Concerned About the Future

[CMDR ForeverZ3RO]

First off, I love Elite Dangerous. I thank Frontier for giving us this work of art and their support for these new content updates. Easily my favorite game by far.

This is NOT a "complaining" post, it's a "concerned" post.

Elite Dangerous is FUN and in it's own right, a fantastic game. That isn't to say that it isn't without its problem. The main issue, content.
For many players, once they get one of the "ultimate" ships in the game and have their millions, it becomes a difficult task to find a purpose. I myself have run into this issue. I WANT to play every night, but I really don't know what to do. Last night I setup my x52 and TrackIR, loaded up Elite and sat there thinking, "what do I want to do". I couldn't decide so I shut the game off and played something else. Sure, I could do Powerplay but it isn't my cup of tea and I unfortunately have no interest in it. I want to go from my 'Conda to a Cutter but I don't want to finish grinding from from Viscount to Duke (my problem, I know), and I like the "idea" of the Engineers but for some reason which I can't explain, something just throws me off of it.

I know the game will be amazing down the road when more content gets released but how long until then? I don't know much about game development or how long expansions take but it seems to take a while for content to get released as compared to other games. I'm sure there is a very good reason for it but when the updates seem hit or miss, each expansion seems to take FOREVER. When I say 'hit or miss' i'm talking about updates that don't seem to be well liked by the majority (I could be wrong here, just stating my perception of the situation) such as, CQC, Powerplay, and Engineers. I'm looking forward to our next update, but even then it doesn't seem to be adding much more in terms of goals. It also seems like the player base is slowing dwindling (I hope not).

I know this seems like a lot of ramblings but my main point is that Elite CAN become amazing one day once more expansions are released (FPS, atmospheric landings, multi-crew) but I'm concerned the game won't last until then. These expansion (not multi crew) are 3-4 more years away (I'm guessing). What if the player base dies to a point where they give up on expansions and keep the game as is? I would be so sad.

I'm just stating my point of view. Do you guys feels the same? If not, please explain. Please keep the comments clean and be respectful of other CMDRs posts.

Thanks and fly safe.

EDIT: Corrected spelling

 

[Codger]

I don't feel this way at all. I enjoyed ranking up. I enjoy mucking about getting Engineering stuff, and watching my ships get better and better. I enjoy doing missions, raising my rep with various factions, exploring on planets, flying around aimlessly...all of it. I even enjoy mining (a little ).

There's so much to do in this game I really can't see running out of stuff.

After over 1000 hours! there are still mission types I haven't tried, places I haven't gone, combat I haven't experienced, ships I haven't flown (those are getting fewer though )

This game is endless.

 

[Leo Sagan]

While I can't say I've got nothing to do despite the insane amount of time I spent in game already, I can see where you're coming from.

E : D needs goals more than anything IMHO. Upgrading your ships could be one, even if it became much easier (i.e. faster). I hope they'll introduce new stuff to achieve, new stuff to find. Especially since money is so easy to get now : the different ships aren't really a goal any more.

Brace for some serious backlash though : a lot of people will tell you to set your own goals (whatever that means).

 

[Modgier]

This game is endless.

The problem that people have is that it's also pointless. You have to make your own goals and so on.

Power Play was supposed to give people a point to play but it has totally failed.

ED desperately needs a real way to create a meaningful reason to log in every night.

 

[AJW]

The problem that people have is that it's also pointless. You have to make your own goals and so on.

Power Play was supposed to give people a point to play but it has totally failed.

ED desperately needs a real way to create a meaningful reason to log in every night.

There is really only one 'meaningful reason' to play games - for enjoyment. If you enjoy playing, play.

 

[Viajero]

*Mod hat off

Obviously all games will improve given time and resources, Elite will probably be no exception. But I think I have read "concerns about the future" threads since the Beta was first launched sometime in Q2 2014. Almost 2 years and a half later (and almost 3 since first playable alpha content in 2013), here we are.

 

[Odan Brota]

First off, I love Elite Dangerous. I thank Frontier for giving us this work of art and their support for these new content updates. Easily my favorite game by far.

This is NOT a "complaining" post, it's a "concerned" post.

