not flashy ones, for example. http://noctua.at/en/catalog/product/view/id/91/s/nf-a14-industrialppc-3000-pwm/

One of the links from my signature...

Spoiler

 

[nexxo]

Got it. So, it's for showing off, since I've never seen computers that needed to be cooled off by liquids or, even rarer, by inert gases (well, I've heard about the Cray but it was not a gaming machine, IIRC). Thanks for confirming!

You've never overclocked, obviously.

Let's get some perspective. You're playing a computer game. You're using a £400,-- to £1000,-- piece of advanced, sophisticated technology to play games, with no other aim than the fun of reaching its game objectives and achievements.

I like to build things. I enjoy metalworking and model engineering. So obviously I'll build my own rig in that vein, for the satisfaction of creating something functional and aesthetic.

 

[sbdags]

I'm not a Dad but am old enough to be one.

I'd say it is a grown ups game, not for the kids or those of short attention span or lack of imagination.

Condescending? Maybe but then so is your post.

 

[Bambi]

Hullo. :^)

 

[Clicker]

TLDR - if already suggested...add me to the Dad gamers...

Who has more disposable income and will buy paint and bobble heads and stuff because of the nostalgia factor....dads, that's who....FD are smart...they'll suck in the younglings for a while but keep the older generation by fulfilling their fantasies of what the older Elite games might have been.

WIN-WIN

Clicker

 

[WR3ND]

You've never overclocked, obviously.

Let's get some perspective. You're playing a computer game. You're using a £400,-- to £1000,-- piece of advanced, sophisticated technology to play games, with no other aim than the fun of reaching its game objectives and achievements.

I like to build things. I enjoy metalworking and model engineering. So obviously I'll build my own rig in that vein, for the satisfaction of creating something functional and aesthetic.

Some perspective... He has an Apple logo on his avatar pic. Of course he doesn't know anything about computers (teasing... mostly).

Personally though, I do tend to prefer simple and elegant yet effective and powerful design. To each their own and all. Some people's builds are really cool looking, even if the looks don't always add in performance enhancements. Nothing wrong with that, of course.

 

[Wizz15]

I think a lot of people discovered Elite when they were younger (like me, although I am not a dad), that's why EDs playerbase may be older.

I have the feeling many of these dad gamers have the same story as me. Started gaming as a child (in my case an Atari ST in the early 90s) and never really stopped. I don't think there is much difference between the 'normal' gamers and the dad-gamers, other than the time restrictions to spend on gaming and having other responsibilities (children/wife).

I would not label them as non-gamers, just gamers with less time to spend on their hobby nowadays. It may be because 'we' are from a different era, that we don't mind games that do not consist of constant flashy action, or maybe some have just grown tired of it.

Regarding EDs game design: I believe ED is targeting the people who played the previous games with their game design. Although there are some elements to get people interested that are unfamiliar with the series, I believe they still have the same goal as with the previous versions of Elite. Although I might disagree with some design choices, in general I am still pretty curious to see how ED turns out in the long run.

I have played a lot of crappy games on various platforms in the past, so far I don't think ED is one of them. I believe it has great potential and I am curious what will happen due to the competition recently. I do believe Elite is an acquired taste, so to say... It certainly isn't for everyone and I for one am glad for that. I hate 'lowering the threshold' with a passion - it has ruined many good games by getting rid of all the interesting/challenging bits. The recent trend seemed to be that game developers think their audience is mentally challenged, since their games are designed like that. I for one was glad to discover the UA signal stuff was actually a thing in ED, I think that alone sets Frontier apart from a lot of 'triple A' game studios today.

I think Frontier designed ED for an audience with a brain (mature if you will), unlike many games nowadays.

 

[Louella]

what's a dad rig?

the computer that only your dad plays games on, and nobody else is allowed to touch, lol.

Sometimes it'll have a component or peripheral, of a type that you've never seen in any computer parts catalogue.

Like, my dad once built an IBM-game port compatible joystick, using parts out of the Maplin catalogue, and some materials from B&Q. A 2-button joystick, so nothing fancy, but, it's a one-of-a-kind unique artifact.