Next Update = 2020

[Stealthie]

The learning curve is steep, as the game is obscure presenting some information. You can as well turn the brightness down to 10% and claim you like hard games.

See, the thing there is that FDev need to ask themselves whether they think this is an issue.

Are they happy with the game's sales up until this point?
What about player retention? Are they happy with that?

If they are then clearly the "steep learning curve" hasn't actually been a major problem, in which case it probably isn't worth devoting a lot of time to fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

Having started a new CMDR a couple of months ago, I was quite surprised at how much hand-holding there is now.
You get a starter mission that gives you a Cr10k reward and you get the offer of a bunch of other missions intended to give you a tutorial in stuff like trading, combat, mining and exploration.

At the risk of sounding uncaring about a newbie's experience, I really don't see what else is necessary without undermining the fundamental "Just get out there and do whatever you want" nature of the game.

I suppose it could be argued that tutorials to introduce players to things like engineering, naval rank and PP might be justified but, where do you draw the line?
Seems like we're all clueless about something or other in ED.
A set of tutorials comprehensive enough to make a newbie aware of all the major aspects of the game would pretty-much walk them through the entire game, to the point where there'd be nothing left for them to discover for themselves.

And then there's the issue of viability.
It's all very well giving a newbie a tutorial to deliver 2t of something or, perhaps, destroy some sitting-duck NPC but how do you go about, for example, creating a tutorial to introduce a newbie to the Thargoids while they're still flying a Sidey with a 7Ly jump range?

I'm not trying to say these things definitely shouldn't happen but I think FDev need to consider how they might be implemented and if they're actually required at all.

Maybe all that's needed is some kind of "helpline" in the Codex which would link newbies to Squadrons or Multicrew ships that are involved with the things the newbie needs help with?

 

[StuartGT]

including cleaning staff, Catering and the guys that cut brabens footnails.

You clearly don't understand nail development. The gel colours make his feet look fabulous in sandals!

 

[B1rdy]

See, the thing there is that FDev need to ask themselves whether they think this is an issue.

Are they happy with the game's sales up until this point?
What about player retention? Are they happy with that?

If they are then clearly the "steep learning curve" hasn't actually been a major problem, in which case it probably isn't worth devoting a lot of time to fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

From my point of view, it is a bit late to expand the noob experience now, more than 4 years after the initial release. They probably (hopefully) have the exact figures their decision is based on. My gut feeling is, player retention might be more important, but maybe harder to achieve.

Maybe all that's needed is some kind of "helpline" in the Codex which would link newbies to Squadrons or Multicrew ships that are involved with the things the newbie needs help with?

Yes, there needs to be balance. I think a tutorial on how to beat a Thargoid takes away the fun. But a hint at how you could prepare for it, could be very "exciting".
Over-explaining things might be as off-putting as not explaining things. I wonder how far you would come in the game without relying on external information and in what time frame?

 

[Stealthie]

Yes, there needs to be balance. I think a tutorial on how to beat a Thargoid takes away the fun. But a hint at how you could prepare for it, could be very "exciting".
Over-explaining things might be as off-putting as not explaining things. I wonder how far you would come in the game without relying on external information and in what time frame?

That's the thing.

At the one extreme, if there was no out-of-game source of advice, I doubt any of us would have experience more than a fraction of what the game has to offer.
At the other extreme, though, a comprehensive tutorial for everything in the game would be, erm, pretty-much the entire game.

Clearly, the "sweet spot" is somewhere between those two extremes but then you have to decide what stuff is covered and what isn't.
And then there's still the issue of how you ensure a player is capable of going along with a tutorial too.

Do you restrict the tutorials to stuff that a player can do in a Sidey or do you keep on providing some kind of pop-up messages for months, or even years, when a player first encounters something or other?

 

[ries]

With the current announcement of fdev they are licensing a new game I have deja vu when Beyond was announced while they were working on JWE. I have a distinct feeling they now have even less resources commited to ED, I know fdev says otherwise, but frankly with a dev team in place you really can do better then just say "somewhere in 2020".

 

[Stigbob]

With the current announcement of fdev they are licensing a new game I have deja vu when Beyond was announced while they were working on JWE. I have a distinct feeling they now have even less resources commited to ED, I know fdev says otherwise, but frankly even with a dev team in place you really can do better then just say "somewhere in 2020".

After the meltdown about Horizons pricing you couldn't really blame them if that was true. They do make games as a business after all.

 

[Factabulous]

frankly with a dev team in place you really can do better then just say "somewhere in 2020".

luckily for them, they did:

we estimate this major milestone will be ready by the latter half of 2020.

Ok, it's a 6 month window, but that is over a year away, and I'm sure they'll do the usual thing of tightening the estimates as they get nearer.

 

[iFred]

Ok, it's a 6 month window, but that is over a year away, and I'm sure they'll do the usual thing of tightening the estimates as they get nearer.

You mean extending the timelines - as they did with Horizon? It was "just" 1 year.

