Elite Dangerous flaws in game-design a.k.a i got bored at this game and here is why

[Cmdr Wullfen]

Basically, you don't like ED.

Coulda' just said that.

In one reply, brilliant +1

Yes indeed Commander it seems we have another case of someone who simply doesn't enjoy the gameplay loops laid before them, sorry to say TC the game just isn't for you.

Also what is it about forums that make people forget that ALL video games are basically gameplay loops of variant control and feedback, this is why there are multiple genres and sub genres for all types of player it doesn't matter that not everyone like everything.

What a boring world we would live in with no diversity or different paces of life, gaming or not

 

[Stealthie]

At least i liked writing this.[smile]

Catharsis FTW. [up]

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

Spoiler

Grind has being discussed for a long time by many people, and my thoughts will often cross it, but the things I really want to talk about are some design choices that I stumble upon each time I want to "actually play the game", things that just look strange for me as a player. This is not about grind, transfer, long time travels and all that kind of stuff. Its about the things that cause them.

My points are simple.

If it takes time for no actual reason get rid of it.

And if you claim that your game is "1","2","3". Make sure it stays that way.

Mistake number 1. Listen to the fans.

I mean, feedback is important but if you're making a game based on wishes of a particular group of people, with nostalgia + "perfect survival, horror, survival-horror syndrome" (wish for game-play-related features which are ought to build connection with real world, but eventually suck, especially if its about cosmosim) they will make a game for themselves, and that's kinda *censor*.

By the way, if someone is thinking that Elite Dangerous is the only game that deserves to be called as COSMIC SIMULATOR because every other game is more arcade than Elite. Check your life's biggest achievements, the most important thing there should be "Playing Elite Dangerous". In reality the word cosmosim describes any game in which the main game-play involves piloting a spaceship in space. The only reason why there can't be cosmosims in the literal meaning of this word is because there is nothing to simulate. Spaceship that can fly from star to star in seconds are not invented yet. Stop talking nonsense.

Mistake number 2. Not to smooth sharp edges of a game-play structure consequences.

I like the way ships flying through space in this game really. It gives a unique experience of travelling star systems than any other cosmosim. However, as always, that impression will go away and soon you'll find that flying 7 extra minutes just to buy another 4a grade *censor* or lurking through stations to find a ship you want without 3d party tools like EDDB is frustrating in worst way possible.

Pretty much all game-play mechanics are suffocating because of this. Its taking too much time to land so all settlement-scanning *censor* gets even more frustrating, for some reason it cannot be done by a ship itself, you have to use this obnoxious thing that requires a setup that ship cannot have because you. *trigg* I mean *immersion warning*.

Mistake number 3. Having a wrong understanding of a "sandbox".

"Sandbox" type of game-play offers the player different approaches to reach something that he/she wants in the game. Elite Dangerous at the more deep level than "Combat, Trading, Exploring" doesn't have it at all. To design situations, having in mind the only way a player will go through them, in game that you call "sandbox" is wrong. And pretty much everything in this game falls under it, especially stuff I was talking about before.

You can't acquire a ship, or a module for it, any other way except by buying it. You can't afford a ship that requires a rank, any other way except having the rank (no buying second hand, no pirate versions).

Mistake number 4. Unnecessary simplifications will lead into terrible workarounds and biased decisions.

In real world anything can be described as a commodity, goods or whatever. That also means, everything can be described as cargo. Many games don't do this to simulate it that accurately. BUT THIS GAME NEEDS IT AS *censor*!!!

Seriously. The decision to make ship and module transfer is OK (though I'd like it more if it would be instant *immersion warning*). It was made just because ships can't transport other ships and module as a cargo. In a game that tries to be realistic in some ways, this is the one that is really has actual reason for a game, also (Sorry but I don't understand the context of what is being said here and so cannot help sort it out) *immersion warning*.

Mistake number 5. Don't make "Wannabe hardcore/realistic" kind of stuff.

I'm talking about how ships are collecting stuff. Seriously. Guys. You literally have a module, that can collect *censor* from distance. The only problem is. Someones sick mind decided that it should be a separate module and it shouldn't have its own place in the ship, so it stores it in the cargo bay. Which self-destructs itself when the ship is lost. (Rest of sentence has been deleted as it was not required).

