Sounds ridiculous? Well I think there are very similar mechanics in play that make ED much more interesting to me and makes it quite different from most MMO'S. If you imagine the Galaxy in ED to be like the free roam multiplayer mode in GTAV it creates an interesting roadmap for the game. One that I think is a good idea and makes it much more viable long term.
Current Similarities:
The city servers in GTAV are effectively temporary islands of play where player interaction is not required but can be sought after.
One of the main focus of the games are the vehicles and the process of earning money to purchase them either via missions or city based events.
No permanent territory ownership.
Improving ships/cars cost more than the base car and increase insurance costs.
You can play in your own private group like you can in GTAV if you wish.
Within free roam player interaction can be limited depending on your location, in ED you can fly to the frontier areas and they will be empty. In GTA V you can go to less busy areas and avoid players.
Griefing is very difficult as you can just leave that server (or go solo) in ED and GTAV. (Unlike some MMO's).
Ranking up is a major part of long term goal. (Not that exclusive to either game but important anyhow)
Real time events in open play with multiple players. (Conflict zones being a basic form at the moment, in GTA V they are armoured vehicles or drops).
Ammo is Expensive
Simulation elements in GTA (Plane flying) although simplified (like ED the flying isn't as complex as a flight sim) is still challenging enough.
Future developments following the GTA model:
Real cash for in game cash. This is now a distinct possibility.
Mission instancing for players in a wing. (Like the instancing used in GTAV for Racing/Deathmatch... and all the other modes).
Bases (like garages/appartments in GTAV). Not territory owning but a way to store ships.
More sophisticated co-op instancing like Heists (When it's eventually released).
More player generated content!!!!! (Would love to see this in ED! but I doubt it).
More advanced Vehicle (Spaceship) pimping and tweaking.
Much better social grouping and dynamic mission creation allowing other to join from public pool.
Ground based (Planet Based) walking around and interacting with the environment so maybe even ground vehicles!
Planet based apartments (done like GTAV as well).
and so on....
I think this approach is a good idea as it keeps the game truly out of the usual MMO style of gaming. ED is more casual like GTAV, it has harsher qualities to it (losing cargo value) which I think is a good thing, but it doesn't allow territory control or guild type game play. Its much more to do with temporary groups playing together than full on clan/corp based confrontations (Although clan stuff does happen on GTAV but its not that common).
The PVE (co-op) is where ED has to really start expanding its content first. GTAV has a good range of missions to keep you occupied for a long time and these are the staple of gameplay for most players. The PVP side and racing is hugely popular but ED's approach thematically doesn't hold up as well trying to integrate arena style combat but it can't be ruled out.
If FD are taking ED down a GTAV style gameplay roadmap I think this is great news. Once they get the wings system working they can ramp up mission difficulty and NPC encounters as well as creating more dynamic PVP/PVE missions. Zones are ok for PVP style play but I think they need to utilize the SuperCruise mode more. GTAV currently is still lacking in the FreeRoam mode with only a few dynamic events happening players can take part in, this was a real shame with GTAV, totally a missed opportunity. ED needs to allow players to generate more interesting encounters while players are in SC (Such as requests for help form other players/requests to wing up/mission invites/open missions allowing other players to join/pvp hunt missions and so on....)
I'm excited by ED as I think this might be the path they take, I just hope they can really push the boat out and create something more engaging than GTAV which I love but feel was a wasted opportunity with free roam turning into purely PVP mindelss killing. Add story/depth/meaning and optional opportunities for players to interact vs or co-op regularly in SC and you'd be onto a winner.
Welcome any thoughts on this.
Current Similarities:
The city servers in GTAV are effectively temporary islands of play where player interaction is not required but can be sought after.
One of the main focus of the games are the vehicles and the process of earning money to purchase them either via missions or city based events.
No permanent territory ownership.
Improving ships/cars cost more than the base car and increase insurance costs.
You can play in your own private group like you can in GTAV if you wish.
Within free roam player interaction can be limited depending on your location, in ED you can fly to the frontier areas and they will be empty. In GTA V you can go to less busy areas and avoid players.
Griefing is very difficult as you can just leave that server (or go solo) in ED and GTAV. (Unlike some MMO's).
Ranking up is a major part of long term goal. (Not that exclusive to either game but important anyhow)
Real time events in open play with multiple players. (Conflict zones being a basic form at the moment, in GTA V they are armoured vehicles or drops).
Ammo is Expensive
Simulation elements in GTA (Plane flying) although simplified (like ED the flying isn't as complex as a flight sim) is still challenging enough.
Future developments following the GTA model:
Real cash for in game cash. This is now a distinct possibility.
Mission instancing for players in a wing. (Like the instancing used in GTAV for Racing/Deathmatch... and all the other modes).
Bases (like garages/appartments in GTAV). Not territory owning but a way to store ships.
More sophisticated co-op instancing like Heists (When it's eventually released).
More player generated content!!!!! (Would love to see this in ED! but I doubt it).
More advanced Vehicle (Spaceship) pimping and tweaking.
Much better social grouping and dynamic mission creation allowing other to join from public pool.
Ground based (Planet Based) walking around and interacting with the environment so maybe even ground vehicles!
Planet based apartments (done like GTAV as well).
and so on....
I think this approach is a good idea as it keeps the game truly out of the usual MMO style of gaming. ED is more casual like GTAV, it has harsher qualities to it (losing cargo value) which I think is a good thing, but it doesn't allow territory control or guild type game play. Its much more to do with temporary groups playing together than full on clan/corp based confrontations (Although clan stuff does happen on GTAV but its not that common).
The PVE (co-op) is where ED has to really start expanding its content first. GTAV has a good range of missions to keep you occupied for a long time and these are the staple of gameplay for most players. The PVP side and racing is hugely popular but ED's approach thematically doesn't hold up as well trying to integrate arena style combat but it can't be ruled out.
If FD are taking ED down a GTAV style gameplay roadmap I think this is great news. Once they get the wings system working they can ramp up mission difficulty and NPC encounters as well as creating more dynamic PVP/PVE missions. Zones are ok for PVP style play but I think they need to utilize the SuperCruise mode more. GTAV currently is still lacking in the FreeRoam mode with only a few dynamic events happening players can take part in, this was a real shame with GTAV, totally a missed opportunity. ED needs to allow players to generate more interesting encounters while players are in SC (Such as requests for help form other players/requests to wing up/mission invites/open missions allowing other players to join/pvp hunt missions and so on....)
I'm excited by ED as I think this might be the path they take, I just hope they can really push the boat out and create something more engaging than GTAV which I love but feel was a wasted opportunity with free roam turning into purely PVP mindelss killing. Add story/depth/meaning and optional opportunities for players to interact vs or co-op regularly in SC and you'd be onto a winner.
Welcome any thoughts on this.
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