Is the Stellar Forge and ED becoming Outdated?

[Old Duck]

Players: "FD please do something with the graphics, it looks old and stupid and VR needs good graphics."

FD: cuts VR support.

Better not ask to loud...

I'm torn regarding this. Would I rather next-gen graphics at the loss of VR or VR at the loss of next-gen graphics? Ideally we would have both through a comprehensive list of graphics settings, but Frontier may decide that "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" and opt for the easy way out (abandon VR).

If I do lose VR, I'm going to need a bigger boat screen!

 

[Jukelo]

Can you show what this park in a starport looks like with 16k textures? I almost mistook it for a 15 year old game. It'll require a major graphics update for ED to look like a proper current or next-gen game.

The engine SUPPORTS high resolution textures, it doesn't mean Frontier has to take advantage of it all the time.

 

[CaptainPugwash]

I'm torn regarding this. Would I rather next-gen graphics at the loss of VR or VR at the loss of next-gen graphics? Ideally we would have both through a comprehensive list of graphics settings, but Frontier may decide that "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" and opt for the easy way out (abandon VR).

If I do lose VR, I'm going to need a bigger boat screen!

If Frontier cuts VR support just when other big studios are finally giving it some love it really would be a mega blunder.

 

[Old Duck]

If Frontier cuts VR support just when other big studios are finally giving it some love it really would be a mega blunder.

Are you talking about NMS? That's not exactly what I would call next-gen graphics. Or is Star Citizen getting VR support?

 

[CaptainPugwash]

I thought we were all talking about Elite

 

[Old Duck]

I thought we were all talking about Elite

Are you drunk? You're the one who brought up "other big studios"...

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

Are you talking about NMS? That's not exactly what I would call next-gen graphics. Or is Star Citizen getting VR support?

VR support is planned, together with another million features.

 

[Bigmaec]

Are you drunk? You're the one who brought up "other big studios"...

He has a point though. Elite is basically made for VR, cutting that would be a shot in the feet with a huge plasma accelerator.
Haven't found a game yet which works so well in VR.

 

[CaptainPugwash]

No I'm not drunk, and mind your manners.

My "other studios" comment had nothing to do with NMS or SC.

 

[[PS4 Pro - PC] earthtone99]

If FDEV does things properly there will be a transition (hopefully almost seamless) between flying and walking.
So these parks remain light in terms of polygons count during flight, and become more accurate during walking.
If they just make it more complex always it will be a disaster too in terms of system performance.

Yep, just three letters and it could be fixed.... L O D

A decent LOD could allow environments to load in higher detail up close. Especially when on foot etc.

Lord
Of
Designation

We are not worthy of the almighty LOD...

o7

 

[Old Duck]

Haven't found a game yet which works so well in VR.

Elite and potentially MSFS 2020 are the only two games that would cause me to invest in better VR equipment in the future. If ED pulled support for VR, my Rift would be in the closet more than not. I do like Skyrim in VR (especially with all the mods), but I've played that game to death years ago, so it just doesn't hold me like it used to.

Elite in VR is also what keeps me playing Elite rather than Space Engineers and the many other 2D space games.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

I'm torn regarding this. Would I rather next-gen graphics at the loss of VR or VR at the loss of next-gen graphics? Ideally we would have both through a comprehensive list of graphics settings, but Frontier may decide that "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" and opt for the easy way out (abandon VR).

If I do lose VR, I'm going to need a bigger boat screen!

For me, next gen graphics over vr absolutely. It would be okay if you never played or were exposed to other games apart from elite.. but if you notice a gap its just not the same anymore. Its easily visible in elite even.. go look at the orca or cutter cockpits vs the krait. Its like they're from different games... even though technically the difference isn't that great.

 

[CaptainPugwash]

For me, next gen graphics over vr absolutely. It would be okay if you never played or were exposed to other games apart from elite.. but if you notice a gap its just not the same anymore. Its easily visible in elite even.. go look at the orca or cutter cockpits vs the krait. Its like they're from different games... even though technically the difference isn't that great.

Here's hoping that the New Era includes at least a rework of the ship models, plus the chance to pop down to the engine room and replace those warp drive crystals, what were they called again?

 

[Old Duck]

For me, next gen graphics over vr absolutely. It would be okay if you never played or were exposed to other games apart from elite..

This has been my conclusion when it comes to flight simulators. Having seen footage of FS2020, I just can't go back to X-Plane*, even though X-Plane offers VR and FS currently does not. FS2020 videos have ruined X-Plane for me.

* I don't own X-Plane, just the demo, but I enjoy watching flight simmers on Twitch and YouTube and I will be buying FS2020.

 

[Crank Larson]

Can you show what this park in a starport looks like with 16k textures?

I couldn't, no. But having seen the trees and other objects in FDs other games (Planet Coaster, Jurassic World), I know that the Cobra engine is capable of exceptional fidelity. FD just need to get round to updating some of the artwork. I would hope that is one of the larger jobs being undertaken for the next era... In the meantime, E: D still holds up very well.

 

[Rat Catcher]

Can you show what this park in a starport looks like with 16k textures? I almost mistook it for a 15 year old game. It'll require a major graphics update for ED to look like a proper current or next-gen game.

Oh look, the ground scenery, which in a space ship flying game is solely for 'atmosphere' is low poly count! Disaster!

While I agree, in a perfect world, everything visible would be composed of 100's of 1,000's of polygons for accurate rendition all of the time. I can't think of one game that does this though, but would welcome being corrected.

Why not pick up on the low poly count in other areas not in 'focus' for reasons, it just appears you are scrabbling around trying to point out inconsequential detail as being of paramount importance, which is odd...

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

Here's hoping that the New Era includes at least a rework of the ship models, plus the chance to pop down to the engine room and replace those warp drive crystals, what were they called again?

Things.

 

[Crank Larson]

it just appears you are scrabbling around trying to point out inconsequential detail as being of paramount importance, which is odd...

We need fidelity, man!

 

[CaptainPugwash]

Things.

Just remembered:
Dilithium crystals

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

This has been my conclusion when it comes to flight simulators. Having seen footage of FS2020, I just can't go back to X-Plane*, even though X-Plane offers VR and FS currently does not. FS2020 videos have ruined X-Plane for me.

* I don't own X-Plane, just the demo, but I enjoy watching flight simmers on Twitch and YouTube and I will be buying FS2020.

Yeah i can't take the gas giants in elite seriously after seeing solar walk 2 on my phone. Yeah the new fs is amazing.

I have to admit its not absolute though. The truck simulators are a few generations behind in graphical caliber yet are still going strong.. for the same reason as elite the driving mechanics. If frontier gave up im sure people would still stay around anchored to the core experience. The only thing is frontier for so many years now are courting the exact opposite demographic, mainstream arcade action players, so if they still want to do this hopefully they keep going and dutifully update the graphics.