97% of Viewers (Players?) Want Ship Interiors!

[Valorin]

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Nearly seven thousand votes on a community poll on YouTube (so far). Sure, YouTube polls aren't scientific and the audience certainly won't be 100% representative of the entire playerbase.

However, it's likely that ~6693 people out of ~6900 gives good margin for error to confidently say that; "Most players want to see ship interiors added to the game at some point."


EDIT: Follow up poll:

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And 12 thousand players gathered for Distant Worlds 2 and we still get pew pew first.
Which I guess is also a reason why we don't get ship interiors. Gameplay associated with it is harder to put into the "sphere of combat".

I see boarding parties coming but combat gameplay associated with that is maybe not worth the time it takes to create interiors for all ships.
And I think that's exactly what they were looking at: how much combat gameplay could we get from building this or that?

Ship interiors would be great for a lot of other kinds of gameplay though, but given the gameplay focus of the game over the recent years, I really don't see that coming.

 

[Stigbob]

Ship interiors wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around inside our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.

Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

 

[Eraden]

Ship interiors wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around inside our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.

Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

Umm, please speak for yourself. I know that for me, I would enjoy strolling around inside my ship over and over again. I did that in SWTOR and it never got old for me. I realize I might not be in the majority here in terms of how one would react to ship interiors and thus how I would respond to such an addition should not be considered universal. By the same token, you shouldn't claim to speak for the rest of us (well, at least not for me).

 

[Valorin]

Ship interiors wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around inside our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.

Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

Engineering.
EVA gameplay.
Maintenance and doing repairs.
Different stations and tools used there.
Crew gameplay where people actually have different tasks.
Using the coffee machine.
Modifying, calibrating, changing around ship configuration by removing panels and messing around with tech.
Boarding and piracy.
Rescue missions where you have to enter a powered down ship.
Scavenging where you have to enter a powered down ship and steal all the stuff without destabilizing the derelict.
Meeting Inara in the shuttle bay.

Gameplay has to be created around such things. As long as it's all pointing and shooting, sure, there's not much to do.

 

[Skizomeuh]

Ship interiors wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around inside our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.

Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

I second that.

For me ship interiors should get made with the "wander inside wreckage or other ship states" point of view first. Basically EVA should get added, then similar features like what we have in Odyssey settlements and POI for ships innards.

That obviously brings ultimately (optional) owned ship interior de facto, but the feature shouldn't revolve around "our own living space with barely nothing to do".

I'd add that I'm totally against magical gravity and walking while ship is moving at crazy speeds. We should be forbidden to sit up if the ship is moving. If it's standing still sure we then could be able to move, with magboot system but also in 6DOF.

 

[zimms]

Walking around wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.
Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

Earth-like worlds wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around an ELW once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.
Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

EVA in space wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all float around our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.
Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

I think Frontier should stop development on Elite. They've clearly reached the gameplay ceiling.

 

[LeoBartlet]

Walking around wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.
Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

Earth-like worlds wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around an ELW once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.
Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

EVA in space wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all float around our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.
Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

I think Frontier should stop development on Elite. They've clearly reached the gameplay ceiling.

Oh bless thats adorable.

 

[Viajero]

Ship interiors wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around inside our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.

Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

Indeed. I also suspect that if FDEV is considering such a DLC I would imagine that all zero g related game mechanics, zero g motion, EVA activities etc, would be included as part of it aswell, not just ship interiors per se.

If, big if, FDEV is indeed considering that kind of DLC there is not much point in spending resources now in ship interiors just so to have a stroll now.

 

[lysan]

Ship interiors wouldn't add anything unless there's something to do. We all take a stroll around inside our ships once then never do it again until there's actually a purpose to it.

Nice idea and I get the attraction but it's not exactly going to add much game wise.

Well with a caveat that FDEV could implement EVA in EDO where you can exit your ship to get to a dead floating ship in space think freighter to cut your way in and scavenging the abandoned vessel, not that I’m holding my breath, still it’s possible.

