Elite boring after 30-60 hours? Get real.

[Toumal]

So, we all know Elite has a very solid base but needs a bit more meat, and the 1.1 patch is really just a (small) first step on what hopefully is a longer series of upgrades and additions to the game. So what if you've seen pretty much all there's to be seen, and get solid at the various things to do in the game in about 30-60 hours (give or take).

That means learning to fly, learning to dock and getting proficient at it, doing some exporing, doing some trading, doing some mining, doing some missions, buying a new ship or two, and perhaps even getting friendly with some of the factions. You'll find that yes, there's not much depth to it, but there's a variety of activities you can engage in. I'm not even talking about going hardcore eurotrucker in space or roleplaying there. Anything between 30-60 hours seems reasonable to me if you are willing to explore the various gameplay elements (instead of saying, "nah, I'm not even bothering with missions and such")

Elite is a mile wide and an inch deep, they say, 7/10 and such.

Really?

You have seen everything there is to see in Evolve in 1 hour, tops. You have a very small number of maps (and a ton of paid DLC) fueling a fun but ultimately very very short-lived multiplayer mode. The SP mode might as well not exist because it's really just a botmatch.

Evolve gets 8/10 on Gamespot.

Seriously? I don't think Elite is perfect. I am not entirely happy with it as it is right now, and I do hope 1.2 will seriously spruce up the missions and coop functionality. But even as it is now, Elite has so much more content and replayability than Evolve, it's dizzying. Elite may be a mile wide and an inch deep, but Evolve is an inch wide and an inch deep, with several millimeter-deep additional holes that were announced before the main game even, which unlock if you put in some extra coins.

If evolve is an 8/10, then Elite is a 9/10, it's as simple of that. And anyone complaining about the lack of depth I better not see playing Evolve, ever.


So do push FD to add more content and variety to the game, please. But stop the "mile wide inch deep" thing. Get real.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Knowing budget of Evolve PR Gamespot giving them 8 is a bit low

Seriously though, I think some people are just too hard to please and they are also very vocal. There are quite a bunch of people happy where game goes (while wanting MOAR of course ).

 

[RealNC]

The difference is that Evolve is fun to play because there's something to do in it.

In Elite there is nothing to do. At least nothing to do *that matters*. That is the problem. The only thing I can do in Elite is influence some random numbers for fake factions that I don't care about in the least.

PvP would be another option, but there's so much damn downtime involved, and most of the time someone runs away and you can't get a kill, that I don't bother anymore.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

The difference is that Evolve is fun to play because there's something to do in it.

In Elite there is nothing to do. At least nothing to do *that matters*. That is the problem.

Nothing you do in Evolve matters too if you look it that way. It's just a game. You quit and there's nothing left.

 

[BennyBoyW]

Nothing you do in Evolve matters too if you look it that way. It's just a game. You quit and there's nothing left.

This + 1

 

[RealNC]

Nothing you do in Evolve matters too if you look it that way. It's just a game. You quit and there's nothing left.

If that is your argument, then you're only making mine stronger by claiming that "fun" by feeling like actually achieving something, is irrelevant.

 

[Kramster]

With the exception of a few MMO's in the past, ED has held my attention for longer than any game in my library. I am hopeful for it's future even if things here are a bit rocky at the moment. I still think it is on the right track with a heck of a long way to go.
Had more than my monies worth

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

If that is your argument, then you're only making mine stronger by claiming that "fun" by feeling like actually achieving something, is irrelevant.

Not really. What I do in ED matters to me. I also contribute something in change. Systems aren't static, they change. People change too.

I understand where you coming from - this is classic AAA game development. Crunch momentary satisfaction and signify it to player. Some people just prefer it differently.

 

[Daffan]

So, we all know Elite has a very solid base but needs a bit more meat, and the 1.1 patch is really just a (small) first step on what hopefully is a longer series of upgrades and additions to the game. So what if you've seen pretty much all there's to be seen, and get solid at the various things to do in the game in about 30-60 hours (give or take).

That means learning to fly, learning to dock and getting proficient at it, doing some exporing, doing some trading, doing some mining, doing some missions, buying a new ship or two, and perhaps even getting friendly with some of the factions. You'll find that yes, there's not much depth to it, but there's a variety of activities you can engage in. I'm not even talking about going hardcore eurotrucker in space or roleplaying there. Anything between 30-60 hours seems reasonable to me if you are willing to explore the various gameplay elements (instead of saying, "nah, I'm not even bothering with missions and such")

Elite is a mile wide and an inch deep, they say, 7/10 and such.

Really?

You have seen everything there is to see in Evolve in 1 hour, tops. You have a very small number of maps (and a ton of paid DLC) fueling a fun but ultimately very very short-lived multiplayer mode. The SP mode might as well not exist because it's really just a botmatch.

