Worried about 3.0 season/expansion

[Sardu]

I'm not worried about S3, but I've already decided that unless there is at least one point update with a heavy focus on exploration mechanics, I won't be buying it. I've already decided to stop buying anything from the store until exploration gets some development, and if S3 doesn't do anything for it then I will just skip the next season. And if S4 ignores exploration then I'll skip that as well. I'm not trying to "force" Frontier into bending to my will, nor am I "making a statement" with my protest, I'm just bored with how exploration has stagnated and been so terribly neglected, and I don't want to support the game anymore unless it starts moving in the direction I thought it originally was going to. That being improving core mechanics of all three professions, not just combat.

My hunch for what S3 will bring us though is that it will be a season with a heavy focus on galactic war. Frontier's had a strong focus on developing combat over the past two years with many new mechanics and features, and I think they've done this in order to build up to a reason for players to use those mechanics: galactic war. It's just a gut feeling based on Frontier's actions, statements, support focus, and development history so far. Which, I have zero interest in participating in, sadly.

This is fundamentally where I'm at, except I would even be happy if they gave trading a good look. But as it stands now, everything seems to be geared toward combat. When watching the stream earlier Sandro was asked about the possibility of gameplay at the new installations ("new" even though some have been in since 2.2) and he literally couldn't think up anything besides "Bounty Hunting". Look, I know he was on the spot, but he's the lead designer for Christ sake. He couldn't think up anything besides something combat related? Does that mean they've hardly been thinking about it?

 

[Ignition]

This would be a dream!

3.1 Exploration

3.2 Mining

3.3 Trading

3.4 Combat

 

[maxpayne]

well...guess i am skipping 2.3 and come back when spaceleg is finally out...or something really interests me.

 

[Mattaka]

Not sure about Hellion, and we know SC is just a pipe dream at this point. Limit Theory is another unknown, and I can't think of any more space games in the pipeline right now.

Have you seen Rodina? Its an indy game and set in one system but it is very cool. It doesn't have AAA gfx or that kind of stuff but it has planetary landing with the ability to very easily burn up in atmo if you go in too hot. The pull of it is that the dev has said they want to make it space game meets RPG. Just had a look at the website and it seems that he's got aliens, grav bikes and all kinds of craziness that I've not seen yet. I must go log back in and have another play

 

[Marc_Hicks]

I'm not worried about season 3. The game is still pretty interesting, so unless Frontier does something crazy, like deleting small ships, it should all work out. Who knows, maybe we'll finally get some exploration gameplay?

Yep, I'm 100% with you. I'm having a wonderful time, & the ongoing evolution of Missions, PoI's & USS's means that my wonderful time will continue well into the future.

If I had to choose between "space legs" & "more planet types to land on"......I'd definitely choose the latter-along with more vehicles to explore said planets.

 

[SlackR]

Surely more landable planets has to be the main priority?

 

[smiths121]

In today's pax streaming, for the first time, Sandy convinced me that space legs are not "end of the year" away (aka 3.0), but "not next season" away.

Since i'm pretty sure that atmospheric landings are "not next season" away too, i'm now quite worried about what 3.0 season/expansion will be about.

I'm beginning to think that was right who thought that 3.0 will be about aliens/targhoids, but i doubt that could bring enough content to fill a season/expansion, and that may lead to a "filler" season (not saying i wouldn't like alien content).
Thinking harder about it though, putting aliens behind a paywall could bring very iffy situations... so, i don't know, hope they won't do that (and i'm saying this as a lifetimer).

For the moment i just hope it won't last two years like Horizons will, because i'm really looking forward to walking around ships and stations, or landing on planets with athmosphere...

I would not worry, walking around station and ships is not all its cracked up to be, becomes a means to an ends very quickly in an another game at the alpha stage.

Simon

 

[MickyG1982]

Don't really get the excitement over space legs....I mean anyone who played X-rebirth can attest to how it becomes old very very quickly if there's no associated gameplay attached. Hopefully FD have played that game and learnt the appropriate lessons.

I was going to suggest that this morning (glad I was ninja'd), wonder about speak to someone (random cruddy conversation) to get a better deal on some goods. Duck into some random (though almost identical to every other one) vent open a box, get some credits or illegal goods. You know what, I'll visit a bunk room and steal from someone's lockers, that'll be fun... Sell some stuff to some dealer, buy some more, find another dealer (cos the first one doesn't take your stuff).

Oh and the voice acting, the terrible voice acting "Show me your wares please!!!" At the top of his voice, every single bloody time you speak to a seller...

Can I shoot anything? Nope.

 

[lokvette]

Have less intrest in space legs than i have for MC far more important things the game could do with for now at least

 

[han]

As it stands (pun not intended), space legs would be pointless. Getting out of your ship would allow you to walk around planet surfaces - and then what? There's nothing you'd be able to do on foot that you can't already do in the SRV.

well yeah, But thats like saying in update 1.0: As it stands now, srv would be pointless cause we can't land on planets. If they add walking, they will add gameplay with it.

