Help me decide whether this is for me or not (Old Elite Player!)

[stripeyfox]

Good morning guys. I've been following the development of Elite Dangerous for years. In many ways it is a surprise that I haven't already purchased it on PC but I think a couple of things have been stopping me. Firstly, I'm not sure how well my laptop would handle it and I didn't really have the scope to buy joysticks and stuff and the idea of playing on mouse and keyboard just didn't sit right.

Secondly, I was a little worried about my perception as it was of being no offline mode - I didn't fancy getting blasted to hell every five minutes for being a "noob"! My game time these days is pretty scarce!


So anyhow, it came to my attention only yesterday that the game is now available on PS4. This would appear to be a better "fit" for me, however I'm still not completely sure!

Is the PS4 version the "full" game?
I see there is a "solo" version (maybe there always was)? Is this a sort of "offline" version?

I've seen people say the game is a "grind". This worries me a little as I don't get huge amounts of time to play these days. If it's going to take hundreds of hours to buy a fuel scoop then I'm not sure it is for me!

Any thoughts, much appreciated.

 

[dayrth]

If you are an Elite '84 fan then I think you will love this game. I am and I do.

Don't worry about the online only thing (as long as you do have an internet connection). You can still play in solo mode (which means that you will not ever see any other players), or join a PvE group like Mobius where players attacking other players is not allowed (except in combat zones, which are easy to avoid). You do still need to have an internet connection though because the game won't run unless you are connected to the FD servers.

The PS4 version is the full game. Although it comes in two parts (as it does on other platforms). Elite Dangerous is the base game and Horizons the expansion that allows you to land on planets (though only those without atmosphere), and gives you access to the engineers (which give you some extra options for modifying your ship), among other things.

I would also not worry too much about the 'grind'. If you want to get the big ships in a hurry then you will find the progression slow and frustrating, but if you just play the game I think you will enjoy it more than the original. It is a steep learning curve, but play through the tutorials (don't worry about completing them though. Some are quite hard), and any questions you have you can post here. This is also worth a visit: https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/thegalacticacademy

There is a manual and plenty of instructional Youtube videos, but the best way to learn is find a mate in game who can show you the ropes and of course trying stuff out yourself.

If you do get the game then I hope you like it.

Fly safe commander

 

[Mysturji]

If you liked the original game, you'll LOVE Elite Dangerous.
There is "Solo mode", in which you'll never meet another player if that's what you want.
o7

 

[Farwon]

You're more ready for Eliteangerous than most. I too came from the Old Elite version way back in the 80'ies, and I felt quite at home.

Even if you do venture into open you're not likely to meet griefers. Especially as the PS4 community is a young one and there won't be many bored teenagers with big ships.

As for grind. Don't worry about it unless you feel the need to get to the big ships fast and all the engineering upgrades ticked of. In that case it will be a grind! I just start the game up once in a while to do play an hour or two, and I find heaps of adventure and no grind.

Have fun

 

[fraggle88]

# darn lol took to long to write this and already been answered

modes of play are

open - basically online with other players
group play - play with friends without the interference of people trying to kill you other than your friends
solo play - single player mode

all 3 modes require a connection to frontiers servers as all the players from the pc xbox and ps4 affect the universe so while you wont meet a player from another console or pc what you do affects them and them you.

ps4 has 2 versions - base game that allows you to visit stations trade fight explore and the expanded version that includes everything to date

never found it to be a grind personally but i do take breaks from it for a few months now and again.

today i started in a sidewinder did some data run missions - used the money earned to buy an eagle shot some pirates - used the money from that to buy and upgrade a hauler did a bit of trading - used the money from that to buy a dolphin upgrade it a bit and did passenger missions. theres a lot to do as long as you like games that have no real direction and your willing to make it up as you go along.

 

[Mr Cynical]

Buy it, you will lose hours and hours playing and enjoying the game.

There are so many roles you could play, even sticking only to solo and avoiding any Multi-crew shenanigans, that it will only be a grind if you make it one.

Start off with no goals and you will gravitate (no pun intended) to what you enjoy the most. Whether that be trading, smuggling, piracy, assassinations, bounty hunting, exploring, investigating ancient ruins/alien mystery, joining the new frontier halfway across the galaxy, passenger transport, sightseeing, salvaging lost cargo/data from destroyed ships, searching for long lost crashed ships, refueling stranded ships/other players, upgrading/collecting ships, pledging allegiance to a powerplay group, tooling around in buggies jumping huge canyons and craters trying to reach orbit, buckyball racing, joining in on the weekly community goals, raiding/sabotaging planetary bases for data or stealing mined ores, or just sitting peacefully in a planetary ring mining your own ore, (breathe!) fly safe CMDR o7

So anyhow, it came to my attention only yesterday that the game is now available on PS4.