Evolve gets 8/10 on Gamespot.

Seriously? I don't think Elite is perfect. I am not entirely happy with it as it is right now, and I do hope 1.2 will seriously spruce up the missions and coop functionality. But even as it is now, Elite has so much more content and replayability than Evolve, it's dizzying. Elite may be a mile wide and an inch deep, but Evolve is an inch wide and an inch deep, with several millimeter-deep additional holes that were announced before the main game even, which unlock if you put in some extra coins.

If evolve is an 8/10, then Elite is a 9/10, it's as simple of that. And anyone complaining about the lack of depth I better not see playing Evolve, ever.


So do push FD to add more content and variety to the game, please. But stop the "mile wide inch deep" thing. Get real.

But Evolve may actually be hard and it's dynamic player vs player is better. This is just wildly unbalanced, empty and devoid.

 

[Toumal]

The difference is that Evolve is fun to play because there's something to do in it.

In Elite there is nothing to do. At least nothing to do *that matters*. That is the problem. The only thing I can do in Elite is influence some random numbers for fake factions that I don't care about in the least.

So in Evolve you play matches that basically all play out the same. By playing these matches you can make various counters increase which elevate your rank and unlock stuff.

In Elite your various activities make various counters increase which elevate your rank and you can earn money with which to purchase different ships.

Sounds pretty similar.

The difference for me is that in Elite you're at least playing as the captain of your own ship. You're playing a carreer. In Evolve you're just slipping into one of a few predefined, static roles, and you can't choose to, for example, NOT go after the monster but instead build up a base and defenses. It's like if Elite only had dogfighting and nothing else.

But Evolve may actually be hard and it's dynamic player vs player is better. This is just wildly unbalanced, empty and devoid.

So Elite is too easy? With that many people complaining about how hard it is? And the combat, while certainly a matter of taste as far as design choices go, is definitely one of the most polished in many years.
And this is the first time that I heard that balance is a huge problem in Elite. It is not. Elite is not a small fishbowl shooter where everything has to be paper/stone/scissors and everything has to have a counter. If you get interdicted by an anaconda in a sidewinder you flee, period. Know when to fight, and when to retreat.

Respectfully, I don't think your point is very well researched or even veridicious.



Don't get me wrong, Evolve is fun! For about 3-4 hours, that is.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

But Evolve may actually be hard and it's dynamic player vs player is better. This is just wildly unbalanced, empty and devoid.

I enjoy Team Fortess 2 a lot. But it's nowhere replacement for ED. I just play these two games for different reasons.

Evolve is already getting bad rep for being 60 USD game and having very little if any content (for AAA game that is). Now, you point out, gameplay matters. I agree. But then it is same for ED too.

 

[jockmcplop]

I think the biggest problem with the game is the frustration level. So you want to do some missions to help your local faction? Well quite often missions are bugged/impossible or take 2 hours to complete because you can't find the USSs. Frustration.
Want to go bounty hunting in a RES? Great, you'd better hope you get put in a good instance or its just sidewinders with 1k bounty. Frustration. Sometimes you can spend an hour or two in the game and get nothing at all done. That's the big problem.

In terms of awe, the game delivers more than any other has ever done. I'm constantly amazed at the achievement of the universe itself, its just rage inducing when you try to actually do anything.

 

[RealNC]

Not really. What I do in ED matters to me. I also contribute something in change. Systems aren't static, they change. People change too.

I understand where you coming from - this is classic AAA game development. Crunch momentary satisfaction and signify it to player. Some people just prefer it differently.

No, no, no! That is not it. I do not play many AAA titles anymore, because of what you just described.

My issue with ED is this part: "I also contribute something in change. Systems aren't static, they change." Well, yes. But, it's not fun *to me*, because they don't change in a way that actually matters.

I hope you can see where I'm coming from I played MMOs, and the changes I was able to achieve (or "we" as a player faction) were more immediate and much more interesting. Like your clan/guild taking over a region. Inter-player-faction politics.

To me, I cannot stop but feel that whatever I do just affects something I don't care about: an algorithm, strings (names on stations) and some numbers on a database. It's cold, indirect and quite irrelevant to me.

It does not affect actual people, and that's a huge bummer and missed opportunity.

One might say: "well, don't play it then." Problem is: I love just flying around, even when not doing much. That core mechanic of the game, the flying in a spaceship around the galaxy, is a huge plus. The disappointment only applies to the multiplayer mechanics.

Edit:
Obviously these are thoughts about the game as it exists right now. Not the game ED will/might become later on.

 

[babelfisch]

Nothing you do in Evolve matters too if you look it that way. It's just a game. You quit and there's nothing left.

