I wonder what was the gameplay decision behind and why the play testing has resulted into "That's fun!"? 
Isn't it frustrating to have just one sample box and you have to pass all the plants to find two more plants of the same kind far away?
- Thread starter CMDR Darth Vater
- Start date
Play testing?
Yeah.
IIRC, the actual scan process originally required us to press a button at the exact tine all the rotating fields lined up. Due to input lag and/or poor reaction time, scanning was almost impossible for many. They eventually changed it to just hold until the scan finished. I doubt we'll see any further improvements.
To be fair removing it was mistake.
It could be about efficiency and progress of sample.
No minigame- 1/3
"partially" succes- 2/3
full succes-3/3
But as usually- people want to removing anything, what require more than pressing, sometimes holding button.
And after it complain that it is boring.
But hey, instead we have +/- x100 boost in grinding our sweet, sweet, meaningless cash
It could be about efficiency and progress of sample.
No minigame- 1/3
"partially" succes- 2/3
full succes-3/3
But as usually- people want to removing anything, what require more than pressing, sometimes holding button.
And after it complain that it is boring.
But hey, instead we have +/- x100 boost in grinding our sweet, sweet, meaningless cash
This would be great system!
But with FDEV it always starts with one extreme, and if they adjust it, it is to the other extreme. Back then (when they really tried to develop the game) some aspects would bounce between extremes, each iteration a bit less extreme, and settle close-ish to an amicable middle ground, but nowadays it just goes either: initial extreme is what you get, or the first 'iteration' (= the other extreme) is what you get.
Hi Darth 
In answer to your topic title....Yes! ...frustrating.
Jack
In answer to your topic title....Yes! ...frustrating.
Jack
What is your explanation that you have to pass other unscanned plants to fulfil three scans and then to search again the others you've already seen?
And..... Why do I have to go to SC to see where the next specimen is?
I have a feeling the biodiversity mechanic may be there to offset the removal of the mini-game. I never completed a scan using the mini-game mechanics (I think I tried it a couple times). As such, I never saw if biodiversity was a thing back then. I personally thought the mini-game didn't fit in a game with no other mini-games (that I can think of).
Regardless, biodiversity does make sense. Three different locations will verify the sample is valid. Three different scans in the same location could all be diseased or otherwise contaminated.
Regardless, biodiversity does make sense. Three different locations will verify the sample is valid. Three different scans in the same location could all be diseased or otherwise contaminated.
We don't have to, that is a choice. The other choices are normal flight in a ship, driving in an SRV, or the shoe-leather express.