Do you think an in game audio spectrograph should be included in 2.4?

[fennster]

Why are major story developments being locked behind out of game tools still?

All it's all good and clever, but how many non-forum users are (if they ever reached the alien base, find a UA and UP.) going to hear that audio clip and think to put it through a spectrograph in the first place?

 

[Schlack]

located at an engineer base or something? Would be a good way of integrating the out of game ARG type puzzles into the game.

 

[Leadfoot]

Why are major story developments being locked behind out of game tools still?

All it's all good and clever, but how many non-forum users are (if they ever reached the alien base, find a UA and UP.) going to hear that audio clip and think to put it through a spectrograph in the first place?

If they're going to include clues in the sound where you need a spectrograph (and not all of us have one), well, yeah, otherwise the only way you can get that clue is via the forums.

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

Let me guess - more things have been seen inside sound files...

Well done frontier - pander to the few once again.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Let me guess - more things have been seen inside sound files...

Well done frontier - pander to the few once again.

Are you having a bad day? You seem...irked.

Have a virtual hug: {{hug}}

 

[Zeeman]

I think any tool that is required to solve something in the game... Should also be in the game.

Z...

 

[Good Death]

That sounds like a wonderful idea Op.

 

[h347h]

If they're going to include clues in the sound where you need a spectrograph (and not all of us have one), well, yeah, otherwise the only way you can get that clue is via the forums.

You can use free online ones though or apps on your phone if you play on console.

 

[JesusRocks1988]

Absolutely, I'd love to see an in-game spectrograph to decode these clues. I wouldn't say located at an engineer's base, but taking the data you get somewhere and when you hand it in, you see the spectrograph come up on the screen, and you get a corrected image to view anytime you want in your messages panel - and make it so you can't delete it accidentally.

 

[Obsidian Ant]

If they're going to include clues in the sound where you need a spectrograph (and not all of us have one), well, yeah, otherwise the only way you can get that clue is via the forums.

It's an even bigger problem for players who have a PS4 or Xbox but no PC. Sure they can use a phone, but that if far from ideal.

 

[Scruffman]

There's no point creating an in-game tool that only a few people are going to use.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

It's an even bigger problem for players who have a PS4 or Xbox but no PC. Sure they can use a phone, but that if far from ideal.

If for no other reason than recording the sound you want to analyse is going to be extremely sub-optimal on a phone.

There's no point creating an in-game tool that only a few people are going to use.

More people would use it if it were in the game.

 

[Martian Successor]

It would be nice to be able to play the game in order to uncover the mysteries placed inside of the game, yes. Perhaps some kind of puzzle solving mini-game as long as you have the right equipment? Anything so long as it is kept inside the realm of the game and gives us mere mortals a method with which to 'turn the page' of the 'story'.

I got no problem with the funky cryptography maps being placed inside sound files, that's quite cool but then provide us a way to decipher such things inside the game please - maybe code in some cryptography software disguised as a special module/upgrade to your ship's computer. Otherwise it just feels like a bit of a cop out for a feature to exist only to cater to a sub-section within a sub-section of the player base that happens to know how to look for these things and then decrypt them, all done outside of the game.

 

[fennster]

There's no point creating an in-game tool that only a few people are going to use.

There's no point including ingame content only a few can solve.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Personally I think no for the same reason that group chat and other things shouldn't be introduced:

Because even if Frontier spent weeks on it the end result wouldn't be as good as what's already in use online.


Those that care enough will (and have) set up their own system or find one that works. Look at the Fuel Rats and other player groups. Frontier could put the Fuel Rats distress call in game, but that'd remove a lot of flexibility and effort and things that the FR have done over the past 2 years.
Frankly it'd be sub-paar to what already exists which leads to the question: Why bother? Especially with everything else there is that they could work on instead.



I can see why people want this but I don't think its the right way personally.

 

[Watcher]

I'm in two minds on this.

On one hand I strongly agree that you should be able understand and interpret in game content using in game tools. If you can only get clues using external tool that is a touch unfair on those people who don't have access to the appropriate software or hardware or the specific skills to use it. If I find something of interest first I'd be a touch miffed if I don't really stand a chance of doing anything with my discovery because of external limitations.

On the other hand it is kind of neat the sorts of efforts that go in to figuring stuff out, especially the community nature of this.

I'm not quite sure how FD can marry these things. Maybe some proper in game tools for capturing interesting audio, visuals (I'm thinking Guardian obelisk symbols here) or other data and then providing personal and communal tools for helping do stuff with that stuff. Since they are creating the assets in the first place perhaps having designated data packages we can play with is the way to go then some sort of ability to manipulate and combine things try and extract something interesting. It becomes like a large puzzle which you can try and solve by yourself or you can group with others. Have to figure out those grouping mechanics too of course...

Anyway, I like the content, access though, that's the thing.

 

[Scruffman]

More people would use it if it were in the game.

My point was that the majority of people aren't invested in the Unknown Probe/Artifact/Link sound-scanning stuff. The people who are invested in it are already using third-party programs to achieve their goal.

 

[Martian Successor]

There's no point creating an in-game tool that only a few people are going to use.

Then what's the point of creating an in-game mystery in the first place if no one can solve it using in-game means only?

Fennster said it much better than I:

There's no point including ingame content only a few can solve.

 

[Noctover]

I know what you mean. I'm kinda torn on the issue; on the one hand i think its very cool and clever using the whole spectograph thing, but again should a game be self-enclosed and not relying on 3rd party tools? I know some people are saying they could include the tool in game but lets be honest, if all of a sudden a spectograph turned up in the game people would have immediately known to check the probe sound with that rather than using their creativity.

Its a tough choice, i cant help but feel ED has been designed for the few to discover and the many to follow, for really big discoveries i guess there is no way around that, but i think they could create smaller discoveries and features.

For me, the coolest part about landing on some obscure moon in the middle of nowhere 15k from the bubble on an undiscovered moon and finding a huge canyon that got deeper and narrower felt awesome because i knew i was seeing part of the game no one had ever seen before, i discovered that myself.

Now that FD have clearly laid the groundwork for complexes and caves i'd love for those to be generated on planets and the chance to find really cool ones skyrimesc in the middle of nowhere.

Everyone wants to be the hero of their own game, that is kinda hard in ED so i share people frustrations but it is also symptom of the open world, sandbox MMOish nature of it.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

My point was that the majority of people aren't invested in the Unknown Probe/Artifact/Link sound-scanning stuff. The people who are invested in it are already using third-party programs to achieve their goal.

Ah, gotcha. Yes, the question would become "would there be enough new people using the tool to justify its creation". Plus, it rather leads to all puzzles in future revolving around the same solution mechanism.

Tricky one.