Questions Regarding "Living Galaxy"

[Momoka Azuka]

Assuming it's because it's beta still and not necessarily needed for testing, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of life in space. I'm not really taking about NPC presence, but more variety content, I.E. ships, structures, traffic, life.

I've been hoping to see things like NPC controlled ships that do jobs we can't like massive construction yard type ships that move equipment from place to place, working on stations and building stations. Or small NPC shuttles going from stations to the planet's surface to give the sense that there is life on them. City lights for earth-like worlds with stations in orbit like Chango and Azeban. Refinery and research ships that aren't like the ships players can own that serve a single purpose. Massive structures In orbit around stations like Relay Towers or satellites. There should be things in space that do things that Players see but not necessarily interact with. Ships the size of the war ships but serve different purposes.

I do get that it's beta and that type of stuff doesn't need testing but my worry is that with release so close and there not even a hint at the Life of the galaxy actually is there that it actually is starting to worry me a little. Where is all the furniture in the house? I'm not saying put it in beta. Just give us an idea that there is furniture. A random satellite screenshot, a crane, a surface picture at night, something.

 

[flint read]

all really nice ideas and im in agreement on all those points +1

 

[Bob Fenner]

Whilst I agree in principle that some of these things would make the game more immersive I do worry that having too much in space would add to the already annoying issue of lag.

If Frontier can add some of these ideas without making the game any less playable then I would be happy to see it.

Space Taxi to where I parked my combat ship please......

 

[flint read]

Whilst I agree in principle that some of these things would make the game more immersive I do worry that having too much in space would add to the already annoying issue of lag.

If Frontier can add some of these ideas without making the game any less playable then I would be happy to see it.

Space Taxi to where I parked my combat ship please......

i hope soon we can share rides and pay each other so i could pick you up as a hitcher and take you out to your ship im my trusty type 6

 

[Momoka Azuka]

Whilst I agree in principle that some of these things would make the game more immersive I do worry that having too much in space would add to the already annoying issue of lag.

If Frontier can add some of these ideas without making the game any less playable then I would be happy to see it.

Space Taxi to where I parked my combat ship please......

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about clutter. I just mean it's hard to think that people are living in space and there's nothing in space to show that but a few stations and outpost per system. FD have said more than once they want the galaxy to feel alive. A living city is more than just a bunch of buildings, there's construction, traffic, things going on around in the background of a busy world. Yet right now it's more live the mountain village I just came home from in Japan. Beautiful but light traffic and quiet making it seemed empty.

Again I get that's not necessary for beta but for the full game, Known space especially in the core system needs more things going on than just players and NPCs flying around in the same ships.

 

[IAM GROOT]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about clutter. I just mean it's hard to think that people are living in space and there's nothing in space to show that but a few stations and outpost per system. FD have said more than once they want the galaxy to feel alive. A living city is more than just a bunch of buildings, there's construction, traffic, things going on around in the background of a busy world. Yet right now it's more live the mountain village I just came home from in Japan. Beautiful but light traffic and quiet making it seemed empty.

Again I get that's not necessary for beta but for the full game, Known space especially in the core system needs more things going on than just players and NPCs flying around in the same ships.

Totally agree, this must be being integrated in the gamma build. Secret outposts, PC pirate gangs controlling sectors of space, there's something big missing from the game at the moment and I think this is it. It all feels very scripted right now.

 

[Lobstris]

I'd like some comment from Frontier of the state of the background simulation, persistent NPCs and events systems, how they are going to handle stories/special missions for the players, and how enough are going to be generated to make at multiple-locations within the 100,000 or so human systems interesting. Essentially what we have at present is an 8x larger version of Elite 2: Frontier's galaxy, and 8x as empty. Frontier: First Encounters had the same galaxy, yet added interest with the Thargoid back story, including secrets, hidden systems, military bases, derelict satellites etc. At present E: D has none of this - it's just bare bones. I hope the game survives long enough to see flesh on them.

 

[Zephyriel]

I agree with OP and hope to see some of these ideas. I liked in X Rebirth the constant trafic near stations, made them look busy and full of people. The ED Universe feels like it's just made for fighter and trader pilots, with stations there for refill. At the moment it doesn't really feel believable.

 

[IAM GROOT]

As amazing as the visuals are it's going to get pretty boring pretty quick unless they bring it all to life, this is what in afraid of.

 

[Momoka Azuka]

I feel that with release this close we need to see something in the way of the living galaxy they keep taking about. I do get saving big surprises for the full release but I'm worried this current version isn't nearly enough to fulfill the universe they're trying to sell us. I just want information on the galaxy. FD is being a little too quiet about things now. Sure it's beautiful, sure I can go explore the wonders of the galaxy, but if the core systems are bland when I'm flying around them what's going to bake it believable? What's to make me come back from the frontier if the only difference to them and the edge of known space is more stations?

