Horizons Atmospheric landings - will we see them in 2017?

[Uvelius Sång]

Well if we have a look on No Man's Sky, we have an example for atmospheric landings. While the dynamics are very simple compared with the detail and mechanics level on which Elite is operating, it shows a basic problem in my view:
No matter how nice the planets may be done, no matter how detailed they are shaped (they even have accessable caves), they seem to look quite alike.

There is a great danger that the whole thing becomes just as repetitive as it already is with the landings we already have on airless rock -- which, in fact, I enjoy up to a point due to sound and graphical brilliance.

So the core challenge is: How to make the stuff, even if technically impressive, really interesting?
The technical side might be no big issue anymore. But the gaming/immersion/storyline-type part is the big question mark. Perhaps through opening the galaxy to more player groups interaction?

 

[Skizomeuh]

So the core challenge is: How to make the stuff, even if technically impressive, really interesting?

For me, the key is in the atmospheric/meteorological stuff, both in terms of gameplay and visual.

I guess FDEV is holding their breath for Cassini's last plunge so they'll have invaluable data:

The spacecraft is set to fly close to the giant moon Titan - an encounter that will bend its trajectory just enough to send it into the atmosphere of the ringed planet on Friday.

As the probe passes Titan, it will take one last set of images of this extraordinary world where orange skies produce liquid methane rains that run into huge seas, and where the vast dunes on the moon's surface are made from a plastic-like sand.

 

[Swordfish_01]

I would settle for LEGS and a Phaser in any environment. How about starting with the Stations since they already have atmosphere.

 

[CMDR Robyn Highart]

I'd love to just walk around my ship. That would complete the game for me. Anything on top of that would be extras. However there is just so much work to be done, it's completely daunting. With the biggest ships, there are multiple floors to fill, with dozens of areas. Moreover, once they are designed, they will look incredibly empty, meaning that Frontier will probably decide to extend the crew functions, with many NPCs to hire, each with a skill level and specialisation. This would create many problems with how the game is played. As right now, all the ships are basically a fighter. One person controls everything and fights don't last that long and are almost without consequence. But when you consider that there are crew in the ship, it just sort of seems silly. Especially with the turns these ships pull. It will either be hand-waved somehow, or require a lot of imagination to stay immersed. I'm still left reeling, any time the game mentions telepresence.

 

[Calaban]

I have fond memories in Elite Frontiers, First Encounters:

-Soaring among 8-bit clouds of a gas giant, scooping up fuel, and trying not to get too (crushing) deep down- skirting that deadly line of not too fast or too deep

-Landing on a cliff in an earth like world, looking at the oceans below and the coastline ridge curving off to the horizon (looking rather Hawaii Diamond head-like)... the gas giants rings arcing high in the sky- sitting quietly just listening to the wind on the hull... sigh...

-Not paying attention to the planets heat or gravity or atmo density (was acidity a thing as well?) as I went in on approach.. to my instant doom.

... forgetting I took off the atmospheric shielding module to make room for a mobile refinery last trip, as I burn up on re entry...

Just a few mechanics that FD has already worked on before.... and that I miss dearly.

 

[Snicker]

"Atmospheric landings - will we see them in 2017?" I guess, NO!

 

[Ambroza]

It's looking like we may not see them in 2018, either.

 

[Mercury7]

I have fond memories in Elite Frontiers, First Encounters:

-Soaring among 8-bit clouds of a gas giant, scooping up fuel, and trying not to get too (crushing) deep down- skirting that deadly line of not too fast or too deep

-Landing on a cliff in an earth like world, looking at the oceans below and the coastline ridge curving off to the horizon (looking rather Hawaii Diamond head-like)... the gas giants rings arcing high in the sky- sitting quietly just listening to the wind on the hull... sigh...

-Not paying attention to the planets heat or gravity or atmo density (was acidity a thing as well?) as I went in on approach.. to my instant doom.

... forgetting I took off the atmospheric shielding module to make room for a mobile refinery last trip, as I burn up on re entry...

Just a few mechanics that FD has already worked on before.... and that I miss dearly.

If they have done it before, why all the delay adding it here?

If they're not careful, people will start to get bored waiting. If they can do it, they should get on with it.

 

[amerelium]

"-Landing on a cliff in an earth like world, looking at the oceans below and the coastline ridge curving off to the horizon (looking rather Hawaii Diamond head-like)... the gas giants rings arcing high in the sky- sitting quietly just listening to the wind on the hull... sigh...
"

I find it amazing that they're unable to do this now when they managed it decades ago. I have no need to go dinosaur hunting; I just wanna be again able to put down anywhere (gravity permitting) and take in the view...

Instead, they just keep on adding shooter and EVE Online features.

 

[Eleuth]

"-Landing on a cliff in an earth like world, looking at the oceans below and the coastline ridge curving off to the horizon (looking rather Hawaii Diamond head-like)... the gas giants rings arcing high in the sky- sitting quietly just listening to the wind on the hull... sigh...
"

I find it amazing that they're unable to do this now when they managed it decades ago. I have no need to go dinosaur hunting; I just wanna be again able to put down anywhere (gravity permitting) and take in the view...

Instead, they just keep on adding shooter and EVE Online features.

oh, this is so true.