Mistake number 6. Don't make stupid *censor*.

For example. Every time the Engineer finishes his/her work he/she he/she he/she he/she he/she he/she he/she he/she gonna say that its his/her PASSION. However, if you ask them to do something special, they will act like your the worst *censor* being in a galaxy and afterwards you'll get -2 relations *immersion warning*. Which not only send you backwards but its pointless, because people with *Insert word of choice here* of steel will get their full heat and *censor* upgrades eventually. The rest of a people who don't want to be lobotomised to enjoy the game will barely use it. The situation became better when they removed commodities from recipes, I hope permanently.

The Engineers actually deserve a separate topic. Really these random upgrades are just ridiculous. Its like all engineers were in a car accident and now they forget everything everyday and that's why we have every-time a different result which can be even worse.

It comes to the top of its hideousness when you want to upgrade rocket launchers. Now I have one with 10 rockets in magazine and another with 11. :|

And the one last nag.

Despite having a problem that money in the game doesn't feel as money (more like as XP) because you cant spend credits on decorating stuff, buying some garbage (If its not Hauler). That's why they decided to make your real money to feel more even more real. Thus began the age of micro-transactions in game that you pay for only once and for very lazy stuff like changing colour of a weapon. Before 255.0.255. After 255.255.0. OHHH IM A MILLIONAIRE BABY, GET SOME ES AND COCAINE WERE GOING TO RIDE THE *censor* GALAXY ON MY *censor* DOLPHIN YYYEEAAAAAAHHHHHH.

Could you point out my mistakes in text?

Of course, although my English is not perfect by any means. I found a few spelling mistakes but it was mostly grammar and syntax that needed a little work although there are a few parts where I couldn't quite grasp the point and so left them as they were. English can be so tricky to get right so again thank-you for posting in a non native tongue. I can only imagine how bad it would be if I tried to write such a post in a different language to English.

After reading the post again I arrive at the same conclusion as I did before, this was written in frustration. Take a break and come back in several months to see where the game is at, you may get more out of it then.

Fly safe CMDR! o7

 

[X-Terminator]

I'd like you Verk to reword the thread please. Just say things as they are without ambiguity and without all the explicates. I really had a hard time translating all of it but got the gist to some obvious points. Although, it really is much more efficient to post your thoughts in SUGGESTIONS. Nobody likes to read rants/quit threads mate ok.

 

[Winterwalker]

Always difficult with any OP that tries to cover in one post, a range of things that could each start their own mega thread. If you don't like a feature OP better to find a discussion on that feature. Then, find the next thread to discuss the next feature, one thing at a time? Search the forum history .. you will find discussions on the all things you mention.

I agree with you, Hauler is awesome but most importantly .. Elite can be a beautiful woman;

Wonderful, Great, the Best .. and sometimes drive you crazy [up] o7

 

[xondk]

.

It sounds like Elite just isn't for you, just so you remember this may entirely be the case, that does not mean Elite should be changed from what it is, sales and everything seem to indicate that Elite is liked by the vast majority of players.

And you know what, its fine not to like Elite, just fine, I suggest you try to find another game that you do like and play that, not for any "then stop playing" reason, but simply that I don't believe people should play games they don't enjoy. Go find a game you do enjoy, plenty of possibilities.

So yeah. Elite isn't perfect no, but at least to me it is a lot better then most other stuff out there, it is a shame you don't see it that way, but luckily you have plenty of other choices to chose playing.

 

[Iskariot]

I admit I do agree with several of your (OP's) points, but I would have formulated them much more politely.

You are talking to devs who have put a lot of time into designing this huge project and inadvertently not everything will be like you personally want it to be.
So if you have critique then it it would be a decent thing to be civil and constructive.

point 1.

Your intention escapes me. It is self defeating.
FD should not listen to the fans, but should listen to you?
It's a bit odd, if you ask me.

point 2

I do not mind searching for parts at all. I always find them. It is not that difficult.
I do agree that it is a shame that we need to resort to external information.
I wish we could buy information like that in the game. Perhaps this will eventually be realized.

