Elite Dangerous should still be in Beta (like most big games with 4 years of development)

[xondk]

With it's Kickstarter in November 2012, Elite Dangerous now has about 3.5 to 4.5 years of development. Let's say 4 years to keep it simple.

According to the following graph, after 4 years of development most big games have just come out of Alpha & entered the Beta phase:

http://i.imgur.com/cLzfEH3.png

And it took 5 to 8 years of development before those games were actually released. From that perspective it's not surprising Elite Dangerous still feels a bit empty & under-developed. It's just a shame that Frontier had to release Elite Dangerous before it was really ready...

This doesn't really take into account concept stages and others, unless those are in pre-alpha, and even so the vast majority of games in the early stages do not have 100% dev time, just fyi.

And personally I am very happy that Elite was released I am enjoying myself thoroughly, I think the reason many say it feels empty, is because it is a space game, 'fluff' is tricky to do in those, because it stands out against a black backdrop, it isn't a terrain, where the terrain, flowers and whatnot will look different simply because the typography is different and then people do not notice assets being continually reused, this happens in most any game.

But with space games making stuff 'look' unique is very hard, again because the 'terrain' is black star filled background and then empty space, a lot seem to be unable to understand this, take a look at Eve? right now especially with mission structure and such, Elite and Eve are _VERY_ similar, and Eve is also quite similar in terms of what everything looks like.

And the people that say 'Star Citizen will be different' no....no it won't on stuff set in space.

 

[Metalingus]

Couple of the games in the list are RPG's which have heavy story and quests that link to the story which obviously take a lot of planning. Most on the list though are inaccurate or dont take into consideration game development being put on hold or in one case changing publisher and development team and being a completely different game

Team Fortress 2 - Yes started development in 1999 however mid 2000 it was put on hold for 5 years while Valve worked on the Source Engine, the developers worked on other projects during this time and picked up again on TF2 when Source was finished

Shenmue - Was released in 1999 and work started on Guppy which would evolve into Shenmue in 1996, dates on this very inaccurate

StarCraft 2 - During the early days of development lot of the team got reassigned to World of Warcraft, they also had to build Battle.net which took up a large chunk of development time

LA Noir - Development hell, Team Bondi first started working on it in 2004 as a PS3 exclusive funded by Sony. Rockstar stepped in as publisher in 2006 and made it multiplatform, was originally due to release in 2008 but was a mess and Rockstar had to take over with their own staff to finish the game

Spore - Could argue this started development in 1994, but it was 2000 when Spore first went into development. During its 8 years in development the game changed several times, the finished release was nothing like the first demonstration of it in 2005

Fallout 3 - Did start development in 2002 but the publishers Interplay went bankrupt and closed the studio making it and sold the rights to Bethesda, they started work in 2004 but development didn't properly start until 2006 after Oblivion was released. The fallout 3 in development in 2002 was a sequel to Fallout 2 with the same isometric view. Nothing from this game made it into fallout 3, though the same team did work on New Vegas and carried over a lot of the story into that

Half Life - Assuming Half Life 2 as Half Life was released in 1998, 2 was delayed heavily after the code was stolen and released which contained a large chunk of the story, rather than carry on Valve rewrote the story which caused a massive delay

Morrowind - Started development in 1996 but was scrapped, when Redguard was finished late 1998 they started work again, it was released 2002

 

[[DOOK] Droogie]

Well. All is free to wait 10 years and then buy the finish game. If people want to give money to make the game and have fun doing it, thats there privilidge.
I have bought many games that I not have played many hours on. I have gone to cinema and shows that last an evening. And all I have is the memories. That cost money. Im happy to invest in this.

I buy some paintjobs every now and then, becouse I think I get a great value from this game. And I like to give some money for my pleasure. If you think its to expensive, dont buy more and you dont lose more.

I have bought whiskeys that cost more than this game. And I am not a rich man. I have not a 100 pounds left after food and rent and living. And I dont have money to go out and eat or spend on hobbies. I live a simple life. My hobbies are my dog, my computer and my mind. And I spend time with them al.

Thinking is still relatively free and simple. If you aint got any money you still can entertain yourself by thinking.

That's all well and good, however they advertise it with a "release date". That implies a lot to the average customer. It is also marketed as having a lot more than it does.

