News ANNOUNCING ELITE DANGEROUS: HORIZONS

[Jenner]

Exciting stuff! This is something I've been waiting for since the Kickstarter!

 

[M4MKey]

You don't need to buy it if you have the lifetime pass.

Michael

So can you confirm that any Premium beta backers will have this expansion ? Or is this "lifetime expansion" thing another thing ?
Because i've already gave 120€ to Frontier.

 

[Syax]

I have a notion that the Devs are reading this thread with a growing sense of dread...



Hmmmm....you haven't told her yet have you?

I will just bam....no, i haven't!
But getting back on to current topic, i still think it's good value for money when you consider other games out there and their pricing.

 

[Silektuo99]

Hmm. I guess I should be excited, but I really think the existing missions are barely passable and should have been 'trivial' to expand. That this hasn't happened yet, before a massive new expansion, really worries me. I want to feel like I'm a pilot flying around in a believable universe. Planetary landings aren't important for this (and Powerplay actually seems like a game tacked on top, so it even takes away from the sense of immersion). What I would like are: more space station variety, interesting missions that are a lot more complex and believable, more stuff to find in the universe, less arbitrary gamey gimmicks like USSes. It looks like Horizons is a distraction that removes yet more effort from making the main game (what I would consider) complete.

I believe they made some comments in the last newsletter (85?) regarding some changes coming to missions yet again.

 

[Zieman]

Mars = Airless, no ?

No.

Real life Mars has a thin atmosphere (but thick enough for aerobraking the probes sent to land there), and in E: D the planet is terraformed, with thick human-breathable atmosphere (Atmospheric Pressure: 2.30 Earth atmospheres).

 

[[VR] Frank_G]

Has anyone purchased the lifetime pass today and can confirm, that it contains downloads for PC and MAC? I cant find that information anywhere (the description says PC only, but those who purchased the season pass only confirmed, it contains PC and MAC downloads, while the description also says PC only).

 

[GibMeister]

Well, until I see gameplay footage and read more detail information, I'm keeping my expectations low...


If we look at the game mechanics in the existing core game we have lots of simplistic mini-games. What's to suggest Horizons will not be more of the same? We have Powerplay which IMHO is not only a mis-concieved design, it's a worryingly simplistic design with no attempt to deepen peoples gaming exerience, but simply re-offer the same limited mini-games. What's to suggest Horizons will not be more of the same?

So until I see or find out more of new mechanics offered in Horizons, I'll assume they are more mini-games bolted onto the side of more mini-games. Until I see otherwise, I will not expect a single sniff of anything deep enough to offer any emergent/deep gameplay mechanics.


I know this sounds a little cynical, but since the games release I've seen little if no sand added to the sandbox to improve core gameplay, which remains frustratingly simple IMHO. If the core game is like this, apples don't often fall far from the tree...

Fingers crossed I'm wrong, and we get wonderful new deep/broad gameplay and visuals... But I'm limiting my expectations based on current/previous experience at the moment.

Hmm, I agree, I need convincing of the following for starters....
1. Is PL part of Elite Dangerous? I mean can I pay for the expansion then fly around as normal in ED and decide to land on a planet? Or do I have to load the Horizons game to land on planets?
2. When I explore a planet I hope to God that the objects I can find including fortresses, treasure etc are NOT like USS!!!! And that mining isn't just a RES on a planet.....if this is the case count me out too!

 

[Dedhed]

Awesome. Step by step ED is becoming one of the coolest games ever. Glad FD is doing it in stages so as not to try to do too much at once and mess everything up. I really enjoy the game already and am very much looking forward to it's future.

 

[Zieman]

So can you confirm that any Premium beta backers will have this expansion ? Or is this "lifetime expansion" thing another thing ?
Because i've already gave 120€ to Frontier.

Lookee here:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=172167&page=30&p=2638699#post2638699

 

[Popov Le Magnifique]

I'll buy the expansion when it's on sale...Or when the expansion including Planetary Landing on planets with atmosphere gets released, as it will also include previous expansions I guess. I'm very disappointed.

 

[LukeDude759]

I never thought planetary landings would be free.

Actually, for new players, it essentially is free. From what I've heard, they pay the one fee of $60, which was the same amount as the standalone game before the expansion, and they get both the game and the expansion. I'm not saying I'm against paying more money to support Frontier, but if some people get it for free for no good reason while the rest of us have to pay for it, that's a bad business decision in my opinion.

 

[M4MKey]

So I have access to the beta of a DLC. Great ! But do I have also access to the final release of the DLC then ? Those answers by Frontier are so shady. Looks like some politicians...

 

[Jerakeen]

Seriously? 40 quid (or even 30 with the player discount) to drive around a lifeless planet?
I think I'll hold off on that for a while. Powerplay has broken the main game for me after several thousand hours of play so I think I'll wait and see what we actually get before I decide whether it's worth spending my hard earned cash on it.

 

[Zieman]

So I have access to the beta of a DLC. Great ! But do I have also access to the final release of the DLC then ? Those answers by Frontier are so shady. Looks like some politicians...

You gotta be kidding?

Premium Beta includes all lower level pledge rewards, like the "Digital Download Pack. This includes a single digital download of the game, and any expansions".

 

[Syax]

Well what the hell, i went and bought it. I understand where Gib is coming from, being dubious about buying it before seeing it. But if it turns out he is right then at least i can feel content that i helped back a UK software house that has already put a smile on my face. I just hope im not glued to a certain post apocalyptic title by the time is comes out lol

 

[jabokai]

I'm strongly considering the lifetime pass to lock in everything for the future.

You already have it. Read back, your question was answered.

 

[Trader38]

Exciting news so i rushed to the store and placed my pre-order, i'm surprised to find a download button next to Horizons. This appears to be a Launcher download but Horizons isn't available yet ? If i download it and it just gives me Elite Dangerous does that mean i currently own two copies of ED and if so, can i run both on my pc and thus have a 'second' character ?

 

[Syax]

You already have it. Read back, your question was answered.

Pre Pre backer? gets an auto lifetime pass i guess?

 

[jabokai]

Pre Pre backer? gets an auto lifetime pass i guess?

He was a Founder level, which was a Kickstarter thing and included the lifetime pass.

 

[nexxo]

My perspective is that buying all expansions since I bought the game will cost me a couple of nights out. Nights out I won't have if the money go to this obnoxious pretence of loyalty when it's nothing short of scam.
Oh, I got perspective enough, buddy. I just value my money more than most people willing to sink 400£ on a freaking incomplete game and promises.

So don't buy the expansions but enjoy your nights out instead! You had a year's fun for £35,-- but now you're ready to move on and have fun somewhere else. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.