Just when my faith in Frontier is at the verge of restoration, they show how out of touch they are with the player base.
They're supposed to be in front of things, jeez, can't they get anything right? [mad]
My visit to Frontier Developments and the Future of the Game
- Thread starter Obsidian Ant
- Start date
They're supposed to be in front of things, jeez, can't they get anything right? [mad]
Please God let Yamiks be doing a voice!
I've had the distinct privilege of being called upon by Frontier Developments as Ambassador for PAX South 2015 and PAX South 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. Naturally, I had to sign NDAs for both events as sometimes a juicy bit would slip out (or could be massaged out - "How about another Hurricane, Edward? Let's get you really talking!")
My first impressions (coming from an old guy who runs his own business and has had many staff to train and work with at other CPA Firms over the years) of the crew I worked with both years was: These guys love what they do and they are 110% dedicated to the job. You'd think that being in another country with so many other things to see and do (especially at PAX alone!) would cause a distraction, but that was not the case. We all worked our tails off and only after the doors closed each evening did we get cleaned up and headed out to party for a while before passing out.
PAX South 2015 FDev Crew: Edward Lewis, Eddie Symons, Alison Wood, and Michael Gapper.
PAX South 2016 FDev Crew: Edward Lewis, Robyn McLean, and CJ Adali.
Sadly, FDev didn't fly out for 2017. That may have been for the best for me as my workload this year came in fast and heavy right off the bat. So I didn't have time to play for an entire weekend in late January.
I did jump in an airplane and crossed the pond to go to LaveCon 2016. While I was there, Edward & Zac asked me if I'd like a tour of FDev since I'm actually IN the country and everything. Well, that was one less dusty castle to look at, but a chance to check out the studio and meet one of my heroes, David Braben, was definitely worth it.
I saw more of the same enthusiasm and work ethic at FDev as I saw at the two PAX South conventions. Like OA said, there were easily 100 people working on Elite. Planet Coaster is in a separate building with its own crew. Elite will be around for a good, long time. I saw things last year that have already popped up in game and some things that are still being worked on.....
FDev PR may be considered a bit on the quiet side, but I would rather have that than a bunch of empty promises that turned into No Man's Sky. In today's gaming environment, a bit of caution is a good thing.
The future is bright.
#ForTheMug
My first impressions (coming from an old guy who runs his own business and has had many staff to train and work with at other CPA Firms over the years) of the crew I worked with both years was: These guys love what they do and they are 110% dedicated to the job. You'd think that being in another country with so many other things to see and do (especially at PAX alone!) would cause a distraction, but that was not the case. We all worked our tails off and only after the doors closed each evening did we get cleaned up and headed out to party for a while before passing out.
PAX South 2015 FDev Crew: Edward Lewis, Eddie Symons, Alison Wood, and Michael Gapper.
PAX South 2016 FDev Crew: Edward Lewis, Robyn McLean, and CJ Adali.
Sadly, FDev didn't fly out for 2017. That may have been for the best for me as my workload this year came in fast and heavy right off the bat. So I didn't have time to play for an entire weekend in late January.
I did jump in an airplane and crossed the pond to go to LaveCon 2016. While I was there, Edward & Zac asked me if I'd like a tour of FDev since I'm actually IN the country and everything. Well, that was one less dusty castle to look at, but a chance to check out the studio and meet one of my heroes, David Braben, was definitely worth it.
I saw more of the same enthusiasm and work ethic at FDev as I saw at the two PAX South conventions. Like OA said, there were easily 100 people working on Elite. Planet Coaster is in a separate building with its own crew. Elite will be around for a good, long time. I saw things last year that have already popped up in game and some things that are still being worked on.....
FDev PR may be considered a bit on the quiet side, but I would rather have that than a bunch of empty promises that turned into No Man's Sky. In today's gaming environment, a bit of caution is a good thing.
The future is bright.
#ForTheMug
I just posted a video about this, but not everyone watches those - so I thought I would post here as well. Earlier this week I got invited to the Frontier offices along with a few others - it was a bit of a surprise, but Frontier wanted us to come along and record a couple of lines of dialogue for them to use in-game. Kinda like little cameo things.
So - the offices are really big, that was the first thing that hit me. The second thing was all the Elite Dangerous memorabilia everywhere, from ship models to cushions to wall hangings of posters (to big to fit in even the largest room of my house). There was also stuff from other Frontier games. Those guys certainly love the projects they work on, and are very proud of them!
