2020: Do you think its going to be worth the wait?

[Tikanderoga]

ED has a lot of content, heck it has one of the biggest game worlds ever created. So the quantity of content isn't the problem, but the quality of the content. Elite lacks exciting (I mean really exciting, not FDev live-stream exciting) content. As you describend most is too static and predictable.

It sure is one of the biggest game worlds - But you can make it as big as you want, if there is nothing in it, then it's just a waste of space. 200 billion star systems, yet so little to do.

I was just thinking back to when Privateer was released. It had a fraction of Elite - yet the quality of the content seems superior to Elite now. Privateer has no legs, not atmospherics (yes, you can land on planets, fine) but it just has something different that Elite COULD have. You leave the ship, you visit the bar, you can talk to people, and it's not just one text wall after the other. And there is a story too that you can follow if you want to, and it's a good one.
So really, we have this amazing world that we can delve into... just to come back up saying: Where's the meat?

 

[sandkid]

It sure is one of the biggest game worlds - But you can make it as big as you want, if there is nothing in it, then it's just a waste of space. 200 billion star systems, yet so little to do.

I was just thinking back to when Privateer was released. It had a fraction of Elite - yet the quality of the content seems superior to Elite now. Privateer has no legs, not atmospherics (yes, you can land on planets, fine) but it just has something different that Elite COULD have. You leave the ship, you visit the bar, you can talk to people, and it's not just one text wall after the other. And there is a story too that you can follow if you want to, and it's a good one.
So really, we have this amazing world that we can delve into... just to come back up saying: Where's the meat?

Simply agreeing with an additional point...

No Man's Sky has 15 quadrillion systems.
Not planets.
Systems.

A massive, randomly generated world - even with infinite assets - fails to meet the basic tenet of world building: interactivity.
A man can be contained to a single blue marble in a massive galaxy, and yet that blue marble has enough 'content' on it to justify cuts in funding to NASA.
Food for thought.

 

[Dutchman141]

It sure is one of the biggest game worlds - But you can make it as big as you want, if there is nothing in it, then it's just a waste of space. 200 billion star systems, yet so little to do.

I was just thinking back to when Privateer was released. It had a fraction of Elite - yet the quality of the content seems superior to Elite now. Privateer has no legs, not atmospherics (yes, you can land on planets, fine) but it just has something different that Elite COULD have. You leave the ship, you visit the bar, you can talk to people, and it's not just one text wall after the other. And there is a story too that you can follow if you want to, and it's a good one.
So really, we have this amazing world that we can delve into... just to come back up saying: Where's the meat?

You sir need a good look at Starpoint Gemini 3 by LGM that's going to be released this year.
You'll find many similarities to all those things you just mentioned about Privateer.
I realy like the Starpoint games but this one is going to be much more first person.
For me personally this could become a nice alternative to ED, especially when 2020 flops.

As far as your reasoning regarding ED, I agree, quantity over quality.

 

[Tikanderoga]

You sir need a good look at Starpoint Gemini 3 by LGM that's going to be released this year.
You'll find many similarities to all those things you just mentioned about Privateer.
I realy like the Starpoint games but this one is going to be much more first person.

It's on my watch/wish list already.

For me personally this could become a nice alternative to ED, especially when 2020 flops.

Funny how it's almost expected to happen... When and not IF.

 

[Hooplah]

Players who enjoy the game and feel that updates improve it will like 2020.
Those who feel the game is lacking and updates makes it less entertaining will not like 2020.
Others in the "middle" could go either way.

The question for me is will 2020 just be more refinements or a serious edition such as atmospheric
landings with cities on the planets including earth, landing at stations on the moon etc. Adding ships
as in the Imperial Explorer or Panther Clipper would help. More missions like photo reconnaissance
and bombing raids. Maybe get around to a cloaking device and military ship upgrades after reaching
a required rank in the Federation or Empire. Having access to Thargoid weapons would be fun. Lots
of directions to consider and I didn't even mention space legs.

