E3 2014: Elite: Dangerous Developer Demo

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Nothing sells ED best as David's sparkle eyed passion for it and lore and science behind it.

Lot of small ideas and details for next build plus opened up galaxy map. More of this David. I know you don't have free time, but this is where you shine.

 

[baskila]

I am still hoping we have gamma for 30th of September however. It would be a nice poetic release date

30th September might be the Standard Beta if we are lucky. Considering the amount of features that are still missing and need to be added it's impossible to have the full release on that date.
It's the middle of June so taking everything into account - missing features, implementation phases, testing, the whole complexity of the game and the fact that this is the holiday period - it is a very short time until 30th September.
I think Standard Beta is possible but I wouldn't expect full release untill second part of December realistically thinking.

 

[Memnoch]

Of the station I just thought, if it's still rotationally generating 1G at its outer circumference - and that circumference has a much greater diameter than a coriolis, wouldn't that require a slower rotation? Meaning that the gravity in the docking cylinder - which seems to be about the same diameter as that of a coriolis - would have a rather lower gravity.

To experience 1G at the stations perimeter, it would not need to rotate as fast as you say. But in the central docking area you wouldn't get near to 1G.

 

[Viajero]

... Now what I suggest we do now is have a sneak peek at some of the things that are coming in builds over the next weeks and months...

Weeks! (tm) for the next build!

And

... Here we have a sneak peek of an Orbis space station, this is a much bigger, much more expensive station that people werent seeing before, this will be in the next build we will put out...

Orbis station in weeks (tm).

 

[Ramireza]

30th September might be the Standard Beta if we are lucky. Considering the amount of features that are still missing and need to be added it's impossible to have the full release on that date.
It's the middle of June so taking everything into account - missing features, implementation phases, testing, the whole complexity of the game and the fact that this is the holiday period - it is a very short time until 30th September.
I think Standard Beta is possible but I wouldn't expect full release untill second part of December realistically thinking.

This is correct.

TBH : I cant imagine a full Release 2014. I expect the Gamma for 01/2015 and the Full Release 06/2015.

Guys, realy : There is sooo much missing, also dont underestimate the whole polishing process.

 

[jamieboo]

To experience 1G at the stations perimeter, it would not need to rotate as fast as you say. But in the central docking area you wouldn't get near to 1G.

Yes, of course it's lower than at the perimeter. But what I mean is the gravity in the docking area of an orbis would be lower than in the docking area of a coriolis.
We've heard David talking about how the low G in the coriolis docking area would mean that the dock workers could easily move around large containers etc.
But wouldn't an even lower gravity in a busy dock possibly start getting a little dangerous?

 

[Darkfyre99]

This is correct.

TBH : I cant imagine a full Release 2014. I expect the Gamma for 01/2015 and the Full Release 06/2015.

Guys, realy : There is sooo much missing, also dont underestimate the whole polishing process.

Whenever a game company gives release dates, I always mentally tack on another year, unless their build is almost done. Then I'll just add an extra three months. They are almost always overly optimistic.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

This is correct.

TBH : I cant imagine a full Release 2014. I expect the Gamma for 01/2015 and the Full Release 06/2015.

Guys, realy : There is sooo much missing, also dont underestimate the whole polishing process.

Missing in testing build, or missing overall?

This is no your casual MMO beta. It is beta testing. It doesn't have to have content. Heck, FD simply won't show you all content to avoid spoilers before gamma.

Also if you will look up to DDF, most of content left to implement is mostly game logic itself. No, I am not experienced programmer, but I can clearly tell to don't take six months to finish it.

 

[Vasious]

Great vid!
Beautiful new station!!

Of the station I just thought, if it's still rotationally generating 1G at its outer circumference - and that circumference has a much greater diameter than a coriolis, wouldn't that require a slower rotation? Meaning that the gravity in the docking cylinder - which seems to be about the same diameter as that of a coriolis - would have a rather lower gravity.
Is that right?

My grasp of physics is fuzzy and 'Heisenbergian' - so I'm probably talking out of my cloaca!

The docking area of the Coriolis and wheel station rotates to allow 0.1 G

Yes, of course it's lower than at the perimeter. But what I mean is the gravity in the docking area of an orbis would be lower than in the docking area of a coriolis.
We've heard David talking about how the low G in the coriolis docking area would mean that the dock workers could easily move around large containers etc.
But wouldn't an even lower gravity in a busy dock possibly start getting a little dangerous?

I wonder what it is like to drive in that low gravity, like the lorries on the central roads.

 

[Ramireza]

Missing in testing build, or missing overall?

This is no your casual MMO beta. It is beta testing. It doesn't have to have content. Heck, FD simply won't show you all content to avoid spoilers before gamma.

Also if you will look up to DDF, most of content left to implement is mostly game logic itself. No, I am not experienced programmer, but I can clearly tell to don't take six months to finish it.

You will think of my words again... when you install the final build in June 2015

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

You will think of my words again... when you install the final build in June 2015

I know this mind protection trick as my own bedroom. I use it all the time. Let's be skeptical to avoid disappointment....more is better....2015....or maybe even late 2015...yeah, that's right.

Good stuff for cooling down. Bad stuff for prediction. I think both Michael and David are qualified enough to say how their team sticks with their internal schedule.

 

[Alien]

You will think of my words again... when you install the final build in June 2015

There is no spoon ... I mean ... final build

 

[Obosi]

This is correct.

TBH : I cant imagine a full Release 2014. I expect the Gamma for 01/2015 and the Full Release 06/2015.

