Apart from it's far too early to decide the new C&P system a failure, what makes you think no one will benefit.
PvE pirates may enjoy the new system and you may even find some PvP'ers like it.
Only time will tell.
You don't lose some mystical prowess if you engage in PvE or use the mode system.
There are PvP'ers who use PvE as a tool to help enable PvP (earn fast credits, go engineering etc)- so you can do PvE and still be a PvP'er.
The argument over the modes wont stop because too many people blindly bought the game thinking it was Call of Duty in spaceships.
There was also an assumption the entire player base would be fish in a barrel, and that was never the case.
10 minutes in Google would have shown how multiplayer works in Elite and saved people from buying a game not suited to them.
As no one ever clicks the link in my Sig, here is "The Wall of Information" proving that;
________________________________________________________________
Before we get in to Frontier promoting and defending the mode system and mode switching for Elite: Dangerous (plus other related information), a quick look at the history of; and tech used to bring you this game (explains why some things are not possible).
https://youtu.be/EvJPyjmfdz0
Thanks to Roybe for for the link to the video.
The Wall of Information;
From the Kickstarter;
*And the best part - you can do all this online with your friends, or other "Elite" pilots like yourself, or even alone. The choice is yours...*
*you will be able to control who else you might encounter in your game – perhaps limit it to just your friends? Cooperate on adventures or chase your friends down to get that booty. The game will work in a seamless, lobby-less way, with the ability to rendezvous with friends
*Play it your way*
*Your reputation is affected by your personal choices. Play the game your way: dangerous pirate, famous explorer or notorious assassin - the choice is yours to make. Take on missions and affect the world around you, alone or with your friends.*
*You simply play the game, and depending on your configuration (your choice) *
*We have the concept of “groups”. They can be private groups just of your friends or open groups (that form part of the game) based on the play styles people prefer, and the rules in each can be different. Players will begin in the group “All” but can change groups at will,*
Some Dev comments from the Kickstarter;
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=44183&d=1434291446&thumb=1
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...omment-1681441
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...omment-1705397
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...omment-1705551
From the forum archives;
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6300
All Players Group– Players in this group will be matched with each other as much as possible to ensure as many human players can meet and play together
Private Group – Players in this group will only be matched with other players in the same private group
Solo Group – Players in this group won’t be matched with anyone else ever (effectively a private group with no one else invited)
(All by a Lead Designer)
Also DB on Multiplayer and Grouping and Single (01:00 - 02:01) Plus how the Galaxy will evolve over time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5JY...kuz6s&index=18
"DB explicitly said that solo players would be able to do community goals, though back then they weren't called that. Dev Diary Video #2, at the 4:10 mark."
DB on "Griefing" and "Griefers"
(Listen out for the part where FD can move them in to a private group of just each other)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb5hqjxmf4M
Rededit Topic on "unusual event for players to come against players" (Twitch Video now removed, YT link for it below)
http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangero...ayers_to_come/
(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJzizYUEF9c EGX2014 Video, 30 minutes long)
Also, MMO does not mean "social" (It means lots of people connected)
Wikipedia;
A massively multiplayer online game (also called MMO and MMOG) is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting large numbers of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet. MMOs usually have at least one persistent world, however some games differ.
Oxford English Dictionary (Online);
An online video game which can be played by a very large number of people simultaneously .
The Steam Store page;
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=54528&d=1439140722
Please note, "Single Player" and "Multiplayer" with "Co-op".
So not just an "MMO"
Dev comments;
E3 2015 Interview (17th June 2015);
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/0...-david-braben/
View attachment 98946
PowerPlay AMA related links regarding Modes and Powerplay;
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=106524&page=27&p=1663438#post1663438
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=140032&page=22&p=2145448&viewfull=1#post2145448
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=140032&page=25&p=2145528&viewfull=1#post2145528
The overall thread topic (+ How XB1 fits);
And regarding the game design;
To highlight something from that above quote;
“You should do what makes you excited.
I don’t want there to be a ‘right’ way, because then you’re not necessarily playing the way you want to play."
Here is a quote from Zac Antonaci for the "game is dying" pro-claimers.
Dated 10th July 2015;
And a nice, clear, concise comment from Michael Brookes regarding the modes;
Dev Update 6th August 2015 (
https://community.elitedangerous.com/node/248)
;
(I added the bold / underline in the quote to highlight the last line)
Reddit AMA from X-Box One launch, in relation to the Back Ground Simulation and Modes;
https://np.reddit.com/r/xboxone/comments/3nlmdg/its_frontier_developments_developers_of_elite/
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=66445&d=1444135775&thumb=1
^^ So PC/Mac and X-Box One impact the same live simulation, but cannot actually play together or see each other.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=66450&d=1444136348&thumb=1
^^ X-Box One also has "Solo Mode" and is recommended by FD Devs for when you do not want to play with other people.
Horizons Live Stream;
(RE: Question about ED being an MMO)
Engineers Live Stream;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7tGV7VVlhE
Here is a post from Sandro Sammarco "musing" over a bonus to Open mode for Power Play;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uetVzNINdKU;t=26m40s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uetVzNINdKU;t=26m40s
Extra note on "Griefing" and posts by Sandro on the topic;
Some well made points made by forum user Sylveria;