Rebel Galaxy Outlaw takes swipe at Elite Dangerous

[RooksBailey]

I wanted to like Rebel Galaxy - and there was much to like - but the game never did click with me. I thought the music was horrid, and the gameplay was much too pew-pew centric to the point where combat became a nuisance. Outlaw initially sounded interesting to me until I learned you are forced into a pre-made character. I get the connection to the original game, but I just rather make my own character in a space game.

As for the swipe: good-natured ribbing. Based on RG and what we know about this sequel, the devs are going for the twitch crowd. That is fine. Different strokes for different folks. Elite will be fine (given good development, of course ) . It is filling a long neglected nitch for space gamers looking for something more immersive than just narrative-driven pew-pew like Everspace or RG. When it comes to ED, I am more inclined to agree with Derek Smart who once wrote that ED is years ahead of the competition. I agree. It is unique and in no position to be threatened by a RGO or others if its ilk. I am not at all surprised Ernest Cline wrote about how Chaos Terrain, the fictional devs of "Armada," his book's space sim that was developed to stop an alien invasion, used "the same programmers" who worked on Elite: Dangerous (other prominent game devs were involved too, including those from Eve Online). That reference made me smile.

 

[Nihila Vex]

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[Norwin Palmer]

This is the 2D (in a 3D world) "3rd person" spaceship game, yes? If it's the one I'm thinking of, then I have some interest in it, just wasn't sure if it was considered good or not. I see that a few folks in this thread really like it.

Yes the same, Double Damage's first game to which RGO is the prequel.

The "galaxy" is procedurally generated so you never get the same twice (but it isn't as big a deal as it may sound), the trading works in a BGS type way where lots of things can make prices go up and down including what you do, there are multiple branches in both the main story and some side stories depending on how you respond in certain conversations/events and what your faction rank standings are. I have played through it six times exploring the different options and where they lead. Most of the things I discovered I have never seen posted about, to me it is very much like Fallout New Vegas in that respect.

There is a mining profession that generally people say is worthless but it was much like mining pre 3.0 in ED, the hardcore miners actually knew how to make it pay. You can hire a NPC crew and give them orders during combat very much like SLF, you can do wing escort and wing combat missions. There are pirate traps like Threat 0 USSs but unlike in ED you can interact with the pirates and potentially negotiate for multiple resolutions other than just bang, bang, bang.

I'm afraid I could go on for several pages why I am a fan but I just found a ton of complexity and interesting things to do when I invested the time and effort to look.

 

[CMDR Slee Piboi]

unlike in ED you can interact with the pirates and potentially negotiate for multiple resolutions other than just bang, bang, bang.

Careful, the thread will get moved to the PvP subforum

 

[jasonbarron]

Had a look at the trailers for this one. Looked like cartoony drivel tbh. And then going exclusive to Epic. I'll pass.

 

[Alien]

I disagree, there's nothing realistic about Elite Dangerous. #IWantAtmosphericLandings #IWantWalkingAround

 

[Nihila Vex]

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[Alien]

I also want those things. And I'd agree there isn't nearly enough realism in Elite Dangerous. But to say there is nothing realistic about it is a little over the top. FAOff can be quite an interesting flight challenge, especially to do it expertly.

I suppose to a great extent it depends on your standard for 'realism'. I mean in the end we're just sitting at desks/whatever looking at screens, so in reality the experience is nothing like flying an actual FTL spaceship might be. By that standard you'd be right; but by that standard looking for realism in a computer game would be futile anyway.

Yes I was exaggerating ... slightly ... I did think that people would realise that, but obviously I was too subtle. I apologise.

 

[Nihila Vex]

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[Alien]

Clearly you were operating on a level far above my meagre intelligence. It is I who should apologise.

It's OK. We all want Elite Dangerous to be the best game it can be, and a new-ish (I think RGO is sequel?) game trying to make a name for itself should not be taking swipes at other games. I would like to think that the Elite community and the Star Citizen community have moved past that.

 

[hunvagy]

It's OK. We all want Elite Dangerous to be the best game it can be, and a new-ish (I think RGO is sequel?) game trying to make a name for itself should not be taking swipes at other games. I would like to think that the Elite community and the Star Citizen community have moved past that.

It's a prequel if I recall correctly. As for the game itself, it is more Privateer with a fresh coat of paint then anything else. Not that it is a bad thing, I loved WCP back in the day. And the swipes at other games are all in good fun I would say. I mean it shows they were fans of the games they were inspired by.. actually if I recall correctly RGO was originally a concept of a new x-wing follow up they tried to sell to Disney.

 

[Shadowdancer]

A bit dismissive no?

I read it as "help, help, I'm having fun!" :-D

 

[Shadowdancer]

I think that is inevitable thanks to continuous dumbing down of gameplay and degradation of human intelligence.

Arrogant reductive thinking much? Is there a law I missed that states games must all bee ultra-realistic dayjobs? Space games IMAO stopped being fun when they tried to be "realistic" but instead only became obtuse and nigh unplayable without so much built-in assistance as to render all their wanton tacked-on ambition moot. Realism never was their appeal, being realistic in space only means that you're dead.

 

[Backer42]

Considering that RBO is going to be an Epic Games exclusive, and Epic Games region locks (excludes) Korea, I'll stick with ED. I never had a problem with region locks on Steam.

Steam introduced them early in this decade, there are not only purchase region blocks (beside the usual regional pricing crap), but also launch region blocks for stuff you already bought. Moved to the wrong country? Say Goodbye to your library! I switched to console to circumvent all this using physical games, so for me Steam has killed PC games.

Back to topic: Neither ED Horizons nor RG managed to keep me interested. Both would be refund candidates, if purchased today. SC was one as well. No Man's Sky Next was one of the few modern space games, where I a actually got some worthwhile gametime out of, the others were Kerbal Space Program and late X: Rebirth.

In consequence I stopped spending money in this tainted genre. X4 fell victim to this policy first and the non-refundable RGO I won't touch with a ten foot pole.

In general the amount of bugs, broken mechanics and missing polish is too high in space-flight-related releases to continue to consider them for purchase. I sometimes get the feeling I'm paying for beta testing babbys first 3D game. That's the main reason why people avoid space games, not because of 6DoF.

 

[hunvagy]

Arrogant reductive thinking much? Is there a law I missed that states games must all bee ultra-realistic dayjobs? Space games IMAO stopped being fun when they tried to be "realistic" but instead only became obtuse and nigh unplayable without so much built-in assistance as to render all their wanton tacked-on ambition moot. Realism never was their appeal, being realistic in space only means that you're dead.

I have to agree there, the genre pretty much eroded into a super niche thing over time, in part thanks to the clining onto the newtonian flight model. Terminus, which apparently is a superb game, was a prime example where I just gave up because it felt like trying to solve math equations instead of.. flying. I do miss the games from the mid nineties, such as the X-Wing and Tie-Fighter line of games, and even WC. So I do applaud Double Damage that they are making something like this, and hope they get their praise. I'll be picking it up when the exclusivity is lifted myself, but best of luck to them.

 

[Nihila Vex]

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[Ddraig]

It's great to have options. Unfortunately, when what interests you is, at best, a 'niche' kind of game, you're probably out of luck.

All I really wanted was a modern overhaul of First Encounters and I'd have been happy. But that option isn't on the table. The nearest I could get was a modern overhaul of 1984's Elite with unnecessarily added multiplayer.

But I don't have the right to expect the developer to cater to me. I should just shove off and play something that better matches my prefer- oh wait...

Yea. You are screwed.
Funny how the world works. Right?
The other option, and I am not kidding, is to create your own game, experience that fits your preferences, study, practice, invest and create.
Of course, that's a tall order but it is actually the right one when nothing else in the world fits your requirements. That, or keep complaining.
That's how I see it.

 

[cpbtrading]

Pew, pew then. Not for me really.

 

[Nihila Vex]

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[Ian Skippy]

Very much this. If ED was simplified in any way it would greatly diminish the game for me, and this suggestion that RGO isn't even going to have 6 DOF really puts me off. That quoted statement almost reads like they think dumbing-down is a virtue...

They do. I loved the soundtrack of the original (even played it in ED), the game itself is far too basic for my taste. Its a fun little blast for a few hours, but nothibg to sink serius time in.