I play this game. I enjoy this game. I can also empathize with people who feel deceived with their purchase, looking at games in early access and how that whole thing has gone.

 

[robbyp]

Now thousand plus of hours into ED. And not couting the time on edd. Been the best 80 quid ever spent

 

[Tiamat]

What Frontear Developments have delivered for the time, money and manpower they have put into the game so far is amazing. Frontear are not a massive corporate entity like EA but they have put together a solid game much quicker than anyone expected and have publicly said they will continute to update it until they no longer can. If the day comes they can't they will release everything needed to run your own version (warning... HUUUUUGE DATABASES).

The game isn't "finished" until: DBOBE himself turns to an aged Beard (it might be wearing Michael Brookes or maybe another producer) and says "Unbelievable, I can't think of a single thing to change... ". The Beard eventually agrees because it is bored toying with the interdiction rates in Erevate and it can't think of anything else to change either. Michael decides to go to the loo whilst The Beard decides to invade other realities now that Elite: Deadly is finally perfect and it will come back if the meat sacks ever solve the Formidine Rift mystery.

The year 3000 I suspect Enjoy the ride!

Drew Wagar is responsible for my speeling [yesnod]

 

[Tobiastonzon]

That's all well and good, however they advertise it with a "release date". That implies a lot to the average customer. It is also marketed as having a lot more than it does.

I play this game. I enjoy this game. I can also empathize with people who feel deceived with their purchase, looking at games in early access and how that whole thing has gone.

I can empathize with people also, but that is a risk you take when you buy a game. Many games I bought said it was a good game that I will like to play, but I did not like to play it. Then I think it was a bad buy.

But I cant get my money back, becouse I played it already. Its not fare, but its life. You cant wipe your save in life.

I think value is so hard consept to grasp. What value for money? It depends on what you think is valueble. But what you can spend your money on easy online, I think you gets value with Elite.

 

[Whiterose]

The price. They're charging full AAA pricing for what is basically still early access.

I would still pay full price for alpha access.

 

[fossil]

It's just a shame that Frontier had to release Elite Dangerous before it was really ready...

Try not to worry about it. All you need to do is not play ED. From your perspective it would be the same as it not having been released. You would be happy and you need not waste any time moaning on here. Sorted. See you in about 4 years presumably ?

 

[bitstorm]

With it's Kickstarter in November 2012, Elite Dangerous now has about 3.5 to 4.5 years of development. Let's say 4 years to keep it simple.

According to the following graph, after 4 years of development most big games have just come out of Alpha & entered the Beta phase:

And it took 5 to 8 years of development before those games were actually released. From that perspective it's not surprising Elite Dangerous still feels a bit empty & under-developed. It's just a shame that Frontier had to release Elite Dangerous before it was really ready...

Erm..

What's the source for the graph?

Wasn't it a joke graph made by goons in order to take the <urine> out of Star Citizen because CIG were calling SC "pre-alpha" after 3 years dev.

edit: 4 pages late, what they said.

Mods: Can we lock please, this threads just gonna go the usual way based on what?

 

[Privata]

A lot of the dates in this graph are wrong.

 

[Tiamat]

I would still pay full price for alpha access.

You get to play early and get the final game for cheap. Worth it

 

[frostypaw]

Try not to worry about it. All you need to do is not play ED. From your perspective it would be the same as it not having been released. You would be happy and you need not waste any time moaning on here. Sorted. See you in about 4 years presumably ?

DAMN YOU LOGIC!!
(this shoulda been posted by the mod with the Brian Blessed pic for the best head-voice)

 

[Iskariot]

Elite Dangerous should still be in Beta (like most big games with 4 years of development)
With it's Kickstarter in November 2012, Elite Dangerous now has about 3.5 to 4.5 years of development. Let's say 4 years to keep it simple.

According to the following graph, after 4 years of development most big games have just come out of Alpha & entered the Beta phase:

http://i.imgur.com/cLzfEH3.png

And it took 5 to 8 years of development before those games were actually released. From that perspective it's not surprising Elite Dangerous still feels a bit empty & under-developed. It's just a shame that Frontier had to release Elite Dangerous before it was really ready...

I agree with the fact that this is a game in the midst of development.
And far too many people do not seem to understand this.
FD should hammer this home much more frequently.

