CQC [suggestion] Integrate CQC with open play

[M. Volgrand]

VOLGRAND, YOU ARE CRAZY!

Ok, maybe, but please have a read to this idea. We were talking about cqc in Mobius facebook and I had an illumination.

So, what's the problem with CQC?

There are several issues with the Arena, being probably the most notable of them the lack of an ETA to start a game, and the lack of players. But why we don't have enough players? In my opinion, it is because CQC feels disconnected from the main game.

Yeah, of course you get your CQC rank displayed in your HUD... but that's all. No side effects, no effects on NPC, not even another player can see it when he scans you. So, what's the point? Although CQC is a great game mode (and I mean it, one of the funniest minigames I have ever played), the bulk of ED players want to play with the whole galaxy. To have a minigame that is simply disengaged from the galaxy is not really appealing.


Ok, you genius. Why would the galaxy care if you are a good CQC player? Huh? Man, I have better things to worry about!

Well, because we are supposed to be professional players! Ok, in real life I worry about my job and my patients (I'm a nurse), and I don't care about soccer. But if I see Leo Messi walking in the street, I will stop and say "Holy molly, it's Leo Messi!". Even when any sport will not affect your life directly -or at least no more than what you want it to affect you- most people will care about it.


Alright, you have your point. How do you expect to implement your groupies in ED?


Let's go a bit further than just groupies, shall we? Let's create a feature that both CQC and non CQC players will enjoy. The plan is very, very simple: System based leagues.


Say what now?

Easy! Every system would have his own CQC league. That would work per "seasons", in which players will be able to play CQC to increase their rank in that particular system. By raising your rank in minor systems, you are then granted access to the league in major systems. A very simple way to do that would be to accept "missions" in those systems, in a sort of community goal (but competitive one). You enlist in the CQC championship and then, per every game you win or loose, your position keeps changing and, at the end of the season, your CQC rank in this system will increase.

Once you are a professional in a minor system, you have the chance to access to major leagues. Let's say you are a brand new pilot and try to participate in the CQC league of Achenar. The automatic response: "Sorry kid, no newbies here".
But if you have a reputation in a minor system, then you are granted access. "You think you are good kid? You'll soon be proven wrong. Welcome to the Achenar Close Quarters Championship".


Ok, and how will non-CQC players enjoy this?

Because it would be a big event! When a season in the major leagues starts, a massive influx of ships would pop into the system! The demand for liquor, food, consumer goods and staff will be increased! Loads of fans will like to go there, so passenger missions from nearby systems will increase! Pirates and other scum will profit the opportunity to make a fortune, so will the bounty hunters! Crime lords are also fans of CQC, so they will pay a fortune to be transported there... by a commander willing to take the challenge!

AND EVEN MORE! A CQC player, and cheater, may try to interdict his competitors to get them out of the competition (let's say that a commander killed in game looses X points, to represent the time he needs to recover),which would force teams of players to work so their champions make it in time!


And finally you can have a decal, and a rank that really matters in game:


Commander M. Volgrand
Enterpreneur
Trailblazer.
Dangerous.
Achenar Close Quarters Champion


FDL: Make CQC matter in game, and you will get people playing it.

 

[SushiCW]

This suggestion comes up a lot, but I don't think it would work well because:

1. A league per system would hopelessly fracture an already-far-too-thin playerbase. Finding a match is too hard as it is, this would make it far far worse.
2. People who don't enjoy the gameplay aren't magically going to enjoy it more if it shows up in the main game.
3. One of the *good* things about CQC is that you can get to it from anywhere, so it's an awesome relief valve for explorers out in the boonies. That shouldn't go away. The disconnect from the main game has *good* aspects too.

A decal for CQC ranks would be nice, though.

- Here's what I would support for main-game integration: Allow people to queue up for CQC from the main game, so they can choose to keep playing while waiting for a match (instead of twiddling their thumbs looking for a match for 15 minutes).

 

[M. Volgrand]

This suggestion comes up a lot, but I don't think it would work well because:

1. A league per system would hopelessly fracture an already-far-too-thin playerbase. Finding a match is too hard as it is, this would make it far far worse.
2. People who don't enjoy the gameplay aren't magically going to enjoy it more if it shows up in the main game.
3. One of the *good* things about CQC is that you can get to it from anywhere, so it's an awesome relief valve for explorers out in the boonies. That shouldn't go away. The disconnect from the main game has *good* aspects too.

