David Braben will answer your questions at 4PM GMT/UTC

[EAGLE 5]

Hi David,

I'd like to expand a bit my original question and hopefully this gains more traction.. Elite Dangerous developed indefinitely or finite timeline and on to Elite 5? In other words how far can you see the Cobra engine being developed before needing a replacement and will the replacement be the basis for Elite 5?

I know a lot of people are wondering about this too..

Again thanks for the great memories!!!

 

[David Braben]

Seconded.
I like to play the old Elite games from time to time, and I was hoping I could do the same with E for years to come even after eventually the servers go down by whatever reason.
Even if FD could make a statement promising to release the server code (or even a binary) to the public in the event of the servers going down indefinitely for any reason, that would be good enough for many of us! Is that even worth hoping for?

Having said all this, thanks for taking the time to talk to us and thanks for making the game possible at all!

Cheers!

Chalito

We have no intention of taking the servers down, but I understand what you are getting at. We plan to archive the game from time to time (ie matching client and servers and game world state), and would release such an archive if the servers were to come down. That would also address the issue of how you preserve an online game for the future, from the whole 'retro' perspective.

 

[SpionKop]

What quarter do you expect the first DLC to ship?

 

[jadefriendly]

Why is the offline (as opposed to single player, which I understand) mode so important to you?

For me personally it's not about the multiplayer - but about SAVE GAMES.

Roguelike / 1-shot play is fine for some games, but not long term rpg sims. Imagine spending weeks building up something and then crashing during docking or a glitch / drop in connection / PC crash and losing everything? No save game to go back on...

Also, if the game is so vast and to be played over many years...what happens when your servers go down? remember Gamespy?

 

[TheStonefox]

You and Chris Roberts are my heroes!

I don't have any game specific questions because I think you'll make an awesome game as you always do.

I just wanted to say You and Chris Roberts are my programming heroes and good luck with the future of your games!

 

[Angus]

Hi David, would it be possible to have some small offline part of Elite Dangerous, like an unsupported demo, so that when the servers eventually go off, I will be able to show my grandchildren an aspect of the game and introduce them to the Milky Way via the Galactic map? All the best.

 

[Drexen]

Sorry for the repeat question but it does not seem to have been answered:

When exactly was the decision made to pull the offline mode?

Or, if you wish:

When was it known that it was impossible to provide an offline mode within your self-imposed timescale? I think we all know that the task was not impossible and that it is less a technical problem and more of a investment vs. reward decision.

 

[Cruel Coppinger]

Hi David

Now the elephant in the room has been addressed can you please comment on planned and or implemented improvements in the forthcoming beta and gamma, specifically the stuttering near planets, in game comms and netcode.

Thanks

 

[kastia]

Hi David,

Thanks for taking the time to pop into the forums Just wish I had had the chance to meet you when I came in for an interview back in 2012!

How soon after launch will we start seeing the Thargoids make an appearance? Any tidbits on what that interaction might be?

 

[noodle]

We have no intention of taking the servers down, but I understand what you are getting at. We plan to archive the game from time to time (ie matching client and servers and game world state), and would release such an archive if the servers were to come down. That would also address the issue of how you preserve an online game for the future, from the whole 'retro' perspective.

I'd like to hear more detail on this, but this is the reassurance a lot of us have been looking for I think. Thank you

 

[Nayzak]

Hey Commander Braben,

Does your commitment to the original Elite makes you guys limit your work to a certin limit? Does your creativity is somewhat constraint ?

I apologise for any gramatical errors.

 

[EAGLE 5]

We have no intention of taking the servers down, but I understand what you are getting at. We plan to archive the game from time to time (ie matching client and servers and game world state), and would release such an archive if the servers were to come down. That would also address the issue of how you preserve an online game for the future, from the whole 'retro' perspective.

BAM! there we have it ordering champagne for everyone now.

Thank You sir! honestly this was my only real concern with the game being online only. I know you just made a lot of people's day!

 

[Obsidian Ant]

Have you played the game? Why is the offline (as opposed to single player, which I understand) mode so important to you?

I'm sorry to jump in on this, but I hope I can throw a few answers in:

- Offline allows me to have a self-contained galaxy that is "just mine" - sounds selfish, but this is why I love games like Skyrim, Frontier: Elite 2 etc.
- Offline worlds mean I can leave the game world, and not play for a week or a month and come back knowing everything is as I left it.
- Offline worlds (from an emotional level) feel more 'vast' to me personally, because I know everything out there is untouched.
- An offline game is 'mine' forever, and I know I will still be able to play in it 30 years from now (just as I can with the original Elite).

All of the above are very important to me, and are why games like Skyrim and Frontier: Elite 2 are at the top of my favourite games of all time.

All that said - I very much love what we currently have with Elite...and I appreciate the work put into it.

 

[128bit]

Hi david sorry my english not good (p.s. hey i second time post this,someone delete my post)
1) IT's possible for the developer to create this in the elite game:
Each normal ship hav 1 emergency room ship,when a player it's attack by another player,and him is lose the battle and his ship still for explode ,
the player can VISUALIZE on the monitor of pc (RANDOMLY 1 time on 1000) a sequence random button\arrow\key
(But this not always happen! only 1 time on 1000 random not always)
At THIS POINT:
A) if push right the player not die but is SAFE from one EMERGENCY ROOM SHIP that can only SURF the galaxy, no weapon on it..,
but this emergency ship hav a special RADAR on this emergency room ship that can localize other emergency ship by other player (or npc),and if MEET another emergency ship they can MERGE one to each otther and become 1 normal ship whit the same size of other normal ship and 2 low profile weapon (little bit same vortron of the universe cartoon but only 2 ship not more than)
Like this see image http://i.imgur.com/wAAWAn4.jpg
B) If push wrong ship explode.

2) IT's possible for the developer to create this in the elite game:
Some place will do hardware malfunction\command to the ship that i "drive" in the space when i reach some space,but also make the game do this only RARE time,not more time... only can happen after 2 day i play the game,i drive the ship and if i go near some place the ship lose the command "hardware failure" so i can't drive the ship for a little time,or i lose the schiled or the use of the weapon and same this.. so for a little time can be 5 or 10 min.. i hav a "stall" situation and other ship can so create problem to me more than normal.. then after 5-10 min this situation finish and if no ship near me i safe,if ship near so i fight strong for beat they..

For example, make "DISO" planet is "Hardware malfunction" PLACE
So if i go to DISO planet,can happen 1 time of 1000 that my ship stop work for 2 minutes or 5 minutes... hardware malfunction.. same mmm black hole or something like this.

3)
It's possible also to release an original ELITE AMIGA 500 version for XBOXLIVE on XBOX360, becouse the XBOX360 controller also can use "CHATPAD" so i think is nice to play elite original on xbox360 not only elite dangerous but also ELITE old old on xbox360...

 

[Juniper]

Have you played the game? Why is the offline (as opposed to single player, which I understand) mode so important to you?

I'm going to let this guy answer it because he put it better than I ever could. But it's true, real, and touching.

Been told to post this here, fyi I'm not angry only regrets, but I'd like this post added to this big heap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do I want to play a game I own and have a right to play but through no fault of my own I sometimes can't?
Do I want to play a game with some corporate monstrosity looking over my shoulder watching my every move?
Do I want to play a game where I can be bullied or ripped off by some quick fingered 12 year old (either directly or indirectly)?
Do I want to play a game where arbitrary rules and conditions are injected into my world that will dictate my freedom to chose what I do and when I want to do it?

I am surprised just how strongly I feel about it, but as an 84er it can't be some sudden snap reaction.

Like many I've also thought long and hard about why I regret the sudden loss of Elite D offline and my reasons actually feel strangely deep and personal, almost spiritual you could say .

Call me mad (yes I'm mad) because I'm not even sure if my regrets are entirely rational:
~
I have regrets because I still think I look cool dancing to Spandau Ballet, but I secretly know I don't.
I have regrets because I still think it's great to have big hair, but when I'm honest, I know it's not.
I have regrets because I still find Blondie absolutely stunning but some now say she isn't.
I have regrets because I still believe I have no responsibilities, but the wife says I do.
I have regrets because I still think I'm young, but my kids keep saying I'm not.

I have regrets because I still hoped that I could be that geeky, sleep deprived teenager playing space games on my own late into the night in my own universe surrounded by a reality that only I commanded, no rules, that felt free from an awful, commercialised, bullying world, that was fresh and that as a young frustrated adult was the only true space in my life that was truly mine (all mine!) and the only place that at this point (or that point) in my life I could affect or influence in any meaningful way, it was my escape, it was selfish but it was mine and I was the only one watching and the only damn one in it.

So now 30 years later, I'd hoped, as an old(ish) man, when the discos over and younger one's gone, even after the lights and servers finally dim, that at least I'd be there sat, left all alone playing in the dark but as happy as Larry in my own bit of space, that I'd thought was all mine.

And now after this week I think that this my last little personal fantasy has gone too.

 

[Derek PhD Smart]

Early on it was communicated that one of the aspects of Elite Dangerous that would be executed would be the instant familiarity and recognize ability of each system (02:30). When entering a system we will instantly know where we are. From the color of the sun, the ambiance coming from the host planet itself, obviously there is the stations' design which is modular and should contribute to the uniqueness of every system according to the video.


There are different types of thrusters that also look different when installed making ships even of the same type different from the next in the video (04:12). The damage model where you can see the insides of ships through holes in the hull looks very very immersive (04:17).

Also scavenging in space graveyards looks very exciting in this video!!!!
These things are still in right? or have they ended up on the cutting room floor?

How many of the features from the DDF percentage wise have been implemented?

 

[Steve50]

We have no intention of taking the servers down, but I understand what you are getting at. We plan to archive the game from time to time (ie matching client and servers and game world state), and would release such an archive if the servers were to come down. That would also address the issue of how you preserve an online game for the future, from the whole 'retro' perspective.

Thank you, thank you! That's wonderful news!!

Right on Commander!

 

[Nikonthenet]

David, been having so much fun up till now! Can't wait for release and to see the roadmap for the future, +hopefully a few sneaky peeks this Saturday

My question: Are there Thargoids out there? I've made it my mission to seek them out, with extreme prejudice

 

[cherbert]

We have no intention of taking the servers down, but I understand what you are getting at. We plan to archive the game from time to time (ie matching client and servers and game world state), and would release such an archive if the servers were to come down. That would also address the issue of how you preserve an online game for the future, from the whole 'retro' perspective.

hallelujah!

This could have been said 3 days ago and could have saved a whole lot of bother.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

 

[Cmdr Snuffler]

Brown sauce or tomato ketchup?