 

[askavir]

Well with a caveat that FDEV could implement EVA in EDO where you can exit your ship to get to a dead floating ship in space think freighter to cut your way in and scavenging the abandoned vessel, not that I’m holding my breath, still it’s possible.

That's the thing, to get inside the abandoned freighter (say for instance a Type-7) to scavenge it, that freighter would need to have a "ship interior"

That's why ship interiors is a far bigger thing in terms of gameplay possibilities than many people seem to think (much more than just staring at corridors or going to the loo). Among many other possibilities, ship interiors is the base foundation for any decent EVA gameplay.

 

[lysan]

That's the thing, to get inside the abandoned freighter (say for instance a Type-7) to scavenge it, that freighter would need to have a "ship interior"

That's why ship interiors is a far bigger thing in terms of gameplay possibilities than many people seem to think (much more than just staring at corridors or going to the loo). Among many other possibilities, ship interiors is the base foundation for any decent EVA gameplay.

Could also be one of those mega freighters, does not have to be a player controllable ship.

 

[Drelthar]

Could also be one of those mega freighters, does not have to be a player controllable ship.

Yep, they could add docking ports (And breachs you"dock" at) then have you "Disembark" from your ship, then fade to black, now you're inside the derelict, using a bunch of the interiors assets they use on the ground bases.

 

[Skizomeuh]

That's exactly what I hope with "interiors", the same kind of things Odyssey settlements and POIs is bringing. It's less about my ship's "doll house" innards.

 

[Ethaidan]

Engineering.
- So, a complete revamp of how engineering works?

EVA gameplay.
- Does not require the interior of our ships, our ship exteriors already exist.

Maintenance and doing repairs.
- AMFU

Different stations and tools used there.
- For what? We can already do everything from the cockpit, or is this another engineering revamp?

Crew gameplay where people actually have different tasks.
- Cockpit.

Using the coffee machine.
- Cockpit.

Modifying, calibrating, changing around ship configuration by removing panels and messing around with tech.
- So, a complete revamp of how ship design & modules currently work?

Boarding and piracy.
- Does not require the interior of our ships.

Rescue missions where you have to enter a powered down ship.
- Does not require the interior of our ships.

Scavenging where you have to enter a powered down ship and steal all the stuff without destabilizing the derelict.
- Does not require the interior of our ships.

Meeting Inara in the shuttle bay.

Gameplay has to be created around such things. As long as it's all pointing and shooting, sure, there's not much to do.

So, interiors with a complete revamp of ship design/building and engineering... for one/two of your suggestions. The rest don't actually need our ship Interiors - these could be done with our existing ship exteriors (EVA, external repairs), or with a few (dozen) stock NPC ship Interiors that accommodate rescue, salvage, sabotage, etc. gameplay - which would be far easier than trying to unravel the thousands of potential different ship interiors that could exist. Unless people want a single interior design for each ship type with no access to cargo bays, passenger bays, etc. - just hallways. The number of potential optional module configurations across thirty ships is staggering.

 

[zimms]

[...] The number of potential optional module configurations across thirty ships is staggering.

They don't have to create a new model for every possible combination. What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Ethaidan]

They don't have to create a new model for every possible combination. What is that supposed to mean?

Really? So, a trade Cutter with the following optional internal modules: c6 shield, 2x c8 cargo racks, 2x c6 cargo racks, 1 c5 cargo rack, 1 c4 cargo rack, 1 c3 cargo rack, and 1 c1 autodock will have exactly the same interior as multirole Cutter with a c8 prismatic shield, c8 cargo rack, c6 fighter bay, c6 SRV hanger, c6 First class passenger cabin, c5 limpet controller, c5 fuel scoop, c4 refinery, c3 guardian shield re-enforcement, and a c1 DSS? How would that work? In trade cutter, you would have mostly cargo racks, but all of it would need to be accessible (for gameplay?), in the multirole, most of it would also need to be accessible, and separated (private First class cabins). What does a fuel scoop or GSR even look like in the place of cargo racks?

