CQC CQC Reboot

[Nicou]

Hello everyone!

I wanted to discuss the Close Quarter Combat - Arena - PvP feature.
As you may know, we had a high peak of users recently thanks to the Steam promotion... however group issues, matchmaking and long queues hit hard the user base.
CQC is a fantastic place to play PvP with other pilots and friends, I'm always sad to see the ongoing issues here.

I have some suggestions that might improve CQC:

• Rework the group feature, make it bigger and prettier, a different colour for our friends while in-game. A list isn't very effective to make the users feel important about creating a group;
• Make the group gains a bonus, +25% XP for players or more credits for high-level pilots;
• Make the Matchmaking easier and faster by removing the different matches options. I would like one button "PLAY" and then the different goals will cycle. This will avoid the players spreading into multiple gameplay, by regrouping everyone in the cycle. It would also make CQC more fun and dynamic by cycling teamplay, soloplay, capture the flag, or even races or Kill the Capital Ship later. Don't implement a "Leave" or "Rematch" button available, it would spray even more the players and make the matchmaking unbalanced because of players leaving;
• Add possibilities for players to customize their ships colors, bobbleheads, stripes, laser colours, Thrusters, ... Players could buy them in-game via a currency earned by playing CQC or by buying it in the shop in order to provide Frontier with some profits.
• Add Avatars to our profiles that everyone can see when starting the game. So we can brag about our flashy Yellow Condor avatar, our Rank Avatar level 25, our red Elite logo, ...
• Implement new matches like Races, Kill The Capital Ship, SRV fights, SRV Destruction Derby, SRV races, ...

What do you guys think of the possibilities?
Feel free to comment and add your constructive opinions, we might be heard by the developers! Let's develop further the PvP Arena, together.

Cheers!

 

[popuptoaster]

Add access to it via consoles in the stations in Elite, it supposed to be a virtual sport after all, would get lots more players into it and would sense of having the damn stupid rating sitting on my HUD all the time.

Personally still wouldn't play it and hope it vanishes forever but as a constructive idea, making it a real part of the game rather than just because they say so would probably have more effect than anything else.

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

Add access to it via consoles in the stations in Elite, it supposed to be a virtual sport after all, would get lots more players into it and would sense of having the damn stupid rating sitting on my HUD all the time.

Personally still wouldn't play it and hope it vanishes forever but as a constructive idea, making it a real part of the game rather than just because they say so would probably have more effect than anything else.

Just out of interest, why do you hope it would just vanish? A lot of people like it.

In answer to the OP though, I think one simple thing that would help CQC would be to reduce the number of players needed for a game down to two or possibly even one. Currently, arriving players can join a match that is already running so I don't see why the first two need to wait for others to arrive. I do see that there is potential for a turkey shoot with just two players but this would only be for a while until other players arrived.

Even if a game would start with just one player, that player could still fly around getting used to the maps and experimenting and would be much more entertaining than staring at the lobby screen.

 

[popuptoaster]

Just out of interest, why do you hope it would just vanish? A lot of people like it.

Not my kind of game, i accept that doesn't mean it's bad however what really gets my goat is the feeling the FD have put the ranking into ED.

I would NOT have a problem with that if CQC was a career you can access through the game like all the other rankings.

Because I have to log out of ED and log into CQC, however much FD tell me it's a part of the game it really just isn't.

effectively they could put a ranking i for how many Elite books you've read, or how much merchandising you've bought as they to are part of the ED universe.

That ranking just feels like a sad and desperate attempt to make people play a failing arena game and it irritates me enough that I would rather CQC just died to get rid of the rank on my HUD.

I don't expect many people to agree with me and the entire problem would be fixed if FD just added access to CQC at some kind of "VR station" accessible from the bigger stations with the main game. There will be people along in a bit to moan that i'm complaining again, but they should not I did make a postive suggestion and I really don't care if they are sick of hearing it or not, until FD do something about it I'll keep on about it because either it will fix my HUD or iot will fix CQC which is win/win right?

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

Not my kind of game, i accept that doesn't mean it's bad however what really gets my goat is the feeling the FD have put the ranking into ED.