A decal for CQC ranks would be nice, though.

- Here's what I would support for main-game integration: Allow people to queue up for CQC from the main game, so they can choose to keep playing while waiting for a match (instead of twiddling their thumbs looking for a match for 15 minutes).

I think I didn't explain completely my mind.

When you start playing for a system's league, it means:
1) You join that league
2) You get to CQC and start playing games normally. This would not have any difference from normal CQC gameplay, it will only add your points to the league you are playing.

And also you would still be able to play CQC even if you are not registered in a league.

I agree with the idea to queue CQC from the main game.

 

[SushiCW]

Ah, I see what you mean now. Thanks for the clarification.

I still don't think it would solve CQC's population problems, but it does sound fun.

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

I think it would be nice if people could watch matches. Perhaps whilst in super cruise or while waiting for their ship to arrive

Biggest problem is lack of chat in the lobby.

I am not a fan of private games myself as you learn a lot from getting blown up by people you dont know with weird tactics.

 

[parablax]

Seen as the 1st engineer (Tod "The Blaster" Mcquinn) is a CQC champion, why not give a bonus to upgrades from him which scales with CQC rank.

This would then be a meaningful like between the 2 games and would likely increase the cqc player base. I doubt it would be a big cost in dev time for frontier.

 

[Lenny.V]

once i'd like to see that CQC rank has some influence for missions, bonus for upgrades ( of course with minor or medium influences for whole weapon/module balance, but still important part for these who wants be better against his/her opponent). I agree with this idea like that CQC should be part in main game like others.


once i had an idea about something like the Hall of Fame, investors and satisfaction of audience. Everything works together. How? Simply while you're improving and you're getting more kills and assists. While you're at higher position in hall of fame, then you have higher chance to make an impression on investors. Then they likely give you a contract where if you'll agree, you'll work for them what they want. And as reward you're getting much mooooooore credits, loayality, (maybe some interesting parts for upgrades?).. etc..


Anyway while satisfaction of audiance is higher, then investors are satisfied and then you have better and better contracts. You get rewards from investors, advertising and from more sources like that. For example Achenar Champion ship will be in Thursday at 18:00Pm, then 15:00Pm in Sol, then at 17:00 in Leesti etc...

Anyway whole Championship should work like Community Goals. Once somewhere and in different time will be released the Championship as today the Community Goals do.For example Achenar Champion ship will be in Thursday at 18:00Pm, then in Sunday 15:00Pm in Sol, then in Monday at 17:00 in Leesti etc...

 

[Bacalao]

I don't see what this proposal has to do specifically with open, but whatever. You're leagues would also have to include a huge number of systems for there to be any competition with other players (the bubble might be able to support a dozen leagues at current CQC population levels).
-
This biggest problem with CQC being 'disconnected' from the main game is that I can't queue from my ship while I'm playing. I like CQC, it's fun but matchmaking is hit or miss and I don't want to sit in a waiting lobby for other players for 20 minutes, I would however have no problem hitting "queue" in my cockpit HUD and having it take 20 minutes to find me a match as I go on doing what I'm doing.

 

[MickyG1982]

I don't see what this proposal has to do specifically with open, but whatever. You're leagues would also have to include a huge number of systems for there to be any competition with other players (the bubble might be able to support a dozen leagues at current CQC population levels).
-
This biggest problem with CQC being 'disconnected' from the main game is that I can't queue from my ship while I'm playing. I like CQC, it's fun but matchmaking is hit or miss and I don't want to sit in a waiting lobby for other players for 20 minutes, I would however have no problem hitting "queue" in my cockpit HUD and having it take 20 minutes to find me a match as I go on doing what I'm doing.

This ^^ I was definitely ninja'd

 

[Archduke]

I think it's really sad that the only way for any significant organised PvP envncounters must be separated from the 'main game' and restricted to CQC where it's meaningless.

There's absolutely NO JUSTIFIABLE reason (other than the neglect of the CQC itself) why such combat should not feature in Open or even between Private Groups.

I've said this plent y before, but the opposition comes usually from two fronts:

1) I dont wanna PvP carebears - in which case, do not play in Open.
2) Ooh but then griefers... - there are already rules in place concerning griefing.

But it doewsn't matter. FD are sincerely against meanignful direct contact (cooperative or competitive) in the Main Game, which is why CQC exists.

