FDev Priorities

[M00ka]

DISCLAIMER: I was going to put this post in one of the many applicable threads but couldn't choose which one!

There have been numerous threads posted since the expo criticising FDev for not doing enough for the customer and their requests. Just off the top of my head, there have been posts asking, pleading, begging, demanding - you take your pick) of the following enhancements they want to see, preferably see NOW:

• Space Legs
• Atmospheric landing
• Squadron ships
• Squadron decals and paint jobs
• Buy your own ship (Pay to Play)
• CG reward
• Mission board rework
• Improve mining
• Improve exploration
• Fix existing bugs
• Improve the BGS

So since FDev is a finite company with only 'x' amount of staff and resources, which of the above list do you think should be the priority, or at least have the focus of the main team?

 

[lysan]

Core play rework and everything around it.

 

[iFred]

"Beyond" is exactly what has priority. See the numerous "meh missions" or "wheres my materialz" or "boringz exploration" whining here. Spacelegs is the most uneeded feature in Elite. Consolidation and reworking of existing features and better quality overall is what we need now.

 

[Zenith]

"preferably see NOW"

There's part of the problem.
You said yourself that Frontier have finite resources. Coding a game feature takes time to program, integrate, test and rework.

Most of the points on your list have been acknowledged and are part of the forthcoming series of updates on the 2018 roadmap.

 

[Cmdr Travers]

DISCLAIMER: I was going to put this post in one of the many applicable threads but couldn't choose which one!

There have been numerous threads posted since the expo criticising FDev for not doing enough for the customer and their requests. Just off the top of my head, there have been posts asking, pleading, begging, demanding - you take your pick) of the following enhancements they want to see, preferably see NOW:

• Space Legs
• Atmospheric landing
• Squadron ships
• Squadron decals and paint jobs
• Buy your own ship (Pay to Play)
• CG reward
• Mission board rework
• Improve mining
• Improve exploration
• Fix existing bugs
• Improve the BGS

So since FDev is a finite company with only 'x' amount of staff and resources, which of the above list do you think should be the priority, or at least have the focus of the main team?

I've put my huge list of quality of life improvements for 2018 online HERE, but neither atmospheric landings, nor space legs make the list as I'm realistic

 

[Aashenfox]

I've put my huge list of quality of life improvements for 2018 online HERE, but neither atmospheric landings, nor space legs make the list as I'm realistic

Thank god someone is.

 

[M00ka]

Core play rework and everything around it.

That is what the game actually needs but because it doesn't give bling or some other game has something different I suspect anything to do with the core mechanics is quite low on some peoples list here (hopefully not low on FDev's list however)

"Beyond" is exactly what has priority. See the numerous "meh missions" or "wheres my materialz" or "boringz exploration" whining here. Spacelegs is the most uneeded feature in Elite. Consolidation and reworking of existing features and better quality overall is what we need now.

Agreed, especially about the damn Space legs

"preferably see NOW"

There's part of the problem.
You said yourself that Frontier have finite resources. Coding a game feature takes time to program, integrate, test and rework.

Most of the points on your list have been acknowledged and are part of the forthcoming series of updates on the 2018 roadmap.

I think one of the problems is that FDev do actually publish rolling roadmaps and either someone sees an item on the roadmap, doesn't look at the proposed implementation date and starts calling for it to be released now. Or worse, some feature isn't included on the published roadmap and those that want that feature are up in arms and threatening all sorts of woe.

I've put my huge list of quality of life improvements for 2018 online HERE, but neither atmospheric landings, nor space legs make the list as I'm realistic

You aren't the only one with those two features very low on their personal priority list. Like you I couldn't care if neither of those two features were never introduced.

 

[lysan]

That is what the game actually needs but because it doesn't give bling or some other game has something different I suspect anything to do with the core mechanics is quite low on some peoples list here (hopefully not low on FDev's list however)



Agreed, especially about the damn Space legs



I think one of the problems is that FDev do actually publish rolling roadmaps and either someone sees an item on the roadmap, doesn't look at the proposed implementation date and starts calling for it to be released now. Or worse, some feature isn't included on the published roadmap and those that want that feature are up in arms and threatening all sorts of woe.



You aren't the only one with those two features very low on their personal priority list. Like you I couldn't care if neither of those two features were never introduced.

Rework of the core gameplay mechanics and design is what the game need. One could wonder why was it not done right the first time? We can only speculate and it's not helping.