I would NOT have a problem with that if CQC was a career you can access through the game like all the other rankings.

Because I have to log out of ED and log into CQC, however much FD tell me it's a part of the game it really just isn't.

effectively they could put a ranking i for how many Elite books you've read, or how much merchandising you've bought as they to are part of the ED universe.

That ranking just feels like a sad and desperate attempt to make people play a failing arena game and it irritates me enough that I would rather CQC just died to get rid of the rank on my HUD.

I don't expect many people to agree with me and the entire problem would be fixed if FD just added access to CQC at some kind of "VR station" accessible from the bigger stations with the main game. There will be people along in a bit to moan that i'm complaining again, but they should not I did make a postive suggestion and I really don't care if they are sick of hearing it or not, until FD do something about it I'll keep on about it because either it will fix my HUD or iot will fix CQC which is win/win right?

Would it be fairer to say that it's not that you want CQC to vanish but that you would like the CQC rating removed from your ratings panel?

It's not like CQC is taking any dev time. Fundamental but simple bugs are rarely fixed and generally, posts in the bug forum about CQC are not answered.

Actually, I felt the same as you about the CQC rating in the rating panel until I started to really get into CQC but I wouldn't care if they removed it.

 

[popuptoaster]

I might even play CQC if it was brought inside Elite, I'm a passable cpmbat pilot and have HOTAS and head tracking, it's the principle of that HUD that keeps me out until it's fixed.

I'm not interested in arena shooters but i am interested in having decent rankings if I feel they are part of my game.

 

[Cliché]

As a simulator fan, I think the whole concept of CQC is preposterous as implemented, with thousands of ships getting blown up very hour. That kind of goes for RES bounty hunting too, but that's off-topic.

I'd like to be able to fly my own ship(s), configured for CQC.
I'd like it to be simulated damage and "holographic" weapons fire and explosions.
Instead of blowing up and re-spawning, just have the ship go dead for a while and then reset.
If you crash into a building w/o shields, you can get real damage that you need to withdraw and fly back to the hangar for costly repairs.
Bring it in-game so you can fly to the arena, view matches as a spectator, sign up for matches inside the station, stay in wings, and etc.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Bring it in-game so you can fly to the arena, view matches as a spectator, sign up for matches inside the station, stay in wings, and etc.

It would be nice to be able to visit the arena locations in-game (two are in the bubble, one is in the outer galactic core, and one is about half way between) but I think part of the fun is having each match take place in a different location, so for actually fighting in them the separate game mode is far better than having to fly for days to get to the next one.

(Though, on my next exploration trip, I probably will detour to them so I can log out in the ice field and then play some CQC matches there...)

Also, the elevator location benefits extremely strongly from not having to actually implement the elevator itself in game, so I think that one especially is unlikely to make an appearance.

 

[Eminor]

As a simulator fan, I think the whole concept of CQC is preposterous as implemented, with thousands of ships getting blown up very hour. That kind of goes for RES bounty hunting too, but that's off-topic.

IIRC, the premise of CQC is that it is actually a sort of VR game within the Elite universe - so the multiple kills/re-spawning way that it works seems fine when seen from that perspective.

 

[Globusdiablo]

bots...

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

(Though, on my next exploration trip, I probably will detour to them so I can log out in the ice field and then play some CQC matches there...)

Cool idea! I'll have to try that if I ever make it back from my current trip.

 

[Cliché]

IIRC, the premise of CQC is that it is actually a sort of VR game within the Elite universe - so the multiple kills/re-spawning way that it works seems fine when seen from that perspective.

No, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure those are supposed to be actual locations and ships. I think it's just like in the main game. You don't die, but are ejected in an escape pod that takes you back to hangar instead of the last station you docked at. I have no idea how anybody can afford to pay for it, unless it's government sponsored (bread and circuses).

Off-topic, but I think the main game is missing a lot of immersion/fun by not having you fly your own escape pod (in system, but not capable of hyper jumps), or having rescue ships have to collect you, or even slavers if they get there first and you can't manage to hide from or avoid them. And those rescue ships or slavers can be NPCs or commanders.

