News Development Update - 8th Jan

[Philip Coutts]

This! Really is lacking in the game at the moment.

Less importantly, were there not transporters heading towards the planet in previous version? Would love to see that return. (Disclaimer - any bug fix / mechanic enhancement obviously comes before these little cosmetic tweaks)

I can't remember but there should be. Anything to add a bit of life to the galaxy. The planets look lovely but "dead" at the moment and the lighting and shuttles would add interest and eye candy. I'd also like more varied advertising, perhaps a holograph of upcoming ships to drum up some interest outside the stations. I also agree that they need to work on bugs etc as a priority but these little graphical twists could add a lot.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

This! Really is lacking in the game at the moment.

Less importantly, were there not transporters heading towards the planet in previous version? Would love to see that return. (Disclaimer - any bug fix / mechanic enhancement obviously comes before these little cosmetic tweaks)

Yeah, lights on planet surfaces was hinted since KS. However I guess for some reason it has been delayed. Fingers crossed this lands soon enough.

 

[Decept404]

Absolute number one request for me is wings and better multiplayer features. This game is a total pain in the butt to play with friends right now, which is kind of absurd. "Which resource extraction site are you at? I dunno, the one that was closest when i launched?" "Ok I'll meet you back at the station" *jumps to and back again* "Ok where are you." "Can't see you anywhere, can you see any ships?" "No" "Ok I'm shooting my beam laser now, can you see it?" "No" etc etc. It's just jesus christ, how did the game make it to release without basic squadrons?

 

[Brad Avidro]

Only just picked this up, (bin busy).
Thanks Michael great news

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

We'll need to look into that, but yes that would be something we'd want to avoid.

Michael

What about doubling saves for those applying for beta test? Let's say beta testers willing to accept loss of the day's play time...so backup their saves 1x 24 hours.

 

[Arubeto]

The list of features I hope are still planned and feasible for the near future are (in this order):

1. Transport service for ships between stations (in real time, no need to magically and instantaneously beam them over hundreds of light years)
2. Passenger transport missions with dedicated "cabin" modules, like described in the DDA (put those beautiful Orcas to a specific use!)
3. Wings
4. Android companion app

Some stuff I really hope to see but that might need a lot of work to implement :

1. persistent NPCs, like described in the DDA as well (I don't want to kill the same guy over and over and over - after dozens of other commanders have already killed him hundreds of times before me!)
2. interaction with slaves / passengers on your ship (as mission givers etc.) - right now they don't have any feature that distinguishes them from other cargo
3. characters / NPCs with faces and dialog options (even though I can image this might be difficult to do in a procedural way if one wants to keep the high graphic and immersion level of ED, it would give the game sooo much; someone already pointed out that Eve has a pretty advanced character builder, that - perhaps - could be used to randomly generate NPC characters)

 

[Grischu]

Mac release, until then, the apple is rotten

 

[NailZ]

Apple? What a waste of resources.

No reason for that mindset. I'm willing to bet Frontier (like most development houses) largely use a number of separate developer resources for Mac OS development anyway. Besides, more platforms = more players = more revenue = additional and continuing development of the overall game.

 

[Huros]

Michael, all this is wonderful stuff, but can you give some clarity if your boys and girls are working on the most important thing the game is lacking right now, the Fer De lance? and if so when do you foresee this vital addition being released?

I am sure for most this is the only reason to play the game; the ability to be never knowingly out gunned!

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

When/will we see Ironman mode?

Not sure, it's not on the immediate plan.l

A skeleton feature would have been acceptable and in line with the rest of the current state of the game.

• Flag on the commander
• Reset flag on death
• Additional rule on match making

Other changes (like manual ejector rather than auto) could have come later.

Have to say I am quite disappointed by this having campaigned so hard for it in the past.