It's often questioned how many people work on Elite, well there were two full open plan offices - and it appeared a huge amount of the staff were dedicated to working on Elite. Numbers for Elite were easily in the region of 100+. The content we got to see was very impressive, and I think people are going to like it a lot. Most of what we saw, people will probably get to see from Frontier at E3.
There's been some worry that 2.4 is going to be a small patch, I think that concern came from the announcement that 2.4 is going to be released in sections. From what I saw, it appeared that 2.4 is going to be at least as big as all the other patches, and it certainly isn't the end of the main development of the game.
Another thing that I know has been concerning people is Frontier's talk about working on the "core mechanics" of the game after 2.4. Some people feel this means the game is going into maintenance mode with Frontier simply working on bug fixes and minor changes. We got the chance to ask for clarification on this - and the "core mechanic" changes actually means that Frontier are going to flesh out existing game mechanics and give the developers the opportunity to bring these aspects of the game inline with the original concepts as well as to perhaps add further enhancements where they can. So it seems that this is going to be big deal stuff, rather than just small tweaks.
Another thing I've seen people wonder about, is whether or not there will be new features in the future updates. Good news is that there will still be new content added to the game along with new headline features. However Frontier are not willing to talk about what that stuff is just yet.
We still don't know what the new sales model for the game will be. Frontier aren't talking on that one - but it won't be a season pass.
Bottom line; there is a huge team working on the game. Frontier are committed to the game's future, and are not winding the project down in any way, shape or form. They are aware that the game isn't perfect, and there is a strong desire within the team to add new depth to the game, and improve upon existing mechanics. What this ultimately means for the gameplay I don't know, but whatever the case - things are not going to remain static, and improvements are coming.
So, yeah - it's not as bleak as people have been imagining that's for sure. A lot of good stuff on the way.
Here's the video for anyone that wants to watch it:
https://youtu.be/OU9-PmZkoDo
Just wanted to add, what a great bunch people people work at Frontier! Very passionate about the game, and extremely friendly! It was nice to meet everyone, Ed, Zac, Sandro, Jonny, David, Dav, Sally and so many others.
It was so awesome having the guys visit - a really lovely time and we're glad you enjoyed it!
There will be some news at E3 about what 2.4 is, and we're looking forward to sharing more 2.4 information with you in future at places like Lavecon and other community events like that!
It was so awesome having the guys visit - a really lovely time and we're glad you enjoyed it!
There will be some news at E3 about what 2.4 is, and we're looking forward to sharing more 2.4 information with you in future at places like Lavecon and other community events like that!
You're getting Yamiks to do a voice, right? Right?
Right?!
Hmm... wait... I can see it, they gonna make you be the voice of the Aliens, aren't they? After we got used to your voice being that of a nice friendly chap they are gonna lure is in with it to kill usbut Frontier wanted us to come along and record a couple of lines of dialogue for them to use in-game. Kinda like little cameo things.
It was so awesome having the guys visit - a really lovely time and we're glad you enjoyed it!
There will be some news at E3 about what 2.4 is, and we're looking forward to sharing more 2.4 information with you in future at places like Lavecon and other community events like that!
Have mercy and hurry with these community events.
Giggle [yesnod]
(chuckles wickedly while rubbing hands together)
So... does the incoming big bad have a superior AI to the 2.1 NPCs........
And more to the point
How do I get an invite to Fdev and meet Lord high emperor Braben and the rest of the Elite crew?
Bill
"I'll sit at the back and be very quiet"
Some like to be on top, others like to be in front, and the are even those that prefer to be behind...
And then there are the ones you can't see. Can't hear. Hiding. Waiting to pounce...
Like that Woody Allen joke.
Sex between a man and a woman can be a wonderful thing. Provided you can get between the right man and woman.
I just posted a video about this, but not everyone watches those - so I thought I would post here as well. Earlier this week I got invited to the Frontier offices along with a few others - it was a bit of a surprise, but Frontier wanted us to come along and record a couple of lines of dialogue for them to use in-game. Kinda like little cameo things.
So - the offices are really big, that was the first thing that hit me. The second thing was all the Elite Dangerous memorabilia everywhere, from ship models to cushions to wall hangings of posters (to big to fit in even the largest room of my house). There was also stuff from other Frontier games. Those guys certainly love the projects they work on, and are very proud of them!
