Space is boring in real life...

[Pete4000uk]

We are only scratching the surface of our universe.

 

[Old Duck]

If everything is exciting, then nothing is exciting. Diamonds are precious because they are rare (except LTDs, which is a different thread).

Meanwhile in NMS, I quickly grew bored with their "every planet is chocked full of 'exciting' stuff" version of "space".

 

[Cmdr Esteban]

"Space is boring in real life..."

I agree with the OP’s sentiment here in his post about this phrase.

Spent a fair amount of time recently (weather permitting) observing Jupiter and Saturn through my telescope as they approach opposition. Sure what you see through a telescope with the eye is in no way comparable in colour and detail to the glorious astrophotography and NASA images, but it’s still pretty damned fantabulosa. Can confirm space is definitely not boring in real life.

 

[MishaTX]

Listen, after Bob knows how long, I finally ran into a Lagrange cloud, just when I least expected it. I'd lost count of all the "boring" systems I'd scanned up until then. And I was excited, thrilled pink as I slowly approached a giant crystal floating in there. Why? Because I HADN'T seen that sort of thing every other jump.

 

[KhaiJB]

thing is...

you want space to be boring.
it's when it's exciting, you are normally in the ++++

 

[wrmiller]

Space is boring? I wouldn't know, as I've never been there.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

The point is actually that each single planet in our system has an interesting element that in a game would worth the time to visit and explore. In our solar system alone it makes more than 10 interesting features.
I think all planets, or at least all solar systems, in ED should have at least a single interesting features that worths to explore. Stellar forge should be added with a little bit of spice to make things more interesting.

Maybe our universe just had a better procedural generation algorithm.

 

[Kaocraft]

So the OP is suggesting hand crafting SOL with points of interest to make it far more fidelitious than the rest of the bubble, and the rest of the galaxy.

Firstly, it is already to some extent.

Second, to go the full monty would end up with something completely out of place in the game. Basically Star Citizen surrounded by Elite Dangerous.

Question: for the large amount of work required to create hand-crafted planets just for one solar system, how much time would players then spend there?

I would say the graphical fidelity and content within SOL should increase/or not at the same level and rate as the rest of the galaxy, otherwise why bother.

Just gonna point out that nowhere in the post did OP suggest making handcrafted one-shot content just for SOL. Rather he used our immediate known solar system as an example of the diversity in just that limited area, to highlight how unrealistic and unjustifiable the cut-paste-repeat sameiness of Elite's so-called "realistic" galaxy has turned out to be. This is a pre-emptive counterpoint to the oft-used argument that Elite's galaxy IS realistic and therefore that is why it is (some argue justifiably) boring. Elite's galaxy is boring, but not because it is realistic to be boring. It is boring because it is UN-realistic.

 

[wrmiller]

Meanwhile in NMS, I quickly grew bored with their "every planet is chocked full of 'exciting' stuff" version of "space".

This was likely done for the younger crowd who suffers from ADD (amongst other things...).

 

[Shir]

If you look at some original photos of space, planets, etc, you realize what an amazing job the art and coding department of Frontier have done!

 

[Riverside]

Elite's galaxy is boring, but not because it is realistic to be boring. It is boring because it is UN-realistic.

Fair comment, but it is very good already

 

[Nikephorus Phocas]

Where are the comets?

 

[WR3ND]

Maybe our universe just had a better procedural generation algorithm.

Heh, well, maybe. Either way the quantum bits are a lot smaller and the universe is a lot bigger. So, a much larger stage for things to be acted out on.

Good chance 500Ly jump range could get you out hopping along to the LMC IRL, I mean, you know, if the technology was actually possible and existed as it does in game. A guy can dream. There's a lot of cool stuff out there.

 

[Xious]

Who doesn't love Uranus?

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

If you look at some original photos of space, planets, etc, you realize what an amazing job the art and coding department of Frontier have done!

I agree, ED artists make always good jobs. It's the interaction and the gameplay team that lacks of inspiration imo.

 

[dubsdj]

Games need to be fun though.

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

Listen, after Bob knows how long, I finally ran into a Lagrange cloud, just when I least expected it. I'd lost count of all the "boring" systems I'd scanned up until then. And I was excited, thrilled pink as I slowly approached a giant crystal floating in there. Why? Because I HADN'T seen that sort of thing every other jump.

It's fine to have few rare features. But the gameplay needs to be compelling, interesting and more realistic so systems should feature something anyway.

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

Just gonna point out that nowhere in the post did OP suggest making handcrafted one-shot content just for SOL. Rather he used our immediate known solar system as an example of the diversity in just that limited area, to highlight how unrealistic and unjustifiable the cut-paste-repeat sameiness of Elite's so-called "realistic" galaxy has turned out to be. This is a pre-emptive counterpoint to the oft-used argument that Elite's galaxy IS realistic and therefore that is why it is (some argue justifiably) boring. Elite's galaxy is boring, but not because it is realistic to be boring. It is boring because it is UN-realistic.

^This is a very good summary of the OP