News Development Update - 15th Jan

[graham.reeds]

But you don't have to buy. Just wait for it to be released. If you want to test you have to purchase that privilege. I don't see the issue here.

 

[mikeharding1974]

My 2 cents

To all the wingers out there!

I feel obligated to write this in a coherent manner, but may fail. Late night and alcohol can do that to a bloke.
I am 40 years old, and the first computer I ever owned was an Amstrad CPC6128. Awesome for its time (you could even build a 500Mb Hard Drive for it).
One of the 1st games my Dad, Brother and I ever played on it was...... wait for it...... you guessed it....... ELITE!!!!!!!
I have also played very iteration of Elite since then, as well as games that came close ie Privateer etc

So... here is my 2 cents:

There are thousands of people out there who have a similar liking of this particular game.
We like it hard to dock - just like the original (and just so you know, i can fly into any station at almost full speed, LG down, and not even touch the sides..... even after a few)
We like the grind - just like the original - it makes you earn the rewards (Oh sweet Galactic Hyperspace Unit)
A lot of people WANT to pay to have the privilage of helping make sure this game is true to the original
And no, we do NOT require a auto pilot.

So in conclusion, if you don't like it, don't play it.

Thanks

 

[Googol]

... Paying for "beta access" to a game that has been officially released is very shady stuff -- I get that backers have beta access and this "beta pass" is a way for new consumers to test the new features, but I can't help but feel this is remarkably mercenary...

It (the "beta pass") offers newer players a choice, which is a good thing. Whether it will be good value is another matter and for individuals to decide.

 

[Soda Popinski]

Are there any plans to implement some kind of tracking or a tagging system for explorers?
Not being able to mark systems of interest or see where i have explored or not makes exploring very difficult.

Unfortunately as a bit of a completionist i cannot simply run out in a direction and scan as i go, i get caught up scanning everything in the area and then end up going round in circles. Ive tried writing it down but after you have a few hundred systems on the list all with similar names it becomes impossible to track.

I have an explorer asp kitted out sitting in dock waiting for updates to allow some form of tracking my exploration progress.. I hope i get to use it sometime

Can't you see in System View if the system has been mapped out or is empty / unknown?

 

[DCello]

I feel obligated to write this in a coherent manner, but may fail.

You did.

People really need to stop that little speech of "don't like, don't play it". If this ever happened, the game would lose a bunch of revenue and it would die again.
You need to learn to share the new toys with new people who weren't around in 84 -- we alone won't ever be able to keep the space sim alive.

 

[warlock]

To all the wingers out there!

I feel obligated to write this in a coherent manner, but may fail. Late night and alcohol can do that to a bloke.
I am 40 years old, and the first computer I ever owned was an Amstrad CPC6128. Awesome for its time (you could even build a 500Mb Hard Drive for it).
One of the 1st games my Dad, Brother and I ever played on it was...... wait for it...... you guessed it....... ELITE!!!!!!!
I have also played very iteration of Elite since then, as well as games that came close ie Privateer etc

So... here is my 2 cents:

There are thousands of people out there who have a similar liking of this particular game.
We like it hard to dock - just like the original (and just so you know, i can fly into any station at almost full speed, LG down, and not even touch the sides..... even after a few)
We like the grind - just like the original - it makes you earn the rewards (Oh sweet Galactic Hyperspace Unit)
A lot of people WANT to pay to have the privilage of helping make sure this game is true to the original
And no, we do NOT require a auto pilot.

So in conclusion, if you don't like it, don't play it.

Thanks

could not agree more

 

[Acidictadpole]

Depending on how the update Betas go in test, we expect them to be released to everyone a week or so after the Beta release.​

I wholeheartedly agree with how you're handling this. Great job.

 

[CMDR Ulander]

Anyone else with graphical issues since last update? Mission text under transactions panel has started to flicker/not show up, as well as the abandon and back buttons. In galaxy map system names are flickering showing only one letter or a few. Worked perfectly before update.

 

[Kars Vandor]

Two days ago, game would not launch. yesterday, launched and played fine. today will not launch, repeateable crash in EliteDangerous32.exe

 

[Darkrobe]

awesome, very cool!

Hi everyone,

Following up on my post last week I will provide more information on our process moving forwards and dates for the next two major releases. As you’ve seen since the game’s initial release we have issued a number of point updates, the latest being 1.05 this morning. These are typically restricted to urgent and/or low risk changes and will continue on a regular basis as they allow us to respond as we need to. These aren’t scheduled in the same way as the major updates, but will be ongoing.

