A few questions before I buy

[Slade]

I have not been a serious Elite player since 1984 when I was in grade school. My buddies and I spent many a long night playing on my Commodore 64 and using the awesome device that you held to the television copy protection scheme since then I have played all of the major MMOs, especially the space based one, EVE.

I am getting ready to buy the Premium Beta version and have a few questions. I may think of more but these are what I want to know so far:

1. Is there Avatar Creation? Do we need to make a portrait of ourselves, etc?
2. Is game ownership account based? If so, how many characters are allowed per account?
3. What is the naming convention like? "Is Commander part of the name and we must choose a first and last name?
4. Can I redownload the game as much as I want? Can I install it on all of my PCs?
5. Is there walking around the station/ship? EVE spent a great deal of time on this much to the dismay of many people.
6. Is there landing on planets?

Thanks!!!

 

[Sanderson]

I have not been a serious Elite player since 1984 when I was in grade school. My buddies and I spent many a long night playing on my Commodore 64 and using the awesome device that you held to the television copy protection scheme since then I have played all of the major MMOs, especially the space based one, EVE.

I am getting ready to buy the Premium Beta version and have a few questions. I may think of more but these are what I want to know so far:

1. Is there Avatar Creation? Do we need to make a portrait of ourselves, etc?
2. Is game ownership account based? If so, how many characters are allowed per account?
3. What is the naming convention like? "Is Commander part of the name and we must choose a first and last name?
4. Can I redownload the game as much as I want? Can I install it on all of my PCs?
5. Is there walking around the station/ship? EVE spent a great deal of time on this much to the dismay of many people.
6. Is there landing on planets?

Thanks!!!

I'll answer what I can, veterans will chime in shortly, maybe while I'm two finger typing.

1. Not yet but, I believe it's planned for a later DLC kinda thing.
2. Yes, One that I know of. May change?
3. IDK but that's a good questionI have multiple PC's and haven't thought of that, thanks for asking.
4. Not yet. It's coming, maybe in a future expansion or DLC.
5. See #4

 

[Hellhawk666]

1. Is there Avatar Creation? Do we need to make a portrait of ourselves, etc?
2. Is game ownership account based? If so, how many characters are allowed per account?
3. What is the naming convention like? "Is Commander part of the name and we must choose a first and last name?
4. Can I redownload the game as much as I want? Can I install it on all of my PCs?
5. Is there walking around the station/ship? EVE spent a great deal of time on this much to the dismay of many people.
6. Is there landing on planets?

Thanks!!!

1. Not yet - one day perhaps as part of the FP expansion? Unconfirmed.
2. Unconfirmed, but 3 is often mentioned
3. "Commander" is the title all players have. Your avatar name can be anything else, with certain restrictions. Forename + family name if desired.
4. Yes, but only one copy is playable at a time. This is the current arrangement, may change.
5. Not yet - planned for a major expansion later. This is a confirmed intention.
6. Same as point 5

As regards points 5 & 6, there is mild disagreement in the community as to how much these are wanted. Some are very happy for the game to be just flying and docking with stations where the pilot never leaves the cockpit. The majority (I believe) do want FP content and seamless planetary landings. David Braben has said many times that this will come, but his major concern is that it won't be pointless content, that there will be rich and convincing exteriors to explore and interact with, and that FP activity will enrich gameplay and not just be tacked on as window dressing.

 

[Slade]

Thank you for the replies. I for one do not really care about walking around unless there is a point to it. My EVE account is never used for walking If there was a good reason to walk around, I would certainly like it.

I think now I just want to focus on the naming question: Is only one name required? Like you do not HAVE to choose a first and last name, or more names..? Like you can be Commander John (without a last name)?

 

[Hellhawk666]

Thank you for the replies. I for one do not really care about walking around unless there is a point to it. My EVE account is never used for walking If there was a good reason to walk around, I would certainly like it.

I think now I just want to focus on the naming question: Is only one name required? Like you do not HAVE to choose a first and last name, or more names..? Like you can be Commander John (without a last name)?

Yes





//

 

[Severian]

...I for one do not really care about walking around unless there is a point to it. My EVE account is never used for walking If there was a good reason to walk around, I would certainly like it...

I've heard/read Mr. Braben state pretty much the same. Wandering about is all very nice, but you need gameplay to make it interesting or it's pointless. So it's pretty much a given that when it does appear, you will have good/fun reasons to do it.

 

[Sanderson]

Thank you for the replies. I for one do not really care about walking around unless there is a point to it. My EVE account is never used for walking If there was a good reason to walk around, I would certainly like it.

I think now I just want to focus on the naming question: Is only one name required? Like you do not HAVE to choose a first and last name, or more names..? Like you can be Commander John (without a last name)?

Yup, all start with commander I think but, otherwise your free within reason to use any name.

 

[Aleksej]

Here are the quotes:

Chris:
If so, My question is... How many of the features discussed in the original kickstarter videos will be present / achievable in Elite:dangerous. And which feature(s) are you and the team most looking forward to?

David Braben: I haven't gone through them again recently, but I think just about all of them will be present at release, with the exception of the elements we have called out for post release - like walking around ship interiors, landing on planet surfaces, big-game hunting etc, which we do intend to do, in time. I am most looking forwards to exploration, and encountering another player a thousand light years from Earth.

So definitely this should be added in the expansion.

