In game travel - the critical flaw?

[IndigoWyrd]

1. Because you might need to stop along the way for a potty break, snack or just to stand up and stretch.

2. Because if you could jump from point A to point Z you’d miss 24 opportunities for game play, and the playing lifespan of the average player would be around 4 hours.

 

[XpertDBA]

I read all of these posts about space travel in the game being so boring (which it isn't if you like exploring, and still isn't if you're trying to get somewhere, sorry, just my honest opinion), and it's almost comical. Most of us have taken long road trips to somewhere in the U.S., or have taken long plane rides to somewhere overseas or to a distant other country. Do we complain that each minute/mile isn't cram-packed with something fun to do? Yes, in this INSTANT gratification world of the millenials, you always have to have your head phones on, or something to stimulate you to get through life or your latest uninteresting chore. What is so horribly wrong about JUMPING through a bunch of systems to get to your destination? That's exactly how it would BE in space....DUH. I actually enjoy popping into a new system (even if it's the most boring system in the world) and seeing what 'might' be there. Is it the most exciting thing ever? Obviously no, but most of life isn't always exciting every moment of the day. It's the journey and making progress, just like that car trip to New York or California, or that long flight to Italy or Greece that is the experience. Give it a break people. It's a game....enjoy what it provides, which is the wonder and amazement at the seemingly infinite number of objects to explore.

 

[HAMM3R]

Not really a fan of fast travel but I once thought why couldn't there be 'jump stations' (in lack of a better term) in, say the capital systems of each super power. Kind of like a Elite equivalent of a train station or an airport. The idea behind the thought was that they would also serve as a transit hub for all the billions of NPC's living on planets and stations who don't have access to their own spaceship yet want to meet their relatives living in far away system. With the passenger ships in the game it would add some extra traffic and life to the systems with all the Belugas, Orcas and Dolphins heading out to the jump stations and flocking around them. And CMDRs could use them as well if they so choose.

But such feature would obviously be an advantage to players using them against those who don't if they're on the clock so to speak, as mentioned in previous posts. Unless of course it would take time due to perpetual rush hour, upon requesting a jump/destination you'd get a number and would have to line up into a queue to wait for your turn. Also maybe size restrictions to non-passenger ships so one couldn't just ram an Anaconda through there. So in the end it would be a suitable option if you're just leisurely cruising around, maybe meeting a friend in SOL, have some time to kill yet don't feel like making all the jumps.

 

[Tikanderoga]

One could argue that clicking virtual buttons in a virtual cockpit in DCS isn't gameplay, either. It's still a core feature of the experience as it's presented by the developers as a study sim. As a space sim, Elite is about flying in space. And because space is big, spending hours upon hours travelling through it is just part of the experience. And one I personally enjoy. So to me, it is gameplay.

I get it. You're in it for the destination. But Elite is about the journey. The destination is an afterthought. Always has been.

This might be an efficiency thing - I think efficiently. If my goal is to get from A to B, then my planning is about how to get there as fast and as efficient as possible, without wasting my time. Spending hours upon hours "travelling" in a game that is meant to entertain me is a waste of my time. I love playing games. I play them because I want to be entertained.
My goal: Entertainment.
How do I get from being bored to being entertained? I play a game.
The game makes me wait for hours until I can get entertained - wasting my time.
If I go and do combat - That's entertainment, as there is something to do. I go mining - mild entertainment - some travel and searching and then something to do when you find a rock. Travelling to SagA*: 5 hours of waiting (midless repetitive task) until "entertainment" (scan that nav beacon) and another 5 hours to hop back to the bubble for "entertainment" for when I get paid.

 

[Lestat]

Here is what funny. This is what the topic about. The guy not liking the load screen.

Travelling in the game was clearly broken from the start - why should any game player be forced to endure hundreds of pointless and repetitive button presses and loading screens to get from one location in a game to another - this is ludicrous in the extreme - will it ever be fixed? Or is this forever to be the game's critical legacy...?

Yet the Topic Change to Golgot idea. Is this not called Hijacking a topic?

 

[Sylveria]

Here is what funny. This is what the topic about. The guy not liking the load screen.

Yet the Topic Change to Golgot idea. Is this not called Hijacking a topic?

Except you're only referring to the end of that very statement for your contextual narrative, instead of the entire statement. Re-read what you quoted again.

"hundreds of pointless and repetitive button presses" isn't a reference to a loading screen, which is why "and loading screens" is amended to the end of that very statement.

That's not "hijacking a topic", that's interpreting the entirerty of the OP instead of just cherry-picking for posture.