 

[Mucka]

I feel that with release this close we need to see something in the way of the living galaxy they keep taking about. I do get saving big surprises for the full release but I'm worried this current version isn't nearly enough to fulfill the universe they're trying to sell us. I just want information on the galaxy. FD is being a little too quiet about things now. Sure it's beautiful, sure I can go explore the wonders of the galaxy, but if the core systems are bland when I'm flying around them what's going to bake it believable? What's to make me come back from the frontier if the only difference to them and the edge of known space is more stations?

Yes space is empty and the interaction David has often talked up with a dynamic yet persistent universe with interactive NPCs etc is completely missing. There is nothing that pulls the player into the game world, every action seems alike a disconnected event and the only motivations are earning credits to upgrade to earn more credits cycle.
The game is wells short of being finished even for its gamma iteration which is obvious to all but the zealot fanboy.

That doesn't mean it is bad game, it isn't, it just needs more de velopment time than it is being given.

Yes we should be seeing the background simulation of planetary based space faring civilisation all around us on release but really there are probably a thousand aesthetic improvements and effects that need to be added like this that don't affect core gameplay.
What worries me is the game is a joyless experience currently, I can't even be bothered to play it until there is more content and proper events and interaction with a living galaxy that David has talked up in so many videos.
There are lots of missing features such as scavenging, player bases, linked jumps, NPC crew members, wingmen, artefacts and shipwrecks and salvage and other exploration content, planet atmospheres and weather systems, decent comms, fuel scooping gas giants, dynamic generated missions, dynamic factions and territory (Faction colonises newly discovered system) and just an endless list of stuff that should be gamma content that we haven't seen.
Then there are all the network code problems and bugs that need fixing.

We will just have to hope the devs put a lot of resources into the final build after release for some time instead of turning their attention to add ons which can make them money (That is the big worry for me)

 

[Loren Lovanchi]

Michael Brookes was saying not long ago that we only had the "house" in Beta, that they still have to "furnish it". Patience, fellow commanders!

 

[Soulstain]

But will they furnish it by Dec. 16? That is the concern. Why have we seen no video or pictures of the finished world a month before launch?

 

[Momoka Azuka]

Yes space is empty and the interaction David has often talked up with a dynamic yet persistent universe with interactive NPCs etc is completely missing. There is nothing that pulls the player into the game world, every action seems alike a disconnected event and the only motivations are earning credits to upgrade to earn more credits cycle.
The game is wells short of being finished even for its gamma iteration which is obvious to all but the zealot fanboy.

That doesn't mean it is bad game, it isn't, it just needs more de velopment time than it is being given.

Yes we should be seeing the background simulation of planetary based space faring civilisation all around us on release but really there are probably a thousand aesthetic improvements and effects that need to be added like this that don't affect core gameplay.
What worries me is the game is a joyless experience currently, I can't even be bothered to play it until there is more content and proper events and interaction with a living galaxy that David has talked up in so many videos.
There are lots of missing features such as scavenging, player bases, linked jumps, NPC crew members, wingmen, artefacts and shipwrecks and salvage and other exploration content, planet atmospheres and weather systems, decent comms, fuel scooping gas giants, dynamic generated missions, dynamic factions and territory (Faction colonises newly discovered system) and just an endless list of stuff that should be gamma content that we haven't seen.
Then there are all the network code problems and bugs that need fixing.

We will just have to hope the devs put a lot of resources into the final build after release for some time instead of turning their attention to add ons which can make them money (That is the big worry for me)

I never said the game was bad. Far from it actually. My post is focused on the emptiness in the universe so far. The ascetics of a living galaxy. It's odd to see a huge station in orbit but no signs of it being there for any reason other than it's there.

As for all the game mechanics still missing form beta that stuff is all still gameplay, which I'm not worried about. I think all that's coming. They've said it is and choose to believe them when they say so. My fear is all the gameplay is going to be taking place in a lifeless galaxy.

There's been no word on anything none gameplay related. And gamma is weeks away which is scary. Are there no research ships? are there no construction yards? are the only time we see city lights from planets is because the planetary landings are available? no radio beacons or satellites, no sign that the 'living galaxy' is actually being lived in?

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Michael Brookes was saying not long ago that we only had the "house" in Beta, that they still have to "furnish it". Patience, fellow commanders!

I'm well aware of that statement. Can't they show us a screenshot of something coming? What kind a furniture we talking about here is my question.

 

[Momoka Azuka]

After seeing the Sol system I feel as though someone needs to say something about the fact there's still no city lights on any of the planets. Earth of all places looks completely deserted. I'm starting to think we won't get anything I was expecting to see in the full game now as far as a living galaxy goes.

I just want to see light on the surface now. I don't even care about the other things I named before. Could Mr Brooks or someone just reassure me they'll be signs of life on a few of the earthlike worlds?

If not I'm switching to the explorer role as soon as I have a capable ship. I don't care so many of Sol's moons are missing or that Titan's not orange. If I fly over Florida at night and I can't see Miami's lights I don't want to be anywhere near the whole system. I'll fine an outpost on the outskirts and explore deep space.

Sorry if this seems like a rant. It truly isn't. I just want to feel like the game I always wanted won't disappoint me.