Ok CMDR, here's our dev budget, now YOU prioritise it!

So, need to think about not just the players, but also shareholders, the employees (keeping them fully loaded) and of course the financial stability of the company.

So, i'd probably try and strike a balance between bugfixing, new features, updating old features, keep adding new cosmetics, as well as introducing new franchises.

Hmmm..... wow, looks just like what FD are doing. I should apply for a job with them!

Oh, and free beer and pizza for the devs on a friday evening!

I've heard something that you get a Thai Massage every 2 hours. :x
 
1 - Atmospheric planets.

2 - Exploration gameplay. Gameplay, not sightseeing, not taking pictures, gameplay. Scanning mechanics, things to discover and interact with, both in space and planetside.

3 - Powerplay merge with BGS, instead of being a game within itself (like so many other things in ED). Have players contribute to powerplay factions by doing "regular" BGS tasks. Have minor factions have powerplay allegiances instead of superpower allegiances. Make your powerplay faction reputation stack on top of the minor faction reputation to allow access to better mission rewards. Tie naval ranks/careers to powerplay.

4 - USS revamp. Ditch the random spawns. Make all USSs discoverable using discovery scanner, allowing people to investigate the USSs they find nteresting, instead of waiting for random stuff. Use detailed surface scanner to locate ground POIs and material rich regions. Ditch the whole peek-a-boo POIs mechanic (and lets no speak of them again - ever).

5 - More planetary content. Air to ground base attack, using ships (not dune buggies) to destroy ground installations protected by AAA sites, missile launchers and other ships. Ground facilities only accessible though the SRV, without landing pads but with "parking pads" which provide services, missions, etc.

6 - Wings reward sharing. All profits made by any of the wing members in a wing should be split evenly between all wing members, be it either bounties, combat bonds, mission rewards, trade profits, etc etc.

7 - Make those formidable CQC assets in game serve a purpose. Make them dockable, and provide missions.

8 - More passenger content. Troop deployement, emergency evacs, prisoner transport, etc.

All of this please. Maybe not in the same order. My Order would be 2 - 4 - 5 - 3 - 7 - 8 - 1.

I am happy to wait for atmospheric planets if the rest was implmeneted.

6 - I would be happy with a way of sharing certain missions for a split of the reward.
 
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1. Improved customer communication, it's ok to say NO - Refusing to comment for fear of upsetting customers is counter productive
2. Improve the communication with Marketing - Need to get on the same page and not release mixed messages to customers
3. Set aside some Developer time to create exploration tools - It's the largest player base by far and tools to find the recently added surface features should be a quick win.
4. Release the Panther Clipper! (I think they are keeping this ship quiet ready for the wow factor for release X.X)
5. Competitions to win in-game rewards - e.g. A-Rated Panther Clipper or other A-Rated ships - Builds community and great marketing
 
Great thread!

My take is...

1) Support Different Play-styles Natively

I suggest supporting the PvE versus PvP crowd, and the Fun/Accessibility versus Realism crowd natively in game. This could be implemented as options for "Private Groups." The options might look as follows:

- PvE Standard
- PvE Realistic
- PvP Standard
- PvP Realistic

A) PvE: Players can't damage other players, period
B) PvPvE: How game works now when in open
C) Standard: Would include fast travel in multi-crew (plus add a new feature to fast travel to any ship you own) and free instant (or low cost/fast) ship/module transfer
D) Realistic: No fast travel in multi-crew. I would also suggest to be Realistic you would want no unrealistically fast repair, re-fueling/re-arming, etc

2) Add more support and things to do for these roles in this order

- Trading
- Exploration
- Combat
- Mining
- Piracy
- Smuggling
- etc

3) Show Co-op some love

Add in "Group Missions" that require 2, 3, and 4 player wings as well as 2 and 3 player Multi-crews.

Example: Would be cool if there were 10 to 20 static co-op missions that we could through as a group (like other games,) and after each one was completed it could be randomly modified as a new mission to increase replay value once the original set were completed.

4) Public Spaces

Add a public space (like Destiny's tower) to each station - someplace inside the station pilots can meet up for a virtual beer, and walk around with our new avatar.

First rev does not need to require us to walk out from our ship to the public space (aka fast travel / tele-presence to public space would be fine)

5) Add Random Public Events (all modes)

Example: In systems in war, occasionally have a couple of capitol ships jump in and start fighting it out, and let players choose which side they are on and join in. Everyone in system would get a notice a couple minutes prior to the big ships dropping in so they could fly over to where it will take place.