 

[Slacker]

In my view it's the core game that now needs a solid 6 months work (to put it frankly, it needs to be brought up to real release level) this includes an overhaul and improvement to trading, bounty hunting, pirating, mining, exploration. All tied together by the mission system. All the 'careers' need to be made equally viable, varied and enjoyable.

Then you will have a very solid base to go forwards from. It's that sort of coherent vision I want to see in future announcements.

 

[deMangler]

A skeleton feature would have been acceptable and in line with the rest of the current state of the game.

• Flag on the commander
• Reset flag on death
• Additional rule on match making

Other changes (like manual ejector rather than auto) could have come later.

Have to say I am quite disappointed by this having campaigned so hard for it in the past.

Yes, A lot of work went into hammering out the details and getting the features balanced for Iron-Man. I was sure it was loved by the devs from the feedback they were giving, and it's consistency with the previous Elite games.
I am really going to have to adjust to this psychologically, to play a combat / risk heavy game where the only way to die is to commit suicide is not working for me. In all the previous Elite games if you did not eject, you died. And your life meant something as it could persist across sessions due to the groundbreaking save game feature introduced in the original. Getting escape capsules was an important, central feature of the previous games. Now, instead of being my go-to emotional involvement game ED has become my go-to casual game. Irony.
I am a grown up. I am coping...

 

[geeknurse]

The beta period is likely to be shorter than it was for PC as it's not beta testing the game so much as testing that platform. Currently there's no way to sign up for the beta unless you already have beta access, we might change that if there's sufficient demand for it.

Michael

Chances are that there are not so many Mac users among those having beta access. I am a Mac user and just decided a week before 16th of December to buy the game and play it using boot camp (using Windows 7 — 8 is a no-go). Most Mac users won't give themselves the Windows treatment.

 

[Tod]

Forget the Apps (well OK I would like android!) - but can we have the option to log into the web site and see our stats etc so Elite can take over all of our life, not just when we are at our gaming PC!?

 

[geeknurse]

Forget the Apps (well OK I would like android!) - but can we have the option to log into the web site and see our stats etc?

That'd be awesome! In responsive web design, please, so that apps would become superfluous.

 

[Matt168]

One little thing I'd love to see is the lights on the planet surfaces. Remember those lovely night time views of the planets with beautiful circular lighting for the empire and oh so boring and functional squares for the stinking feds........

That was one of my favourite pieces of concept art from any of the newsletters we've had. I suppose that ties in to the planetary landings to some extent and could imagine it being a beast to implement. I do think it would make the galaxy feel a much more vibrant place if it looked like people lived on planets.

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Forget the Apps (well OK I would like android!) - but can we have the option to log into the web site and see our stats etc so Elite can take over all of our life, not just when we are at our gaming PC!?

Really nice idea.

 

[Tar Stone]

Just spotted this thread, my enthusiasm has been somewhat renewed

- I'm hopeful that some NPC persistence is on the way, and that the USS mechanic is going to be revamped.
- I really hope that something along the lines of Kremmen's suggestions for making dangerous systems properly dangerous are coming. I think there are enough people wanting this that it warrants a comment from FD?
- Really really want the AI vsynch fix, this is a real pain for me
- Disappointed that ironman is pushed back, hoping this isn't cancelled

Thanks for posting Michael, this is finally something positive as the experience has waned for me since launch.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Now, instead of being my go-to emotional involvement game ED has become my go-to casual game. Irony.

I am a grown up. I am coping...

Indeed - games for myself grow tiresome after a while when the "shiny" wears off .. Permadeath / Hardcore / Ironman adds back that drama and keeps it there. Ah well, I wiped away my tears .. pulled up my big-boy pants .. and I am OK now

 

[ChavaiotH]

Jail. 2-3 real days.

 

[Patrick_68000]

Indeed, I got an email notification this morning that FD had posted 250K new sales since release, with profits of ~£2.5M. Not too shabby... projections of 30M by 2017 is a tad optimistic though.

30M is not sufficient for populate the galaxy