 

[Captain Willard]

Space legs are a must now. Most every successful game is some type of 1st person shooter. Add this element into Elite and you have a winner, I suspect.

1st person shooter? Hopefully not. Lets hope that aspect is never written in.

 

[B1rdy]

1st person shooter? Hopefully not. Lets hope that aspect is never written in.

Then what do you expect? Now we can look, scan and shoot. But on foot you would rather limit the possibilities even more? I don't think ED should become a walking simulator just for the sake of it. People often describe how cool it would be to be able to go into a bar in order to get missions. Yes, that might sounds immersive at first, but doing it every single time for accepting and completing missions doesn't sound fun to me.
I am glad that FDev already confirmed that space legs are mandatory to have a real purpose regarding game mechanics and they are not going to implement such a feature only for the looks.

 

[VR Golgot]

Unknown. I'm cautiously optimistic that it'll be an improved delivery compared to seasons. But will it be 'worth' the extended downtime? Suit our own preferences etc? Build on existing scaffolding in a satisfying way? Who knows

Some points in its favour though:

• The 2020 Dev Run: As Big As The Launch Run (?)

And if it is Legs, as the leak suggests, there are least some signs of prep:

• One Foot In The Game [Legs Assets & Design Decisions]

 

[Barking_Mad]

I'd prefare any 2D retro space shooter over ELite at the moment.

Here you go.

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

I'm not so sure. What ever may be coming next year, I am concerned that the break in content will see a lot of players leave but not return. Even if its the best content update ever made, players move on, loose interest. I feel I am there myself right now, without any desire to play the current build, but also no desire to wait with 'baited breath' for Frontier to say something (ANYTHING) about what is coming. I remember seeing this video from PoE devs on the frequency of updates and the impact on player retention. Despite being a different genre I see the same risks for ED too, compounded further by the lack of communication to the player base.

Maybe I am the exception feeling this way? While I certainly will not say I will never return, I also see no reason to return. None at all. If the speculation of the next update being space legs is true too then I am even less excited about the future of ED. Game needs content not legs, but I digress... conversations seem stagnant on the forums as there is nothing really to discuss these days (outside of cheaters it seems), friends have all stopped playing etc.. nothing to really look forward to to get me back in the cockpit, and I really want to get back in. I've already taken a reasonable break from the game this year, so for me its definitely not burnout. Maybe its just the end of the road for me, being I have got a few thousand hours into the game I am far from bitter about any of this, but regardless still clamor for more as I don't want the ED experience to end.

AD

I think FDev's strategy is not to keep older players playing -thinking they will come back in the 'new era'-, rather get new players on board.
Given the update cycles this seems to be a reasonable decision, I think for new payers this is a fantastic game, while for you and me that's it.

I have given up on this game for many reasons, so I have no expectations. I will follow the news as unfortunately there are no other comparable games that offer this experience, but I definitely won't preorder it.

I am slightly bitter because I think this game is truly a gem that appears badly mistreated by the devs.

 

[sandkid]

I think FDev's strategy is not to keep older players playing -thinking they will come back in the 'new era'-, rather get new players on board.
Given the update cycles this seems to be a reasonable decision, I think for new payers this is a fantastic game, while for you and me that's it.

I have given up on this game for many reasons, so I have no expectations. I will follow the news as unfortunately there are no other comparable games that offer this experience, but I definitely won't preorder it.

I am slightly bitter because I think this game is truly a gem that appears badly mistreated by the devs.

I hate to agree with this, but I fear you're right - the problem is it's a helacious gamble. A lot can happen between now and Q3 or Q4 of next year. Including the release of new simulators, or just the stabilization and improvement of existing ones. I don't expect Star Citizen to suddenly 'work' between now and then (honestly, I'd be even less surprised if it flat out crumbled under its own weight), but the point still stands that going into 'maintenance mode' is highly risky. What's more, that influx of new players has to generate enough revenue in the absence (or significant reduction) of the current player base and has to last until 2020.

