Newcomer / Intro Is it too late?

[Terekhov]

As someone who is very close to entering his 60's, started ED just over two years ago, has poorish reactions, and played Elite on the BBC micro in 1984, I can say you can certainly do it! I'va already around 3000hrs, four ranked up accounts, and am having a ball!. I started flying on PC with an xbox controller, moved to HOTAS, and am now on high end flight sticks from VKB. All of those solutions worked. I mainly do trade/exploration when flying for myself, and am an active fuel rat (rescuing stricken commanders) a lot of the time.
One massive piece of advice (I suspect you'd do this anyway) take your time with progressing wealth and rank in the game. Fast rank/wealth will ruin the experience.
If you are interested in getting up to speed with what has been happening in the galaxyto get it to the state it is, I can recommend Drew Wagar's Lore tour videos on Youtube.

 

[AlSki]

View attachment 297748

Nice reference

 

[Klaas Metzel]

Hi.

Just 33 here, so not old, I hope. But I really want to recommend ED and you should give it a go and see.

I think this game has such a strong foundation, an active community and offer something for most gamers. Personally, I like the small things you can discover. The love the developers put into scientific details and still made it a fun game.

Before I played similar games like Eve Online, which is okay but only cut out for certain kind of players (PVP) and cut-throat personalties. And Star Trek Online, also okay, but the base and engine is very flawed, and they should start from scratch the whole thing. Because some things in STO are unbearable for Star Trek Fans. (From my personal experience and opinion.)

Anyway, it is never too late for anything.
See you out there. o7


PS: Still less than 1% of the Milky Way-Galaxy has is discovered.

 

[Iamthequinn]

As somebody that played the original Elite on the BBC back in the 80's I was really excited about this game to the point that I kickstarter'd (kickstarted?) it back around 2013. Howver, for some reason I never actually got around to playing it, I always meant to but other things got in the way. I'm now at a point in my life where I have more time to do the things I enjoy and I thought of finally playing but as the title says, is it too late? Would I, a complete noob, close to retirement age with slow reactions who hasn't played more than 5 minutes since the original game, be able to reach a reasonable standard of play? I remember being concerned as the kickstarter progressed when it loooked like it wass becoming less of a game and more of a simulator, did that happen or is it a 'jump in and have fun' instead of a 'here is a 3hr training mission on how to dock'. Can I play on a single sceen or do I need multiple screens? Do I need a joystick/controller or can I use mouse/keyboard?

If it's any consolation, I'm a ZX Speccy veteran, now in my early 50s and only started playing this a few months ago myself, and really enjoying it. Oh, and I'm playing on a laptop, using a mouse and keyboard and playing it fine. I might get a stick at some point, but right now I'm just exploring....

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

As somebody that played the original Elite on the BBC back in the 80's I was really excited about this game to the point that I kickstarter'd (kickstarted?) it back around 2013. Howver, for some reason I never actually got around to playing it, I always meant to but other things got in the way. I'm now at a point in my life where I have more time to do the things I enjoy and I thought of finally playing but as the title says, is it too late? Would I, a complete noob, close to retirement age with slow reactions who hasn't played more than 5 minutes since the original game, be able to reach a reasonable standard of play? I remember being concerned as the kickstarter progressed when it loooked like it wass becoming less of a game and more of a simulator, did that happen or is it a 'jump in and have fun' instead of a 'here is a 3hr training mission on how to dock'. Can I play on a single sceen or do I need multiple screens? Do I need a joystick/controller or can I use mouse/keyboard?

It's never too late!

The game needs patience and the willingness to climb a steep learning curve but it's well worth it.

The learning curve is a curve that never ends, though, but that's all part of the fun.

Welcome to ED!

@@@07

 

[Anticon]

To the OP: Welcome, youngster! I too trod your kickstarter path but only started playing seriously 2 years ago. As everyone else has said, relax, take it slowly, and I suggest you use SOLO mode anytime in the early days - no shame in it, it builds confidence and focusses you on learning the mechanics instead of just surviving the gankers. I began with keyboard/mouse, changed to HOTAS, then changed back to kbd/mouse cos it suits my desk layout better and works just as well for me. I spend a lot of time out exploring and some trading, but don't really enjoy combat - but who cares? We all do whatever takes our fancy, and you should too.
Read the forums, and have a great time in the ED universe.

 

[zipline]

Yes, wired. You can get it work wireless but you need a specific BT chipset to work. Mine does but if I pair the controller to anything else (which happens every once in a while when I play Helldivers with friends) I basically have to uninstall and reinstall the BT dongle to get it to pair again. So I just leave it wired now.

Hi cmdr, so to get the PS4 dualshock to work wirelessly with PC ED I would just need a USB bluetooth dongle based on a BT chipset? If so, can you recommend any particular brand?

 

[metatheurgist]

Hi cmdr, so to get the PS4 dualshock to work wirelessly with PC ED I would just need a USB bluetooth dongle based on a BT chipset? If so, can you recommend any particular brand?

Getting a BT stack that works is such a hit and miss process I wouldn't feel safe recommending one. I can tell you the one that finally worked for me after buying about 3 of them (since they're not too expensive). It was a CSR Harmony BT dongle. And like I said it's not perfect.

 

[zipline]

Getting a BT stack that works is such a hit and miss process I wouldn't feel safe recommending one. I can tell you the one that finally worked for me after buying about 3 of them (since they're not too expensive). It was a CSR Harmony BT dongle. And like I said it's not perfect.

Thanks cmdr, I am still a PS4 player but toying with the idea of switching to PC if full account transfers become a thing! I don't have PC version of ED, but I did a quick test with my dualshock and laptop built in bluetooth and was able to pair and operate windows with it, so maybe I am halfway there.

 

[HurstLlama]

No one else has mentioned this so I thought I should.

As an elderly player I like to make the game as easy as possible to play and one of the best third party-aids is a cheap little programme called Voice Attack. This easy to set up and allows you to issue commands, including quite complicated sequences of command by using a voice command. The cost of the programme plus a cheap headset with a microphone will be well less than thirty quid.

If you want to extend voice attack and get some fun and giggles into the game you can go for the HCS Voice Packs. They come preconfigured for all the major commands and you can choose the voice of the computer that acknowledges & responds to you commands. Voiced by, mostly, professional actors & actresses, there is bound to be a voice to suit every taste. Drop dead easy to set up providing you read the instructions and take your time.

I should also mention Game Glass. Another cheap third-party aid that provides touch screen functionality using a tablet or smart phone. Again easy to set up and it also provides some useful displays that are not included in the actual game.

 

[avow555]

As somebody that played the original Elite on the BBC back in the 80's I was really excited about this game to the point that I kickstarter'd (kickstarted?) it back around 2013. Howver, for some reason I never actually got around to playing it, I always meant to but other things got in the way. I'm now at a point in my life where I have more time to do the things I enjoy and I thought of finally playing but as the title says, is it too late? Would I, a complete noob, close to retirement age with slow reactions who hasn't played more than 5 minutes since the original game, be able to reach a reasonable standard of play? I remember being concerned as the kickstarter progressed when it loooked like it wass becoming less of a game and more of a simulator, did that happen or is it a 'jump in and have fun' instead of a 'here is a 3hr training mission on how to dock'. Can I play on a single sceen or do I need multiple screens? Do I need a joystick/controller or can I use mouse/keyboard?

You'll be fine, this is a lot easier to fly than the original.
Plenty original Elite players here too, welcome home