Elite Dangerous is FUN and in it's own right, a fantastic game. That isn't to say that it isn't without its problem. The main issue, content.
For many players, once they get one of the "ultimate" ships in the game and have their millions, it becomes a difficult task to find a purpose. I myself have run into this issue. I WANT to play every night, but I really don't know what to do. Last night I setup my x52 and TrackIR, loaded up Elite and sat there thinking, "what do I want to do". I couldn't decide so I shut the game off and played something else. Sure, I could do Powerplay but it isn't my cup of tea and I unfortunately have no interest in it. I want to go from my 'Conda to a Cutter but I don't want to finish grinding from from Viscount to Duke (my problem, I know), and I like the "idea" of the Engineers but for some reason which I can't explain, something just throws me off of it.

I know the game will be amazing down the road when more content gets released but how long until then? I don't know much about game development or how long expansions take but it seems to take a while for content to get released as compared to other games. I'm sure there is a very good reason for it but when the updates seem hit or miss, each expansion seems to take FOREVER. When I say 'hit or miss' i'm talking about updates that don't seem to be well liked by the majority (I could be wrong here, just stating my perception of the situation) such as, CQC, Powerplay, and Engineers. I'm looking forward to our next update, but even then it doesn't seem to be adding much more in terms of goals. It also seems like the player base is slowing dwindling (I hope not).

I know this seems like a lot of ramblings but my main point is that Elite CAN become amazing one day once more expansions are released (FPS, atmospheric landings, multi-crew) but I'm concerned the game won't last until then. These expansion (not multi crew) are 3-4 more years away (I'm guessing). What if the player base dies to a point where they give up on expansions and keep the game as is? I would be so sad.

I'm just stating my point of view. Do you guys feels the same? If not, please explain. Please keep the comments clean and be respectful of other CMDRs posts.

Thanks and fly safe.

EDIT: Corrected spelling

I had that exact same thing happen last night. Got home from work, had a few hours, plugged in the X52, logged in, and.... nothing. I've made my millions, gotten the ships I want, and engineered the snot out of my Cutter. I want to engineer my Courier, and even got together a list of items I will need, but the thing stopping me is those dang multicannons. I've got to get effects on my three multies on the cutter, and THEN get effects on the two multis I've got on the Courier... basically, I'm going to end up crafting 50-ish level 3 mods that I'm going to throw away instantly. Really puts me off. But I'm rambling.

I'd say try the engineers, OP. At first, I hated it. Then they patched it, and now it's absolutely easy to rank up the engineers. It gets you out of your comfort zone and you may find something that you really enjoy in the process. For example, I really enjoy messing about on the planet's surface and blowing up ships with abandon in an Anarchy system. Most of the items are relatively easy to find now, too, with the exception of those blasted firmwares. But you might enjoy base assaults more than I do.

Another thing to do is wait for new CGs to pop. Those always provide some interesting encounters in Open play (although get ready to get killed by the heat meta since SDC is being SDC), but are good in Mobius as well.

I believe that the playerbase is actually growing, since NMS graciously flopped harder than New Coke and gave us a lot of people interested in space stuff.

 

[c48113]

Its a game, it's point (at least to me) is to escape RL for a while and have some fun. It's not like gaining a level, buying a bigger ship or killing some boss has any real meaning, Its just a game. You can fly a ship around, you can follow the clues for the Formidine Rift and see if you can find something in game, set a goal to make it to Sag A, or the far edge or just try to gain rank with a faction. It is all meaningless. The point is do you enjoy the game? For me I enjoy simulators in general, I have always played flight sims, racing sims, flight combat sims. Elite is at its core a scifi version of a space flight sim.

 

[Bounder]

No one would ever get bored if we were allowed free flight, like in previous Elites.

The problem is that ship progression is pointless if we're not allowed to actually pilot them. ED has only provided a shallow artifice of freedom of movement, supercruise is dull, annoying and the polar opposite of a seamless flight experience.

Ranking up, power play and the BGS.. I just can't see a point to any if it outside the context of a sandbox space flight game... It looks and plays like a child's toy. Hanging there, throttle wide open, yet unmoving. 'Space dust' the only thing moving around you.

