Bringing immersion to the game

[Red_rust]

I thought i'd run the idea of implementing an ingame TV and radio function to our ships and media with you guys.

Right now federation space, imperial space and alliance space systems feel the same, alot of the background fluff is missing from the game, a TV and radio function would allow us to get a feel for the the major factions through their media, like their beliefs, political system etc...

Examples of ingame media include:

"Universe News Network" from starcraft 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlkAwH2UOuY

Corporate ads from borderlands 2 (you can hear it on the ingame radio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrjG1iwaelU

TV from GTA 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H-nybUZNJs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62BJ-sQ4rF0

Radio from GTA 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAmAnyTdXog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfMVmUuZK8I

It would be cool to listen to some conspiracy theorist talk about ingame events on the radio while you do trading between systems, each major power can also have their own state news network that broadcast propaganda as "news", corporations can also run ads trying to sell you ships and modules (and maybe some other stuff that you don't need).

Not all channel and forms of media would be accessible everywhere, for example, you wont get federation news network from imperial control system, some system that are opposed to capitalism may opted to block corporate ads, some system could also enforce media blackouts.

Alot of this is background stuff, I hope would bring some life to the game, and make it more immersive.

The media can also be used to broadcast community events, and perhaps the radio could be used to pick up alien communications if tuned to the right frequency.

 

[Guest 161958]

+1 it would be great.

 

[damon8r351]

When I played Far Cry 4, Rabi Ray Rana started to grate on my nerves. I actually looked forward to driving in the unliberated sections, because at least the radio would play something different. It would be great if it was an option that could be shut off, and if there was some variety to it.

Which leaves me to wonder, does the Elite universe have FTL communication? That was something I've never been clear, since a lot of sci fi I've read with FTL travel still didn't have FTL communication.

 

[DocLooshkin]

Which leaves me to wonder, does the Elite universe have FTL communication?

Hello, Damon.

The human population of ED are officially not supposed to have FTL comms - it was an explicit rule during development and at the start of the game. It made little sense, however - particularly in light of the fact that a handful of ships with A-rated scoops could provide endless relay functionality, with a delay of less than a minute. IIRC, real-world radiocommunications between Earth and Mars take longer than that.

Since the rule was created, several features that effectively ignore it (in concession to either gameplay needs or practicality for the developers) have been added to the game by FD themselves, so it's not clear if they want the rule to continue or if it's been silently abandoned.

 

[Red_rust]

Why can't there be FTL communications? That seems like an arbitrary limitation given the fact we and our ship are objects with mass that is capable of traveling FTL, yet communication signals with no mass can't?

Also, space trucking just won't feel right without a radio.