Even with all that Elite has accomplished since launch - and that is a lot, to be fair - I'd argue the ratio of new players that stick to those who visit then leave will still be too low to make this strategy a good one. I just don't think the game has enough in it now to tie folks over, even new ones, for over a year. Anyone doing half-ass research before buying will also be dissuaded from buying in unless they run more sales (which I assume they will) as opposed to simply 'waiting to see'.

But, in this age of paid ads on the front page of Steam or Playstation Store or what have you...If they build something worthwhile, they could very quickly recapture an audience (even if it isn't the one currently here) and continue on without so much a nod to those of us wallowing in boredom and expectation right now. I know this much: I will likely not buy an expansion until after its release to see how this community reacts to it. The problem with 'game-changing' releases or expansions - if you flop it, I know you're not going to be making it worthwhile for months while you fix it. This just serves to push the game even further from my mind, schedule, and therefore, wallet.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Then what do you expect? Now we can look, scan and shoot. But on foot you would rather limit the possibilities even more? I don't think ED should become a walking simulator just for the sake of it.

I think the poster is hoping that you can do more than just shoot. Its the other way round to what you are suggesting. They don't want it limited to just a First Person Shooter, more of a first person perspective expansion where shooting is one of the options, not the only option (I could be wrong though).

People often describe how cool it would be to be able to go into a bar in order to get missions. Yes, that might sounds immersive at first, but doing it every single time for accepting and completing missions doesn't sound fun to me.

Depends on how it's implemented. If these missions give more options to what you can on the mission board, then that could be worth doing. Obviously you wouldn't need to use those missions every time, but the option would be there if you so wish. They won't be mandatory as this will be a buyable expansion.

I am glad that FDev already confirmed that space legs are mandatory to have a real purpose regarding game mechanics and they are not going to implement such a feature only for the looks.

Same here. I seen no point in wondering around my ship or wondering around a station for no reason. I have no issues walking/floating to my SRV or Fighter (if that option is available) or exploring alien ruins, boarding derelict ships for mission objectives, doing ship repairs, infiltrating bases and at the odd time some shooting too or chasing someone through a station or some other activity in a station.

Just making it a shooter will remove those options.

 

[babelfisch]

A gentleman walks but never runs.
Chuck Norris never waits but allows the world to catch up.

Don't know if that makes any sense but it's the best answer I can give you.

 

[The Replicated Man]

Yeah I am looking forward to the 2020 update. Till then I will continue to make my own content and try and help others get into PvP and theory crafting.

 

[Mangal Oemie]

I reckon whether thinking it is worth the wait is the wrong way to look at it. I'm not waiting, I am playing.

Doesn't help that at least one part of the main headline features ( spacelegs ) are of zero interest to me, so my expectations for 2020 are low. But as long as it still allows me to play BGS, I don't think I care either way.

 

[Mangal Oemie]

I'm actually hoping 'space legs' and a 1st person shooter element are implemented at the next update. This will radically alter Elite - especially if it permits walking around stations, allowing players to interact 'face-to-face', etc. (as well as meet NPC characters on stations - authority contacts, etc.). The types of missions this could potentially allow would also be good.

If 'space legs' don't come next, then I think that's the end for Elite: Dangerous. Atmospheric planets won't be enough after a two year wait.

If FPS becomes a key part of the game that can't be avoided I am probably out.

I am in this game to fly space ships, and can't stand FPS games.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

If FPS becomes a key part of the game that can't be avoided I am probably out.

I am in this game to fly space ships, and can't stand FPS games.

If FDev stay true to form, there'll be some Engineers you can't unlock without doing spacelegs activities. Hopefully they'll only unlock spacelegs-relevant upgrades, but you never know.

 

[HairballHacker]

2020: Do you think its going to be worth the wait?

No idea. But I sure hope so.

 

[Urbanski101]

No, I do not.

 

[Cervantes01]

FD have a history of over promising and under delivering, so I'm not going to think on it. I'll just keep on enjoying myself blazing my own trail until then.