All these other complaints are just symptoms, epiphenomenon of the wholly absent spaceflight experience.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I had this problem too, originally back in March.
My first solution was to go and just help people.
Unfortunately, my Python and FDL scared everyone off. (Thanks gankers, for ruining an entire way of playing!). Lol
But I did help a few, and make some friends.
Then I looked for new missions I hadn't seen before.
After a while that became samey, so I decided to take the plunge and head out to Sagittarius A*.
In a Python, pre Engineers it onky had a 23ly range. Lol
I had a perfectly good Anaconda and Asp. But I don't like either of them.
So my Python took me on the longest voyage I'd ever undertaken.
That was quite a fun experience, considering exploration is actually quite dull.
Lol

When I returned, the Engineers was released shortly after.
For a while i ignored it, it wasn't something I found interesting, and was way too grindy and RNGey.
So I went back to my old tricks which i missed, Combat.
The original 2.1 AI was amazing, and challenging.
Combat was a whole new experience, again.
Then it got nerfed. Repeatedly.
So I decided to start using my beloved Exploration Python to try out the Engineers, after a few more patches.
A few simple mods sparked further interest in it.
Pre Engineers I didn't enjoy using it for combat.
Now, it's my favourite ship.
I don't grind the Engineers, (I did grind rep though), I just see what I end up with, and see what I can make from that.
If I'm short on one thing, I may try and find it, but I won't go looking for the entire recipe, or spend too long looking for 1 item.

My Combat/Mission Python is mostly how I'd like, and I've earned enough for a second Python, which is going to be my dedicated Exploration build.

My FDL is collecting dust, as is my Anaconda. Lol

I sold my Asp.

As soon as my Exploration Python is ready, it's going on a voyage a few thousand light years out, if it goes well, I'll keep going, if not, I'll come back for more work.

A secondary goal I have is to gain the rank for a Corvette, but its so slow I'm just plodding away as and when I see a Well paid mission.

 

[Peter Drakon]

First, do try engineers. Since the last patch it's not that bad actually, and the mods are awesome on your ships, they really do make a difference. Don't grind blindly, it's not needed to get everyone to level 5 in a week, just play with them a little. Pimp your ships! ;-) (http://inara.cz/ helps a lot with its database.)

Second, for some the journey is what matters, for others only the destination. I'd guess you are the second type, as I am. Elite rewards those better who like to journey, hence so many posts about shallow game play on the forums. Finding joy in the journey is hard, but it is rewarding is small steps, one at a time.

If you are a solo privateer, then pick a (few) small faction, do CGs, do engineers, do mission now and then, and play from day to day with small targets worth to reach when you have the feel to play.

If you like company, then I'd suggest find a group of players and join them - this game is supposed to be a multi player game after all.

Peter

Ps.: I'm doing the solo privateer part. ;-)

 

[Adhock]

The problem that people have is that it's also pointless. You have to make your own goals and so on.

Power Play was supposed to give people a point to play but it has totally failed.

ED desperately needs a real way to create a meaningful reason to log in every night.

Congratulations! You've figured out what a Sandbox game is!

In this day and age when everything is themepark and people need to be taken for a ride to be entertained, there are people who want to sit in the sandbox and go their own way. We WANT to make that left turn at Albuquerque.

E: D has been scratching that itch for me. Letting me pick and choose what I feel like doing when I enter the game and letting me change my mind partway through instead of locking me on a specific goal all the time. If you really need a goal to feel like you're having fun, then make one or go play a themepark game. Otherwise look for a group and make their goal your own. You don't even have to join them, just keep an eye on what they're doing and join in.

Frontier already created a meaningful reason to log in every night. Now it's your turn. If you can't then you need to find another game.

 

[milligna]

They are just thoughtfully giving you time to buy a VR headset before they add more content.

I hear 2.4's big secret update is a cure for anhedonia!

 

[Garagiste]

Goals are completely irrelevant to me. In the original game my Cobra was utterly maxed, there wasn't really anything more to achieve, yet I still got the Amiga out of the loft whenever the wife was away.
Sure, sometimes it's a bit "what do I want to do, erm..." but that's just a symptom of too much of a good thing.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I had this problem too, originally back in March.
My first solution was to go and just help people.
Unfortunately, my Python and FDL scared everyone off. (Thanks gankers, for ruining an entire way of playing!). Lol
But I did help a few, and make some friends.
Then I looked for new missions I hadn't seen before.
After a while that became samey, so I decided to take the plunge and head out to Sagittarius A*.
In a Python, pre Engineers it onky had a 23ly range. Lol
I had a perfectly good Anaconda and Asp. But I don't like either of them.
So my Python took me on the longest voyage I'd ever undertaken.
That was quite a fun experience, considering exploration is actually quite dull.
Lol

