GQ Magazine "gets" Elite: Dangerous!

GQ Magazine published an awesome review of what make Elite: Dangerous such an awesome experience. It's rare when a mainstream outlet really understands the appeal of this game and puts it into words but this article, published 30 June 2017, really is spot-on:

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/elite-dangerous-review

From the article:

Elite: Dangerous's appeal lies in its unflinching commitment to sandbox simulation that doesn't hold your hand – you won’t receive much in the way of guidance, help, or even an overarching story besides the adventures you create yourself, and which come out from the player-driven galaxy map that sees enormous factions power-struggling throughout the Milky Way. That lack of direction and enormous breadth will no doubt alienate people looking for an easy or immediately satisfying game, but developer Frontier seems unphased about sacrificing mainstream appeal. Instead, it delivers on its vision of a truly galactic experience with vast but vague possibilities as you set off into space.
 
"Elite's fundamental feedback loop is one of wanting to see more of what's beyond the boundaries you've already experienced."

Wish this were true. Hey Frontier! Make this statement true!

 
"Elite's fundamental feedback loop is one of wanting to see more of what's beyond the boundaries you've already experienced."

Wish this were true. Hey Frontier! Make this statement true!


You forgot to add the first part of that quote. Here it is in it's full context:

"While ecstatic moments of discovery, fraught tension and gratifying progression are punctuated with extensive periods of nothing, Elite's fundamental feedback loop is one of wanting to see more of what's beyond the boundaries you've already experienced."

The statement, in it's context, is already true. There are many awesome moments in the game where it is thrilling and new once again. Those moments are surrounded by long periods of ... sameness ... where you feel like things aren't moving fast enough. Elite is very much a game that you invest yourself in if you want to experience everything that it has to offer.
 
GQ? Eh? Where they commenting on the Avatars attire and the number of accessories you can obtain. How to color coordinate your ship skins with your day wear. Elite is a niche game. Its not going to be mainstream that is its strength. Its Art house not a POp corn movie. Its is a exclusive members club.

If more celebrities were seen endorsing the game that is how the masses base there decision on a product.
 
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The statement, in it's context, is already true. There are many awesome moments in the game where it is thrilling and new once again. Those moments are surrounded by long periods of ... sameness ... where you feel like things aren't moving fast enough. Elite is very much a game that you invest yourself in if you want to experience everything that it has to offer.

Highlighted is why I think it works. Set in space obviously, if there ever was a vast expanse of nothing, space would be it? Yes we want moar USS (POI etc etc) but the fundamental of losing all that to float in deep isolation, millions of miles from anywhere is a key experience and <game deconstruction, what's clever about the feedback loop> is (imo) the height of the contrast between busier areas against the vacuum; nature abhors a vacuum.
 
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Always happy to read positive reviews / articles about the game, even more so when it is in mainstream media : thanks OP, +Rep.
Good job FD ! :)
 
[video=youtube;iJNxexk9txo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJNxexk9txo[/video] Note the reaction of the news reader at the end.. We are in the 21st century any reports on computing are still considered 'novel' or separate from the ;mainstream.
 
Highlighted is why I think it works. Set in space obviously, if there ever was a vast expanse of nothing, space would be it? Yes we want moar USS (POI etc etc) but the fundamental of losing all that to float in deep isolation, millions of miles from anywhere is a key experience and <game deconstruction, what's clever about the feedback loop> is (imo) the height of the contrast between busier areas against the vacuum; nature abhors a vacuum.

Absolutely. The mind boggling vastness of the galaxy, and utter sense of desolate isolation and loneliness you feel when floating in a part of space that takes weeks of traveling to, is utterly unique. No other game makes you feel that way.
 
The artwork at the top looks really cool. I hope we get there in the next two years.
1620
 
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GQ Magazine published an awesome review of what make Elite: Dangerous such an awesome experience. It's rare when a mainstream outlet really understands the appeal of this game and puts it into words but this article, published 30 June 2017, really is spot-on:

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/elite-dangerous-review

From the article:

Elite: Dangerous's appeal lies in its unflinching commitment to sandbox simulation that doesn't hold your hand – you won’t receive much in the way of guidance, help, or even an overarching story besides the adventures you create yourself, and which come out from the player-driven galaxy map that sees enormous factions power-struggling throughout the Milky Way. That lack of direction and enormous breadth will no doubt alienate people looking for an easy or immediately satisfying game, but developer Frontier seems unphased about sacrificing mainstream appeal. Instead, it delivers on its vision of a truly galactic experience with vast but vague possibilities as you set off into space.

While the review is well written, all it does is sound like an FD infomercial. It glosses over the fact that ED was a shell of a game at launch missing many features and is only NOW coming into its own (is that enough for some? Maybe?). It also mentions the GRIND that has replaced gameplay, mentions it in one sentence...... And theres fanfare because they are about to plunder a new market.. ED will not improve in my opinion, they have set the stage and are continuing to sell a 3 wheeled wagon as an F1 racing car :)
 
Absolutely. The mind boggling vastness of the galaxy, and utter sense of desolate isolation and loneliness you feel when floating in a part of space that takes weeks of traveling to, is utterly unique. No other game makes you feel that way.

Turn the PC off, wait till 10pm then go outside and look up, theres the REAL galaxy 100% complete and there for you to view.
 
Turn the PC off, wait till 10pm then go outside and look up, theres the REAL galaxy 100% complete and there for you to view.

I live in a rural area far from any major cities. When there's no moon the view of the Milky Way is simply stunning. I can stand there for hours just starring up into the heavens.

God I love paid reviews! :)

I don't think it was paid ... but it does read like the author is a fan. :)
 
Turn the PC off, wait till 10pm then go outside and look up, theres the REAL galaxy 100% complete and there for you to view.

If you live in civilization you need to buy one of those little globe things that can project the galaxy on your bedroom ceiling. ;)
 
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