Potential buyer questions

Ivan Jaxon · Sep 13, 2014

Hi everyone, I'm Ivan and I'm loving how Elite Dangerous is shaping up to be. I'm so close to purchasing but there's one major thing that keeps holding me back, and that's the expansions.

I really feel like being able to land on planets and walk around my ship/space stations should be an integral part of my Elite Dangerous experience, but there's no way to tell when those features will be available or how much they'll cost to add on to the main game.

I found out about this game way after the Expansion pass period had expired (otherwise I likely would have jumped on that right away).

Is the best option for someone like me to wait until more news becomes available on the expansions? Or would it be more cost-effective to buy now and hope the expansions aren't overly expensive?

Thanks for any and all feedback guys.

Iain M Norman · Sep 13, 2014

Welcome Commander! Pity you missed expansion pass deal.

We have no word at all on expansion pricing.

I'd personally expect an expansion to be less than the core game price though wouldn't you? Certainly I can't see it being more. But that's just conjecture.

Worst case might be expansions cost the same as the game?

Add that up, and decide if you love Elite enough to spend the money.

Don't forget the first expansion might not be for another year, surely that gives time to save up?

I'd buy now, and start playing now. Grab the Beta if I was you. It comes with the new mercenary pack as well.

Zephyriel · Sep 13, 2014

In the end it will probably cost you the same if you buy the game now and the expansions when they come, or wait for the expansions to buy the game. So the real question is, are you willing to play the game without the expansion or do you think you will only enjoy it with them ? I'm pretty sure there will be largely enough content to keep you busy with the core game when it's released. The beta is only a small fraction of the whole package and is already much longer than most commercial games... Hope that helps you in your decision.

DJ · Sep 13, 2014

Iain M Norman said:
Welcome Commander! Pity you missed expansion pass deal.

My sentiments exactly. I kick myself for missing the kickstarter, knowing how badly I can play since pb, the insurance discount would have been invaluable for me!

ste · Sep 13, 2014

Its £5 cheaper to buy now.

The game is £35 as of now
Release will be £40.

Waiting isnt really going to make a difference for the expansions now. Those are a future thing you will have to consider after release.

Unless your entire purchase depends on the price of the expansions, then there is no point waiting.

Cmdr Andy B · Sep 13, 2014

buy now, there will be plenty to do before the expansions come out and by then you'll have amassed enough in game credits to make the most of them when they do.

forger · Sep 13, 2014

the developers do not even THINK about the expansions now, they are focused solely on initial release, also FD is known for their secrecy, i mean they tell us nothing and give everything, so if you will wait on any news about expansions then i am afraid you will wait 1,5 years at least.

just get the game while it's cheaper then retail release and when there will be expansions then get them, not that you will have a choice, another option is to wait for someone to sell their account, but i wouldn't count on that, the game is shaping way too good

so buy now, play now, learn the basics and mechanics and have fun NOW

Zvanya · Sep 13, 2014

I missed the expansion pass too but I'm not losing any sleep over it. Given the rather low sell price they are quoting for game itself I would hardly expect each expansion to be more than maybe 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the game. Even buying standard beta and 2 expansions at 1/2 the release price I'll be spending far less than I have dropped on some other games - and in some cases wishing I hadn't

Even if they charged same price for expansions as game I'll spend less

I'd say if you think it's looking good now why not go for it?

RedeyeJedi · Sep 13, 2014

I was lucky enough to get the unlimited expansions on the last call, even got it before the beta access as I didn't want to play the first beta or the alpha preferring the fewer bugs in the current iteration.

Admittedly there are bugs in the current game but you can work around most of them which along with a few tips on the forums will get you into a better ship very quickly.

For now the game is totally playable though group play is a little buggy but you can with persistence join the same instance with friends.

Even at the current price for Beta Access its not that steep compared to most retail games from major publishers, just bear in mind there will be a few account wipes between now and final release.

Patrick_68000 · Sep 13, 2014

For the planetary landings, I think that the price will be close to the price of the retail version of the base game. Because it is a big and complex development. Perhaps there will be a pre-order system ? The release could be between 1 and 2 years after the release of the first version of the game

ste · Sep 13, 2014

Patrick_68000 said:
For the planetary landings, I think that the price will be close to the price of the retail version of the base game. Because it is a big and complex development. Perhaps there will be a pre-order system ? The release could be between 1 and 2 years after the release of the first version of the game

Maybe you can buy premium beta for each DLC.

I dont think it will be as much as the base game.

Patrick_68000 · Sep 13, 2014

ste said:
Maybe you can buy premium beta for each DLC.

I dont think it will be as much as the base game.

Yes beta would be as intelligent. It will be as much as (hope) because it is the necessary complement of the game. Imagine in a network, fighting on the surface of planets, bombing missions, hunting game, fly over cities etc ...