It's often questioned how many people work on Elite, well there were two full open plan offices - and it appeared a huge amount of the staff were dedicated to working on Elite. Numbers for Elite were easily in the region of 100+. The content we got to see was very impressive, and I think people are going to like it a lot. Most of what we saw, people will probably get to see from Frontier at E3.
There's been some worry that 2.4 is going to be a small patch, I think that concern came from the announcement that 2.4 is going to be released in sections. From what I saw, it appeared that 2.4 is going to be at least as big as all the other patches, and it certainly isn't the end of the main development of the game.
Another thing that I know has been concerning people is Frontier's talk about working on the "core mechanics" of the game after 2.4. Some people feel this means the game is going into maintenance mode with Frontier simply working on bug fixes and minor changes. We got the chance to ask for clarification on this - and the "core mechanic" changes actually means that Frontier are going to flesh out existing game mechanics and give the developers the opportunity to bring these aspects of the game inline with the original concepts as well as to perhaps add further enhancements where they can. So it seems that this is going to be big deal stuff, rather than just small tweaks.
Another thing I've seen people wonder about, is whether or not there will be new features in the future updates. Good news is that there will still be new content added to the game along with new headline features. However Frontier are not willing to talk about what that stuff is just yet.
We still don't know what the new sales model for the game will be. Frontier aren't talking on that one - but it won't be a season pass.
Bottom line; there is a huge team working on the game. Frontier are committed to the game's future, and are not winding the project down in any way, shape or form. They are aware that the game isn't perfect, and there is a strong desire within the team to add new depth to the game, and improve upon existing mechanics. What this ultimately means for the gameplay I don't know, but whatever the case - things are not going to remain static, and improvements are coming.
So, yeah - it's not as bleak as people have been imagining that's for sure. A lot of good stuff on the way.
Here's the video for anyone that wants to watch it:
https://youtu.be/OU9-PmZkoDo
Just wanted to add, what a great bunch people people work at Frontier! Very passionate about the game, and extremely friendly! It was nice to meet everyone, Ed, Zac, Sandro, Jonny, David, Dav, Sally and so many others.
Excellent news. For the first time in a long time I'm actually looking forward to the next major update(s) to the game.
Snark it up captain snark.
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(chuckles wickedly while rubbing hands together)
This should be the sound effect at the rebuy screen
One thing I am looking forward to is return to the core mechanics.
1) Exploration - everyone.. and I mean everyone who really supported this game really were attracted to the 400billion star concept not because of the possibility of combat, but the possibility of exploring the galaxy. Because in our real lives we never will. This will be the best thing we can do. Try to base it on science but throw in a whole bunch of unknowns and interesting ideas that are infinitely discover-able. They failed at this. This is their chance to fix that.
2) Trading - we need a CRAP TON of UI changes and computer changes. Remembering prices and such. Guides and helpers so that you don't need to use a 3rd party website. Charts stats etc.
3) Orrery Maps
4) Mining improvements
5) Black market system that actually works involving buying and selling from the same station.
6) Scripted battles - Defend the station... actually allowing for destruction of cap ships and minor non permanent stations.
7) Exploration.
8) Did I mention Exploration?
1) Exploration - everyone.. and I mean everyone who really supported this game really were attracted to the 400billion star concept not because of the possibility of combat, but the possibility of exploring the galaxy. Because in our real lives we never will. This will be the best thing we can do. Try to base it on science but throw in a whole bunch of unknowns and interesting ideas that are infinitely discover-able. They failed at this. This is their chance to fix that.
2) Trading - we need a CRAP TON of UI changes and computer changes. Remembering prices and such. Guides and helpers so that you don't need to use a 3rd party website. Charts stats etc.
3) Orrery Maps
4) Mining improvements
5) Black market system that actually works involving buying and selling from the same station.
6) Scripted battles - Defend the station... actually allowing for destruction of cap ships and minor non permanent stations.
7) Exploration.
8) Did I mention Exploration?
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This should be the sound effect at the rebuy screen
lol. good idea. thumbs up!
Edit: I apparently don't understand multi-quote, and fail utterly at it
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I didn't notice if you did!
It was so awesome having the guys visit - a really lovely time and we're glad you enjoyed it!
There will be some news at E3 about what 2.4 is, and we're looking forward to sharing more 2.4 information with you in future at places like Lavecon and other community events like that!
Will you be on sony/microsoft/pc gaming conference, have separated stream or were we can see you guys at E3? E3 is late night in UTC+2 and i would like to know when I should be a wake.
That'll be the forum moderation team...