after stream discussion

[Mole HD]

The thing that bothers me a fair bit too, is if they are cutting off features for the lower end consoles (i can't believe the X couldn't do some or all of the spangly new effects), what are they going to expect the next paid content for consoles to be?

If they can't give them all the effects in game now, what are they going to expect console players to pay for?

If they are preparing Ed to be running for ps5/x2 already as their lead console platforms, then it's a slight concern (not that I won't be upgrading but not everyone can afford to).

Gary and Lloyd, please give some proper clarification on what exactly is coming specifically for each of the four consoles.

I think it's a song and dance about nothing to be honest. Most Xbox players wouldn't notice the difference unless they saw the Xbox version with slightly lower detail or resolution running next to my PC. That's not intended as a platformist comment or PC master race arrogance but simply how it is...and not just E-D as a game, it's a reality with every game out there like I mentioned above.

The X one X is a marvellous piece of optimised kit to get the maximum out of the hardware installed in it...but a piece of kit that still doesn't have the sheer oomph of the likes of my PC which I built so I simply could run all the bells and whistles stuff without it breathing hard. There are however, always going to be those hardware limitations when game developers try to balance out whether to include certain bits of eye candy or not for lower end PC's or the mid range console market.

Yeah...I get all the bells and whistles stuff...but my wallet bled a bit for the option even though I built it myself.

 

[Rebel RDX]

Basically 'Yes' I agree with all of Moles reality check there

 

[Mr Cynical]

I think it's a song and dance about nothing to be honest. Most Xbox players wouldn't notice the difference unless they saw the Xbox version with slightly lower detail or resolution running next to my PC. That's not intended as a platformist comment or PC master race arrogance but simply how it is...and not just E-D as a game, it's a reality with every game out there like I mentioned above.

The X one X is a marvellous piece of optimised kit to get the maximum out of the hardware installed in it...but a piece of kit that still doesn't have the sheer oomph of the likes of my PC which I built so I simply could run all the bells and whistles stuff without it breathing hard. There are however, always going to be those hardware limitations when game developers try to balance out whether to include certain bits of eye candy or not for lower end PC's or the mid range console market.

Yeah...I get all the bells and whistles stuff...but my wallet bled a bit for the option even though I built it myself.

It might be a song and dance about nothing for high end pc players, but base console players, who may not be able to afford a monster pc or even an x, might not quite see it that way.

I think they deserve a fair and honest explanation from fdev, at the very least, as to what their consoles are going to be missing out/not capable of in this and future updates. If those console players have been supporting ongoing development by purchasing frontier points then fd should at least be upfront and honest with them about what developments are being prioritised.
If they can drop a tiny little bomb like that in the stream and then just brush over it, it just looks a little snide and no one wants that.

 

[Mole HD]

It might be a song and dance about nothing for high end pc players, but base console players, who may not be able to afford a monster pc or even an x, might not quite see it that way.

I think they deserve a fair and honest explanation from fdev, at the very least, as to what their consoles are going to be missing out/not capable of in this and future updates. If those console players have been supporting ongoing development by purchasing frontier points then fd should at least be upfront and honest with them about what developments are being prioritised.
If they can drop a tiny little bomb like that in the stream and then just brush over it, it just looks a little snide and no one wants that.

Are you making Mr Angry from Purley noises about this for any other reason than some ill perceived and imagined slight to all console players by FDev?

The differences in visual quality will be minor at worst...it's not like you're having some second rate port over chucked on your Xbox. Listen to the comment from the live stream in the context it was given...namely discussing some graphical effects in the quality of volumetric fog that may need a higher end PC to show off to it's fullest extent.

It's not like FDev are deliberately denying console players something they're designing purely and secretly for the elite among the PC Master Race. As it is, the PC graphics options in the main menu of E-D have been outstripping what is available on the Xbox version from the get go...you know, because of hardware differences between PC's. I know how much of a difference those menu options make in the appearance of E-D because I've played both Xbox and PC versions extensively.

A fair few PC's can't run everything in E-D on Ultra detail and have to run lower graphic settings... which means they'll miss out on the nice wispy clouds as well...are you suggesting that perhaps FDev are also throwing them a thumb to the nose for running their nice game on something as powerful as a video toaster?

Complete nonsense.

All of the graphic updates and new lighting maps will be identical and visible on all platforms, they made a strong point about that in the stream...which you chose to ignore for the purpose of being all supercilious... those graphical updates across platforms is a feat in itself...and you're fussing about some (possibly) missing wispy cloud effects purely in order to appear benevolently on behalf of all the possibly aggrieved and slighted Xbox players?

