Are you planning to 'explore' the Q1 Beyond Beta?

[MrFailfactory]

Atmospheric worlds -if done right- are much-much more complex than airless worlds, I think those are at least two years away. My bet is that first gas giants will be opened up.

I think the wait will pay off, but I'm also sure people disappointed with Horizons will be disappointed with atmospheric worlds too.

Wouldn't it be incredible if everything short of Earth-likes opened up as part of the Q4 update, with the gas giants and their associated gameplay being paid content between now and then?

I think you are right regarding Earth-likes being at least two years away, but I think there is a reasonable chance that the rest could unlock this year.

Riôt

 

[Henkka77]

Well, as i am already on expedition when the beta launches, surely im going to land on the closest landable planet. And while there i will check few other planets also.

DECE for sure will get interesting after the Q1 update..

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

"Cloud cities" floating in the upper atmospheres of gas-giant worlds would be cool and doable since the "surface" of a gas-giant world could still be kept locked away from humans by immense pressures and gravities. Solves some of those problems. o7

Indeed, gas giants mean the clouds and atmoshohere must be done right with a an exclusion zone instead of a detailed, wind-swept landscape.

I am rarely in level flight approaching a planetary city, I usually approach very steep, 55-60 degrees Glide, straight down on final approach and these turbulences are pushing my ship around even when I am flying straight down toward a city. No reason at all for thrusters to be pushing the ship around unless they are correcting for atmospheric effects "blowing" the ship around. o7

I think it's more like you not standing still, but constantly adjusting by not having perfect equilibrium.

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

Wouldn't it be incredible if everything short of Earth-likes opened up as part of the Q4 update, with the gas giants and their associated gameplay being paid content between now and then?

I think you are right regarding Earth-likes being at least two years away, but I think there is a reasonable chance that the rest could unlock this year.

Riôt

To be honest, I hope Earth-like won't be opened up ever, as it cannot be done right, at level we expect from Elite. Believable procedural alien life is impossible.
I'd bet gas giants will be opened up by early 2019, then simple dry planets like Mars. I think we'll see continous improvements on airless worlds as well, perhaps stuff like lava worlds.

But all these in a believable way is a lot of work, so something has to give.

 

[Han Zulu]

Well, as i am already on expedition when the beta launches, surely im going to land on the closest landable planet. And while there i will check few other planets also.

DECE for sure will get interesting after the Q1 update..

Just a thought though, the announcement says, "Chapter 1 also includes the first of the planetary visual improvements coming as part of the Beyond series of updates (with more surface level improvements coming later in the year) bringing a new vibrancy to the Elite Dangerous galaxy. " Which I interpret as mostly changes to the system map and the aerial view of planets will change, but not a lot on the actual planet when you're landing.

 

[frostypaw]

I think when most CMDRs talk about wanting atmospheric planets they mean planets where they can get out of their ships and walk around without a spacesuit, warm planets with biospheres, liquid water, plants, animals and other life-forms.

I think you're right and it's a huge problem facing the devs because

To be honest, I hope Earth-like won't be opened up ever, as it cannot be done right, at level we expect from Elite. Believable procedural alien life is impossible.

The "I wanna hunt" crowd aren't going to be happy until it's Avatar levels of stuff auto-generated for every earth-like. Their expectation is beyond reason to start with

 

[Mengy]

Just a thought though, the announcement says, "Chapter 1 also includes the first of the planetary visual improvements coming as part of the Beyond series of updates (with more surface level improvements coming later in the year) bringing a new vibrancy to the Elite Dangerous galaxy. " Which I interpret as mostly changes to the system map and the aerial view of planets will change, but not a lot on the actual planet when you're landing.

The Q1 update brings color back to the galaxy, but the Q4 update is slated to have a lot more planetary surface improvements too. Honestly it sounds like the Q4 update will do even more to improve the planets than the Q1 patch will.

 

[Han Zulu]

The Q1 update brings color back to the galaxy, but the Q4 update is slated to have a lot more planetary surface improvements too. Honestly it sounds like the Q4 update will do even more to improve the planets than the Q1 patch will.

Yeah. I read it as Q1 will have some/few/minor updates and fixes to the visual, and the real change will happen in Q4.

 

[ITZC0ATL]

Yeah. I read it as Q1 will have some/few/minor updates and fixes to the visual, and the real change will happen in Q4.

Even the screenshots shown so far seem to have a few terrain improvements, if only minor. At any rate it'll be nice to see surface colour change on different parts of the planet and see the transition on the ground.

To the OP, I generally don't play much in the betas as I have too little time to play my main as it is but I'll definitely be checking out the new planetary updates. And if they remove rank/cost restrictions enough, I'll probably self-destruct myself back to the bubble after checking out some planetary changes to fly the Cutter for a bit - just for fun