How "casual friendly" is ED?

[chrisb46]

Considering joining the beta and wondering how much I'm going to need to devote to the game to enjoy it. It seems like it could be very casual friendly compared to most MMOs, which is mostly what I've played (and got fed up with the grinding and time sink aspect). But worried the combat seems pretty tricky and will take a while to pick up, and need practice to keep "sharp".

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

 

[Yaffle]

Considering joining the beta and wondering how much I'm going to need to devote to the game to enjoy it. It seems like it could be very casual friendly compared to most MMOs, which is mostly what I've played (and got fed up with the grinding and time sink aspect). But worried the combat seems pretty tricky and will take a while to pick up, and need practice to keep "sharp".

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Well, it's not a game yet.

It feels very lone wolf, so you can start at any time and cope. If you progress slowly you should be okay.

I was in the alpha, having little time to dedicate to it. You learn how to stay out of trouble and keep plodding. As there is no "best" ship or "endgame" it works well; you set yourself the only goals.

 

[chrisb46]

Well, it's not a game yet.

Good point, I should have asked how casual friendly it WILL be ��

You didn't find yourself not being able to play for a few weeks and then feeling like you'd forgotten loads then?

 

[Space_Killer69]

Bit like riding a bike, bit shaky at first but then it just seems to come together.

I think the learning curve is a little steep at the moment as it's not really fine tuned, there's no consequence mechanism in place to moderate peoples behaviour in what should have been the lawful systems and some of the NPC's seem to be catching people out before their ready.

As everything is so new and underdevelopment the game play hasn't been wiki'ed to death yet so in a lot of cases it's find out the hard way

 

[Patrick_68000]

ED is a game in the long term. I also have the two betas. But I count really enjoy the game when the gamma will be released. At my rhythm, like the things will come

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

But worried the combat seems pretty tricky and will take a while to pick up, and need practice to keep "sharp".

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Don't stress about it too much.

Fly in the free sidewinder to begin with to get a feel for how the Beta plays.

Then as your confidence grows experiment and go wild!

All games take a while to get used to at the start, but like others have said once you get the hang of it you will never forget*




*Ok .. last bit is a slight exaggeration. I have not played since Alpha 3.x and giving it a quick go tonight I was all fingers and thumbs. But as it's not a race, nor are there any real time lines, you just do your best and it slowly comes back to you. Stick to the safe zones until you feel your edge come back then you will be fine

 

[chrisb46]

Ok I'm sold. Signing up to PB tonight as I don't think I can wait till later in the year!

 

[deusx_ophc]

Ok I'm sold. Signing up to PB tonight as I don't think I can wait till later in the year!

smart move commander

and welcome, enjoy the ride and save often

 

[Jezzah]

Good man!

Hope you enjoy it!

 

[mrkarp]

Bit like riding a bike, bit shaky at first but then it just seems to come together.

Exactly, I fell off a few times, scraped my knee [IMG=80x80]http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/peter-skins-his-knee-family-guy.gif[/IMG]

then got back on, found a place to kill some baddies and got paid!

It is a learning curve, but just ask your fellow commanders for insight on how to start, and you off and flying.

 

[mrkarp]

Bit like riding a bike, bit shaky at first but then it just seems to come together.

Exactly, I fell off a few times, scraped my knee

then got back on, found a place to kill some baddies and got paid!

It is a learning curve, but just ask your fellow commanders for insight on how to start, and you off and flying.

 

[Alric]

I think it will be very casual friendly, if casual means not having a ton of time to play. I say that because it's based at heart on a solo game. There will be extensive ability to do things on your own, on your schedule - most things you could log out at a moments notice and come back later.

It might not be very impatient person friendly, or very I want everything now friendly, or very I actually don't like this type of game friendly - which is what people often mean when they talk about dreaded 'casuals'. But people who like the game but just don't have that much time - I think it will be great.

In terms of the combat and getting rusty, I hadn't played any sort of dogfighting game in a lot of years, and with just a cheap joystick I was doing much better than I expected. Tons of room for improvement of course - but plenty well enough to enjoy the game.

 

[KING5TON]

It's no where near casual at the moment.
It's got a steepish learning curve and the MP reminds me of the harsh realm that is Dayz.
I'm completely happy with that but anyone going in thinking it will be accessible and casual like your average AAA console game is in for a rude awakening.
Look at the threads on the forum of people saying it's too hard and frustrating. Not something you'd attribute to a casual game.

 

[stephen_usher]

Look at the threads on the forum of people saying it's too hard and frustrating. Not something you'd attribute to a casual game.

It depends surely on the definition of "casual"?

If you're using the term in the "Candy Crush Saga" way that is common now then no, it's not at all this "casual".

However, if you mean playing now and again when you have the time but gradually gain skill each time and build your credits through a bit of trading or exploring etc. then yes, you'll be able to play it casually. There's no time limit or goals you have to reach or levels to attain if you don't want to.

 

[KING5TON]

It depends surely on the definition of "casual"?

If you're using the term in the "Candy Crush Saga" way that is common now then no, it's not at all this "casual".

However, if you mean playing now and again when you have the time but gradually gain skill each time and build your credits through a bit of trading or exploring etc. then yes, you'll be able to play it casually. There's no time limit or goals you have to reach or levels to attain if you don't want to.

This definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casual_game

 

[Stachel]

Spoiler

Its actually not that bad.

I'll leave that one vague enough to be interpreted however you prefer.

 

[stephen_usher]

This definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casual_game

Yes, well, that *IS* Wikipedia, written by those who are "gamers" or games execs types.

The word "casual" seems to have existed long before the App generation. It's all about context really.

The OP seems to have been asking whether Elite: Dangerous could be played "in a casual manner" rather than if it was game which meets the current industry definition of a "casual game" (which will, no doubt change by next year anyway).

So, yes, you will be able to play Elite: Dangerous "in a casual manner" as in play it as and when you wish for as long or as short as you wish. i.e. you don't have to be "hard core" and race through at some other person's determined speed. This was one of the first things David Braben said about the game at the beginning of the Kickstarter campaign.

 

[ste]

Its a game that requires a lot of time. Progress is slow, the more time put in the more reward you will get.

So in that sense not very casual, its not really jump in for 10 mins here or there. But you can play at your own pace.

Its not a complicated game, you dont need to read a 100 page manual to get started. You can just jump straight in. Its pretty casual in that sense.

Its very easy to pick up, hard to master, and almost impossible to put back down again.

 

[Francois]

its a good game, and friendly community here , but for now theres no form of contact throught pilots. maybe in the future there would be a sort of text chat . :smilie: