Questions about preordering

[Achilles Maelstrom]

Hello,

as you can see I'm new on this forum and I have a few questions.
But let me introduce myself briefly.

When I first played Elite on the Comodore 64, I was hooked instantly. Then I was extremely excited about the first Frontier game, although I couldn't really get into it. Now that I've seen so many ingame videos of the alpha, I feel that I must have this game.

Now here's my question:

Should I preorder the premium beta or just the normal preorder option + the download expansion?
Where exactly is the difference other than price and the time that it will take until I can actually play?
I can barely afford 85 bucks, let alone 100! So I really need to be sure about what I get for my hard earned coin.

Anyway, thanks in advance and hopefully see ya'll soon in space!

Achilles Maelstrom

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Welcome Achilles to forums!

Now, about price tags and levels

* Premium beta means you take part in first wave of beta, which will start in March (most probably).
* Normal game copy plus expansions means you will start to play starting with gamma, which at this point could be May/June.

So if you are ready to wait, and money is an issue, I suggest to stick with copy of the game. Gamma means everyone who backed and preordered game will play, and it will be at release candidate status - all things should work, and they will try to avoid character resets. Gamma will last whole summer till autumn, when retail campaign will start.

 

[trekman]

I've gone for the premium beta and here's what I will be getting for my money

Pre-order the Elite: Dangerous Premium Beta now to get early access to the first beta stage of game and help us shape Elite: Dangerous!

What you get

The Premium Beta will be available once the Alpha phase is completed. Beta is where the whole game will come together, and by taking part you will have the opportunity for you to play, test and feedback to us.

Each of the Alpha and Beta products gives automatic access to the following development stages, and of course a download copy of the released game!

Expansion Pass giving you automatic access to all major downloadable expansion packs.


The waiting for the premium beta is killing me. I was even tempted to invest in the alpha now but decided that this would be too much money and March isn't really that far away if the premium is ready then so I will wait and drool some more at the wonderful youtube videos.

 

[huwthomas]

I think the must-have is the expansion pass, if you're as sure about the game as you seem to be. As for the rest, be patient, you'll get the same game in the end (and hopefully before too long )

 

[huwthomas]

I can barely afford 85 bucks, let alone 100!

... and bear in mind the prices are in UK pounds, so higher than what you might think if you assumed US$.

 

[Patrick_68000]

I see, rather, beta 1 at the end of april. A copy of the game and the extensions are already a very good deal. Beta 1 and 2, if you're impatient. And welcome to the forums and among the great family of the Elite

 

[Achilles Maelstrom]

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome.

As much as it pains me but I will have to wait for the gamma phase.
If I could afford it I would not hesitate to go with alpha. It's a must have game for anyone who ever played the original Elite.

Thanks again for all the kind replies.

Achilles

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome.

As much as it pains me but I will have to wait for the gamma phase.
If I could afford it I would not hesitate to go with alpha. It's a must have game for anyone who ever played the original Elite.

Thanks again for all the kind replies.

Achilles

No harm, just follow Youtube videos and Twitch streams Soon Alpha phase 3.0 will be rolled out with traveling and trading, so there will be more content to watch.

See you at gamma!

 

[OillyRag]

Thanks again for all the kind replies.

Achilles

As the OP's question seems to have been answered i wonder if anyone can answer a (related) question of mine:

I have backed the game through kickstarter to the gamma (£30) level, if i was to order the beta would I have to pay £50 or would my £30 be taken off that leaving me a balance to pay of £20 ?

.

 

[KickahasTier]

As the OP's question seems to have been answered i wonder if anyone can answer a (related) question of mine:

I have backed the game through kickstarter to the gamma (£30) level, if i was to order the beta would I have to pay £50 or would my £30 be taken off that leaving me a balance to pay of £20 ?

.

If it were up to me - and many others then absolutely yes, you should only pay the difference. BUT, no not in the web shop - it has no respect for your pledge money. Your best bet is to email the overworked Ashley, who by all accounts is a very reasonable and helpful person.

TLDR, Boo web shop ; yay Ashley

 

[nosscar]

I know it has already been answered, but just to clarify. (as I am seriously planning on buying next week)
If I buy the normal pre order on the store page for £35, I will get the gamma release, just after beta completes, and will be able to play this months before the general release. And I will get all future DLC/Expansion packs free.

Also will the general release version cost more or be cheaper than this for £35
Don't want to appear a skinflint, but moving house soon and money's tight just now.
thanks.

 

[ste]

We have waited 2 decades for this game I'm sure another another few month wont hurt.. although it does to me which is why I went for the premium beta

Its like waiting for christmas if christmases only happened 5 times a century... pretty excited to say the least.

 

[OillyRag]

Also will the general release version cost more or be cheaper than this for £35

thanks.

There has been no info on the price of the general release version but i would bet it costs more than £35

Probably £45 -£55

speculation alert

 

[nosscar]

There has been no info on the price of the general release version but i would bet it costs more than £35

Probably £45 -£55

speculation alert

Thanks, if this turns out to be the case, the pre-order is an even better deal, with the free expansions, that could turn out to be a really big saving.