Selling ED to an 11 year old.

CMDR Pugwash

CMDR Pugwash
Hello CMDRs,

I have my 11 year old nephew coming to visit and would like to get him into ED. Obviously this is quite a complicated game and so I am wondering what would pique his interest enough to lure him in. I was thinking of going to SOL and starting with a starter Sidewinder for some crash and burn docking antics, steer clear everyone!

Anyone had any success with similar?
 

the100thmonkey

the100thmonkey
My 11 year old watched me play for half an hour and was instantly pestering me for a copy.

If he's well into physics, like erstwhile keyboard player for D:Ream, Dr. Brian Cox, he'll be all over it.
 

Comrade Error

Comrade Error
Doubt you will have much luck but if anything try to play on his fantasy and show him some nice places and if he is more of the pew pew type give him a Vulture and go to a CZ with a capital ship.
 

Boomer Kay

B
Don't show him, let him play.
Especially, if you have a HOTAS.
Training missions are just fine - start with the barrel shooting ones, then start, then landing .. the simple combat one somewhere in between.
Cost you nothing if he tries ramming asteroids with the sidewinder (more fun than you'd think :p ).
 
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shadragon

shadragon
Start in the tutorials. No matter what age the interested player is, that's where everyone should start. A safe environment to make mistakes. Then Arena to hone skills, then Open.
 
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CMDR Pugwash

CMDR Pugwash
shadragon said:
Start in the tutorials. No matter what age the interested player is, that's where everyone should start. A safe environment to make mistakes. Then Arena to hone skills, then Open.
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Absolutely. I want to get him excited for it first though. With the attention span of a hyperactive cat I want to avoid that bit where all the kids are standing around the shiny purring go-carts whilst the supervisor goes through the health and safety rules.

I can afford to lose a few hundred sidewinders.
 

Crimson Kaim

Crimson Kaim
When I was younger I was so into the x-series due to the scale and the tension between the factions. Everything you did somehow influenced something and the whole reputation thing was cool as well.

Just my two cents.
 

Boomer Kay

B
CMDR Pugwash said:
Absolutely. I want to get him excited for it first though. With the attention span of a hyperactive cat I want to avoid that bit where all the kids are standing around the shiny purring go-carts whilst the supervisor goes through the health and safety rules.

I can afford to lose a few hundred sidewinders.
Click to expand...

No idea about his frustration tolerance, can be very individual, but starting out in ED can be a rather frustrating experience. There is just so many buttons to push in the right order at the right time with the right timing.
Very little to do with the current brand of "thumb only" games teh youngsters are getting raised on. If they'd ever have to wait 5 minutes for their Floppy drive to finish loading a game, they'd probably throw the computer out the window. :p
 

CMDR Pugwash

CMDR Pugwash
Boomer Kay said:
No idea about his frustration tolerance, can be very individual, but starting out in ED can be a rather frustrating experience. There is just so many buttons to push in the right order at the right time with the right timing.
Very little to do with the current brand of "thumb only" games teh youngsters are getting raised on. If they'd ever have to wait 5 minutes for their Floppy drive to finish loading a game, they'd probably throw the computer out the window. :p
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Precisely why I need to get him hooked first. Once he is excited about it he will persevere.
 

Boomer Kay

B
CMDR Pugwash said:
Precisely why I need to get him hooked first. Once he is excited about it he will persevere.
Click to expand...

Then training missions and encourage him go berserk. Like shoot everything, boost trough the slot and so on.

It's not the money saving, but they start fast, put you in the action right where you want to be and give you some feedback (that the game doesn't do), like "mission accomplished".

Maybe even some CQC, if he catches up fast. The core game is really 30 minutes of "boredom" for every 5 minutes of action. Even in a Res.
 

Sugarat

Sugarat
CMDR Pugwash said:
Precisely why I need to get him hooked first. Once he is excited about it he will persevere.
Click to expand...

I don't think you'll have much to worry about..

kids are much more creative and savvy than older players..

start with something simple and let him go from there..

you'll prolly be surprised :)
 

xondk

X
CMDR Pugwash said:
Hello CMDRs,

I have my 11 year old nephew coming to visit and would like to get him into ED. Obviously this is quite a complicated game and so I am wondering what would pique his interest enough to lure him in. I was thinking of going to SOL and starting with a starter Sidewinder for some crash and burn docking antics, steer clear everyone!

Anyone had any success with similar?
Click to expand...
depending on what kind of games he enjoys, maybe CQC will be something of his interest?
 

Macy

Macy
My 12 year old Son plays ED. He loves it. Anything we adults find complicated or tricky is easy to a kid LOL
 

Bernie65

Bernie65
For me it's the opposite... My son will turn 12 in a few weeks and he want's to play ED badly. But... He is spending too much time already on the iPhone, tablet, X-Box and my old gaming laptop (GX74), mostly on Minecraft. But he needs to pass a test in school soon, so I can't allow him to get lost in space :rolleyes:... Maybe I'll get ED for him, if he passes the test for the next grade, he would be a worthy wingmate (He kicks my sorry butt in most cooperative games;)).
 
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