Guys, realy : There is sooo much missing, also dont underestimate the whole polishing process.

I've seen a lot of people talking about this 'gamma' test length of six months that they were apparently promised.

Yeah, I can't see that happening. Open beta will end, the game will go gold and be released and I cannot see that whole process taking more than a month.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

I've seen a lot of people talking about this 'gamma' test length of six months that they were apparently promised.

Yeah, I can't see that happening. Open beta will end, the game will go gold and be released and I cannot see that whole process taking more than a month.

No one promised gamma to take six months Shorter that period is, better for FD and community.

 

[Acier]

Every step closer

~Dorkage on~
Ok - who among us is not absolutely out of their minds excited about this game?

I see the stars and the immersion of the universe when I'm in this game and I can only imagine the amazing final product (as well as all the steps between here and there)

The ability to see the art that is space, the rings, the nebulae, that second when you feel transported beyond whatever space you play this game in into that world.. for most of us going into space will never happen in reality - but this game, this 'diversion from reality' if you will, it has that ability to transport us.

Many of us are older players, BBC or C64 (or or or, I apologize if I don't mention your trusty first rig here) and for us - the space age, the idea of exploring beyond.. is amazing. DB has that vision and is making it happen for us all.

I personally am happy to enjoy the stepping stones from here until launch, I'll schedule off a serious bit of time, turn the lights down low, make sure the monitors are all clean and perfect and enjoy that very first moment of exploration - if I didn't have a dog and a wife I might not be seen for weeks after launch!

With 400 Billion places to go - each of us can be true adventurers. Finding places never before visited and sharing that with each other - that is amazing.

I'm sure the pve and pvp (for those who choose) will be awesome, but, to me, this voyage - is about what's out there...

~End Dorkage~

Fly Safe/But not too Safe...

 

[Tonberry]

My only conern regarding a potentially distant release window is that pertaining to ongoing progress resets. Right now I am holding off of doing much more than testing the game as I dont want to burn out my enthusiasm with little to show for my game time and It would suck for the game build(s) to be sat on my hdd doing very little for an extended peroid of time.

Also, remaining optimistic - A lot of the meatier features such as planetary landings were always stated as being aimed for post release (expansion content) so much of this will not be required to meet a 2014 release window...

The engine is good, the flight model is terrific, many core mechanics are in place and the procedural generation of the galaxy seems to be in hand - 2014 isnt unrealistic at all

Also, we shouldnt be of the mindset that what we have, or what was shown at e3 for that matter, is the latest playable build of the game... if anything, we are merely stress testing the network code in pb1.

 

[jamieboo]

The docking area of the Coriolis and wheel station rotates to allow 0.1 G

Hehe - I think I'm expressing what I mean quite poorly!
If they both have 1G at their outer perimeter, then they can't both have the same 0.1G in their docking area. The larger the diameter of the outer perimeter the slower rotation has to be to generate 1G there, so if the docking areas are of the same diameter (which it appears to be in this video) then the slower rotation of the orbis is going to result in lower gravity in the orbis docking area (compared to the coriolis).
Dammit... I think I'm making it worse! I'm becoming ever less lucid as the day progresses!

 

[veep]

I agree there needs to be a reward for more accurate supercruise "landings". After a few days playing I find the current implementation very boring, especially given that it somehow auto-decellerates. It seldom comes down to more than jam throttle to full and keep aiming straight for the target.

The part I dislike most though is the dislocating jump when you press disengage. It just doesn't feel right after having been coasting through the system, to suddenly just "teleport" to your destination exactly.

I personally would have thought why not leave the "safe disengage" jump out completely, let people approach the station at 20km/s and come out whereever they are. *shrug*

 

[Half Giant]

Personally I think the reward for popping out of supercruise closer will grant you an extra km or so closer to the station. This would mean if i drop out at 1000kms I would appear 50km from station. If i drop out at 200 you get 20km. 100km and 10km and so on.

Why wouldn't you be 1000km from the station if you drop out at 1000km? Or 49 if you drop out at 49? And everywhere in-between. Maybe a few kms or a few percent closer to allow for drift while exiting and to allow the dropping animation to make sense. All you need is a speed at which it is safe to drop out and then you can drop anywhere. If you want to do 1000km with 4 pips on the engine good luck to you. I definitely think your idea is a step improvement from PB (which is great) but it would make more sense if you just ended up pretty close to where you dropped out. I know that what we play at the moment is drop out within 200km to end 20km that might just be for convenience at this stage. A 1:1 drop:distance might be the plan. I can see Veep agrees while I've been typing.

Has anyone mentioned the blue zones and the extra gauge on both the speed and distance. There is a lot new there and it may just be additional representations of data we already see but it might be more than that.

Both ideas reward pilot skill and mean a better pilot can make more money as a trader, for instance.

 

[Tonberry]

I personally would have thought why not leave the "safe disengage" jump out completely, let people approach the station at 20km/s and come out whereever they are. *shrug*

The 'sphere' around each point of interest is essentially an instance within the game (32 player cap etc). Hence this transition between SC and disengaged flight. Hopefully the seams will become less apparent down the line. Space does not appear to be wide open, and I doubt it is (currently) even possible to travel between celestial bodies without entering/exiting the SC mechanic.

Its sad, but this also means you can only ever be solo or with grouped fleets in SC (i.e. you cant enter SC to chase down someone fleeing etc, even if they were on a linear course away from you).

It does explain how the procudural engine can support every system simultaneously without your cpu melting though - every sector state can be broken down into a simple alphanumeric string like saved game codes of old