 

[ries]

They do make games as a business after all.

Jup, and a new game makes more money (specially if its licensed to a popular franchise) then a update for an excisting game (even if its a premium one).

 

[Hellakitty]

Hopefully the new rework/update/whatever it is finally rids the game of its fundamental scourge: modes. It should be online-only, or offline-only. None of this solo/PG/open bullpoop.

The amount of design failures and compromises this game has because it has to cater to people who are stuck in 1984 is just saddening.

 

[Stigbob]

Hopefully the new rework/update/whatever it is finally rids the game of its fundamental scourge: modes. It should be online-only, or offline-only. None of this solo/PG/open bullpoop.

The amount of design failures and compromises this game has because it has to cater to people who are stuck in 1984 is just saddening.

I wouldn't get your hopes up there.

 

[Sweet&Dandy]

Hopefully the new rework/update/whatever it is finally rids the game of its fundamental scourge: modes. It should be online-only, or offline-only. None of this solo/PG/open bullpoop.

The amount of design failures and compromises this game has because it has to cater to people who are stuck in 1984 is just saddening.

I don’t understand? Why single out the old timers? Frontier are trying to please everyone and have been taking this approach ever since the pew pew console generation got on board! You end up pleasing nobody!

It’s not my fault I’m old! [where is it]

 

[Vedmo]

Hopefully the new rework/update/whatever it is finally rids the game of its fundamental scourge: modes. It should be online-only, or offline-only. None of this solo/PG/open bullpoop.

The amount of design failures and compromises this game has because it has to cater to people who are stuck in 1984 is just saddening.

It is currently on line only. Modes have nothing to do with that.

Modes are a great idea though. I much prefer it to other MMO's where people can flip a switch and magically become immune to attack. This mode system is a very cut throat system. Want immunity to PvP? Play by yourself, or in a PG where the best you can do is kick someone out after the fact. Brilliant design.

 

[Barking_Mad]

From my point of view, it is a bit late to expand the noob experience now, more than 4 years after the initial release. They probably (hopefully) have the exact figures their decision is based on. My gut feeling is, player retention might be more important, but maybe harder to achieve.

Perhaps it's a nod to the future as if you're releasing another large update in 18 months and you expect it might attract new/old players back then it also makes sense to improve the experience of starting from scratch,especially if that new update is going to add more 'stuff' that needs learning. It's also the sort of thing you'd not expect to be added if, as some claim, 'maintenance mode', is the order of the day.

 

[[VR] M4st0d0n]

Of course there is so much hand holding nowadays for the noobs. I like hard games with steep curves to learn.

EDDI voice attack scrublords from Inara don't need tutorials to grind fetch quests and materials.

 

[Stigbob]

Older players have more money to burn on vapor.

Younger players lack impulse control so it evens out.

 

[Achilles7]

No, MONTHS. Latter half of 2020 is actually around 15-16 months away, & I doubt they'll say nothing between now & then. Don't allow your personal hate of the game to force you to put words into other people's mouths.

[video=youtube;G4spJxTCtS4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4spJxTCtS4[/video]

Actually, I'm like you Mark - no, not a twee, mission-obsessed fanboy - I meant a "glass half full kind of guy"; although the content we're talking about will probably be dropped for the Christmas market because let's face it, Frontier are "all about the Benjamins!!" (Yes, that's right...I AM from Milton Keynes) Ergo, in line with your delusional positive narrative...

....only 650 more sleeps til major content! Woo - melon-farming - doo! [big grin]

 

[babelfisch]

You mean extending the timelines - as they did with Horizon? It was "just" 1 year.

Maybe it would've been better to announce it for 2019 and delay it to 2020 anyway.

 

[Shockbot]

With the current announcement of fdev they are licensing a new game I have deja vu when Beyond was announced while they were working on JWE. I have a distinct feeling they now have even less resources commited to ED, I know fdev says otherwise, but frankly with a dev team in place you really can do better then just say "somewhere in 2020".

They released ED, with a firework of what will come in the future... after that RT released and after that JW released (in 2 ng years)... now they announcend a new IP and today another new Game. SO, after the "Content" we got in Horizons (meh beside of Planet landing) they developed 2 games!!! Why the hell they are taking so so so long for ED???????? If people think they would prefer ED before the 2 new games I think this will not be the case... I am upset, this is not right, the superb community of ED earned it better.

I am till yet waiting for steady updates how the developement goes, on what you are working on in ED or insights in future plans... that could not be so hard? Do you even have something or will all be developed 6 months before end of 2020? the greatest problems you get with your community is only because of the way you communicate FD, why do you do that? I am feeling punked for a long time.

 

[Cervantes01]

I agree.

People spend far too much time worrying about the feelz of some hypothetical group to the detriment of actual groups and this nonsense is certainly a major reason why today's society sucks so much.

Agreed, this type of thinking ruined Eve Online, be sad to see ED go the same way.