More significant updates allow us to add new features and content (as well as sweeping up a host of fixes and tweaks that haven’t been deemed suitable for the intermediate point releases).

Currently beta testing will be available for those who already have beta access for the main game. For players participating in the beta tests there will be a separate mechanism for playing so testing does not affect your game and that you can continue to play the retail version as well. Options for players currently without beta access to be able to purchase beta access will be available. Details will be made available nearer the time.

Depending on how the update Betas go in test, we expect them to be released to everyone a week or so after the Beta release.​

As you all know we’re also working on paid expansions for the game and these will have their own beta periods as well, we’ll again make details available of how this will work as we near their release.

The first planned significant update will be 1.1 and will enter beta in the first week of February. We’ll be talking next week about how 1.1 will introduce a new way to collaborate with other players in the galaxy in preparation for 1.2’s major Wings update. We have some some good news for planners of long journeys - V1.1 will also have a significant increase in the maximum distance for the route planner. We’re currently looking at extending this to 1,000 light years!

Looking further ahead there will be a 1.2 update which is planned to enter beta testing in the first week of March. The focus for this update will be Wings and other multiplayer goodness. I’ll provide more detail in future updates.

Thanks

Michael

 

[Slacker]

So... here is my 2 cents:

There are thousands of people out there who have a similar liking of this particular game.
We like it hard to dock - just like the original (and just so you know, i can fly into any station at almost full speed, LG down, and not even touch the sides..... even after a few)
We like the grind - just like the original - it makes you earn the rewards (Oh sweet Galactic Hyperspace Unit)
A lot of people WANT to pay to have the privilage of helping make sure this game is true to the original
And no, we do NOT require a auto pilot.

That's cool and I'm glad you're enjoying it, I'm enjoying it too but with some different emphasis to you - I have no interest in docking for example, which is a boring pain to me. So I'm glad I have a docking computer, and I'd hope you wouldn't want it removed from the game - so we can both be happy. I certainly don't want a docking computer forced on you. So extrapolating further from that, why should you be bothered if others like me have extra bits and bobs that we'd like to have if it doesn't hurt the way you play the game? Autopilot, supercruise, tractor beam mining are some of the things I've seen mentioned that would improve some people's games without hurting your game play at all.

If I wanted to change your gameplay that would be wholly wrong so why would you wish to change or stop improvements to mine? I hope you don't.

Now where decisions effect us both (that's a big 'us' the whole community) *then* we can have a good civil argument about what the best route forward is.

(none of this is about the payment/beta thing which I see as pretty unimportant)

 

[herboren]

Hi everyone,

Following up on my post last week I will provide more information on our process moving forwards and dates for the next two major releases. As you’ve seen since the game’s initial release we have issued a number of point updates, the latest being 1.05 this morning. These are typically restricted to urgent and/or low risk changes and will continue on a regular basis as they allow us to respond as we need to. These aren’t scheduled in the same way as the major updates, but will be ongoing.

More significant updates allow us to add new features and content (as well as sweeping up a host of fixes and tweaks that haven’t been deemed suitable for the intermediate point releases).

Currently beta testing will be available for those who already have beta access for the main game. For players participating in the beta tests there will be a separate mechanism for playing so testing does not affect your game and that you can continue to play the retail version as well. Options for players currently without beta access to be able to purchase beta access will be available. Details will be made available nearer the time.

Depending on how the update Betas go in test, we expect them to be released to everyone a week or so after the Beta release.​

As you all know we’re also working on paid expansions for the game and these will have their own beta periods as well, we’ll again make details available of how this will work as we near their release.

The first planned significant update will be 1.1 and will enter beta in the first week of February. We’ll be talking next week about how 1.1 will introduce a new way to collaborate with other players in the galaxy in preparation for 1.2’s major Wings update. We have some some good news for planners of long journeys - V1.1 will also have a significant increase in the maximum distance for the route planner. We’re currently looking at extending this to 1,000 light years!

Looking further ahead there will be a 1.2 update which is planned to enter beta testing in the first week of March. The focus for this update will be Wings and other multiplayer goodness. I’ll provide more detail in future updates.

Thanks

Michael

please, will shared bountys be implemented or docked player trade, or is co-op just redundant?