 

[VR CMDR Novindus]

I read all of these posts about space travel in the game being so boring (which it isn't if you like exploring, and still isn't if you're trying to get somewhere, sorry, just my honest opinion), and it's almost comical. Most of us have taken long road trips to somewhere in the U.S., or have taken long plane rides to somewhere overseas or to a distant other country. Do we complain that each minute/mile isn't cram-packed with something fun to do? Yes, in this INSTANT gratification world of the millenials, you always have to have your head phones on, or something to stimulate you to get through life or your latest uninteresting chore. What is so horribly wrong about JUMPING through a bunch of systems to get to your destination? That's exactly how it would BE in space....DUH. I actually enjoy popping into a new system (even if it's the most boring system in the world) and seeing what 'might' be there. Is it the most exciting thing ever? Obviously no, but most of life isn't always exciting every moment of the day. It's the journey and making progress, just like that car trip to New York or California, or that long flight to Italy or Greece that is the experience. Give it a break people. It's a game....enjoy what it provides, which is the wonder and amazement at the seemingly infinite number of objects to explore.

Translation in points:

-I like it, so it doesn't matter if you don't.​

-Real life equivalents don't have to be that entertaining, so neither should a game version of an activity, even though games are supposed to be for entertainment.​

-I somehow know exactly how space travel would work, even though that may have little relevance to a futuristic Sci-Fi game setting.​

-If you don't like a particular aspect of the game, don't make any suggestions for improvement in the suggestions forum.​

​

This is not a defence of any particular idea, just a peeve about all the "just enjoy it how it is", or "don't play that particular game loop if you don't like it", or "go play another game" responses to suggestions for game features and improvements made in a suggestions forum specifically created to allow players to make suggestions for the game.

 

[Sylveria]

I read the whole thing.

Let see Jumping to one system. Selecting another system and jumping to another system. Ya, I can call that repetitive button pressing. I don't anywhere of the OP writing on the Main post about the time sink. Now the Star to Station. Which Golgot is complaining about. Which is a different topic altogether. So it is Hijacking a tread.

Please take your time reading the Main post slowly I don't see the OP talking about time sinks.

And your idea to avoid "repetitive button pressing" is what, exactly? Quicktime events and passive gameplay?

Why not just put on a movie instead? I actually like the idea of having to actively play the game- not just skip from one point to another without input because I'm too lazy to press a few buttons.

Ironically, it seems the same people complaining of repetitive button presses have no problem with performing those same actions in forum responses, however. Isn't that what it's all about, after all? Repetitive actions performed using an input device?

 

[Lestat]

And your idea to avoid "repetitive button pressing" is what, exactly? Quicktime events and passive gameplay?

No my current point here is with Golgot promoting his idea on this topic. HiJacking this topic.

Why not just put on a movie instead? I actually like the idea of having to actively play the game- not just skip from one point to another without input because I'm too lazy to press a few buttons.

Ironically, it seems the same people complaining of repetitive button presses have no problem with performing those same actions in forum responses, however. Isn't that what it's all about, after all? Repetitive actions performed using an input device?

If you look at my earlier post I think it between 5 to 15 I already suggest the way to help the op. Do I support the Op's Idea? NO.

Earlier Post.

Well if you have a short jump range and whining about jumping so many times. Why not engineer your ship also use Neutron highway to make your trip shorter. If players can get from Sol to Colonia in 107 Jumps why can't you?

Also, the Load screens it because if you are the first to that system. It will randomly make that system or loading up one someone else explored before.

 

[Captain Willard]

captaincoveman said:
Other RPGs have fast travel as standard - that is kind of a staple in the genre
And some people actually use it.
Others play the game.

 

[Tikanderoga]

Why not just put on a movie instead? I actually like the idea of having to actively play the game- not just skip from one point to another without input because I'm too lazy to press a few buttons.

Because people play a game to be entertained by the game. Not kill time, watching a movie until you get to play the game again. Try flying to Hutton without getting up, playing on your phone, browse Facebook or watch a movie or anything else for 90 minutes, JUST staring at the screen going Wooosh and tell me after 90 minutes: "Wow! This was so immersive and entertaining."
Then I believe you! Until then: Fast travel please!
I don't want instant gratification, but I don't want a game to make me being bored either. Elite is supposed to be a space sim, not a waiting simulator.

 

[M00ka]

Because people play a game to be entertained by the game. Not kill time, watching a movie until you get to play the game again. Try flying to Hutton without getting up, playing on your phone, browse Facebook or watch a movie or anything else for 90 minutes, JUST staring at the screen going Wooosh and tell me after 90 minutes: "Wow! This was so immersive and entertaining."
Then I believe you! Until then: Fast travel please!
I don't want instant gratification, but I don't want a game to make me being bored either. Elite is supposed to be a space sim, not a waiting simulator.

