Obsidian Ant´s Video from today nails it right on the head

[Straha Yeagar]

I do a lot of those things too, admittedly I mostly explore, but having things to do isn't the crux of the issue. Lack of development of core non-combat mechanics is the issue. Trading, exploration, mining (less so), even piracy, they've all barely changed since 1.0 with regards to thier mechanics. Sure exploration got planet surfaces but nothing to do down there except sightsee. Honestly combat got a LOT more content from planet surfaces than exploration has. I mean heck, exploration doesn't even have missions yet, two and a half years after launch!!!

I think the root of the problem is Frontier's continual focus on new bolt on features while hardly ever going back to improve what they've already done before. At some point the core has to be improved upon if Elite is going to survive long term, it's just too anemic and barebones the way it launced at 1.0.

Oh heck...exploration missions would be awesome, even if they are just as simple as the scientific protectorate of some minor faction is researching gas giants, and needs first discoveries of five different types of gas giants in some sector 8kly away.

ETA: Give us NPC wingmen, and use that mechanic to have a mission requesting an expedition leader for a group of NPC ships to some far off nebula...

 

[maboleth]

I can't complain. I have barely scratched the surface of the game, even though I've been playing for at least a year. I guess it all depends on how often you play and why. I'm mostly an explorer and commercial space travel player with occasional bounty hunting. But still SO much to do and see. I still didn't even engineered a single ship. I have just started getting into the Powerplay.

That being said, I'd love to have more exploration stuff to be added and better tools/scanners to find the alien artifacts and anomalies more detailed or more immersive.

 

[Obsidian Ant]

Better to let them work and announce at their own pace. Development and also financial processes often work counter to what the player might like. Development is subject to change, so announcing features that may be scrapped or changed is never a good idea. Similarly with announcing things at the wrong times, that's never the best way to maximize interest and sales.

But Youtubers rushing them along will normally always get a response, has worked so far.

Just so it's clear, I didn't ask in the video, nor am I asking here for Frontier to hurry up and announce anything. I'm certainly pointing out though, that the lack of info is a huge problem from some parts of the community, and I can relate to that feeling. However I suspect Frontier are well aware of this fact...

 

[rrobes]

The need for FD to attract new players is obvious, so new features are like bait for these persons and does that work? FD would know.

Keeping the older players that have already paid for the game and expansions, how does that fit in into the revenue stream? Older players and meeting their demands may not be as critical as a capital investment as the porting of the game to a new platform (PS4) which increases their revenue stream (new demographic).

In short, the sounds of silence may be intentional. Follow the money.

 

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

I can't complain. I have barely scratched the surface of the game, even though I've been playing for at least a year. I guess it all depends on how often you play and why. I'm mostly an explorer and commercial space travel player with occasional bounty hunting. But still SO much to do and see. I still didn't even engineered a single ship.

I love engineering, its almost addictive when i'm doing it. But i'm also one of the few that likes a certain degree of randomness to make each component unique. Now if you are a compulsive/A-retentive person and MUST have it absolutely perfect then it may drive one insane LOL

 

[Commander Biscuit]

Just so it's clear, I didn't ask in the video, nor am I asking here for Frontier to hurry up and announce anything. I'm certainly pointing out though, that the lack of info is a huge problem from some parts of the community, and I can relate to that feeling. However I suspect Frontier are well aware of this fact...

It's very hard to criticize you Ant, you're a softly spoken chap and not prone to hyperbole and your passion for the game is clear. But you must understand your position as a prominent youtuber. Whether you're personally rushing them or helpfully drawing attention to malcontent on the forums, you're still putting FD in a position to respond to it.

 

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

Just so it's clear, I didn't ask in the video, nor am I asking here for Frontier to hurry up and announce anything. I'm certainly pointing out though, that the lack of info is a huge problem from some parts of the community, and I can relate to that feeling. However I suspect Frontier are well aware of this fact...

I'm getting the impression that once they bring the PlayStation into the fold (big group of people) then the main platforms can all move in synchronicity. I would suspect they did not want to add a great deal more until this was up and running.
After the fact i think we will see a acceleration in content again.

 

[Straha Yeagar]

Just so it's clear, I didn't ask in the video, nor am I asking here for Frontier to hurry up and announce anything. I'm certainly pointing out though, that the lack of info is a huge problem from some parts of the community, and I can relate to that feeling. However I suspect Frontier are well aware of this fact...

And like I said, if Frontier had a history of well fleshed out, engagin, robust, relatively issue free updates, this would not really be anything any of us would be talking about. Unfortunately, that is not their track record...