 

[DPierre]

You need to post this sort of thing in the "Gameplay and Features" -> "Suggestions" subforum. Post #353 of one week's changelog is a great way to get your ideas lost forever.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'm new to these forums and just realized there was such a section. Reposting now

 

[DCello]

That's cool and I'm glad you're enjoying it, I'm enjoying it too but with some different emphasis to you - I have no interest in docking for example, which is a boring pain to me. So I'm glad I have a docking computer, and I'd hope you wouldn't want it removed from the game - so we can both be happy. I certainly don't want a docking computer forced on you. So extrapolating further from that, why should you be bothered if others like me have extra bits and bobs that we'd like to have if it doesn't hurt the way you play the game? Autopilot, supercruise, tractor beam mining are some of the things I've seen mentioned that would improve some people's games without hurting your game play at all.

If I wanted to change your gameplay that would be wholly wrong so why would you wish to change or stop improvements to mine? I hope you don't.

Now where decisions effect us both (that's a big 'us' the whole community) *then* we can have a good civil argument about what the best route forward is.

(none of this is about the payment/beta thing which I see as pretty unimportant)

My God, this is the first rational argument fueled by common sense I read all week! Can we have more people like you?

 

[ash73]

Depending on how the update Betas go in test, we expect them to be released to everyone a week or so after the Beta release.​

So it's not actually a beta test at all, because there's no time to collate feedback or resolve bug reports. Sounds more like paid for early access used as a binary acceptance test; if it fails (forum outcry) you re-plan.

 

[Nomadski]

I've been away for a few days so this is all new to me. I'm presuming those of us who Alpha tested will get access to the build betas? Has it been mentioned how it will be delivered, via a 3rd option in the launcher, or an entirely separate launcher?

 

[JeffRyan]

I perhaps should have explained more clearly, but it was late and I was going to bed. I don't think they should re-open these very short beta tests (suggested at a couple of weeks) for sale because for every person who appreciates it and would buy in:

3 would buy in and complain that they wouldn't have bought in if they'd known it was only a couple of weeks.
2 more would complain it's too expensive (whatever the price was).
4 more would complain bitterly in various media that it's just another money grab from dirty FD.

Frontier should avoid things like this just now with their reputation still smarting from Offlinegate.

Really REALLY not liking this idea. Why should we have to PAY you to HELP you? I know of no other game that does this. You limit the number of people that can test things, you divide your playerbase and not to mention, you just plain old screw your customers.

Seriously, this isn't like early access. Game is out. This is seriously, deeply concerning and makes me question supporting you and any future endeavors in the future.

1. Why the hell would I pay more money to play more half finished features? I bought retail and this is not a finished game. And now you want me to pay to be a beta tester! Pay your own damn staff.

2. 6 Months until wings are out????

3. When are you finishing the first Content patch (Release version 1) To hell with further paid expansions. You will not get another penny out of me until the game I bought is of merchantable quality.

Why I find the tone, way, and choice of words of that Moloney guy very inappropriate, I do agree with his point. Paying for "beta access" to a game that has been officially released is very shady stuff -- I get that backers have beta access and this "beta pass" is a way for new consumers to test the new features, but I can't help but feel this is remarkably mercenary. Every game out there on Steam allows you to test beta versions when they have one, and no one charges you for it. I bought the game after it was released, I paid more than some people who bought it in pre-order, and I have to pay *more* to test something that should either be done in-house or offered for free to all players who are interested? C'mon.

This "pay for beta" not only doesn't make sense anymore, but it's a prolongation of the Kickstarter way of developing that should be ditched by now.

However, I am aware that all this writing will change nothing. This practice will continue, and so I wash my hands.

This is sort of what I'm talking about. This line of raising funds really shouldn't be pursued because of reactions like this. There's already an odour hanging over FD, let's not add to it.

 

[DjParagon]

Hey guys, any idea if you're going to add paysafecard support to buy the game ?

Any info would be appreciated, thanks !

 

[DCello]

I've been away for a few days so this is all new to me. I'm presuming those of us who Alpha tested will get access to the build betas? Has it been mentioned how it will be delivered, via a 3rd option in the launcher, or an entirely separate launcher?

3rd option, most likely. And yes, you get access for free

 

[Nomadski]

3rd option, most likely. And yes, you get access for free

Good stuff. Will be quite exciting for later in the year / next new year when we get to mess with planetary landings!