So why did you decide to fly to Hutton Orbital since you knew it was going to take 90 minutes in super cruise?

 

[Tikanderoga]

So why did you decide to fly to Hutton Orbital since you knew it was going to take 90 minutes in super cruise?

I am not, nor have I the intention to do so. I'm just calling out the people who say "this is entertaining gameplay".

 

[Stigbob]

I am not, nor have I the intention to do so. I'm just calling out the people who say "this is entertaining gameplay".

Unless you've done it you won't know.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I am not, nor have I the intention to do so. I'm just calling out the people who say "this is entertaining gameplay".

Unless you've done it you won't know.

This is one of those areas where Elite is almost unique. Some people say that having real-world Netflix as an optional requirement is a downside. To me it's a plus. It actually adds to the realism, because if I were making an actual Hutton run in an actual Python then you bet I'd have Galnetflix running on a display. In fact it would be awesome - 90 minutes where I don't have to do much other than keep half an eye on the scanner while I catch up with series 3 of 'Sidewinder Lives' or 'Housewives Of Wolf 25'.

'Entertainment' does not have to equal 'Thrill A Minute'.

 

[Lestat]

This is one of those areas where Elite is almost unique. Some people say that having real-world Netflix as a requirement is a downside. To me it's a plus. It actually adds to the realism, because if I were making an actual Hutton run in an actual Python then you bet I'd have Galnetflix running on a display. In fact it would be awesome - 90 minutes where I don't have to do much other than keep half an eye on the scanner while I catch up with series 3 of 'Sidewinder Lives' or 'Housewives Of Wolf 25'.

'Entertainment' does not have to equal 'Thrill A Minute'.

Or we have people who don't use common sense and do a little research and find out if a location that they are going to is too far or not and then they cry Netflix. Then come on here complaining because they did not do their due diligence and do their own research and whine how they have to supplement with net Netflix.

If you are flying to a station that too far for you. YOU only have your self to blame.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Or we have people who don't use common sense and do a little research and find out if a location that they are going to is too far or not and then they cry Netflix. Then come on here complaining because they did not do their due diligence and do their own research and whine how they have to supplement with net Netflix.

If you are flying to a station that too far for you. YOU only have your self to blame.

Yep, totally.

Now if you don't mind, GNN have a documentary on how we shouldn't trust some of the Engineers, especially Didi "Off Her " Vaderman...

 

[smiths121]

Well going to Hutton Orbital should never be done likely. If your objective is travelling to Hutton Orbital as some sort of challenge, excellent, if you are going there for a reason, such as a rare commodity excellent. I personally avoid missions that go to the system, but that would be a reason to go.

Pretty much any other reason is going to lead to tears! Unless you wany a background activity to a Netflix show I assume.
If you are roleplaying ...... just gm it.

The Thargoid War, fall of humanity, expeditions to the other sie of the galaxy, 90 minute supercruise ... its all optional content, I personally only do the stuff that entertains me, or is part of an objective I want (thinking certain materials prior to traders). I seriously think you are doing the game (and any game come to that) wrong if you do not live by that rule. Most people do not have endless hours of free time so maximise it.

Simon

 

[VR CMDR Novindus]

Or we have people who don't use common sense and do a little research and find out if a location that they are going to is too far or not and then they cry Netflix. Then come on here complaining because they did not do their due diligence and do their own research and whine how they have to supplement with net Netflix.

If you are flying to a station that too far for you. YOU only have your self to blame.

Or we have people who want to be able to travel to all parts of the game world whilst having what they perceive as an engaging experience, and interact with all parts of the game in an enjoyable way.

The suggestion “don’t play that part of the game if you don’t like it” in response to a suggestion to change that part of the game, is essentially trolling.

Pointing out potential problems specifically related to a suggestion on the other hand, is completely valid. Coming up with solutions to the problems you perceive is even better.

Other useless comments are statements such as “Frontier are never going to do it, so don’t bother making a case”, “Elite is not that kind of game”, and “go play another game”. It’s tiring and toxic to be honest.

 

[Stigbob]

This is one of those areas where Elite is almost unique. Some people say that having real-world Netflix as an optional requirement is a downside. To me it's a plus. It actually adds to the realism, because if I were making an actual Hutton run in an actual Python then you bet I'd have Galnetflix running on a display. In fact it would be awesome - 90 minutes where I don't have to do much other than keep half an eye on the scanner while I catch up with series 3 of 'Sidewinder Lives' or 'Housewives Of Wolf 25'.

'Entertainment' does not have to equal 'Thrill A Minute'.

Try the BBC's infinite monkey cage podcast on radio 4 as in flight listening. Professor Brian Cox going "eeeeh isn't science grand" just seems to fit like a glove.