Modes Can we get more players into Open Play?

[jasonbarron]

Most (all?) games have an Easy/Normal/Hard mode, and ED is really no different in that regard. I vastly prefer a system similar to Dark Souls where you either make the grade, or you don't, but there it is. If given the choice to calibrate difficulty many players will choose the path of least resistance. In a multi-player game this makes no sense.

To answer the ages old question offered by the OP--the way to get more players in Open would be to either abolish group and solo and throw us all together in the same pool, or to make it far more rewarding in terms of financial/material gain to be in Open. Neither is going to happen.

 

[Lestenio]

Most (all?) games have an Easy/Normal/Hard mode, and ED is really no different in that regard. I vastly prefer a system similar to Dark Souls where you either make the grade, or you don't, but there it is. If given the choice to calibrate difficulty many players will choose the path of least resistance. In a multi-player game this makes no sense.

I only play single player games and never play on easy. I want a challenge from my game play. But my challenge has nothing to do with interacting with other players.

To answer the ages old question offered by the OP--the way to get more players in Open would be to either abolish group and solo and throw us all together in the same pool, or to make it far more rewarding in terms of financial/material gain to be in Open. Neither is going to happen.

That's one way. Wouldn't get me in open. It would just get me playing a different game

 

[jasonbarron]

I only play single player games and never play on easy. I want a challenge from my game play. But my challenge has nothing to do with interacting with other players.



That's one way. Wouldn't get me in open. It would just get me playing a different game

Sure, some dedicated anti-social types would no doubt drift away. No doubt. But on the other hand, players like myself who've finally tired of Fdev's fence straddling and overall lack of leadership regarding PvP issues (among other things) and left for greener pastures might be convinced to return, too. I have no doubt that this terrible design flaw is keeping some players from getting into ED, too, in the first place.

So, in other words: you wouldn't be missed, any more than I am now.

 

[sovapid]

I have no doubt that this terrible design flaw is keeping some players from getting into ED, too, in the first place.

Yeah, all my normal gaming friends who I started playing Elite with have quit because of these design choices.

And they think I'm nuts for still playing the game. At times, I think they are right.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Sure, some dedicated anti-social types would no doubt drift away. No doubt. But on the other hand, players like myself

who sounds so very social. I can tell you have the best interests of the community in mind

 

[Stigbob]

who sounds so very social. I can tell you have the best interests of the community in mind

I was going to ask for his stuff, but I've no idea where it's been.

 

[jasonbarron]

You couldn't handle my "stuff," Bob. But if you insist, I'll log back into the game to give it all to you personally

 

[Troy_McClure]

So, in other words: you wouldn't be missed, any more than I am now.

Don't you take my nightly tears for granted! I miss you...you big, butch, non-ironic-moustachioed, lumberjack Freddie Mercury melon-farmer, you! [yum] (eww - this emoji is just wrong, wrong, wrong - my apologies!)

Trolling or legitimately ripping the urine?...I just don't know the difference anymore.

 

[Lestenio]

Sure, some dedicated anti-social types would no doubt drift away. No doubt. But on the other hand, players like myself who've finally tired of Fdev's fence straddling and overall lack of leadership regarding PvP issues (among other things) and left for greener pastures might be convinced to return, too. I have no doubt that this terrible design flaw is keeping some players from getting into ED, too, in the first place.

So, in other words: you wouldn't be missed, any more than I am now.

None of us would be missed. But if you are FD, do you risk losing active playing customers in favour of people who might come back for a bit. Once someone leaves, I think they have gone

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

You couldn't handle my "stuff," Bob. But if you insist, I'll log back into the game to give it all to you personally

If you'd do that, I'd also log into the game for the first time in months.

I'm 2500LY north of :ia on a moon somewhere. Lets meet at :ia.

I'm the guy in the red T-6 by the way.

 

[jasonbarron]

None of us would be missed. But if you are FD, do you risk losing active playing customers in favour of people who might come back for a bit. Once someone leaves, I think they have gone

That emoji made me feel like this:

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?

 

[Stigbob]

You couldn't handle my "stuff," Bob. But if you insist, I'll log back into the game to give it all to you personally

Sounds like fun, fling a friend request my way. ED's the sort of game you come back to (or I do anyway).

 

[Bill Clement]

Sure, some dedicated anti-social types would no doubt drift away. No doubt. But on the other hand, players like myself who've finally tired of Fdev's fence straddling and overall lack of leadership regarding PvP issues (among other things) and left for greener pastures might be convinced to return, too. I have no doubt that this terrible design flaw is keeping some players from getting into ED, too, in the first place.

So, in other words: you wouldn't be missed, any more than I am now.

Perhaps, Jason, or perhaps not. But that's one huge gamble to take.

Right now open exists, you and I play in it. But so does the group option, which has the largest single 'faction' in sci-fi gaming history playing it. Mobius has more members than the entire present day Eve Online player base! I don't know how many of us regularly play in open, or how many in PGs, or how many in solo, but if I were DBOBE or FD I'd be extremely reluctant to throw that dice.

It's certainly possible that tons of players would come pouring in and the devs could create a PvP masterpiece with the increased funding. Huzza! [hotas]

It's more likely that far fewer dedicated, long term players would join the game than would leave if you force all the PGs and soloists to play victim for someone else's enjoyment. That's not just my opinion, it's a reasonable extrapolation based on what's already happened in numerous other titles all the way back to Ultima Online.
In games where there are options to play as something other than a player killer most people gravitate toward more constructive roles. Some of those will be white knights, standing up for newbs, some will be grey knights, bounty hunters, player factions and the like, while some will be non combatants.
When the knights can't protect the non combatants, the noncoms will get fed up being slaughtered for someone else's amusement and just stop playing. With no-one to protect, the knights will lose interest and stop playing. With only other player killers in the game, most PKs will leave. You can't mine salt from players of similar skill armed with equivalent weapons!

