how does ED compare to SC ?

inquisiteur

I
I am considering backing the game. Doing some research on the internet I got blown off by the mega budget Star Citizen project..and it got me wonder, how does ED compare to SC ?

I dont really need opinion on which game will be better, but rather what are the differences ?

I have played ELITE frontier in the past and really liked it. I have also played freelancer and hated it (If I had to describe my exprience I would say freelancer was for me like World of Tanks but with spacecrafts).

I read a bit both forums, saw videos, but at the end I dont really know what are the "selling points" of each game, or at least of ED.

Can any well informed person can to enlighten me before I make my choice ?

Thanks,

Inquisiteur out
 

Slawkenbergius

Slawkenbergius
Personally I'm backing both. You could always back Star Citizen now to get into their alpha, coming up in December. Elite launches well before Star Citizen, so hopefully glowing reviews will make you want to pick it up.

The main difference is the size of the gameworld. Star Citizen will have around 115 locations (can't remember if that's star systems, or inhabited planets, or what to be honest). Elite will have thousands of inhabited planets, and simulates the entire Milky Way, meaning around 400 billion stars in total.

I think both games are steering clear of Freelancer gameplay, and focusing on 1st person. In both games, all the UI is in the cockpit and you play the game as if seen through the pilot's eyes.

Star Citizen integrates landing on planets (via in-engine 'cutscenes') and walking around from first release, but there will be strict limits on where you can go. Elite will aim to have landing on planets at around the time Star Citizen is released and walking around not too long after, and will give you more freedom over where you travel to.

I would guess the lore is a bit more detailed per planet for Star Citizen, though Elite will have a fair amount of lore too..
 

Cmdr Eagleboy

Cmdr Eagleboy
inquisiteur said:
I am considering backing the game. Doing some research on the internet I got blown off by the mega budget Star Citizen project..and it got me wonder, how does ED compare to SC ?

I dont really need opinion on which game will be better, but rather what are the differences ?

I have played ELITE frontier in the past and really liked it. I have also played freelancer and hated it (If I had to describe my exprience I would say freelancer was for me like World of Tanks but with spacecrafts).

I read a bit both forums, saw videos, but at the end I dont really know what are the "selling points" of each game, or at least of ED.

Can any well informed person can to enlighten me before I make my choice ?

Thanks,

Inquisiteur out
Click to expand...

I think if you have played both Elite and Freelancer, then you already know creators and their styles. For me it's rather simple - I enjoyed all Elite games, especially last two - so I backed up ED. But even more - when I first time played FFE, that was it. That freedom, that amount of posibilities. All those ideas. It was real immersion. I have never felt it with CR games, although I liked WC interactive movies, and keep them in high regard (WC IV "Price Of Freedom" was heavily underrated imho). I personally felt that combat missions were done much better in Freespace series. Still, never a huge fan of shooting down waves of enemies in restricted "room".

For ED selling points I suggest ED FAQ which also have tons of other information http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wi...he_main_features_of_.22Elite:_Dangerous.22.3F

* A Scientifically accurate 1:1 scale, fully Seamless Milky Way galaxy using mostly procedural generation - practically limitless generated star systems (around 400 billion) according to current scientific data, with additional cosmic phenomena like black holes, supernovas, etc. It will also have specially handcrafted overrides for stars and planetary objects that we know and love. For example, our solar system with Earth, Moon and Mars, other systems with recently discovered planets, etc.
* Free-form Interplanetary flight - fly freely trough star systems in realistic scale, or use in-system hyperjumps to get to your destination. Travel to vista points to see Earth rise on the moon, or sun appearing behind of Mars. Explore the vast expanse of space and discover new points of interest in star systems.
* Free-form play - you can choose your own destiny - be an angry pirate, peaceful trader or explorer, enroll in military to protect your kind, be a spy, or mix between these roles. There are no classes or skill levels - it is up to you to improve yourself, and to get better ships with more advanced weapons.
* An Immersive Evolving Galaxy with Dynamic Society, Economy and Stories - join other pilots and together change story of the Milky Way. All your actions, be it mass-multiplayer or singleplayer will change history of human kind. Join in breaking blockades, battle pirates, or attack enemy positions and installations - leave your mark whatever you go. For those who want to play in their own galaxy offline single player will also be available.

You can also see there quick comparison between SC and ED http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wi...Elite:_Dangerous.22_and_.22Star_Citizen.22.3F
 
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TheDarkKnight

TheDarkKnight
If I was to narrow down the differences to bare bones, from my point of view it would be:

Elite is more of an accurate exploring space/trading simulator style of game with combat and Star Citizen is more of an arcade shoot em up combat role playing game style with exploring and trading.

While both will have the same aspects of the other, combat, trading, exploring and smuggling they seems to focus one an aspect more than the other.
 

inquisiteur

I
Thanks for the info guys.

Went on pledging for the premium boxed version. As for SC I guess I will just buy the copy when it comes out...if I am disappointed by ED.

My biggest fear is the multiplayer facet, which I will probably only use for cooperative gaming. I always envisioned sandbox games as single player experience. I always felt that the multiplayer aspect puts an expiry date on the game, although you might argue that no one would play the game enough to see server emptied from their players.

