Don't make it too newb/noob/nub friendly.
- Thread starter h347h
- Start date
Lol - someone hasn't been watching the new starts subsection, or reading any of the 'I just bought it on Steam and it's broken' threads
And how would you know? Do you work for FDev and know something we don't?I mean the game is half a decade old now. Not exactly overflowing with new players. Kinda too little too late imho. Nothing against auto landing/docking or auto piloti modules. Just waiting for the auto fight combat module
I know it might sound strange, but maybe FDev makes decision based on some actual metrics? Like for example the number of new players?
The sales figures (i.e. the ones released to investors in the corporate reports which it would be a criminal offence to lie about) show about 750,000 base game sales a year for the last four years, with year 4 being slightly above the long-term average.I mean the game is half a decade old now. Not exactly overflowing with new players. Kinda too little too late imho. Nothing against auto landing/docking or auto piloti modules. Just waiting for the auto fight combat module
You could hypothesise that despite this fairly constant rate of sales over the last four years, nevertheless they've sold virtually none in the first third of 2019 ... but that would be an unusual sales trend, and it's more likely that they've sold closer to the 250,000 previously sold in other four month periods.
Some of these will be alt accounts for existing players, of course, rather than new players - the sales figures don't distinguish and it's probable that Frontier doesn't know for certain either - but Frontier presumably believe they're mostly new players (the progression curve of an alt should be pretty obviously different!) or they wouldn't be focusing on the new player experience.
One of the biggest complaints from 2 of my non space game friends has been the learning curve. Both needed hours of piloting help and mentoring over Discord to get into the game properly. All the beginner newbie stuff is great and I've had a play through on a 2nd account. We just need that end game multiplayer stuff now.
Hats off to FD for the work they've done on this.
Hats off to FD for the work they've done on this.
If only it would work. The supercruise assist teaches you to do things wrong, and the advanced docking computer flat out murders you
But generally it's ok, if fixed.
If you consider stats like the Xbox achievements and half the accounts never buying a new ship it should be pretty easy to see whether this update has been a success or not.
From a business perspective there is a cost (server time) to players staying a long time, and a cost (poor word of mouth) to players not making at least a bit of progress.
I remember starting the game myself and getting a Cobra was something I considered an achievement. Had I gone no further I'd have left the game with happy memories, recommending it as a good game. Later I achieved an Elite rank and that felt good, and so on. Players at those sort of playtime & experience could be an optimum to aim for.
Trolling.
The weird side-effect of being newbie friendly and fitting a supercruise assist and advanced docking computer to every new small ship is that veterans can get the modules for a fraction of their cost by buying a 'winder, stripping the flight assist modules off, then selling it again.
Advanced docking computer - 13500 cr
Supercruise assist - 9100 cr
One rebuy for my PvP Fer-de-Lance - 10.703.211 cr
I can't hear you over the clinking sound of me bathing in my billions of credits
hah, good point. I guess it's more something for someone getting babby's first medium shipAdvanced docking computer - 13500 cr
Supercruise assist - 9100 cr
One rebuy for my PvP Fer-de-Lance - 10.703.211 cr
I can't hear you over the clinking sound of me bathing in my billions of credits
edit: the only reason I looked was 'cause I wanted to check and make sure they hadn't done something dumb like make them sell at their full price. Imagine being able to buy a ship, sell all its parts individually, then sell the ship for a net profit!
Repped for that laughJust waiting for the auto fight combat module
It would be fun to watch !