With just a few optional modules as examples... There are three different shield types, across 8 sizes - do they all look exactly the same? Are they accessible? If not, then hallways with panels will do for some parts of interiors. There are 3 different classes passenger cabins in multiple sizes - do they all look the same? Are they accessible (I hope so)? How does the interior change if I replace a c6 first class cabin (that needs a door) with a C6 hull reinforcement package? What does a c6 hull reinforcement even look like in that space formerly occupied by a passenger cabin?

 

[askavir]

Unless people want a single interior design for each ship type with no access to cargo bays, passenger bays, etc. - just hallways. The number of potential optional module configurations across thirty ships is staggering.

There is no need to represent module choices, one interior per ship is enough. Hallways, observation decks (in ships that have them), pilot room, SRV garage (if installed, closed bulkhead if not), SLF hangar (same), external hatch for EVA (and possibly dock with other ships in the future), and exit is fine. Perhaps lockers/storage room for managing / switching suits, weapons and other gear.

I don't really need to see the collector limpet controller, surface scanner or the shield generator etc.

Take a look at those fan made ship interiors on youtube that get posted here regularly, that would already be enough.

 

[Ethaidan]

There is no need to represent module choices, one interior per ship is enough. Hallways, observation decks (in ships that have them), pilot room, SRV garage (if installed, closed bulkhead if not), SLF hangar (same), external hatch for EVA (and possibly dock with other ships in the future), and exit is fine. Perhaps lockers/storage room for managing / switching suits, weapons and other gear.

I don't really need to see the collector limpet controller, surface scanner or the shield generator etc.

Take a look at those fan made ship interiors on youtube that get posted here regularly, that would already be enough.

Ok, but even with the SRV & SLF hangars vs closed bulkheads as the only optional modules that need access... you could fit 1 SLF bay and 7 SRV hangars into one cutter - or any combination of those 8 modules, which is going to need different hangar/closed bulkhead configurations. One of the FDev videos that mentioned ship interiors included being able to access and move around in the cargo areas to accomodate gameplay - so drop this concept then? We're back to 'what gameplay'? While 'repair gameplay' seems to come up, if we don't need access to any modules, then it's just hallway panels or cockpit stations - but why, I have an AMFU. Pretty much anything I have seen suggested can be accomodated from just having access to the cockpit - enjoying the view, different work stations (for whatever reason), locker/storage access for suits/tools, leaving the ship (fade to black). I've seen all of the fan videos showing intereiors, but no hint of gameplay - is it just about ambiance then? Getting up and walking the length of the hallway to exit the ship or get in an SRV/SLF?

 

[VR - wickfut]

Ship interiors should have the option to be fitted with holding cells to capture other players and take them off to distant planets to force them to mine for me.

 

[Valorin]

So, interiors with a complete revamp of ship design/building and engineering... for one/two of your suggestions. The rest don't actually need our ship Interiors - these could be done with our existing ship exteriors (EVA, external repairs), or with a few (dozen) stock NPC ship Interiors that accommodate rescue, salvage, sabotage, etc. gameplay - which would be far easier than trying to unravel the thousands of potential different ship interiors that could exist. Unless people want a single interior design for each ship type with no access to cargo bays, passenger bays, etc. - just hallways. The number of potential optional module configurations across thirty ships is staggering.

Well, actually I really never wanted space legs since I really enjoy space sim.
I would have loved Frontier to instead create more content for exploration and flying.
So when I got space legs anyway, I'd love to walk around my ship and do stuff there.
And yeah, everything so far can be done via cockpit. With "engineering" I meant engineering on the ship, like opening panels and tweaking the reactor while sitting in crawlspace.

The things I listed I wrote from the top of my head. With some time and people you can flesh out a lot of gameplay things that can be done inside ships.
The problem I see with interiors in general, is the number and size of our ships. A Cobra MK3 is already pretty big but I guess the interiors are manageable. Looking at really big ships, and we have 5 of those, interiors would be lots of work.
If we get ship interiors I guess there will be a few functional rooms, maybe cockpit/bridge? We'll see.

But you are right! We don't need legs at all! We can do everything from the cockpit and it would have been much better if Frontier would have invested the time in more scientific stuff, exploration gameplay and more planets to land on!!!