 

[Besensec]

Newest theory: They don´t announce Season 3 (or whatever they call it) because 2.4 has something in it that otherwise would be revealed. Wishful thinking though

I have considered this, but if that is so, then 'season 3' would be very narrow in scope in order for any revelation of it to spoil 2.4. They are very likely to be connected though, and for sure details from one would spoil the secrets of the other.

 

[Tyger]

'Fix' - 'Build' - 'Grow'.

<end>

 

[AceFlares]

I can't contain myself any longer... Obsidian Ant is my man crush.

Now I feel better. Getting that out of the way, the visuals and commentary are just about perfect. How to complain with class. Only the British have this ability, along with queueing in an orderly manner.

 

[Ignition]

We have said this since a long time, at least a year.

This is nothing new.

Some people realise the lack of game development faster than others.

 

[Stewart_]

Today's video was great. It sums up the issues with ED. But not forgetting, the basics of Elite is good.. Frontier need to build on the existing gameplay.

Unlike others, there will be a "season 3" what ever form that takes. Frontier did not create ED for PS4 only to abandon the game entirely. FD's future is all about franchises.

 

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

You all want a cause? Help Hudson!!, his part of the federation is getting slaughtered, its in shambles. I have so much to do i don't know WHAT to do FIRST LOL. metaphorically I wish i had the explorers problems sometimes. Now granted, the playstaion noobs might help in about 2 months or so. But until then its shirnk shrink shirnk i guess.

 

[Kvas]

I wonder if they add features because it might be too late to touch the core of the game. Extra Credits recently released an interesting video about video game design, and why sometimes it doesn't go as planned. I would love if they fleshed out at least one feature they already released, PowerPlay imho needs to be revamped.

[video=youtube_share;s1_50T5GwZ8]https://youtu.be/s1_50T5GwZ8[/video]

 

[BlackSpaceCowboy]

Obsidian Ant has such a great voice.

I don't think Frontier have any idea how to create content. Unless they hire new people with experience nothing will really change. We'll get more ships, more planets, more features and modules but still nothing to do other than tedious grinding. They have a 1980's game design mindset.

 

[Conch]

You all want a cause? Help Hudson!!, his part of the federation is getting slaughtered, its in shambles. I have so much to do i don't know WHAT to do FIRST LOL. metaphorically I wish i had the explorers problems sometimes. Now granted, the playstaion noobs might help in about 2 months or so. But until then its shirnk shrink shirnk i guess.

i rather scoop out my eyes with a rusty spoon than doing powerplay..

 

[Karunamon]

I'm getting the impression that once they bring the PlayStation into the fold (big group of people) then the main platforms can all move in synchronicity. I would suspect they did not want to add a great deal more until this was up and running.
After the fact i think we will see a acceleration in content again.

I've got to disagree with you, but only because every single patch to a game on PS4 or Xbone has to be vetted by the respective companies (SCEA and Microsoft).

This process takes about a week for each company assuming no issues.

This puts Frontier in the unenviable position of having to maintain 3 separate codebases (above and beyond different libraries) for each console's foibles and each company's demands.

I've heard many a game developer complain about this procedure being a pain in the rear.

Unless there were drastic changes with the approval process at both companies, this means that there will be no meaningful changes to release cadence. Point releases will only come out for really nasty emergencies, and larger patches will still be huge and take months between releases.

 

[STARFIRE REVMEUP]

I've got to disagree with you, but only because every single patch to a game on PS4 or Xbone has to be vetted by the respective companies (SCEA and Microsoft).

This process takes about a week for each company assuming no issues.

This puts Frontier in the unenviable position of having to maintain 3 separate codebases (above and beyond different libraries) for each console's foibles and each company's demands.

I've heard many a game developer complain about this procedure being a pain in the rear.

Whether you agree it should be on multiple platforms or not, it "IS" and is expanding there. even beyond Playstation it seems.

Really i was saying maybe from a technical point of view they did not want the game to proceed much further until the Play station was up and running. otherwise PS4 would have even MORE catching up to do. Just a guess at a logistical decision being made there.

 

[krylite]

I'm getting the impression that once they bring the PlayStation into the fold (big group of people) then the main platforms can all move in synchronicity. I would suspect they did not want to add a great deal more until this was up and running.
After the fact i think we will see a acceleration in content again.

I feel the same way. Even with no details, it was reassuring to have heard Braben saying that spacelegs would come. Now I realize when Sandro said multicrew could be expanded on depending on its reception he probably wasn't referring to just the current playerbase but also the upcoming PS4 one. At this point I'm optimistic more direction for the game and details will be revealed after the PS4 launch. I kindof envy the new PS4 players. Many of them are going to be floored and wowed by ED seeing it with the fresh new experience, even better at its current stage.