EDIT: As usual not that clear. Engaged means actively interested, active in the community etc, over an above just playing.
The thought has crossed my mind a few times over the last month, but with the announcement that the next step in elite is over a year and a half away its worth a post.
Since beyond has finished, ive started to apply that same state to the perception of elite in general. This hasn't yet effected how i play it, but its interesting to have that subconscious impression of disengagement now that there's nothing in the future to aspire to. Is this just me or is anyone else feeling the same? Maybe there was something of value in always having something to look forward to as new content.
The extreme distance in time to the next update, well is something we can't do anything about, but it simply is not encouraging (in the literal sense). If you like elite, over the time you spend you develop a huge amount of goodwill towards the game and frontier, and it kinda seems like a waste to drop it cold like that.
I do accept that frontier is frontier, and there's nothing we're going to be able to communicate to change anything they do, as always, so as parting closure to this era, heading into the void, there's just 2 parting points i want to raise:
On goodwill and cosmetics
I've spent my fair share multiplied a few times over 3 accounts, and this news pretty much shuts it down. Goodwill unfortunately for me at least, is a huge component in my decision to actually purchase them. A real component of wanting to 'support' frontier... very specifically in return for regular updates to the game. Without this the goodwill there is gone. Sadly its needed, because the cosmetics have real issues that frontiers naive ignorance simply does not cover after the first few purchases. They are stupidly expensive for what you get, and there's anti consumer practice of no sharing over multiple accounts, and zero options in game to earn them. Behaviour like this in reality would get torn to shreds by the mainstream gaming community if elite was mainstream, and it really was the goodwill of frontiers support to the game that allowed these practices to pass. It was mutual respect i guess, and with no support their offering is gone.. implying the same in turn.
Lament for the Thargoids
One era is closed, and we're waiting for the next. What a shame about the thargoids. Admittedly i've been keeping some door open for that to actually go somewhere, but now we're moving on.. what a massive shame. I remember the community and myself electric with excitement when the first hyperdictions, barnacles and trailers came out. For something real and very interesting to come into elite, so much potential. The fact that they've settled on basically sandbox colouring, 2 dlc like missions + upgrades and pve combat content is such a deflation. Another case of frontier really having us, im sure everyone would have been lining up to buy thargoid balloons and showbags, but.. that's it? Fizzled? I like what's there, but what an immense waste at the same time. My "personal narrative" ends in this post
Anyways. I've still got a bunch of sandbox goals to get into so wont be leaving just yet, but its lukewarm now. A forum post full of legalese language with disclaimers to turn off expectations is.. not that inspiring.
ps. As an inverse to the above, a bit of cooling off may be just the right thing.. forgetting about the game and community and just focusing on being in your ship again is another alternative. There's nothing to care or talk about, okay, lets just get back in the spaceship!
EDIT: Also frontier just put Obsidian Ant and all those content creators (except the rp guys) out of business.
The thought has crossed my mind a few times over the last month, but with the announcement that the next step in elite is over a year and a half away its worth a post.
Since beyond has finished, ive started to apply that same state to the perception of elite in general. This hasn't yet effected how i play it, but its interesting to have that subconscious impression of disengagement now that there's nothing in the future to aspire to. Is this just me or is anyone else feeling the same? Maybe there was something of value in always having something to look forward to as new content.
The extreme distance in time to the next update, well is something we can't do anything about, but it simply is not encouraging (in the literal sense). If you like elite, over the time you spend you develop a huge amount of goodwill towards the game and frontier, and it kinda seems like a waste to drop it cold like that.
I do accept that frontier is frontier, and there's nothing we're going to be able to communicate to change anything they do, as always, so as parting closure to this era, heading into the void, there's just 2 parting points i want to raise:
On goodwill and cosmetics
I've spent my fair share multiplied a few times over 3 accounts, and this news pretty much shuts it down. Goodwill unfortunately for me at least, is a huge component in my decision to actually purchase them. A real component of wanting to 'support' frontier... very specifically in return for regular updates to the game. Without this the goodwill there is gone. Sadly its needed, because the cosmetics have real issues that frontiers naive ignorance simply does not cover after the first few purchases. They are stupidly expensive for what you get, and there's anti consumer practice of no sharing over multiple accounts, and zero options in game to earn them. Behaviour like this in reality would get torn to shreds by the mainstream gaming community if elite was mainstream, and it really was the goodwill of frontiers support to the game that allowed these practices to pass. It was mutual respect i guess, and with no support their offering is gone.. implying the same in turn.
Lament for the Thargoids
One era is closed, and we're waiting for the next. What a shame about the thargoids. Admittedly i've been keeping some door open for that to actually go somewhere, but now we're moving on.. what a massive shame. I remember the community and myself electric with excitement when the first hyperdictions, barnacles and trailers came out. For something real and very interesting to come into elite, so much potential. The fact that they've settled on basically sandbox colouring, 2 dlc like missions + upgrades and pve combat content is such a deflation. Another case of frontier really having us, im sure everyone would have been lining up to buy thargoid balloons and showbags, but.. that's it? Fizzled? I like what's there, but what an immense waste at the same time. My "personal narrative" ends in this post
Anyways. I've still got a bunch of sandbox goals to get into so wont be leaving just yet, but its lukewarm now. A forum post full of legalese language with disclaimers to turn off expectations is.. not that inspiring.
ps. As an inverse to the above, a bit of cooling off may be just the right thing.. forgetting about the game and community and just focusing on being in your ship again is another alternative. There's nothing to care or talk about, okay, lets just get back in the spaceship!
EDIT: Also frontier just put Obsidian Ant and all those content creators (except the rp guys) out of business.
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