How Elite could rule the galaxy

[JohnStabler]

"We're entering a new golden-age of space sims"

"You don't have to choose between Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen; play both!"

I just paraphrased two mantras which do the rounds on various forums and comments sections that seek to quell debate and comparison.
The problem is that debate and comparison are very valid for the simple reason that not everybody has the time or money to play all of the wonderful new space sims that are currently in development.

Frontier have no doubt burnt through the Kickstarter funds and so they'll be looking to get Elite Dangerous in to the hands of as many players as possible. Luckily for them they should have their final release pretty soon and should reap the rewards of getting to market early.

There's been a lot of dismay by people outside of the ED community about the cost of getting in to beta. Many feel it wrong to have to pay to test a game and I understand their perspective. But Frontier's hands were tied unless they wanted to annoy loyal backers, which I think was the right decision in the circumstances.
But imagine if they had released a free beta? The uptake would have undoubtedly been massive and they would have captured a massive share of the market before Chris Roberts had finally put his trousers on.

My suggestion, based on the above:

When gamma goes live, put out a free to play version that limits players to the 50+ systems we currently have in beta. If possible, make it full featured (as far as gamma goes) and suck people in to the game. Then, once people have decided they like the game they can pay to upgrade and the galaxy becomes their playground!

What do people think?

 

[Flak]

You mean a 'good old demo' like we used to have years ago?

Get's a thumbs up from me John! Although I can still see this annoying some of the people that 'paid to test'.

 

[hunvagy]

You mean a 'good old demo' like we used to have years ago?

Get's a thumbs up from me John! Although I can still see this annoying some of the people that 'paid to test'.

I believe in the good old days it was more of a shareware version But yes, would be a nice idea, even if not the true online experience, but the solo offline mode to show off all the systems.

 

[ianw]

I certainly wouldn't object to something along those lines - maybe time limit it rather than size limit though..

 

[JohnStabler]

You mean a 'good old demo' like we used to have years ago?

Get's a thumbs up from me John! Although I can still see this annoying some of the people that 'paid to test'.

Well, they paid and they tested. Once it's in gamma that should be a whole kettle of fish. Hopefully the backers are mature enough to understand that Frontier need to make money if we want to continue playing.

 

[Cmdr Andy B]

i think its a nice idea but 50 systems would be a bit much imo - i'm having so much fun playing the beta right now that unless the demo was time limited i can see quite a few people not even bothering to buy the full game; you can do almost everything in the 50+ systems we have.

maybe 8 - 10 systems, and/or one of each type so people can get a taste of the game without giving them so much that they've had their fill before buying the full game.

 

[Flak]

I believe in the good old days it was more of a shareware version But yes, would be a nice idea, even if not the true online experience, but the solo offline mode to show off all the systems.

Good point, hunvagy - would need to be offline mode only I think.

 

[JohnStabler]

Good point, hunvagy - would need to be offline mode only I think.

I don't understand that restriction. Surely people will want to see what online play is like? We've already seen a lot of people showing concerns about multiplayer and what it may bring.

 

[Flak]

My biggest concern would be that people will be able to affect the persistent galaxy without buying the game. OK, it might take them a long time to do or would take a lot of people, but that would be my worry.

I remember back in the day when 'demos' would contain single player content only, with MP only accessible if you bought the game.

<edit>Maybe there could be a demo-only MP experience that didn't affect the galaxy and only put you with other demo players?</edit>

 

[JohnStabler]

My biggest concern would be that people will be able to affect the persistent galaxy without buying the game. OK, it might take them a long time to do or would take a lot of people, but that would be my worry.

I still don't understand. Why shouldn't demo players be able to do that?

 

[hunvagy]

My biggest concern would be that people will be able to affect the persistent galaxy without buying the game. OK, it might take them a long time to do or would take a lot of people, but that would be my worry.

I remember back in the day when 'demos' would contain single player content only, with MP only accessible if you bought the game.

<edit>Maybe there could be a demo-only MP experience that didn't affect the galaxy and only put you with other demo players?</edit>

I still don't understand. Why shouldn't demo players be able to do that?

I guess I do understand the worry, but I think the main reason against the MP "demo" of that size would be that unlike the other MMOs that have trials, there's no level cap or anything the like you could enforce, that would make people hunger for more. With 55+ systems you could play pretty much everything you ever want, albeit on a bit smaller scale, but it would strip the incentive to buy and experience more.

