Open-Only in PP2.0?

[Robert Maynard]

What's the math behind that? Because I’m pretty sure the number of copies sold for GTA V / GTA Online doesn’t exactly match the number of active users either.

In the most recent Frontier accounts that mention sales of the game it was in the region of 4M copies. During the Epic Games promotion c.8M copies were given away free (with Frontier presumably being paid by Epic for doing so). That's the 12M. Number of copies sold would be the theoretical maximum of active users, if all game owners were still with us. It bears no resemblance to active users - and Frontier don't report those numbers, noting that often quoted Steam Chart numbers only apply to those who play the game through Steam - which means that many of active players owning one of the c.4M paid copies aren't included and none of the active players owning one of the c.8M Epic Games copies are either.

It’s difficult to estimate engagement without something like a 'Solo Hauling Initiative' to track those players, but I’d argue that while those 1,200 players in AXI have a noticeable impact on galaxy evolution, 1,000,000 solo haulers could suddenly disappear without anyone, Frontier included, really noticing.

It's not at all difficult for Frontier to assess engagement - as they have the in-game analytics and know how many players are playing at any given time and for how long over a period of interest. Player groups like to big-up their impact on the game, of course - but they were not the only players engaged in AX combat, nor the only group to do so.

I strongly suspect that Frontier would notice the sudden disappearance of 1M players from the game - as those players are as likely to buy cosmetics or paid-access ships as any player. That some in the PvP community may neither notice or care is not really relevant in this case.

 

[varonica]

Put differently, it's highly unlikely that Thargoids would have been allowed to make the game unplayable for those with no interest in the content they offer.

Having watched it all from a distance and not taking part, it seems to me that FDEV adjusted the Thargoid content to the number of players taking part so that the Thargoids couldn't possibly win or burn the entire galaxy, presumably this is part of the ongoing story, that all would have come to a premature end if the entire bubble was occupied by Thargoids.

 

[Robert Maynard]

BTW, Combat is just one of 8 Professions in EDO and ED is a Space Simulator, not just another FP-shooter game.

Very much this - combat is but one of the paths to Elite rank in ones ship, and the other two don't require the player to fire a shot in anger to attain Elite rank in the other two.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Go into a High RES in a shieldless type 9 full of cargo of course!

While this is tongue in cheek, my inner autist is telling me "why would I do that?"

The Clipper example was using hot ships for an actual reason- low cost, (very) high risk. Its literally split second timing on the right enemy- and that in six shots I'd be blown up and bankrupt.

 

[Rubbernuke]

I have absolutely no doubt at all that we won't see a significant increase in NPC opposition in PowerPlay 2.0, only a slight increase. Which means that there will be some who already find PvE threat level way too high, and the resulting bump in NPC opposition outside their home systems to be a turn off. There will also be some (like me) who won't even notice that bump.

It depends- we have four 'levels' possible- unoccupied (no PP NPCs), exploited (a few), fortified (more) and stronghold (max). It will be the latter two that will be the test, given that for strongholds there will be assets that need some form of defence.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Thargoids.

And what if you don't care for them, given that you have a whole plethora of factions, powers and superpowers?

 

[Robert Maynard]

And what if you don't care for them, given that you have a whole plethora of factions, powers and superpowers?

We don't always get what we want.

 

[Rubbernuke]

We don't always get what we want.

True, although for once I've had several months of livestreams, forum threads and a whole update coming for The Subject I Like™.

And then after that its feedback.

So I kind of got what I wanted

 

[Robert Maynard]

True, although for once I've had several months of livestreams, forum threads and a whole update coming for The Subject I Like™.

Indeed.

And then after that its feedback.

Indeed - I expect that a lot of players will have lots to say when offering their opinions.

So I kind of got what I wanted

At least we have that.

.... only seven more sleeps.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

We don't always get what we want.

But if you try sometime you'll find
You get what you need

 

[Nowski]

It depends- we have four 'levels' possible- unoccupied (no PP NPCs), exploited (a few), fortified (more) and stronghold (max). It will be the latter two that will be the test, given that for strongholds there will be assets that need some form of defence.

Apart from the 'crazy chaos' mentioned in FDev Zac's tweet about stronghold carrier space, one of his replies alludes to using 'god mode' to survive there.. I guess the point being that it's intended as somewhere to engage with fairly tough NPCs

 

[Wily Rites]

I was thinking that those carriers sound like a fun place to really test out a stealth ship build.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Apart from the 'crazy chaos' mentioned in FDev Zac's tweet about stronghold carrier space, one of his replies alludes to using 'god mode' to survive there.. I guess the point being that it's intended as somewhere to engage with fairly tough NPCs

As it should be- but sounds promising.

Can we dare dream FD get it....checks notes right?

 

[Robert Maynard]

Apart from the 'crazy chaos' mentioned in FDev Zac's tweet about stronghold carrier space, one of his replies alludes to using 'god mode' to survive there.. I guess the point being that it's intended as somewhere to engage with fairly tough NPCs

Sounds like Stronghold Carrier instances may be some form of Ultra-CZ. Wondering if they will be able to be forced to retreat in a similar manner to Capital Ships do when sufficiently damaged.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Sounds like Stronghold Carrier instances may be some form of Ultra-CZ. Wondering if they will be able to be forced to retreat in a similar manner to Capital Ships do when sufficiently damaged.

Stronghold FCs retreat when 'stronghold' systems are UMed to 'fortified' IIRC.

 

[Mr Jack Burton]

I strongly suspect that Frontier would notice the sudden disappearance of 1M players from the game

As you said 12Mil copies, few thousands of active players and the game is still here. So it's already happened. And while initiatives like AXI continue to involve players and shape the galaxy, solo hauling is not. Feeding the community with tools, efforts and content is the main reason the game is still here.

 

[Darkfyre99]

Stronghold FCs retreat when 'stronghold' systems are UMed to 'fortified' IIRC.

Which brings up the questions:

What’s going to be the most effective way to undermine a Stronghold system?

and

Will the effective way also be the fun way?

 

[Tifu]

I was thinking that those carriers sound like a fun place to really test out a stealth ship build.

Make sure you take a full video of that attempt. It'll be a good test of how tight the security of the stronghold's fleet carriers are.

I heard the Dolphin runs super cold

 

[Wily Rites]

Make sure you take a full video of that attempt. It'll be a good test of how tight the security of the stronghold's fleet carriers are.

I heard the Dolphin runs super cold

Ooops ... I dropped a hacking limpet!!! Oh hatches too, my my what's a curious fellow such as myself to do now?

I've not yet tried the dolphin, sounds like a good reason to do so.

 

[Rubbernuke]

Which brings up the questions:

What’s going to be the most effective way to undermine a Stronghold system?

and

Will the effective way also be the fun way?

Well FD themselves talk it up in PvP terms IIRC (hence why NPCs are important otherwise) but we will have to see what UM is like given there are many inputs (or are told).