 

[Fishy]

I'm beginning to think that was right who thought that 3.0 will be about aliens/targhoids, but i doubt that could bring enough content to fill a season/expansion, and that may lead to a "filler" season (not saying i wouldn't like alien content).

It is very unlikely that a "season" will have such a tight focus. No matter what it's supposed to be about, expect completely random stuff to appear. S1 brought us a mish-mash of (late) promised-ships from launch, an arena shooter, the ability to make a party of 4 in a "mmo" and an area control board game completely disconnected from The Holy BGS. S2 gave us (some) planetary landings, loot/craft/RNG minmax mechanics that includes healing (watch out for the aggro tanking beam in 2.4) and soon the Sims character creation.

Say S3 is called "Aliens", I wouldn't be surprised if patches 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 actually implemented CMDR wedding, Tetris and Martial Arts.

 

[Arindor]

Space legs and atmospoheric landings will be the largest of the updates, so I can't see them being implemented any time soon. I was hoping that, since season 2 is Horizons (i.e. planetary landings), then atmospheric landings will be 2.4. Could be wrong though!

 

[Eymerich]

In today's pax streaming, for the first time, Sandy convinced me that space legs are not "end of the year" away (aka 3.0), but "not next season" away.

Since i'm pretty sure that atmospheric landings are "not next season" away too, i'm now quite worried about what 3.0 season/expansion will be about.

I'm beginning to think that was right who thought that 3.0 will be about aliens/targhoids, but i doubt that could bring enough content to fill a season/expansion, and that may lead to a "filler" season (not saying i wouldn't like alien content).
Thinking harder about it though, putting aliens behind a paywall could bring very iffy situations... so, i don't know, hope they won't do that (and i'm saying this as a lifetimer).

For the moment i just hope it won't last two years like Horizons will, because i'm really looking forward to walking around ships and stations, or landing on planets with athmosphere...

Season 3.0 Vulcanic World but not atmosferic erath like planet

Season 4.0 Earth like planet

Season 5 Space legs.

 

[Oktusha]

People who say there is no gameplay with "space legs" have no clue what is up... There is a massive amount of gameplay options that could be used in game. For example, eva into a blown up ship or disabled ship to see what is onboard. Perhaps you find the nav computer and take the exploration data. Could be worth 100,000 credits or perhaps 20,000,000 credits. You could do endless things with space legs unless you are lazy.

However, mark my words... If they skip "space legs" this game will bleed players to SC like you would not believe. You can think what you want to about how the games are different, ect ect... However, they ARE in fact competing with each other whether you like it or not...

 

[o2thaZ]

Don't really get the excitement over space legs....I mean anyone who played X-rebirth can attest to how it becomes old very very quickly if there's no associated gameplay attached. Hopefully FD have played that game and learnt the appropriate lessons.

Its obvious they checked it out. Vice versa aswell. Just look at the stations. Plus recently egosoft added a 'flight assist off' toggle. Dipped my toe a little time ago. But didnt get beyond the start screen. Something that happens wit ED aswell lately.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

My money is on atmospheric worlds,not including earth-likes.
This would include gas giants and active volcanic planets.

Active volcanic planets would ne a bit cheeky. FD already sold these once as coming with horizons iirc

- - - Updated - - -

I think this is spot on it being beyond their capabilities atm. I think this will be the case with atmospheric worlds as well going by their attempts to introduce geysers on airless worlds.....that was one thing I was really looking forward to and it turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. So if its not space legs or atmospheric worlds for season 3 then I can't really think of anything decent they could add......Gas giants maybe? Who knows? I'm not sure how it could be just Aliens......I mean how could you explain away the fact that people without the expansion wouldn't be able to interact with them?

Its possible a future dlc will give purchasers a pack of system keys for cureently locked systems. So dlc could allow us to visit alien bases whilst non payers still get access to aliens in every other system?. Just a guess

 

[Besensec]

This would be a dream!

3.1 Exploration

3.2 Mining

3.3 Trading

3.4 Combat

This seems a good idea. And it would be truly awesome if each point added a specialized crew role.

 

[Bobbydylan]

Agreed. I wonder about the market apeal for a season 3 that no one wants. We may never see space legs if Season 4 tanks, which it now very well do.

 

[LKx]

People who say there is no gameplay with "space legs" have no clue what is up... There is a massive amount of gameplay options that could be used in game. For example, eva into a blown up ship or disabled ship to see what is onboard. Perhaps you find the nav computer and take the exploration data. Could be worth 100,000 credits or perhaps 20,000,000 credits. ...

This is exactly the kind of things i'm looking for

 

[lysan]

LOL That's funny. They don't need to play. There are thousands out there telling them how to do it. Usually after the fact to tell them they did it wrong.

Well to be honest its more like this