I do not agree that ED should still be in beta per se.
FD have chosen a method of development that is now quite accepted.
Obviously not everybody can handle this though, which results in a lot of incessant negative whining.
That really is a pity. Sometimes the whining makes me wish they had developed the game behind closed doors and released it after 10 years, completely finished.
But of course that is not something FD could have done.
Also I am glad I get to have fun now.

 

[fossil]

The price. They're charging full AAA pricing for what is basically still early access.

You know what I do ? If I think a product is over-priced I simply don't buy it. Its very simple. I'll tell you the secret. Before you buy anything Google the product you are interested in. Read the opinion of others, product reviews, forums if they exist. Then decide if the product is worth the asking price. It REALLY is that easy. I find this technique stops me moaning about a product that I consider not worth the money.

 

[frostypaw]

That really is a pity. Sometimes the whining makes me wish they had developed the game behind closed doors and released it after 10 years, completely finished.
But of course that is not something FD could have done.
Also I am glad I get to have fun now.

</endofthread>

 

[Kayweg]

Elder Scrolls Online ----- Bethesda

Star Wars TOR ----- Electronic Arts

Guild Wars 2 ----- NCSoft

Team Fortress 2 ----- Valve

Shenmue ----- SEGA

Star Craft 2 ----- Blizzard

L.A. Noire ----- Rockstar Games

Spore ----- Maxis/EA

Fallout 3 ----- Bethesda

Half-Life ----- Valve

The Elder Scrolls 3 ---- Bethesda


Look at those company names and think about the money behind them.
If FD hadn't released ED when they did, there might just as well not have been a ED today (and possibly not a FD either) because they would have run out of funds.
And for all the criticism i have for ED, that would have been an even worse scenario.
I'm not an active ED player right now, and haven't been for a long time, but i can at least wait for a few more years now while they keep developing it.
In an ideal world, yes, the game should perhaps not have been released for a couple more years.
We're not living in an ideal world though, and sometimes we have to accept realities we don't like.
I think this is such a case.

 

[[DOOK] Droogie]

I can empathize with people also, but that is a risk you take when you buy a game. Many games I bought said it was a good game that I will like to play, but I did not like to play it. Then I think it was a bad buy.

But I cant get my money back, becouse I played it already. Its not fare, but its life. You cant wipe your save in life.

I think value is so hard consept to grasp. What value for money? It depends on what you think is valueble. But what you can spend your money on easy online, I think you gets value with Elite.

No, that isn't a risk. The game should be as advertised, especially when there is a market expectation for a product considered "released", and there are games in early access out there. It's an established difference.

I used to discourage people from buying this game on Steam so that FD got the full cut. I'm getting to the point where I would recommend it now due to Steam giving refunds on games, even if you've played them.

I'm not accepting of the anti consumer stance the gaming industry has taken lately. Stuff like this is a part of it. I don't think Elite has been worth the money thus far, especially Horizons with the way it is going. I still have no idea what I bought 4 months after the release. While im stuck with it, I can ensure they don't get another dime from me if they continue to go this route.

 

[EUS]

AFAIK Half Life was released in 1998.
TF2 wasn't in devolpment in 1999, TFC was, and released soon after.
A few games I never heard of, others died quickly.

 

[cheesenbiscuits]

I'm really enjoying watching this game evolve.
I see it as quite a privilege. And if i could fast forward the game 10 years i don't think i'd want to.
The problem i'm finding is i haven't played any other game since Elite got its hooks in me.

 

[Riktar]

With it's Kickstarter in November 2012, Elite Dangerous now has about 3.5 to 4.5 years of development. Let's say 4 years to keep it simple.

According to the following graph, after 4 years of development most big games have just come out of Alpha & entered the Beta phase.

And it took 5 to 8 years of development before those games were actually released. From that perspective it's not surprising Elite Dangerous still feels a bit empty & under-developed. It's just a shame that Frontier had to release Elite Dangerous before it was really ready...

From your point of view.

From my point of view I am glad they made it available for me to purchase. I have no regret buying into the beta.

Do I want more? Sure. They said more is coming. I am having enough fun right now to be patient.

Remember, "fun" is not a physical product or object. It's an experience.

And I am digging my experience in ED,,,,,