What could be a useful compromise I guess is that those accounts wouldn't have access to all upgrades and ships, and some mission types. This would give the trial game a broad scale of Elite, but enough held back to make someone want to buy it.

 

[Flak]

I just think that someone playing a demo might be able to negatively affect the persistent galaxy. Especially if there are a large number of like-minded individuals. I think a group of people might get great pleasure in being able to download a demo and go 'annoy' or 'break' the game for paying players.

Admittedly, there might be paying players who would also like to do this, but they will have invested both time and money into the game. Something a demo player doesn't need to do.

Or maybe I'm worrying about nothing :smilie:

 

[JohnStabler]

I guess I do understand the worry, but I think the main reason against the MP "demo" of that size would be that unlike the other MMOs that have trials, there's no level cap or anything the like you could enforce, that would make people hunger for more. With 55+ systems you could play pretty much everything you ever want, albeit on a bit smaller scale, but it would strip the incentive to buy and experience more.

What could be a useful compromise I guess is that those accounts wouldn't have access to all upgrades and ships, and some mission types. This would give the trial game a broad scale of Elite, but enough held back to make someone want to buy it.

I'm fine with various other caps; that's why I started the thread.

But I still can't see a reason why you'd stop demo players from playing online. Online is a major part of the game.

 

[Cosmos]

Given gamma, from what I understand, is going to be a soft release I'd expect those who bought the retail game to have access about that time. So entry at that stage would be £35.. if thats what the final sale price is. I've spoken to a few people who are waiting for that moment before having a crack. Considering there are no sub fees or other required payments thats got to be an attractive entry point?

I'm quite open to making the game accessible but lets wait and see how it sells.. A free trial period of a few days might not be too bad an idea at some point but my concern here is that we've seen people come into the game and complain its too hard, too complex and so not sure how thats gonna work out.

 

[JohnStabler]

I just think that someone playing a demo might be able to negatively affect the persistent galaxy. Especially if there are a large number of like-minded individuals. I think a group of people might get great pleasure in being able to download a demo and go 'annoy' or 'break' the game for paying players.

Admittedly, there might be paying players who would also like to do this, but they will have invested both time and money into the game. Something a demo player doesn't need to do.

Or maybe I'm worrying about nothing :smilie:

Frontier have to make the game so it is not possible to this (paid or demo players). So I would hope you're fussing over nothing

 

[Tacheel]

I like this idea, it's good promotion.

Regarding the might irk those who paid to test i agree with we got what we paid for and it's new ground now, that deal is done.

There needs to be a limit, otherwise why upgrade and buy the game.

A systems limit is fine, but 55 systems may be a bit much.

I'd be more inclined for something like a one use per account 2 week trial pass, gives people a chance to try out the game, and catches them at the right point of either hooked and no chance of boredom set in yet or nice game but not for me. At which point if they like it they can continue the same char by paying up.

I think any kind of trial/demo can only do good things for the game provided it is worked right.

 

[Cosmos]

Frontier have to make the game so it is not possible to this (paid or demo players). So I would hope you're fussing over nothing

Another thing to consider is how successful demos actually are in getting players to buy a game.

 

[Flak]

@John : Would you see the demo players playing in the same islands as paying players? I think that that would be a bad move. Kamikaze demo guys just ramming people as they attempt to dock

So separate islands for demo and non-demo I think. At a minimum.

 

[JohnStabler]

Given gamma, from what I understand, is going to be a soft release I'd expect those who bought the retail game to have access about that time. So entry at that stage would be £35.. if thats what the final sale price is. I've spoken to a few people who are waiting for that moment before having a crack.

I'm quite open to making the game accessible but lets wait and see how it sells.. A free trial period of a few days might not be too bad an idea at some point but my concern here is that we've seen people come into the game and complain its too hard, too complex and so not sure how thats gonna work out.

My thinking was that they should strike while the iron is hot and maximize the return on such a move. The press / media would lap it up.

If Frontier put off a demo to wait on sales results then there may be other games released which increases competition.

There's not much you can do about players' opinion on the games. Some will like and some won't. The ones who don;t like won't have lost money (which is a win for them).

 

[Flak]

Another thing to consider is how successful demos actually are in getting players to buy a game.

I'd say that over the years I've bought many games off the back of playing a demo that I might not have done without it. And there are many games I have bought that I wouldn't have if I'd played a demo first