All in all, the % of PC players who have high end gaming rigs is relatively small...especially amongst those playing E-D for some reason...yet I don't hear them squealing about not having super-duper cloudy bits as nice as what I'll have. [rolleyes]

I paid £855.98 for a blingy graphics card with illuminated writing along the side of it just so I could see the bloody clouds in the first place. I think you're not doing too badly with the amazing graphics FDev have worked into E-D as it is, all on a machine that costs a tad less than my blingy graphics card alone.

 

[Mr Cynical]

Are you making Mr Angry from Purley noises about this for any other reason than some ill perceived and imagined slight to all console players by FDev?

The differences in visual quality will be minor at worst...it's not like you're having some second rate port over chucked on your Xbox. Listen to the comment from the live stream in the context it was given...namely discussing some graphical effects in the quality of volumetric fog that may need a higher end PC to show off to it's fullest extent.

It's not like FDev are deliberately denying console players something they're designing purely and secretly for the elite among the PC Master Race. As it is, the PC graphics options in the main menu of E-D have been outstripping what is available on the Xbox version from the get go...you know, because of hardware differences between PC's. I know how much of a difference those menu options make in the appearance of E-D because I've played both Xbox and PC versions extensively.

A fair few PC's can't run everything in E-D on Ultra detail and have to run lower graphic settings... which means they'll miss out on the nice wispy clouds as well...are you suggesting that perhaps FDev are also throwing them a thumb to the nose for running their nice game on something as powerful as a video toaster?

Complete nonsense.

All of the graphic updates and new lighting maps will be identical and visible on all platforms, they made a strong point about that in the stream...which you chose to ignore for the purpose of being all supercilious... those graphical updates across platforms is a feat in itself...and you're fussing about some (possibly) missing wispy cloud effects purely in order to appear benevolently on behalf of all the possibly aggrieved and slighted Xbox players?

All in all, the % of PC players who have high end gaming rigs is relatively small...especially amongst those playing E-D for some reason...yet I don't hear them squealing about not having super-duper cloudy bits as nice as what I'll have. [rolleyes]

I paid £855.98 for a blingy graphics card with illuminated writing along the side of it just so I could see the bloody clouds in the first place. I think you're not doing too badly with the amazing graphics FDev have worked into E-D as it is, all on a machine that costs a tad less than my blingy graphics card alone.

I think you're reading too much into my post, I personally am really not that bothered, but I just think they should be a little more up front about where this is heading for all the console players that have supported them and had to put up with some platform specific issues that still haven't been fixed. As usual the silence from FD doesn't help...

 

[AlexLar]

My son has a hefty PC, it's powers and capacities are way ahead of my xbox one x; however, what Frontier have managed to tweak out of t is pretty awesome with minimum overall game difference between PC and my console. Some, but doesn't hit my enjoyment.

In regards the new developments....having watched Obsidians video....I'm excited. It will breath some life into my game play. I remain frankly amazed how my minimal financial investment 3/4 years ago still remains my most played function on my console......by far. And for no additional cost, the company whom I purchased the game adds and changes content.

Some investment that was....

 

[UseLessUK]

What I tend to do is if I am going somewhere is;

• Plot course to destination
• Start 1st Jump
• upon entering system Honk as I scoop fuel from the star
  • sometimes I will even check the system map, but normally...
• I just initiate next jump, GO TO 'upon entering system' unless the destination is reached

After watching the video of the stream I am just not sure if I have to stop the ship in order to perform all the fiddly scanning stuff and then move along... FDev certainly do love a good time waster don't they.

 

[tafkabb]

What I tend to do is if I am going somewhere is;

• Plot course to destination
• Start 1st Jump
• upon entering system Honk as I scoop fuel from the star
  • sometimes I will even check the system map, but normally...
• I just initiate next jump, GO TO 'upon entering system' unless the destination is reached

After watching the video of the stream I am just not sure if I have to stop the ship in order to perform all the fiddly scanning stuff and then move along... FDev certainly do love a good time waster don't they.

You can still do exactly that

 

[MashdTaytuz]

Not sure how I feel about losing the whole 2D map after honking a fresh system, but I was very interested in not having to fly out to planets that are thousands or hundreds of thousands of light years away from the entry point so I can scan them and see if they have any interesting features.

I am though definitely not interested in the Orrery Map feature. All I need is to find out where the planets are located, and if they are worth my time to visit. A 1 to 1 system map might be fun to look at sometimes, but I can't see how it will be useful to me.

 

[UseLessUK]

You can still do exactly that

True, but only if the system I jump in to has previously been discovered/scanned by someone... otherwise all I get is the star so looking at the system map will show just the star. If I want to find out if any planets in the system are landable, and have resources I want, then I have to fiddle about scanning stuff... i.e. wasting time. Where as now I just honk, check system map and then decide what to do... so no landable planets I just do next jump.