6) Make CQC joinable from inside main game, and add Co-op versus bots option (PVE)

I just think it would be a blast to get some friends together and take on waves of CqC bots (like COD BLOPS Combat Training)

:)
 
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Step 1, Critical Issues :
  • potent Crime & Punishment System, putting everything in its rightful place (including debugging, buffing & upgrading Security/System Defense Forces where needed to achieve desired results)
  • implement Anti-Cheat/Hack System and fix critical Exploits/Abuses. Confirmed Cheaters get Save Cleared, after 2nd offense License revoked. Contacted Exploiters (while a fix is in development) get a single Warning, repeat-offenders get Save Cleared.

Step 2, Severe Issues :
  • move from P2P Architecture augmented by Servers to a limited Server Architecture augmented by P2P
  • -> Limited as in specifically supporting only : Normal Space Ops = post-interdiction or wake-follow, especially Wings and future MultiCrews; and ability to take control from Combat-Logged Ships (not via Menu) transformed into NPC
  • add automatic Network Analysis/Debug into the Game that records any networking failures, data is collated (anonymous) for debugging and future optimization; if known issues are locally detected, allows Client to tell the User what Network changes to make (some other P2P Titles use 3rd party "Network Helper" IP Software for this purpose, those are subject to licensing though)

Step 3, Important Issues :
  • flesh out and diversify Gameplay mechanics (Exploration, Mining, Piracy, Trading, PAX Missions, Bounty Hunting, Conflict Zones, general Combat, anything BGS)
  • revisit every single Game element for any illogical inconsistencies to fix
  • revisit and sanity check every Mission, Branch and other Element for 100% proper implementation without logical breaks
  • ensure minimum Gameplay/Feature balance is held between different Season owners (no unfair disadvantaging/punishing of Players, just because they didn't buy a current Season! Sends wrong message = wrong motivator! They're customers like all others.)
  • slowly implement an actual Sandbox and migrate old/existing Scripted Systems into it over time

Note : Step 3 will naturally be a long-term and ever-ongoing project.

Step 4 : Gameplay Expansion, Playerbase or selected parts thereof (Experienced Players) included in concepting phase already (to provide sanity check/ filter based on their "real-world" experience)
  • only when all above steps are actively being worked, plan and add new Gameplay Features
  • clear priority and orientation : Original Design Documents, unless elements have structurally have become obsolete/superseeded


Save cleared as a punishment sure makes the shadow ban look a bit weak!
 
I REALLY suggest that anyone that thinks they know about the network setup of this game watches this first. Its FAR more complicated than anyone could even begin to get their head around. [video=youtube;EvJPyjmfdz0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvJPyjmfdz0[/video]
 
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Interesting question...

First I'd need to spend a couple of months getting up to speed on the entire project and where it is at/heading before making any changes.

My priority would be to understand the current position on bugs and the fixes - when/how are they going to be addressed - This for me is key to understand how ongoing development can progress and see if there is any real merit in having a full point update for bugs etc.

I would also get a 'State of the game' and 'The Road Ahead' document started to send to the community to help them understand what is going to happen over the next however many months plus showing them the 'highlights' of forthcoming releases.

As for the precise plans I would put in place I cannot say more than the above without more information...

The one gurantee you would all have is that TJ would be demoted to Tea Lady for the forums - a job he must be good at or else he gets the sack... Do I get the job now? :D
 
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1) planets with atmosphere with life
2) fps mode in outer space and planets
3) fps mode inside ships & stations
4) network framework allowing huge events
5) cqc developments (races, and party saloon)
6) give up powerplay, and give us clans/guilds with communications
7) more life/POI on planets and in space
 
I don't care which of these they prioritise, i do everything in the game depending on what i feel like.

One thing i WOULD prioritise and that simply staggers me that isn't in the game yet....is Module Loadouts.

I spend more time re-fitting my ships for what I'm about to do than anything else..Let me just select "Bounty Hunting" or "Mining" or "Passengers", give me a 20 second timer if you want i'll go make a brew or something but for the love of god, im getting RSI.

Its so basic, simple and easy yet would improve the quality of life 10 fold.
 
Very well...