Dear marketing, I hope you read this and are busy at work on a new trailer for 2.4 to be played in cinemas everywhere in front of The Last Jedi

 

[stripeyfox]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Some encouraging comments there. I used to play this game for weeks on end on the old BBC Micro back in the day. I can still remember the excitement of opening the boxed edition way back sometime in the mid 1980's (guess I was about 12/13 at the time) and pouring over every detail of the manual, reading the novella and scribbling down prices of Firearms or Furs in a notebook.

I think I might just take the plunge on this!

 

[Faltskogian]

I played Elite back when it was new on the fantastic ZX Spectrum and loved it, believe me you'll be blown away at how wonderfully beautiful this is.

 

[NVranya]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Some encouraging comments there. I used to play this game for weeks on end on the old BBC Micro back in the day. I can still remember the excitement of opening the boxed edition way back sometime in the mid 1980's (guess I was about 12/13 at the time) and pouring over every detail of the manual, reading the novella and scribbling down prices of Firearms or Furs in a notebook.

I think I might just take the plunge on this!

Yeah, do it! We're similar in age and background (although C64 here) and I'm slowly falling in love with the game again.
Slowly? Yes, as stated above, the learning curve is steep and while 30+ years dated experience helps with understanding "what" to do there's still the "how" ... pfft.. those controls....
Plus, there is way more to do here then there ever was in the old days.

I'm learning in solo as well beore really rrying open and will be getting a HOTAS to see if that works better for me than using the DS4.

If you liked the old Elite, I'm positive you'll learn to love this one if willing to spend some time fumbling about.
So, see you in space commander o7

 

[Suter1972]

Im an original elite player too and was quite excited for this.

Imagine all the good bits of the original, now times the graphics and whole interface by 100 in terms of 'wow' and your pretty much there. I was playing this game back in 1984 or whenever, id think it was VR.

The same frustrations are there, which I know will fade with practise. The main one for me (after only 4hrs) is matching the rotation of the docking stations. im sure there a button I can press that will do it for me, but I like a struggle haha.

It really is like the original in all aspects but brought bang up to date, I haven't taken my eyes off the screen for the whole evening. I even forgot to have tea and being a portly fellow, that's very unusual.

I'd go for it. You'll love it. Play it your way and ignore that race to the biggest/best ship & gear.

 

[Barking_Mad]

Some things do require a little grind, but imo the overwhelming amount of talk about grind is due to people racing through the game to get the most expensive ships and best engineered weapons. Just play the game, do bits of everything often and the rest comes (mainly) as a side effect of playing. Sure if you want certain things ASAP you'll have to do concentrated amounts of actions but as I always say, "It's only a grind if you're not having fun", and if you're not having fun just do something else, or take a break.

The game isn't perfect, but it does lots of things wonderfully well.

Edit: old school BBC B+ owner and former Elite player.

 

[racer1]

I am an original elite player too and had my reservations that held me back until July 2015. Now been playing 2 years and still loving it

You only need to grind if you want things now. I have done a bit of grinding here and there but mostly i just potter about.

You'll probably spend a few hours getting the hang of things, after that I'd aim for a Cobra mk3 with A class FSD and thrusters, then you can really do anything you like and run away if necessary. I have all the ships but still regularly use the cobra mk3.

 

[Hedyn Brand]

I used to play one of the original ports of Elite, before it ever had sequels. I think I had two copies of Frontier on different platforms too. It's one of my most played (and most bought) series of games, up there with UFO/XCOM.

ED is everything from every earlier Elite (except video snippets in comms), and much more. The devs have added many new features in free patches. Not fast enough for the whiners on Internet forums, of course, but it's semi-steady progress. The game with Horizons is a pretty full experience, and there's more to come.

I expect to get many hours out of it even playing solo, and since there is no "best" ship I'm likely to amass a collection of them for different moods. Figuring out your loadout is a whole subgame though. Upgrades are never straight forward, so use builds others recommend until you get the hang of it. I definitely do not have the hang of kitting out my ships yet.

On PS4 versions: Just get the deluxe edition, as it comes with Horizons and a bunch of customisation options (skins). It probably still has issues expected from a new release, but platform-specific problems seem to be coming pretty quickly. I've got a somewhat beastly gaming PC, and I don't really notice the graphical difference from the console versions. Too busy playing the game really.

