Well, we are talking about a game, but then again it is a game that has pretensions toward simulation in various aspects and numerous nods to factual data where planets are concerned, so there is room for keeping it simple, or to really go for it on facts. So whether the developers take one road or the other is essentially going to fall to the decision of 'is it fun and challenging?'. The fact that it is a game is an important point where the design and inclusion of this sort of thing is concerned.
For myself, the notion of exploring and planetary landings will be a big part of ED's appeal. Being that I am a pilot for real, I should like to see at least a nod toward some realism in these areas. Frankly, it would be damn near suicidal for a pilot to descend through some clouds on a landing approach without knowing what kind of terrain was below that cloud layer, and unless it is an emergency, this would normally always be an informed decision, one where you could balance the elements of risk. Trust me, when flying for real once, on one occasion I was forced down to very low altitude in hilly terrain by the vicious downdraftts of a thunderstorm, and I came very close to having to make a wheels-up landing between two trees (hoping that the wings would rip off and brake my landing roll-out because the available fields were all too small). I was only saved from having to do so by managing to fly clear of the downdrafts, regaining altitude at literally the last second, and I eventually made it back to an airfield, and believe me, that is not an experience I would care to repeat! One guy coming into that airfield that same day was so intent on getting down out of that storm that he forgot to lower his landing gear, and he was an instructor too lol.
So with ED, the fan of realism in me would at least like to have some info on what to expect so I could make an informed decision on a) whether to attempt a landing, and b) where to make that landing. In ideal circumstances, I should like to know the surface composition, surrounding terrain profile, average wind speed, wind direction, gusts, temperature, visibility, precipitation and atmospheric density/composition.
But by the same token, whilst the above real-life story I related was a nerve-wracking experience, in a game it would be an exciting, thrilling gaming moment, so do I really want all the chance for excitement removed from the experience of landing on a newly-discovered planet? In game terms, we are not flying scientific research vessels in ED (although they could very well put them in the game), so could we really expect our little space fighters to be able to do a thorough analysis of everything on an unknown planet? And would being able to do so remove a bit of the fun?