  • [1] Outlaw mechanics (ranks, stations, ships, piracy comms) examples
  • [2] PvP Bounty Board (Galnet) examples
  • [3] Extensive Powerplay rework (not just a dev-time friendly veneer) examples
  • [4] Player security forces (via navy system integrated with powerplay/faction pledging)
  • [5] Alliance Content (ships, ranks)
  • [6] Rare trade-route enhancements
  • [7] Atmospheric world landing
  • [8] Space-legs
  • [9] Player-owned constructable surface bases
  • [10] Alien factions (varied species, ships etc)
 
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Great stuff, though we don't need atmosphere to have fun gameplay on planets...

For me it would. I want to park my Python next to a hydrocarbon lake and listen to methane rain land on my ships canopy.

One of the largest factors in ED that keeps me coming back is the atmosphere it provides, landing on planets and just sitting there in awe at where i am is a big draw for me.
 
every major games company funds it's games by sales of previous games, it's called business

WRONG!

Have you owned or run a business? You can't make money unless you have money. Unless you're talking pyramid scheme. Investors and loans are the way 95% businesses start up. The rest are self funded. THAT AREN'T ILLEGAL!

An established business does it the same way. When you want a new wing on hospital (because the make lots of money) you get investors to name the wing after and or get a loan. No business is ever self sufficient. And yes by not taking a salary home when the business is doing poorly is in fact a business loan from you as a private person to your company.

Thus end'th the lesson
 
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I don't care which of these they prioritise, i do everything in the game depending on what i feel like.

One thing i WOULD prioritise and that simply staggers me that isn't in the game yet....is Module Loadouts.

I spend more time re-fitting my ships for what I'm about to do than anything else..Let me just select "Bounty Hunting" or "Mining" or "Passengers", give me a 20 second timer if you want i'll go make a brew or something but for the love of god, im getting RSI.

Its so basic, simple and easy yet would improve the quality of life 10 fold.

This is why most people have more than one ship, ship cost is pretty low compared to the cost of a decent set of modules so it's no hardship really.
 
Why are so many people obsessed with getting space legs or atmospheric landings? What do you really think we could do with those features in reality given how planetary landings works today? I remember pre-Horizons when we all wanted to land on ANY planet. Look at it now when the novelty is more than gone. There's not a whole lot to do on the surface right? Why would we have more stuff to do with space legs or atmospheric landings? It would just be variations of what we're doing today.
 
As a contractor who has to prioritize a work schedule and has a team to get it done. And someone who hoped a lot for this game and almost three years later its still in dev mode, beta at best. I would say, get a loan or investors and pay some independent developers to come in and help with the progress, and make it a three month limit. A time frame never killed anyone.

This game still is in beta which is why a team is needed. Your current in house team is way to slow. 3 years, and we haven't seen any reasonable improvement.

STOP THINKING YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING!!!! :D:D:D
YOUR NOT GOD AND ADMIT THAT YOU NEED HELP!!! [woah][woah][woah]

I would then prioritize the development like this
1. The Missions Systems
2. Exploration, Mining, Smuggling, Piracy and Trading, they're all small projects and could be done at the same time [cool]. You have a procedural generation tool. USE it :O
3. Graphics and command interface. The holographic map and layout on the ship as well all the galaxy map need a overhaul to make things more seem less [noob]
4. Alien Life. The game has no other life yet when you get away from the starting area eventually there is no life :O[woah]. Not even human outposts [blah][blah][blah] If you didn't want alien life then the whole galaxy should be filled with human life to create a balance [noob]:O
5. In game and out of game purchasable exclusive content. Make some things purchasable outside the game for sale at a reasonable price. Spending so much time on a mission to earn only a few million credits is stupid [knocked out]. Not everyone is unemployed and can just jump 1000 times to a destination that will take 18 hours ONE WAY!!!! :O[knocked out][down] [mad] Some ships that can only be earned by reputation is great but let us buy some ships out of the game so we don't have to spend 20 days to make few million credits. Too much of this game is wasteful play. Space trucking yeah! Space fighting yeah! But no balance to get decent stuff in or out of the game. Also make more tier based upgrades, if there is a class "E" for something there also needs to be up to a class "A" like somethings are. Either take out the "E" or do what you've already done and make them go up.

So after 3 years and no major content update. No serious investments into finishing the game. I would hope that you (Frontier Games) takes this seriously. 3 YEARS [???][wacko][wacko]!! With 90% of the galaxy uninhabited and most of the work to date has only been a update or polishing of the pre-released demo stuff.

Seriously a re-prioritization is not going to work unless you get serious and finish this game in the next 6 months to a year. Either FINISH IT or SELL IT!!! We deserve a quality product that is completed.

So what will it be Frontier games? 3 more years of beta development in amateur hour? Or will you commit to a serious goal to get some content rolled out and make us truly happy? Or will you sell? This is your challenge and we eager to hear what will be decided. :O:O:O:O:O[yesnod][yesnod][yesnod][yesnod]:D:D:D:D

You are using too many smilies talking about actual development processes. Are you a salesman?
My company at least would never hire you.

You are also doing far-fetched calculations when involving third-parties.
That can be beneficial but usually leads to more explanation work with Chinese and Indian developers talking through a three person tube. That only works well when the original project is Indian or Chinese.

In the end better allow your in-house team to do it right. Hire more (local) people to do the job as needed.
 
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every major games company funds it's games by sales of previous games, it's called business

The difference is that Horizon's is unfinished. If they take money for an unfinished product, I expect them to focus on finishing it. They have stretched out this 'season' to well over a year and still there is no end in sight. It wouldn't be in that state if they had kept the programmers working on Elite instead of paying them to make a new game.

If the developers from Ori and the Blind Forest used their profits to make another game, I'd be excited and fully support their new game. Ori and the Blind Forest is extremely well polished. They don't have anything left to work on.

What FDev is trying to do is leverage their money. In truth, it's very similar to a ponzi scheme. I guess there's a reason every planet in Horizon's feels about the same and Planet Coaster's park management is a joke. FDev isn't concerned about making good games, they are concerned about where they can make their next cash grab. EA went down this road and has a bad reputation because of it.

My point is, if FDev used their budget to finish the games they sold, Horizon's would be in a much better state than it is. We can argue over how we would spend the budget all day long, but it isn't going to change the fact that FDev are spending their budget elsewhere.
 
The difference is that Horizon's is unfinished. If they take money for an unfinished product, I expect them to focus on finishing it. They have stretched out this 'season' to well over a year and still there is no end in sight. It wouldn't be in that state if they had kept the programmers working on Elite instead of paying them to make a new game.

If the developers from Ori and the Blind Forest used their profits to make another game, I'd be excited and fully support their new game. Ori and the Blind Forest is extremely well polished. They don't have anything left to work on.

What FDev is trying to do is leverage their money. In truth, it's very similar to a ponzi scheme. I guess there's a reason every planet in Horizon's feels about the same and Planet Coaster's park management is a joke. FDev isn't concerned about making good games, they are concerned about where they can make their next cash grab. EA went down this road and has a bad reputation because of it.

My point is, if FDev used their budget to finish the games they sold, Horizon's would be in a much better state than it is. We can argue over how we would spend the budget all day long, but it isn't going to change the fact that FDev are spending their budget elsewhere.

Horizons has been stretched out because 2.1 was not well received .. it has taken FD a good while to get "The Engineers" update to a point that fans are happy with .. it's the complaining that has held up development as it has from the start (not saying it wasn't deserved)

If FD have to keep fixing things of course that'll slow down development.

But to say a company can't make other games while this stuff is going on is nonsense .. I would much rather FD kept progressing as they have been and creating new games, as the new developments in these games will add to ED (same engine)
 
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WRONG!

Have you owned or run a business? You can't make money unless you have money. Unless you're talking pyramid scheme. Investors and loans are the way 95% businesses start up. The rest are self funded. THAT AREN'T ILLEGAL!

An established business does it the same way. When you want a new wing on hospital (because the make lots of money) you get investors to name the wing after and or get a loan. No business is ever self sufficient. And yes by not taking a salary home when the business is doing poorly is in fact a business loan from you as a private person to your company.

Thus end'th the lesson

You might want to rethink how businesses run! Many are self sufficient. Yes, debt can be a part of a business...however, it does not have to be. Start ups are different animals...and part of the art of them is coming up with capital to get going, however, extremely profitable ideas can generate profits that are high enough not to need debt to function...and with strings of great ideas....companies can generate funding to create their next project. Capital infusions can make things work faster...until they do not. If you were trying to get a mansion built in 24 hours...you could throw all the money at it you want...you can't go any faster than the critical path in the plan...


To get on topic...I would like to see some way to relieve PvE off the shoulders of one player.

I would also like to see more polish and bug fixes (never have to many of those...and they never go away!)

Above that...the ride has been quite interesting so far...and the vision of Frontier has been unusual enough...that I am quite interested in seeing FPS now...as well as how the game is going to evolve in the multiplayer arena....while preserving the single player feel that so many enjoy.
 
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