 

[slayersamelia]

I'm an old school player from the C64 days. Loved Elite back in the day and I am loving Elite Dangerous on the PS4 too.

As others have mentioned, there is a solo mode if you never want to see another person - right now, that's how I'm playing whilst I get my head around the game. I'll switch to Open once I'm more confident.

It's both the same as the original elite, but different in that you actually have much more you can do. I'm looking towards exploration down the line, but right now I'm just running missions.

For me the real good thing is being able to afford a Cobra Mk3 after just a couple of evenings work. I'm all parked up and ready to make that purchase and I'm pretty sure it'll be my main ship until I eventually qualify for something truly beefy. Not fussed as to how long that takes - I'm just going to enjoy the journey.

I'm also looking forward to meeting the Thargoids one day. I was interdicted by them a lot on the C64 and they were some of the most memorable moments in the game.

 

[stripeyfox]

I'm an old school player from the C64 days. Loved Elite back in the day and I am loving Elite Dangerous on the PS4 too.

As others have mentioned, there is a solo mode if you never want to see another person - right now, that's how I'm playing whilst I get my head around the game. I'll switch to Open once I'm more confident.

It's both the same as the original elite, but different in that you actually have much more you can do. I'm looking towards exploration down the line, but right now I'm just running missions.

For me the real good thing is being able to afford a Cobra Mk3 after just a couple of evenings work. I'm all parked up and ready to make that purchase and I'm pretty sure it'll be my main ship until I eventually qualify for something truly beefy. Not fussed as to how long that takes - I'm just going to enjoy the journey.

I'm also looking forward to meeting the Thargoids one day. I was interdicted by them a lot on the C64 and they were some of the most memorable moments in the game.

Ah, the Cobra MK3. That brings back memories!

 

[Riverside]

IMO if you played & enjoyed any previous version of Elite you will like this.

Grind is in the mind. If you get frustrated with a seemingly repetitive task just go do another activity for a bit & remember it's not a race

 

[Jigster]

As an Elite 84r myself I would heartily recommend it. I have two PC commanders (for me and my 6-yr-old son/co-pilot) and have just ordered the PS4 version today. Solo play is effectively offline but it still needs an Internet connection to keep background simulation (BGS) up-to-date.

This is my ancient laptop and the latest version 2.3.10 runs fine on minimum settings.

Spoiler

Samsung RF711
Intel Core i7-2630QM 2.0 GHz
8GB DDR3 SDRAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT540M (Optimus)
Seagate 750GB Solid State Hybrid Hard Drive

 

[PS4gamer]

I'm an original Elite player too, still remember the day I bought that amazing black box for my Acorn BBC Model B.
as for the game, I am sure you'll love it! and yes PS4 ED is the full game, nothing is missing.
There is sadly no offline mode (yes, I wanted that too) but you can play solo mode which means you'll not see any human players, or you can do like some of us are doing and join the mobius private group, that will be a group of thousands of players but no pvp! So you don't need to worry about someone killing you for the 'lols'.

as for the grind, well from what I've seen and read, that is a 'mindset' thing. if you play purely to get the biggest ship as fast as possible then yes, you'll be grinding.
if however you simply play the game as normal then I don't think that'll be an issue at all.

as for laptop or PS4, I have both so I am unbiased but I would go for the PS4, mainly because the game (especially Horizons) won't run well (or at all) on many laptops (especially ones with horrible intel HD gpu's) so the PS4 version is a safe bet.

 

[fish77]

Just do it, you know you want to [big grin]

Don't really need to say much more as this thread is full of fellas in their mid 40's (at least [big grin] ) who played the original back in the day and have said everything that needs saying, give it a couple of hours and you'll wonder why you even needed convincing in the first place.

 

[Suter1972]

Just do it, you know you want to [big grin]

Don't really need to say much more as this thread is full of fellas in their mid 40's (at least [big grin] ) who played the original back in the day and have said everything that needs saying, give it a couple of hours and you'll wonder why you even needed convincing in the first place.

That seems to ring true in my brief period with the game so far. Ive read about 'open play' and thought it must be some kind of wasteland full of pirates and griefers like another well known space MMO. In the starting areas (if there is such a thing?) that's anything but the case. Ive seen loads of other players that politely move or stop when you are trying to dock. No-one has tried to kill me yet and it seems like a civilised place to play. Whether it stays that way the further I venture, im not sure, but for the time at least its nice to have an MMO where you aren't constantly respawning