Edit: So in fact the ADS is getting a down grade, after all it can now scan and show you all the planets etc in a system, after the "update" it won't... bit of a backward step then... and as you'll probably not be moving while scanning will you then be vulnerable to attack?

Some of the improvements look great and some, however, do not.

 

[Fray]

True, but only if the system I jump in to has previously been discovered/scanned by someone... otherwise all I get is the star so looking at the system map will show just the star. If I want to find out if any planets in the system are landable, and have resources I want, then I have to fiddle about scanning stuff... i.e. wasting time. Where as now I just honk, check system map and then decide what to do... so no landable planets I just do next jump.

...so y'mean they've added *a gameplay mechanic* to discovery at long last? How terrible! ; -)

As far as I understand it, you'll still get paid the same if you just travel instead of explore, i.e. fire the ADS then jump, and it doesn't matter what's been discovered or not re the pay.

The exploration system now functions rather similarly to the SRV wave scanner, and after a little experience players can easily identify what's worth checking out and what's worth ignoring. The new exploration mechanic should be just the same, 'cept there's now a gameplay mechanic instead of everything being handed to the player on a plate after a single lazy button press.

Given it cuts down on the travel times, it may make cherry picking systems a fair bit faster. I need to play it fully judge, obviously, but I do think it's an improvement with no real downsides that I can see.

I was hoping for new modules, maybe a software/electronics module stack that's dedicated to new equipment and role tailoring, increasing role and ship specialisation. But no dice on that, sadly. Still, as Yamiks (I think?) remarked yesterday; had the game started with this new system and changed to the current non-design, then I doubt there'd be a single person thinking it was a gameplay improvement.

 

[Thepirateorc]

What I tend to do is if I am going somewhere is;

• Plot course to destination
• Start 1st Jump
• upon entering system Honk as I scoop fuel from the star
  • sometimes I will even check the system map, but normally...
• I just initiate next jump, GO TO 'upon entering system' unless the destination is reached

After watching the video of the stream I am just not sure if I have to stop the ship in order to perform all the fiddly scanning stuff and then move along... FDev certainly do love a good time waster don't they.

I like the new system

 

[FixMeNow]

New free update is going to be pretty good for explorers, cant wait to actually find some geyser's on planets ive visited.

As for negative kid, if you use spaces in your walls of text i might actually read past the second line.

 

[Thepirateorc]

New free update is going to be pretty good for explorers, cant wait to actually find some geyser's on planets ive visited.

As for negative kid, if you use spaces in your walls of text i might actually read past the second line.

Now i have a reason to land on a planet in to black other than taking screenshots

 

[Mole HD]

I think you're reading too much into my post, I personally am really not that bothered, but I just think they should be a little more up front about where this is heading for all the console players that have supported them and had to put up with some platform specific issues that still haven't been fixed. As usual the silence from FD doesn't help...

Indeed I was, apologies are due for jumping to the gun

 

[UseLessUK]

...so y'mean they've added *a gameplay mechanic* to discovery at long last? How terrible! ; -)

You seem to have completely missed my point. With the pending changes I can no longer travel the way I want, with the odd bit of exploration thrown in to break the monotony. When I travel anywhere, such as my trip to Beagle Point when I travel I do not even stop to scan the star in a system. I just jump, scoop and honk then jump again. When I get bored jumping I can then check the system map to see if there are any landable planets, and if there are some close to the star then I *may* visit them, scan them and may even land on them to collect materials.

With the pending changes to the Advanced Discovery Scanner, which is no longer that advanced, I can no longer travel the way I want to.

Elite is a game to me, and wasting time in it is one thing, being forced to waste time is another matter entirely.

But there's always alternative games to play.

 

[verminstar]

Another way of looking at this being that theres nothing to discover...unless 400 billion systems are now being seeded with new things that didnt exist before. Thats sorta why Im holding off on the bunting and the celebrations cos if they dont seed the universe with something, then they have effectively introduced a new gameplay mechanic that takes longer to find nothing...unless theres a special tag icon that indicates cool selfie locations.

As much as Im holding off on the game itself until the bugs are sorted, Im holding off on my perception of the gameplay until I see some examples of what there is to find. The tools to find them isnt even half the story, they are merely the tools nothing more nothing less. If there is cool new stuff to discover then the extra time is worth it...if theres no new cool stuff to discover the whole thing falls flat on its face.

Im still in the ¨wait and see¨ camp with this one. Beagle being the one thing on my bucket list I never managed to finish when I played and I hate to think Im done and wont ever see it cos the bugs aspect just vexes me so much that I cant find the motivation to play at all. Its unfinished business so to speak. Problem being Ive been everywhere else that matters and in all my time exploring the black, selfie spots were the only cool thing I ever found...which is why I stopped doing it and began focusing on combat. Without cool things to find, it gets boring and inane with the only real challenge being staying awake or faffing around with neutrons.