The first step in any FEMA RCA is to acknowledge there is a problem, and FDEV has done that by now. That is a good thing. Next step is to make a plan how to fix it! We haven't seen that yet, can only hope they are dealing with it.

Legs, atmo landings are not going to give us anything if the frame is broken and it is some places.

PP is not interesting enough to draw people in, need to be redesigned.

Multi crew is a bolt on feature that need some serious love, engineers likewise, it need a different UI and less obvious RNG outcomes. When the core is fixed you can start to build on top of that, not before.

 

[Kerrash]

Core play rework and everything around it.

This ^^

Frontier are making a space game primarily; people need to stop obsessing over FPS and shiny atmospheric light scattering shaders.

 

[stormyuk]

Rework of the core gameplay mechanics and design is what the game need.

Agreed. Even as a relatively new player on PS4 I bought this game for Elite, not CoD in space. I would like to see atmospheric landings at some point but if the core game can be made better and better I am all for it.

 

[Jack Schitt]

It is what it is, and FD will do what they do. ED will improve; sometimes in significant leaps and sometimes in tiny increments that are almost imperceptible; sometimes in short bursts and other times with months between changes. But it will improve. If you're reasonably happy with what we have now, you'll be generally happier with some of what appears down the line. Other stuff might annoy you because it doesn't do anything for your play style. Such is the nature of a game with such a wide range of player activities.

The spacelegs and atmospheres thing is undeniably a problem though. As mentioned in other threads, not only are the features themselves divisive (I would love just to be able to EVA on alien moons; other players won't consider it worthwhile until there's a whole game loop attached) but they were part of the KS FAQ and used to advertise the LEP.

I know these things are difficult. I'm willing to wait a long time for them. I certainly wouldn't put either of them as a current top priority on that to-do list. But you can't say "here's the thing you'll one day get for your money," then take the money, then not provide the thing. UK consumer protection law is very good on that sort of behaviour.

At some point FD are going to have to provide basic cloudscapes and "exploring your ship and space stations"*. Or they're going to have to bite the bullet and admit that these things are never coming and that some sort of pro rata compensation is the order of the day. That won't be pretty, but if the features aren't coming I'd sooner they pull the trigger now and get the slurricane over with so we can cross them off the list and move on.

^[SUP]*not necessarily legs if they want to weasel-word it; maybe drones?[/SUP]​

 

[lysan]

It is what it is, and FD will do what they do. ED will improve; sometimes in significant leaps and sometimes in tiny increments that are almost imperceptible; sometimes in short bursts and other times with months between changes. But it will improve. If you're reasonably happy with what we have now, you'll be generally happier with some of what appears down the line. Other stuff might annoy you because it doesn't do anything for your play style. Such is the nature of a game with such a wide range of player activities.

The spacelegs and atmospheres thing is undeniably a problem though. As mentioned in other threads, not only are the features themselves divisive (I would love just to be able to EVA on alien moons; other players won't consider it worthwhile until there's a whole game loop attached) but they were part of the KS FAQ and used to advertise the LEP.

I know these things are difficult. I'm willing to wait a long time for them. I certainly wouldn't put either of them as a current top priority on that to-do list. But you can't say "here's the thing you'll one day get for your money," then take the money, then not provide the thing. UK consumer protection law is very good on that sort of behaviour.

At some point FD are going to have to provide basic cloudscapes and "exploring your ship and space stations"*. Or they're going to have to bite the bullet and admit that these things are never coming and that some sort of pro rata compensation is the order of the day. That won't be pretty, but if the features aren't coming I'd sooner they pull the trigger now and get the slurricane over with so we can cross them off the list and move on.

^[SUP]*not necessarily legs if they want to weasel-word it; maybe drones?[/SUP]​

I'm one of the we need spacelegs and atmo landings crowd. However it's time to regroup and do the right thing.

The right thing now is to give the core of the game a repass regarding mechanics and overall design.

We got a whole thread going regarding legs and what you can do with it, but if the frame is broken it won't help, and only make the game worse. Believe me when I say I want to get out of my seat, but I want to walk not just move to a wheelchair.

 

[Muetdhiver]

Core profession rework

Better layered mission tying to bgs/persistent npcs antagonists.

Wing mission and high difficulty content

 

[o2thaZ]

Simple. Atmospheric landings even if they are as barebone as the current planetary landings.
Plus one big thing you forgot OP: NPC INTERACTION. Why this is not there yet is beyond me.
I think fdev seriously cannot do that. Period.