 

[NeilF]

Hello everyone!

I wanted to discuss the Close Quarter Combat - Arena - PvP feature.
As you may know, we had a high peak of users recently thanks to the Steam promotion... however group issues, matchmaking and long queues hit hard the user base.
CQC is a fantastic place to play PvP with other pilots and friends, I'm always sad to see the ongoing issues here.

I have some suggestions that might improve CQC:

• Rework the group feature, make it bigger and prettier, a different colour for our friends while in-game. A list isn't very effective to make the users feel important about creating a group;
• Make the group gains a bonus, +25% XP for players or more credits for high-level pilots;
• Make the Matchmaking easier and faster by removing the different matches options. I would like one button "PLAY" and then the different goals will cycle. This will avoid the players spreading into multiple gameplay, by regrouping everyone in the cycle. It would also make CQC more fun and dynamic by cycling teamplay, soloplay, capture the flag, or even races or Kill the Capital Ship later. Don't implement a "Leave" or "Rematch" button available, it would spray even more the players and make the matchmaking unbalanced because of players leaving;
• Add possibilities for players to customize their ships colors, bobbleheads, stripes, laser colours, Thrusters, ... Players could buy them in-game via a currency earned by playing CQC or by buying it in the shop in order to provide Frontier with some profits.
• Add Avatars to our profiles that everyone can see when starting the game. So we can brag about our flashy Yellow Condor avatar, our Rank Avatar level 25, our red Elite logo, ...
• Implement new matches like Races, Kill The Capital Ship, SRV fights, SRV Destruction Derby, SRV races, ...

What do you guys think of the possibilities?
Feel free to comment and add your constructive opinions, we might be heard by the developers! Let's develop further the PvP Arena, together.

Cheers!

Dedicate any development time to the core game - I'd rather see the list of placeholder mechanics that have patiently been waiting for 18+ months to get some TLC, to (finally) get some attention...

IMHO CQC was a huge loss of development time that could have been dedicated into the core game. Can you imagine what all that time & effort could have added? Let's not do even more that...

 

[Cliché]

Well, yeah, there is that.

 

[the100thmonkey]

No, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure those are supposed to be actual locations and ships.

No, you're just wrong.

 

[Cliché]

No, you're just wrong.

Lol, first I've heard of that, though I've not exactly been paying attention. It certainly isn't advertised that way - PVP, gladiatorial battles, strap on your ship, and etc. Honestly, having it be a total simulation makes me want to play it even less than the 15 minutes I put in when it was released.

 

[Kerrash]

.. Can you imagine what all that time & effort could have added? Let's not do even more that...

No I cant. Nobody can because we have no public metrics on exactly how much time was spent on it. I assure you it was less than you might think.

I am happy to see features added to the game for players with different ideals.

Personally I would just like to see NPCs to fill empty slots after a minute wait.

 

[NeilF]

Personally I would just like to see NPCs to fill empty slots after a minute wait.

Please... No more time on it... Please...

By all means NPC Wingmen in the core game within missions/tasks. Or NPC affiliates you can earn trust with and call upon for tricky/difficult missions etc. Put fighter missions/tasks to cover platforms, capital ships and convoys and we can have NPC Wingmen there too.

All this adds depth, variety and potential to the core game... NPCs in CQC? Not so much.

 

[Bacalao]

Good suggestions but there should always be a 're-queue' button, otherwise you're just going to have people dodging, which is going to be even worse for the game. Keep the modes as they are now and add an all in one mode. Also make it accessible from your ship, put a button right there below 'galactic powers' so I can wait in queue while I play the main game instead of looking at a big 'CQC' banner. And sure, bots, why not? We get trade/exploration/combat ranks playing with bots, why not CQC rank? So long as the bots scale with CQC rank or you can customize it and receive no progress.

 

[Jack Lawless]

Ideas:

1)more maps, i think people play CQC but most don't come back or play less because there are like 2 maps?
- make more maps, not only in space, make them on the ground also, make dog fighting in closed canyons
-
2)add SRV fights on planets part of CQC
3)add Skimmer fights on planets part of CQC