I don't want to see open banned, but tbh the game could probably survive losing it a lot better than it could losing either of the other modes. Elite has always been a single player game, the option to join some mates and play together in group is what FD push in their advertising campaigns. Open, on the other hand, just seems to be a concession to the popular notion of what a MMO should be. As far as I can see the only real advantage of playing in it is being able to talk tough on the forums...

 

[ALGOMATIC]

Perhaps, Jason, or perhaps not. But that's one huge gamble to take.

Right now open exists, you and I play in it. But so does the group option, which has the largest single 'faction' in sci-fi gaming history playing it. Mobius has more members than the entire present day Eve Online player base! I don't know how many of us regularly play in open, or how many in PGs, or how many in solo, but if I were DBOBE or FD I'd be extremely reluctant to throw that dice.

It's certainly possible that tons of players would come pouring in and the devs could create a PvP masterpiece with the increased funding. Huzza! [hotas]

It's more likely that far fewer dedicated, long term players would join the game than would leave if you force all the PGs and soloists to play victim for someone else's enjoyment. That's not just my opinion, it's a reasonable extrapolation based on what's already happened in numerous other titles all the way back to Ultima Online.
In games where there are options to play as something other than a player killer most people gravitate toward more constructive roles. Some of those will be white knights, standing up for newbs, some will be grey knights, bounty hunters, player factions and the like, while some will be non combatants.
When the knights can't protect the non combatants, the noncoms will get fed up being slaughtered for someone else's amusement and just stop playing. With no-one to protect, the knights will lose interest and stop playing. With only other player killers in the game, most PKs will leave. You can't mine salt from players of similar skill armed with equivalent weapons!

I don't want to see open banned, but tbh the game could probably survive losing it a lot better than it could losing either of the other modes. Elite has always been a single player game, the option to join some mates and play together in group is what FD push in their advertising campaigns. Open, on the other hand, just seems to be a concession to the popular notion of what a MMO should be. As far as I can see the only real advantage of playing in it is being able to talk tough on the forums...

I have been hearing this for months if not years " soon noone will plsy in open except PKs", couldn't be farther from the truth, open has abundance of cmdrs, go to maia or any PG, the stations are full, hollow squeres everywhere.

I dont know if Mobius is the same and dont care really, but please lets stop with the fake news of how open is a desert. The moment open becomes empty I will be the first to uninstall.

 

[verminstar]

I have been hearing this for months if not years " soon noone will plsy in open except PKs", couldn't be farther from the truth, open has abundance of cmdrs, go to maia or any PG, the stations are full, hollow squeres everywhere.

I dont know if Mobius is the same and dont care really, but please lets stop with the fake news of how open is a desert. The moment open becomes empty I will be the first to uninstall.

I dont think yer really understanding whats going on here...I cant speak fer others but heres the deal with me. I dont care how many play or dont play in open...I dont wanna see players leave because of it but quite frankly, Id rather it was them and not me. The whole point of playing in solo or in groups of trusted m8s only is that one simply doesnt care about your game...exactly the same sentiment you express about others ironically enough.

Yer problem isnt hostility towards open players...fun as it is winding them up sometimes...nah yer real issue is apathy which is a helluva lot harder to fix. The problems then arise when the chest thumpers try mining salt on the forums...hows that been going btw?

Anyway...if the population of open is so healthy, why are open players literally begging fer more players in open? Surely open is overcrowded already, literally bursting at the seams...right? Even if it was...why would we care? Hurrah fer open so can we now all agree like grown ups on what the original question was about?

 

[Stigbob]

I have been hearing this for months if not years " soon noone will plsy in open except PKs", couldn't be farther from the truth, open has abundance of cmdrs, go to maia or any PG, the stations are full, hollow squeres everywhere.

I dont know if Mobius is the same and dont care really, but please lets stop with the fake news of how open is a desert. The moment open becomes empty I will be the first to uninstall.

Bill's (eloquent and intelligent) post was about the potential counterproductive implications of ED theoretically becoming open only.

The only people claiming open is dead or dying tend to be PVP'ers.

"Fake news" indeed.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I have been hearing this for months if not years " soon noone will plsy in open except PKs", couldn't be farther from the truth, open has abundance of cmdrs, go to maia or any PG, the stations are full, hollow squeres everywhere.

That's great! Open does not need incentivizing, it has an abundance of CMDRs.

[/thread]

 

[Jockey79]

I have been hearing this for months if not years " soon noone will plsy in open except PKs", couldn't be farther from the truth, open has abundance of cmdrs, go to maia or any PG, the stations are full, hollow squeres everywhere.

I dont know if Mobius is the same and dont care really, but please lets stop with the fake news of how open is a desert. The moment open becomes empty I will be the first to uninstall.

So if Open isn't dying, then the whole premise from the PvP crowd to force people in to Open is just a massive lie.
Why do we keep getting PvPers demanding the rest of us be forced in front of their guns then?

Is Open dying or not?

 

[bootsam]

Can we not force all the pvp guys into their own PG and leave open for us co-operative and socially adept CMDR's? Then they can pew pew to their hearts content amongst each other whilst we merrily go about our business. Make it a kind of detention centre for PK's. Then their PG would be chock full of pew pew cmdrs and everyones happy.