Its taking too much time to land

What? I don't get that at all. Landing on a planet is lightning fast compared to what it would be in the real world. Glide mode is a great way to quickly approach a planet's surface.

so all settlement-scanning *censor* gets even more frustrating, for some reason it cannot be done by a ship itself

I agree that ships should be able to do certain planetary scan jobs.

you have to use this obnoxious thing that does have required setup that ship cannot have because you. *trigg* i mean *immersion warning*.

I don't know what that means.

point 3
You cant acquire a ship, or a module for it, any other way except of buying it. You cant afford a ship that require rank, any other way except of having rank(no buying from hands, no pirate versions).

I agree. I would like to be able to find modules in wrecks for example. They could be damaged and I might bring them to an engineer to fix them, or I might sell them for profit. Would be cool gameplay.
I also would like to be able to buy a a rank locked ship from an illegal dealer. But this should of course have consequences. If you get scanned that specific ship should be permanently on a wanted list.

point 4

I tried to understand what was the point. But I do not really get it.

point 5

I agree I think.
I do not like the fact that the limpets self destruct. I do not like that at all.
I would like the limpet system to be modified.
I want a single limpet controller that can be used to program limpets for all the different tasks.
We might buy software upgrades to expand the range of tasks we can program.
The limpet drones should be permanent and repairable and upgradable.
We might be able to use 3 at the same time. so we would not need to have more than 3 on board.
We should be able to build them on board when they get destroyed for some reason.
This would be a much more flexible and fun system I think.

point 6

I think that losing 2 ranks for a request is indeed a bit much.
I think losing 1 rank and having to pay some credits would be better.
We have far too much money and too little to spend it on anyway.

It comes to the top of its hideousness when you want to upgrade rocket launchers. Now i have one with 10 rockets in magazine, and another with 11. :|

It would be good if it was possible to duplicate a good roll for a similar device. There could be rules for that, but it would be a good thing.

Point 7

I am not against micro transactions for cosmetics at all.
I do feel that weapon color might have been an in-game modification buyable with in-game credits.
But FD has to make money and cosmetic stuff is a good way to do it.
I do agree that we need more stuff to spend in-game credits on.

 

[Cmdr Cheese Wedge]

Yep.

Have you tried making friends in game, winging up with them and simply go with the flow and do crazy stuff?

It's good fun and you forget all about the grind.

 

[Blackcompany]

What is it with people's obsession with progression? I really enjoy this game, yes some isn't so good (powerplay) and the exploration mechanics. Combat zone could be worked on as well as well as bounty hunting.

This game is a sandbox. Look up the meaning of what it actually means:

Open world, free roam, or (more loosely) sandbox are terms for video games where a player can move freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in regard to how and when to approach particular objectives, as opposed to other video games that have a more linear structure to their gameplay.

Which is precisely what we have. It is not an empire building game or a construction game, so it doesn't have those elements in the game.

But if you can't find the fun, that is an issue for you, not the game. There is loads of fun, but you need to find it yourself.

Sandbox games have tools to let you shape a unique experience.

Elite utterly lacks that. Utterly.

Elite isn't a sandbox. It's just a shallow spreadsheet grind with a great flight model. It's a Long way from a Sandbox.

 

[babelfisch]

Sandbox games have tools to let you shape a unique experience.

Elite utterly lacks that. Utterly.

Elite isn't a sandbox. It's just a shallow spreadsheet grind with a great flight model. It's a Long way from a Sandbox.

In your opinion

 

[Blackcompany]

In your opinion

No. As an objective FACT.

Elite offers NO tools for real interaction. Nothing you do has consequences. Your actions don't leave lasting impressions with factions. Your reputation doesn't matter to anyone, even locally.

I can go fight on Both sides of the same war,in the SAME DAY, and it DOESN'T MATTER. No one cares.

I can discover worlds I'm told are Earth like. That's a scientific gold mine - and nothing happens.

Elite offers NOTHING that is unique to me or my play sessions. Just numbers going up, while others go down. That's not a Sandbox. It's a white walled room with Microsoft Excel Wallpaper.

 

[Siranui]

and as usual the the high and might forum police make fun or mock his valid points ,getting board of this forum community ting on people that have valid points

It's hard not to when the valid points are hidden within a wall of overly verbose opinion-based whinging.