When I returned, the Engineers was released shortly after.
For a while i ignored it, it wasn't something I found interesting, and was way too grindy and RNGey.
So I went back to my old tricks which i missed, Combat.
The original 2.1 AI was amazing, and challenging.
Combat was a whole new experience, again.
Then it got nerfed. Repeatedly.
So I decided to start using my beloved Exploration Python to try out the Engineers, after a few more patches.
A few simple mods sparked further interest in it.
Pre Engineers I didn't enjoy using it for combat.
Now, it's my favourite ship.
I don't grind the Engineers, (I did grind rep though), I just see what I end up with, and see what I can make from that.
If I'm short on one thing, I may try and find it, but I won't go looking for the entire recipe, or spend too long looking for 1 item.

My Combat/Mission Python is mostly how I'd like, and I've earned enough for a second Python, which is going to be my dedicated Exploration build.

My FDL is collecting dust, as is my Anaconda. Lol

I sold my Asp.

As soon as my Exploration Python is ready, it's going on a voyage a few thousand light years out, if it goes well, I'll keep going, if not, I'll come back for more work.

A secondary goal I have is to gain the rank for a Corvette, but its so slow I'm just plodding away as and when I see a Well paid mission.

First, Pythons almost always single me out for death.

Second, they were the "ego ship" for a long time.

Third, as Coach Earl Hopper told me I was assigned to play left field, and I asked how far out I should go, he said "Keep Going!"

 

[askavir]

Power Play was supposed to give people a point to play but it has totally failed.

That is because powerplay is like the first 5 and a half seasons of Game of Thrones.

Lots of intrigue, tension, buildup, small chess piece moves, planning, scheming, but ultimately nothing ever happens and after all this time everything is pretty much like in the beginning.

 

[Bam]

I do know where you are coming from, many times I log in and end up doing nothing for an hour but chatting to people in local or on Discord, which is always a novelty for an explorer.

The most fun I have had playing ED has been with large groups of people, it all started with the Hutton Truckers, which was an absolutely amazing player driven CG that spawned a radio station, a massive out of game community of Facebook and now a mighty Minor Faction. Then there was the Distant Worlds expedition, I didn't expect that much player interaction on this one being an exploration thing, but I was SO wrong. I made some good in-game friends on that trip, and the SRV destruction derby is in my top 5 gaming experiences of all time, well since 1984 anyway.
More recently the Jaunt to Jaques and canyon racing, that's also up there in my top 5.

I guess what I am trying to say is personally I find its the people that make this game special, not so much in in-game 'content'. I am normally quite a solo player in MMORPG's but these CG's and player driven events that get people together have been amazing.

Its also fun to jump in a cheap ship if you have been cruising around in a Anaconda for months, and lose a few of them at Haz Res sites.

 

[{SAS}Stalker]

ED was my method of relaxation from a reasonably stressful job and I probably sunk more hours into it than I should have. It ticked a lot of the boxes of how I wanted elite to be, as someone who played the original aged 11. 2.1 Engineers though has just put me off it so significantly that ive not even loaded it since 2.1 went live (I'm not even sure how long that is). The ED irc channel and the rift thread along with a couple of twitch streamers are really all that keeps me connected to the game.

I'm not bitter of that fact though, I think engineers was a complete disaster but I've had absolute value from my KS backing, something that is quite rare these days.

 

[askavir]

ED was my method of relaxation from a reasonably stressful job and I probably sunk more hours into it than I should have. It ticked a lot of the boxes of how I wanted elite to be, as someone who played the original aged 11. 2.1 Engineers though has just put me off it so significantly that ive not even loaded it since 2.1 went live (I'm not even sure how long that is). The ED irc channel and the rift thread along with a couple of twitch streamers are really all that keeps me connected to the game.

I'm not bitter of that fact though, I think engineers was a complete disaster but I've had absolute value from my KS backing, something that is quite rare these days.

Can't you simply ignore engineer mods/materials and do whatever things you did before and enjoyed? Nothing was removed from the game with 2.1.

 

[{SAS}Stalker]

Can't you simply ignore engineer mods/materials and do whatever things you did before and enjoyed? Nothing was removed from the game with 2.1.

Whilst nothing was removed the atmosphere and attitude of the game changed quite significantly I felt. I was part of the 2.1 beta and whilst I understand its changed again since then enough got in the way of my normal game to turn me off. 2.2 may resolve enough to reel be back in, I'll definitely give that a go.