 

[Sandmann]

I think now I just want to focus on the naming question: Is only one name required? Like you do not HAVE to choose a first and last name, or more names..? Like you can be Commander John (without a last name)?

Everyone gets the rank "Commander" (Cmdr) automatically, you just choose the name. You can be Cmdr Tom, Cmdr Jones, or Cmdr Tom Algernon Jones the Third. You can't use a military rank or title that might be used in-game (eg: you cant be Cmdr Tom Jones the Elite, Cmdr Major Tom, or Cmdr General Disaster. We do have a Cmdr Kremmen but you couldn't use Cmdr Captain Kremmen), you cant use obscenities (eg: Cmdr Jones the Camel Fu**er), and you can't use anything already "reserved" by the game or historically connected to it (eg: Jameson, Braben, Lave, Anaconda etc). Your name must also be unique, we don't want 18 Cmdr Tom's!

I suggest that famous names such as Cmdr Bond, Cmdr Solo, Cmdr Kirk and so on should probably be avoided too, if only because they demonstrate a lack of imagination and creativity (though copyright might apply too). Other than that you're free to ask for any name you like and see if it gets approved.

 

[Aleksej]

Everyone gets the rank "Commander" (Cmdr) automatically, you just choose the name. You can be Cmdr Tom, Cmdr Jones, or Cmdr Tom Algernon Jones the Third. You can't use a military rank or title that might be used in-game (eg: you cant be Cmdr Tom Jones the Elite, Cmdr Major Tom, or Cmdr General Disaster. We do have a Cmdr Kremmen but you couldn't use Cmdr Captain Kremmen), you cant use obscenities (eg: Cmdr Jones the Camel Fu**er), and you can't use anything already "reserved" by the game or historically connected to it (eg: Jameson, Braben, Lave, Anaconda etc). Your name must also be unique, we don't want 18 Cmdr Tom's!

I suggest that famous names such as Cmdr Bond, Cmdr Solo, Cmdr Kirk and so on should probably be avoided too, if only because they demonstrate a lack of imagination and creativity (though copyright might apply too). Other than that you're free to ask for any name you like and see if it gets approved.

However, this should not be confused as in-game ranking such as dangerous, deadly, elite.

 

[Sanderson]

I used my real first and last name. It's the only real way to be different I mean, I am the pilot after all, sound effects and all!

 

[Bromley86]

Yeah, I'm contemplating a name change from my handle to my name.

 

[Slade]

I thought of another that may be obvious, but I have to ask:

Is there an in-game chat window like other MMO's where we can type and talk to other players in the galaxy, group, etc?

 

[Sir.Tj]

I thought of another that may be obvious, but I have to ask:

Is there an in-game chat window like other MMO's where we can type and talk to other players in the galaxy, group, etc?

Not yet, but if you have a look in the DDF Archive there is a thread on communications.

 

[Mazhurg]

Just for your info, I hope that you realize that in this case, beta is really beta (as in testing only parts of the game and not a preview like many other so called "betas"?

 

[CmdrBond]

I have not been a serious Elite player since 1984 when I was in grade school. My buddies and I spent many a long night playing on my Commodore 64 and using the awesome device that you held to the television copy protection scheme since then I have played all of the major MMOs, especially the space based one, EVE.

I am getting ready to buy the Premium Beta version and have a few questions. I may think of more but these are what I want to know so far:

1. Is there Avatar Creation? Do we need to make a portrait of ourselves, etc?
2. Is game ownership account based? If so, how many characters are allowed per account?
3. What is the naming convention like? "Is Commander part of the name and we must choose a first and last name?
4. Can I redownload the game as much as I want? Can I install it on all of my PCs?
5. Is there walking around the station/ship? EVE spent a great deal of time on this much to the dismay of many people.
6. Is there landing on planets?

Thanks!!!

Most of this has been answered adequately, but I wanted to pick out specifically point #4

• Can I redownload the game as much as I want? Can I install it on all of my PCs?

The answer to this is YES.

Once you have your account you can re-download the game as many times as you like, to as many machines as you like and to as many operating systems as you like (Windows to start with, Mac is coming and possibly even linux)

So if you are a Mac fan, but want to demonstrate the game to your friends - you could download onto THEIR windows PC.

There is NO Digital Rights Management.

The ONLY restriction is that you can only log into your account from 1 machine at a time. If you want to log in on a different machine you MUST log out of any other machine.

 

[danskmacabre]

The ONLY restriction is that you can only log into your account from 1 machine at a time. If you want to log in on a different machine you MUST log out of any other machine.

Do I HAVE to be logged in to play if I'm only interested in SP play?
Meaning, must I always be online and logged in to play ED?

 

[Cody]

Do I HAVE to be logged in to play if I'm only interested in SP play?
Meaning, must I always be online and logged in to play ED?

No, you should be able to play SP completely offline (except perhaps for a one-off authentication log-in).
However, an offline character cannot be switched over to online play (or vice versa, I'd think).

 

[Asp Explorer]

The ONLY restriction is that you can only log into your account from 1 machine at a time. If you want to log in on a different machine you MUST log out of any other machine.

<cough> that's not quite true at the moment.

There's currently two of me at Chango

Well, there was until someone decided to test shooting at me while I was testing logging

I've had up to five at once, but I seriously expect this to be curtailed very soon.

 

[Slade]

I bought the Premium Beta version and it is downloading right now.

Is there a built-in screen shot method? The way some games save a jpg or png file of the screen when you press Print Screen.