Belan · Sep 13, 2014

While I'm not expecting this, I am holding out hope that they do a last ditch cash grab and offer up the lifetime pass, say a week before launch. Even at a slightly elevated price, I would throw my wallet at them.

Ruskodisco · Sep 14, 2014

my god i cant wait till planetary landings and walking inside ports and other features come to this beast of a game.
and the game will be HUUGEEE bigger than most open world games combined.
so yeah the price will be most definetily worth it.

btw anyone have any news on planetary landings?
i found two videos relating to the subject the first one is of "no mans sky" game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmg4WmYGHy0
and the 2nd is some sort of seamless plant landing video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLtmEjqzg7M

Ruskodisco · Sep 14, 2014

Patrick_68000 said:
Yes beta would be as intelligent. It will be as much as (hope) because it is the necessary complement of the game. Imagine in a network, fighting on the surface of planets, bombing missions, hunting game, fly over cities etc ...

i'm foaming at the mouth.

and actually landing on a futuristic capital city from one of the factions

and discovering the cultures of each faction on the planet!!

my dreams of space gta are coming true

Daeron · Sep 14, 2014

The logical thing would be to wait. The passionate thing would be to throw money at the screen, and hope it is the drop needed to make the circle complete. Either way there will be some drawbacks. That of time, or substance. Take your pick.

Flin · Sep 14, 2014

If you like what you see already and am interested in playing, buy now.

You get the following for pre-purchase:

save a few dollars/pound
get a few perks and surprises (see Newsletter #40)
* recognition as a Day One supporter

I'm speculating, but I expect the expansions to be packaged and priced around 25% of the base game. And they will offer base + expansion bundles to new players at a slight discount.

Lastly, don't expect, but also don't be surprised if they offer expansion discounts to Day One supporters of the game.

So, make your pre-purchase now and be a Day One supporter.

Mucka · Sep 14, 2014

I'm holding off until at least Beta 2 and its content is announced, there just isn't enough core game elements there for me at the moment and I don't want to suffer burn out playing only half a game.

Planetary landings and exploration are the two major aspects of the game I am most looking forward to but unfortunately they are also the two major aspects that are missing from the game at the moment.

I really need at least some news and encouragement that development on those fronts will be worthwhile and not always something planned for the distant future.

A good compromise for me would be to at least be able to enter planets atmospheres as part of the exploration, scanning and mapping of systems they announced recently in the full game. Scanning for lifeforms would be cool too and there could be some scans that could only be carried out by entering into a planets atmosphere which would also help the development teams of having players need to explore systems properly (and appreciate their hard work)
I would be more than happy to wait for a full landings, open ground world exploration, add on and a first person add on if that were the case.

Not sure how they would explain the limitation of only being able to enter planets atmospheres yet not land or get low but maybe they wouldn't even need to, they don't need to explain why space ships are stuck in space and can never land on terra firma now.

So hopefully beta 2 will at least give gameplay more depth and open up new elements which may be enough for me to buy in but I really would like some more definite news on interaction with planets as that surely is a huge part of an open world space sim.

Otherwise it will be a case of, "Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of Commander Steve, my continuing mission to stay away from strange new worlds, to avoid new life and civilizations, to not so boldly go where everyone else has already been."

Seriously though, the game is shaping up well and already has me ready to invest in a rift and new joystick just for this game, I just need to know these core aspects of the game will be introduced well and in good time.

edguy · Sep 14, 2014

The way I see it although and it's unfortunate you missed out on the expansion deal, for those waiting to buy on release it's going to be £40.

It's only going to cost an extra £10 to join the beta and start playing today which is fantastic value plus in some sense you will get a head start by getting to grips with the game-play and controls, In my personal experience it's the best beta I've been on.

Ivan Jaxon · Sep 14, 2014

Thanks everybody for the amazing feedback!

Admittedly, I'm really into this game because of the space explorer in me. I'm not big on smuggling and trade, but I love docking/taking off in a ship, hyperspace jumps, and flying by (or into?) strange new worlds. Dogfights don't hurt either

There are some easily forgivable flaws with ED (ship and dock interiors generally look and sound the same, not a huge arsenal of weaponry, no radio/COMs sound experience) but Elite is by far the best game I've seen as far as space explorer immersion factor goes. A lot of credit goes to the sound team for that as well.

That said, the ability to exit your ship and fly seamlessly into planetary atmospheres really makes this game legendary. I want my experience with the game to have all of that (and I'd be willing to buy that in advance), but if the prices will remain what they are (or balance out via promos) while no advance purchasing options exist, then perhaps I'll wait a while like Mucka and see what new deals and promos become available further down the line.

Thanks again for the amazing feedback guys, it really helped my decision a great deal. I definitely plan to get this game at some point, so I will see all of you in the stars.