I read the comparison, doesn't say a lot to be honest, mainly on flight physics. I hope the essence of the elite series will remain in ED and that at least all features we had before will still be there.

Looking forward receiving the newsletter if there are still sending them out.

An finally, hello to all the fans, its nice to be with you after so many years.
 
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Cmdr Eagleboy

Cmdr Eagleboy
inquisiteur said:
Thanks for the info guys.

Went on pledging for the premium boxed version. As for SC I guess I will just buy the copy when it comes out...if I am disappointed by ED.

My biggest fear is the multiplayer facet, which I will probably only use for cooperative gaming. I always envisioned sandbox games as single player experience. I always felt that the multiplayer aspect puts an expiry date on the game, although you might argue that no one would play the game enough to see server emptied from their players.

I read the comparison, doesn't say a lot to be honest, mainly on flight physics. I hope the essence of the elite series will remain in ED and that at least all features we had before will still be there.
Click to expand...

You don't have to worry about MP aspects of ED, as game is built so that there's no need for subscription, and developers have promised that they will publish legacy server software if they will they ever stop supporting ED at all. But that's not only thing - you have also possibility to play single player offline mode, without need of connection to Internet. You will miss shared universe (t.i. effects of other players doing things) supported by MP and you won't meet other human pilots, but you still will have background simulation and all classic NPC fun.
 

Commander Mick

Commander Mick
Slawkenbergius said:
Star Citizen integrates landing on planets (via in-engine 'cutscenes')
Click to expand...

I'm disappointed that after using that idea in their previous games, especially Privateer Two which I played a small bit of before I quit. I would have thought Chris Roberts might have taken a leaf out of David Braben's book and made everything in this game including the landing seem-less gameplay.

I never played any of the actual Wing-Commander myself apart from the one I have mentioned already.

Am I truly missing anything there?

However, I am other wise impressed with what Chris Roberts has done and I am thinking of backing Star-Citizen at Space Marshall LTI Level ($5000.00 USD). After some discussion with others on their forums. I changed my mind and settled for Grand Admiral ($2700.00 USD), but will now wait until next year after I have brought a new PC.
 

Beachlight7

Beachlight7
Sc has one of the most detestable forum communities I have had the displeasure to witness. This can effect how you perceive and enjoy the game, in particular the on-line aspect. It's subjective so check them out.
 

Commander Mick

Commander Mick
I wasn't on there longer enough to notice anything detestable about them.

All they did was advise me to pledge lower than I was aiming for so I could get in earlier.
 

Hellhawk666

Hellhawk666
Beachlight7 said:
Sc has one of the most detestable forum communities I have had the displeasure to witness. This can effect how you perceive and enjoy the game, in particular the on-line aspect. It's subjective so check them out.
Click to expand...

I've seen worse, but yes there are some unpleasant people on their general forums. It is such an enormous community (over 300,000 backers now) that this becomes somewhat inevitable. I just ignore the trolls and idiots.

If you sign on as a subscriber you can access the private subscribers' forum, which is considerably more mature in tone. Subscribers pay either $10 or 20/month to support the production of the game in general, and the "Wingman's Hanger" podcast specifically. You also get access to the "Jump Point" monthly newsletter, some limited merchandising and other minor benefits.

Re. the OP, as both SC and ED are the product of an influential individual designer's long-term vision they will both certainly have a lot in common with previous games created by these designers. SC will inevitably be influenced by the Wing Commander series and Freelancer, as will ED be influenced by the Elite/Frontier family. That much is pretty obvious. How exactly they might build on those foundations is still largely unknown, but in a month or two we'll have a lot more information about both games from first-hand testing of their early modules.

I have great hopes for both games and I'm backing both solidly. I have a general feeling that ED will provide an open, awe-inspiring experience of exploration, trade and combat in a huge environment, whereas SC will have highly detailed ships, character avatars, environments etc, but in a smaller and somewhat more mission-driven "playground". This is pure conjecture however. When I force myself to consider worse-case scenarios I can imagine what the faults might be in each game, but I won't elaborate on this.
 
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Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Pretty much what HellHawk666 said. I've backed both and am looking g forward to both in their own merits.
 

TheDarkKnight

TheDarkKnight
While I am looking forward to SC, I have pledged the same amount on both games. The thing that I do not like the most is how vocal the PvP brigade is on the CIG forums.

It seems, on their, forums if you do not want to PvP then you should not pledge or at least get out of the online element of the game.

I just want a large universe to explore and have fun in WHILE still meeting people I can team up with and do missions etc. I do NOT want to PvP but I do want to Co-op. Having my own server to play on defeats the point as none of my friends play computer games.
 

spd1975

spd1975
Backing both as into the space genre generally, these sorts of games don't come along too often. ED a no brainer for me, SC really appealed early on but now being slightly put off by all the money generating schemes (isn't there enough money already?). Also get the feel this one will be much more multiplayer focused.
 
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atome

A
Backing both,

however I feel friends and myself will enjoy ED far more, it appears to be much more realistic. Hence spending/backing more on ED!
 
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