Has Elite been marketed wrongly?

[FuzzySpider]

Yesterday, en route to a community goal in the BV Pheonicis system, I got interdicted and then attacked. Not by a pirate, not by a bounty hunter, not by someone trying to prevent the goal from being met or someone looking to inquire about teaming up in a wing. This was someone who just wanted some PvP arena type combat.

This was, frankly, extremely irritating.

I've noticed around here a very large number of threads which basically ask for enhancements for PVP type combat. Many more threads demand that starter ships such as the Eagle are buffed to be able to compete with FDLs and Vultures. The common response to these threads are that this is Elite, duh, not EVE or some other arena shooter (I have said as much myself).

But why so many people who believe otherwise? A very large number of people appear to be here not to play Elite, but some other blast-a-thon game.

Those of you who have Steam installed, head on over to the Elite: Dangerous store page. They have 4 videos there to promote the game and all but one of them imply the game is basically glorious space battles of glory.

Look at this.

[video=youtube;dwvjElmFCfE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwvjElmFCfE[/video]

Glorious eye candy of glory, but is that really Elite?

I got the game I expected and I got the game I wanted. But then I was never subjected to the marketing, I got the game on the strength of the old Elite games.

What about you lot?

NOTE: This isn't about the quality of the game or even whether you like the game. It's about whether the expectation of what the game is matches what is portrayed by FDs marketing department.

NOTE 2: This is not about the rights and wrongs of Solo and Open or about PvP or what someone should or shouldn't do. There are already loads of threads on that. This is about how the game is being sold to consumers.

 

[Steve50]

Mate, we need to hope and pray that the Xboxers will play in a different universe or it's going to get infinitely worse. Mark my words.

 

[JesusOnEez]

Yup. Much the same as you, I purchased on the strength of Elite and Frontier: Elite II (and have been well pleased). The videos aren't representative...perhaps of a war-zone but certainly not of the game as a whole.

 

[Arindor]

Yesterday, en route to a community goal in the BV Pheonicis system, I got interdicted and then attacked. Not by a pirate, not by a bounty hunter, not by someone trying to prevent the goal from being met or someone looking to inquire about teaming up in a wing. This was someone who just wanted some PvP arena type combat.

Which is immersion breaking IMO and should be thrown out of ED by having dedicated arenas. Anyhoo ...

When I signed up to PB I was under no illusion about what I was buying into, but I started to feel disappointed that things weren't panning out as I'd hoped (with regard to the DDF/A). I'm happy that ED is still on it's way to improving (powerplay), but I also feel a little underwhelmed. I'm also disappointed with how ED has been marketed, especially when you see some of the trailers. If someone doesn't do their research, then they could definitely feel misled if they had bought ED on those pretences.

 

[SteveLaw]

Yes I think it has. I don't think it is offering anything it doesn't provide but I do believe it is skewed very heavily towards an action/combat MMO type game from the way it is being marketed on Steam and for the XBox.

 

[Apos]

I would support fully any step towards promoting very big PvP actions, where small ships will have their own advantages and perks to bring, especially against "fire at will" turrets who will be confused 24/7 from being swarmed. The smaller ships are much reliable at using rockets on big targets after all, so it would even out and I'd go as far to say that they would actually be required, at least the medium ones like viper/asp/vulture. It would only make the whole faction interaction more interesting after all as well.

But having a sidewinger deal with a clipper, ye, I'd rather not...

 

[Daeron]

Flirting with the action arcade crowd, in order to sell something with the pacing of a simulator. Marketing at its very best.

 

[Magic Man]

Agree. There seems to be more and more that want and expect Elite to turn into a pure guns in space with unlimited ammo, fuel, hit points etc. and be able to equip every weapon and module they want, jump anywhere they want instantly etc.

That's not what Elite is.

 

[Saool]

Whilst I agree with the sentiments with regards to the way the game has been marketed, and I too want a game that is a modern version of the original, I do also want a multi player game with some risks. I would not want to have artificial 'arena' areas and that to me is immersion breaking. Whist I would rather not be interdicted by Eddy Griefer and blown to bits in seconds, I think that needs to be in there as a perfectly acceptable possibility.

However I think the way pvp works could be different, such as making it easier to escape an interdiction than it is to do one, having police ships turn up (or a bit quicker) where that is realistic, and there being greater consequences to piracy. Of course, that is all off the top of my head. I would not want it to be so safe that getting involuntary pvp never happens. That is what group and solo is for.

EDIT: a little further thought on changes to pvp. I think ramming should do far less damage. So if Eddy Griefer interdicts you he can't just have his mate Phil Xbox Chavpants just ram you in a Sidewinder and finish the fight in one shot. And if his other three mates in supped up Anacondas are apparently also needed to defeat your mighty Hauler, the police will react much more quickly and in much greater numbers if it is in civilised space.

 

[digitalscream]

I don't think it's going to be markedly worse with the XBox crowd. They're all going to be stuck in Sideys and Eagles - it takes time (an awful lot of it) to get to the point where you can afford any ship config which could be termed more than a mild irritant bouncing off your windshield. I highly doubt that somebody playing anything up to a Cobra on an XBox would last more than a couple of minutes going up against a player in a Vulture or an ASP, much less a Python/Clipper/Anaconda. After a while, they'll get the message; to be honest, I doubt we'll see much of them in Open anyway.

 

[Branko]

Yes, it is wrongly marketed. To be honest, would it really achieve the sort of sales it has by showing off actual gameplay.

Really, it should be called Elite IV with optional multiplayer. The catchy name, promotional videos showcasing epic combat and text suggest it is something which it is not. It is still fun for a while, but not a keeper imo, as it is.

 

[DidierDrbois]

I hate that trailer. Sad status quo of the <puke>industry</puke> these days. There are worse though. Much, MUCH worse. SW Battlefront and new Deus Ex, I'm looking at you!

 

[Warbrand]

Maybe some of this Puer PVP Players are used to the factm that only playerkills bring You fast to the higer ranks. But as were said by David (I think hardly any of those players take time to look for these interviews before) that attacking without reason does not count to Your score.

It would help if You would have a chart that shows Your actual progress to Ranks, so You can see what really counts.

 

[AnnuverScotinExile]

Badly marketed from the perspective of the players who did made the kickstarter happen? Sure. But we are clearly yesterday's men. FD have moved on, and their target audience has shifted. This is apparent not only through the marketing but also the things they choose to add to the game and dumb it down, and the things they neglect to do (consequences for murder, anyone?). The accountants are probably quite happy, however.

I just hope they do enough to the bits that I enjoy (exploration, mainly) that I can continue to ignore the pew-pew crew. And if the game has to be dumbed down further to rake in the cash to enable them to support that, then that is better than the game going to the wall.

 

[Cosmos]

I think the OP has it wrong.. Elite is an open world game, you play how you want. I keep asking this, and its never answered convincingly but you get attacked and destroyed by an NPC, for 'no reason', no one bats and eye lid, the moment its another player, the world is apparently coming to an end. Seems like an illogical emotional response.

Should look at players as interesting content, fighting them shouldn't be viewed soley as the 'dreaded PVP' And the thing is the Elite games always had combat as a core element of it. Its why I don't understand people who just want to be a trader etc.. You'll find me fighting, trading, exploring (and even mining when PP hits) because I understand its all part of the game. Thats Elite.

 

[Extreme_One]

... you get attacked and destroyed by an NPC, for 'no reason', no one bats and eye lid, the moment its another player, the world is apparently coming to an end. Seems like an illogical emotional response...

QFT ... ..

 

[SCADVID]

If it wasn't listed on Steam, I wouldn't even noticed ED existed (from the USA). The hype here is with SC, which I won't touch with a 10 foot pole because it's no DIFFERENT than Mass Effect/EvE with the PvP system.

10000000000000000000000000000000000000001 PvP games out there. Want *a* solo PvE game (space especially since EvE is all we have had all these years and devs REFUSED to make solo player games), instead.

 

[Lupin]

Yes I have had the interdicted a fired on by players for no reason.
Players treating ED as a shoot-em up is sad and it is these players normally that say there is nothing to do. So hope the problem will sort it's self out by them getting bored and going away. Having already got them money

I got game knowing it would not be just another shoot-em and that you were expected to make your own way (No hand holding).

 

[FuzzySpider]

I think the OP has it wrong.. Elite is an open world game, you play how you want. I keep asking this, and its never answered convincingly but you get attacked and destroyed by an NPC, for 'no reason', no one bats and eye lid, the moment its another player, the world is apparently coming to an end. Seems like an illogical emotional response.

NPCs don't attack for no reason. If you get interdicted by them they scan and if you've nothing of value, move on.

Should look at players as interesting content, fighting them shouldn't be viewed soley as the 'dreaded PVP' And the thing is the Elite games always had combat as a core element of it. Its why I don't understand people who just want to be a trader etc.. You'll find me fighting, trading, exploring (and even mining when PP hits) because I understand its all part of the game. Thats Elite.

The topic isn't one of "dreaded PVP". And there is a difference between a core element and a central focus. Whatever Elite is it is not CoD in space. It has always been about making your own story in space. My point is that the game has been, from what I see, marketed as a product which does have combat as a central focus, which could be the reason there are so many here looking for bragging rights rather than to play a sandbox space sim.

As I've got such a player here let me ask you. How much of the marketing for this game influenced your decision to buy it? What sort of thing did you expect from the game when you purchased it?

 

[Kayweg]

Truth be told, Fuzzy, i watch actual game play videos on youtube when i want to inform myself about a game. I suspect, many people (you included) do the same.

I watch company produced trailers for sheer entertainment value only. ESO for example has some stunning trailers, nothing to do with game play whatsoever, but a joy to watch.

I don't defend the practice of glossy trailers trying to lure customers. If a publisher is convinced their game offers great game play, than THAT'S what they should show.

However, marketing departments think otherwise, and sadly, sales figures often seem to support their strategy.

Of course, the prudent gamer knows where the bullet is coming from and will dodge it.

Need i say, not everyone is a prudent gamer ?