 

[Jack Schitt]

Plus one big thing you forgot OP: NPC INTERACTION. Why this is not there yet is beyond me.
I think fdev seriously cannot do that. Period.

It is beginning to look that way, isn't it? We have wings of NPCs following their leader in CZs, RESs and supercruise. Yet for some reason we can't have NPC wingmen, which as far as I can see would behave in the exact same way but with the player as wing leader. Maybe the problem is with the AI being able to deal with anything other than algorithmically-determined targets? Maybe these sorts of hybrid wings would break if you tried to move them between instances? Or is it just that FD are so determined to encourage multiplayer activities that they don't want to undermine it by letting us have fake friends?

Technical reason or design reason, it's odd either way. Recent improvements in the behaviour of, and interaction with, pirate NPCs and mission contacts has definitely helped. But that's all them telling you what to do. Until there's the beginning of it happening the other way around, it will continue to feel empty. Even NPC fighter crew don't really behave like anything other than another resource to be utilised. Let's hope at least some of this is on the "core" improvement drawing board.

 

[lysan]

It is beginning to look that way, isn't it? We have wings of NPCs following their leader in CZs, RESs and supercruise. Yet for some reason we can't have NPC wingmen, which as far as I can see would behave in the exact same way but with the player as wing leader. Maybe the problem is with the AI being able to deal with anything other than algorithmically-determined targets? Maybe these sorts of hybrid wings would break if you tried to move them between instances? Or is it just that FD are so determined to encourage multiplayer activities that they don't want to undermine it by letting us have fake friends?

Technical reason or design reason, it's odd either way. Recent improvements in the behaviour of, and interaction with, pirate NPCs and mission contacts has definitely helped. But that's all them telling you what to do. Until there's the beginning of it happening the other way around, it will continue to feel empty. Even NPC fighter crew don't really behave like anything other than another resource to be utilised. Let's hope at least some of this is on the "core" improvement drawing board.

Must be a design desision as our SLF pilot can follow us around.

 

[bitstorm]

So since FDev is a finite company with only 'x' amount of staff and resources, which of the above list do you think should be the priority, or at least have the focus of the main team?

1) Stellar forge ie planetary tech, star tech, more stuff like neutrons, pulsars etc..
2) Exploration

 

[bitstorm]

Technical reason or design reason, it's odd either way

Not sure it's odd, it's likely balancing issues.

A player with a hoard of NPCs is just a power multiplier, fine for the player with the NPCs, not so fine for other players. (or PvE game balance)

 

[Makaan]

Many people here say that they couldn't care if we never got space legs. Yet, most of the Devs in videos about the games future said they couldn't wait to implement space legs and actually walk around.

It's something Frontier definitely wants to do, people need to realise that, but they want to do it right, people need to realise this too. Those demanding space legs should take comfort in the fact that it's something FD want to do, but you have to be realistic and understand that they don't want to rush something like that out.

I personally believe space legs aren't as far away as some believe, but I know that FD will only show them when they're ready to show them.

 

[Jack Schitt]

Must be a design desision as our SLF pilot can follow us around.

True. Even when they're not on board the ship.

A player with a hoard of NPCs is just a power multiplier, fine for the player with the NPCs, not so fine for other players. (or PvE game balance)

The same could be said for a player with a bunch of friends; fine for the player with the friends. Again I'm forced to consider the possibility that FD is simply trying to encourage people to play together, but there are a couple of problems with this. Firstly it's trying to promote a style of social gameplay to people who may have very good reasons for not engaging in such interactions, and secondly the tools they've given us so far aren't great either. Wings work reasonably well I guess, after some teething problems, but multicrew can still be a bit of a crap shoot. In more than one sense, now I come to type it out...

Yeah, ho hum. NPC wings were something I was very much looking forward to back in the day, and used to advocate on a regular basis. But having seen the way some other features have turned out, these days I'm not sure I'm missing much. I'd rather have no feature than a functionally broken feature that can't be trusted, and the game is certainly not unplayable without them. As with many other things, I just wish I'd realised back in 2013/2014 that the two exhaustive Proposals FD put forward in the DDF were an idealised fantasy wishlist and not an actual goal.

Hell, one of my CMDRs now spends most of his time exploring and taking pretty pictures, so if FD can fix the beige problem and give us some more interesting-looking moons they'll have satisfied 50% of my in-game activities without really trying.