As useless ends his post, as do I...Forza Horizons 4 and NMS will never replace ED, but as timewasters go, at least those two aint bugged all to hell and back. Have a nice day btw ^

 

[Fray]

With the pending changes I can no longer travel the way I want, with the odd bit of exploration thrown in to break the monotony. When I travel anywhere, such as my trip to Beagle Point when I travel I do not even stop to scan the star in a system. I just jump, scoop and honk then jump again. When I get bored jumping I can then check the system map to see if there are any landable planets, and if there are some close to the star then I *may* visit them, scan them and may even land on them to collect materials.

With the pending changes to the Advanced Discovery Scanner, which is no longer that advanced, I can no longer travel the way I want to.

So you're not interested in exploring anyway. What's more important; that a game actually has mechanics to engage with, or your playstyle which ostensibly shuns that specific role in the first place?

I know you're not demanding FDev personally cater to you... But the point still stands. Since launch there hasn't been any exploration mechanics. It's about as bare-bones as bare-bones can be, and it's been neglected (possibly trapped in a cupboard under the stairs and fed once a week) ever since. This is changing that, at long last. It was never going to make everyone happy, because no design decision ever will.

Who knows, maybe I'll hate it when it launches and I hope they tweak it. There's a very minor but interesting question about mechanics-as-lore, too; for an iteratively evolving game with a connected, multi-faceted universe, do lore explanations need to be provided for such substantial changes? I mean, was there a galaxy wide software bug which also included a systems rewrite? 'Cause that's ostensibly what'll occur... Maybe they'll address or allude to it in a GalNet piece.

Elite is a game to me, and wasting time in it is one thing, being forced to waste time is another matter entirely.

...so you want games without gameplay features/mechanics? This isn't just semantics, either, given all mechanics could be said to be wasting time - if they were removed and the same action could be completed with a single button press.

To you it may be an added waste of time. To me it--- well, it literally is gameplay, and gameplay that never existed before in a previous lazy void.

Forza Horizons 4 and NMS will never replace ED, but as timewasters go, at least those two aint bugged all to hell and back.

I had a peculiar, temporary scanner/HUD visual glitch a couple of nights ago that reverted upon entering SC, but aside from that it's been rock solid for months, at least for me.

 

[verminstar]

I had a peculiar, temporary scanner/HUD visual glitch a couple of nights ago that reverted upon entering SC, but aside from that it's been rock solid for months, at least for me.

Thats the thing with bugs though...not everyone appears to have the same experience. Im genuinely glad ye can play the game...I absolutely and honestly mean that. Last time I logged in, I crashed into a full shutdown and restart every time I tried using the SRV...I logged out on the third crash and dont have the motivation to log back in. Not when those same bugs were first reported in september 2017...thats just rubbing salt into an open wound and expecting a happy ending.

Id love to play again, really I would...but until I see those bugs fixed, theres no chance whatsoever. Regardless what game it is, the moment I suffer what I deem to be gamebreaking crashes, my interest and motivation levels drop like a stone. The single only way its gonna get back up to anywhere near what it used to be is the bug fixes...no bug fixes no motivation no game.

Its really not that complicated in my mind and while no offence is intended, anyone else not experiencing the bugs means absolutely nothing to me. I am experiencing them...simple. And judging from past threads, I would hazard a guess Im not the only one...then again yer not the first player who claims not to be suffering from them at all...and yet others do so either lots of players have hatched a dastardly conspiracy or the bugs are real and unfixed.

Ergo why Im more interested in the final patchnotes than I am about the actual content itself...whats the point in looking at the content if I cant play the game to see it? It literally doesnt matter what content they put in...no bug fixes no game and they could put flying penguins in fer all the difference its gonna make ^

 

[tafkabb]

You seem to have completely missed my point. With the pending changes I can no longer travel the way I want, with the odd bit of exploration thrown in to break the monotony. When I travel anywhere, such as my trip to Beagle Point when I travel I do not even stop to scan the star in a system. I just jump, scoop and honk then jump again. When I get bored jumping I can then check the system map to see if there are any landable planets, and if there are some close to the star then I *may* visit them, scan them and may even land on them to collect materials.

With the pending changes to the Advanced Discovery Scanner, which is no longer that advanced, I can no longer travel the way I want to.

Elite is a game to me, and wasting time in it is one thing, being forced to waste time is another matter entirely.

But there's always alternative games to play.

You can still honk. Seeing the bodies in a system will take a matter of seconds (instead of a second). If you fly a DBX you'll know what's in the system before the fuel tank is scooped full.