Not at all... it is a Sandbox game... You have to make your own choices without being guided. It is, in a way, a simulation of real life, but put into a Sci-Fi setting. For me, Elite is an experience more than a "game". I view it as a "secondary" life that I can live and breathe.
There are a lot of room for improvements though, I am not saying that, but the basegame is something I do like a lot. I do hope FD will flesh all these base mechanics out along the ride, but I would be lying if I would say that I feel the current game is boring. I am enjoying it a lot.
Everyone paid for a game though. If I wanted a Novel, TV Show, or Movie I would consume those as my entertainment. While I do read, and watch media related to Sci Fi, I purchased this Game so I could play a game.
There is a difference between an amusement and past time (Games of our younger years.) and playing a game. One is a lark and doesn't require rules and boundaries or other players.
The term game that is synonymous with "Video Game" means an environment or contest in which a set of rules and boundaries can be used to determine the success of one side or the other.
So things like skill, intellect, and familiarity can influence how good you are at said game. A game is set up so those 3 essential things will determine the outcome of an encounter. Either with the computer or another player. In ED that is not the case. The game was never designed around the idea of equal chance and over all balance. Otherwise we would only have one vanilla ship in the whole game.
If the game were set up to be an actual video game, then things like Griefing and the magic mystical NPCs with unlimited jump range could never exist. FDEV is willing and able to reign in the NPCs but for some reason never the griefers. So basically they have created 2 entirely separate games and are trying to Frankenstein them together. One set of players must adhere to the rules put forth by the game designers in order to be succesful, the other group can ignore all rules of the game and have fun. Not an even playing field. Even though it could be.
So that being said, since there are 2 different games. One side being the griefers have an infinite amount of fun to be had. Their needs are simple minded and of a singular/ unessential/unneeded aspect of the game. That being wanton destruction of player ships and being the cause of an ever shrinking community. Driving them out faster than boredom ever could. The other players want a story and a game environment that makes sense. They also want things to spend their money on. They want to actually find things out in the Galaxy that dont require being led by the nose from the developers.
When it comes down to it, why are credits even really needed for this crowd. They dont want to grief people, so they dont need to spend their credits with that sole purpose. Sure you can buy a bigger ship, but then what? Mine some more? Trade some more? Explore some more? To what end may I ask you?
If you are mining you want to make money. If you mine in a Sci Fi setting, you want to make a lot of money and fend off pirates out of your large claims. You want to provide materials that keep the game universe running. You have quotas to meet and supply chains to manage. You have people to deliver to. Not in this game unless you use your imagination.
If you are trading, then why are you doing it. In sci fi you trade items to destabilize entire areas of space with the express intent of propping up government/corporate entity. You are providing services to keep people alive and provide supply chain transport for mining. Not in this game unless you use your imagination.
If you want to be an explorer you want to find things. In the sci fi setting you would find derelict ships that have a story. Exploded planets due to some unknown cataclysm. Civilizations not of a human origin. Complex lifeforms not yet perceived by humans. Anomalies in space. Anything not a beige rock. Not in this game unless you use your imagination. You will never find those things on your own, however whenever the Dev team decides to add something they will spoon feed you the content one dull year at a time.
To ask that they actually add content instead of base game mechanics isnt too much to ask. Especially 2 years after the fact.
so we can steal all their players.