 

[babelfisch]

No. As an objective FACT.

Elite offers NO tools for real interaction. Nothing you do has consequences. Your actions don't leave lasting impressions with factions. Your reputation doesn't matter to anyone, even locally.

I can go fight on Both sides of the same war,in the SAME DAY, and it DOESN'T MATTER. No one cares.

I can discover worlds I'm told are Earth like. That's a scientific gold mine - and nothing happens.

Elite offers NOTHING that is unique to me or my play sessions. Just numbers going up, while others go down. That's not a Sandbox. It's a white walled room with Microsoft Excel Wallpaper.

No. In your opinion.

 

[Privata]

''Mistake number 1. Listen to the fans.''
Lol StarWars galaxies died because they gave in to the non fans.

Anyway , to me this sounds like elite as a franchise is just not for you at all.

Elite has some flaws , but its the best space sim there is IMO.

The game needs more depth , more complexion , more challenge not less.

Not to be rude , but when you need to use swearing and over the top phrasing it makes the point seem less legit

- - - Updated - - -

No. As an objective FACT.

Elite offers NO tools for real interaction. Nothing you do has consequences. Your actions don't leave lasting impressions with factions. Your reputation doesn't matter to anyone, even locally.

I can go fight on Both sides of the same war,in the SAME DAY, and it DOESN'T MATTER. No one cares.

I can discover worlds I'm told are Earth like. That's a scientific gold mine - and nothing happens.

Elite offers NOTHING that is unique to me or my play sessions. Just numbers going up, while others go down. That's not a Sandbox. It's a white walled room with Microsoft Excel Wallpaper.

So the BGS is not a thing?
I agree that our interactions are limited but they do have a lasting effect on the galaxy.

I was in the war to take back HE BO from a player group that stole it from the alliance and to this day its still back under alliance hands. its a small thing , but its more than most.

 

[DukeIronHand]

Hmmm. OP is a first time poster and unleashes away at everything.
Wonder which of our "Gang of 7" that alter-ego belongs too?
Or is my tinfoil hat too tight?

 

[Comrade Napoleon]

Hmmm. OP is a first time poster and unleashes away at everything.
Wonder which of our "Gang of 7" that alter-ego belongs too?
Or is my tinfoil hat too tight?

You have me worried now... Another Chinese conspiracy?
(Talking on an aluminium casserole)

Cheers Cmdr's

 

[babelfisch]

You have me worried now... Another Chinese conspiracy?
(Talking on an aluminium casserole)

Cheers Cmdr's

It could be that OP manipulated the elections?!

 

[Blackcompany]

No. In your opinion.

That we have no tools for real, meaningful interaction is an observable truth. I'm sorry, but it is.

The game, at this stage, lacks interaction. Unless you're talking about combat, the game is mostly watching. Heck, for Explorers, NMS offers vastly more than Elite. Not saying much but it's true.

Beyond flight and combat Elite is an early alpha tech demo/proof of concept. I just hope it lives long enough to put meat on these bare bones. Right now, that's sorely lacking.

 

[Ian Phillips]

Hmmm. OP is a first time poster and unleashes away at everything.
Wonder which of our "Gang of 7" that alter-ego belongs too?
Or is my tinfoil hat too tight?

Its too tight. Take it off and let some air in, your brain cells are gasping for light!

 

[Blackcompany]

''Mistake number 1. Listen to the fans.''
Lol StarWars galaxies died because they gave in to the non fans.

Anyway , to me this sounds like elite as a franchise is just not for you at all.

Elite has some flaws , but its the best space sim there is IMO.

The game needs more depth , more complexion , more challenge not less.

Not to be rude , but when you need to use swearing and over the top phrasing it makes the point seem less legit

- - - Updated - - -


So the BGS is not a thing?
I agree that our interactions are limited but they do have a lasting effect on the galaxy.

I was in the war to take back HE BO from a player group that stole it from the alliance and to this day its still back under alliance hands. its a small thing , but its more than most.

For the most part, with rare exceptions like yours, the BGS is just more numbers going up. Which is sad, as it could be so much more. Just another unfinished feature.