You really need to stop posting, because there simply isn't enough rep available.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

My issue with ED is this part: "I also contribute something in change. Systems aren't static, they change." Well, yes. But, it's not fun *to me*, because they don't change in a way that actually matters.

What actually matters then? Changes impact way I play. I think you will need to be more specific here.

To me, I cannot stop but feel that whatever I do just affects something I don't care about: an algorithm, strings (names on stations) and some numbers on a database. It's cold, indirect and quite irrelevant to me.

It does not affect actual people, and that's a huge bummer and missed opportunity.

Then you obviously don't care about other games, as they use algorithms too. And they do affect actual people. Trade routes go sour, people pirating in Anacondas make you change your routes, etc. Isn't that real effect on real people?

 

[Toumal]

My issue with ED is this part: "I also contribute something in change. Systems aren't static, they change." Well, yes. But, it's not fun *to me*, because they don't change in a way that actually matters.

I hope you can see where I'm coming from I played MMOs, and the changes I was able to achieve (or "we" as a player faction) were more immediate and much more interesting. Like your clan/guild taking over a region. Inter-player-faction politics.

To me, I cannot stop but feel that whatever I do just affects something I don't care about: an algorithm, strings (names on stations) and some numbers on a database. It's cold, indirect and quite irrelevant to me.

It does not affect actual people, and that's a huge bummer and missed opportunity.

That I can completely agree with. I'm not really too thrilled with the community goals for example. Yes you can help move a progress bar, and if it hits a certain level a station is gonna appear. Frontier are obviously trying there! But what they're missing is that it's not "YOUR" station. If it were YOUR station, or that of your (player) faction, then it would be something worthwhile. The same is true for factions in the game too - you can choose to aid any of the procedurally generated factions, but you can't start up, name and foster your own faction. That's something that I believe is sorely missing, and only if we get this, Elite will go large-scale and stuff will feel like it matters. Ownership feeling is important.

But, my point still stands: Games like evolve don't even get to the point where there's a community goal, much less one that matters to players.

 

[almostpilot]

So, we all know Elite has a very solid base but needs a bit more meat, and the 1.1 patch is really just a (small) first step on what hopefully is a longer series of upgrades and additions to the game. So what if you've seen pretty much all there's to be seen, and get solid at the various things to do in the game in about 30-60 hours (give or take).

That means learning to fly, learning to dock and getting proficient at it, doing some exporing, doing some trading, doing some mining, doing some missions, buying a new ship or two, and perhaps even getting friendly with some of the factions. You'll find that yes, there's not much depth to it, but there's a variety of activities you can engage in. I'm not even talking about going hardcore eurotrucker in space or roleplaying there. Anything between 30-60 hours seems reasonable to me if you are willing to explore the various gameplay elements (instead of saying, "nah, I'm not even bothering with missions and such")

Elite is a mile wide and an inch deep, they say, 7/10 and such.

Really?

You have seen everything there is to see in Evolve in 1 hour, tops. You have a very small number of maps (and a ton of paid DLC) fueling a fun but ultimately very very short-lived multiplayer mode. The SP mode might as well not exist because it's really just a botmatch.

Evolve gets 8/10 on Gamespot.

Seriously? I don't think Elite is perfect. I am not entirely happy with it as it is right now, and I do hope 1.2 will seriously spruce up the missions and coop functionality. But even as it is now, Elite has so much more content and replayability than Evolve, it's dizzying. Elite may be a mile wide and an inch deep, but Evolve is an inch wide and an inch deep, with several millimeter-deep additional holes that were announced before the main game even, which unlock if you put in some extra coins.

If evolve is an 8/10, then Elite is a 9/10, it's as simple of that. And anyone complaining about the lack of depth I better not see playing Evolve, ever.


So do push FD to add more content and variety to the game, please. But stop the "mile wide inch deep" thing. Get real.

ED was released in bare bones. And now FD need to fix a lot of bugs and unbalanced things, where there is no space for new content.

And the developers just add more grind by adding only community goals. And of course due they be very competent, they add just more bugs to the game.

Of course fixed the bugs and the weak AI is a priority too, but we need new content urgently(Mining gameplay, external view, bount hunt fixes, more complex missions).

 

[Valan]

The thing is takes forever to do nothing in Elite.

 

[Miklos Atreides]

in that case its more or less working as designed. The change is very indirect or how do you believe your contribution will change a 6 billion inhabitants system immediately. There is a backround politics going on, just like in any real life government where bringing up minor change can last very long. (e.g. set a speed limit on a destinct city road)

 

[amigacooke]

In Elite there is nothing to do.

There is nothing you have to do, that's the joy really.