You either play a meaningless combat PvP only or as a heavily restricted undesirable pirate in open.


It makes no sense from an immersion POV and PvP NECESSITATES immersion otherwise it tends towards griefing due to the lack of justified motivation. One can understand why for example, trading and exploration is restricted within CQC Arena - clearly that has no relevance nor benefit. The same is not true of PvP combat within Open.

 

[Arkadi]

@Archduke: Powerplay was another concept to give the game a meaningful PvP frame. But it failed. Maybe Frontier will consider a new attempt sometime?

Ok, now I won't get much love with this (maybe becouse it's a Star Citycen concept and it involves AutoPilot):

* Let us play CQC (call it virtual combat-trainer) during the time our ship is flying a route on auto-pilot!

I think CQC would be fine to bridge waiting times (wating for powerplay commoditiy allocations, ship transfer, ...). Sadly there is a waiting time to find a game in CQC - so it does not work like that.

The problem with open organized pvp is failing instancing with wings. But I read in another thread ( Link ) that frontier is working on this, maybe becouse they want the "Icarus Cup" finally to succeed.

Hope is alive.

Also CQC in open seems to me to be just about something like what the Icarus Cup is meant to be.

Also there are several groups organizing pvp wing matches in open - fighting the faulty instancing more then each other actually. But yes. Frontier is working on it.

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

@Archduke: Powerplay was another concept to give the game a meaningful PvP frame. But it failed. Maybe Frontier will consider a new attempt sometime?

Ok, now I won't get much love with this (maybe becouse it's a Star Citycen concept and it involves AutoPilot):

* Let us play CQC (call it virtual combat-trainer) during the time our ship is flying a route on auto-pilot!

I think CQC would be fine to bridge waiting times (wating for powerplay commoditiy allocations, ship transfer, ...). Sadly there is a waiting time to find a game in CQC - so it does not work like that.

The problem with open organized pvp is failing instancing with wings. But I read in another thread ( Link ) that frontier is working on this, maybe becouse they want the "Icarus Cup" finally to succeed.

Hope is alive.

Also CQC in open seems to me to be just about something like what the Icarus Cup is meant to be.

Also there are several groups organizing pvp wing matches in open - fighting the faulty instancing more then each other actually. But yes. Frontier is working on it.

CQC is a fundamentally different beast than PvP in open. It is probably fundamentally different than most PvP players would like it to be but that just fine because you can PvP in the main game. CQC is an arena game with a pretty level playing field. Top level load outs are little different than the starting ship and a rank 20 player has a ship that is better than someone who has reached level 401 and has almost the same choices as someone who is maxed out and become Elite.

For me, that is what makes CQC such a great game. Skill at CQC is pretty much the only thing that separates the players.

You can play it for twenty minutes waiting for your ship to transfer if you like but I am glad it is not more integrated into the main game myself.

 

[SushiCW]

CQC is a fundamentally different beast than PvP in open. It is probably fundamentally different than most PvP players would like it to be but that just fine because you can PvP in the main game. CQC is an arena game with a pretty level playing field. Top level load outs are little different than the starting ship and a rank 20 player has a ship that is better than someone who has reached level 401 and has almost the same choices as someone who is maxed out and become Elite.

For me, that is what makes CQC such a great game. Skill at CQC is pretty much the only thing that separates the players.

You can play it for twenty minutes waiting for your ship to transfer if you like but I am glad it is not more integrated into the main game myself.

The only integration that I think would be particularly useful is being able to queue for a match from the main game. So that rather than stare at a loading screen while waiting for a match, you could carry on with whatever Open play you like.

EDIT: Oh wait, apparently I already said that higher up.

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

The only integration that I think would be particularly useful is being able to queue for a match from the main game. So that rather than stare at a loading screen while waiting for a match, you could carry on with whatever Open play you like.

EDIT: Oh wait, apparently I already said that higher up.

How would you deal with things like the CQC game suddenly starting while you are being interdicted by a wing or heading straight towards an evil looking gas giant? I can´t think of too many places in game where you can safely just leave it there for half an hour or so.

Maybe a single deathmatch while you are in supercruise but even that can be dangerous.

 

[SushiCW]

How would you deal with things like the CQC game suddenly starting while you are being interdicted by a wing or heading straight towards an evil looking gas giant? I can´t think of too many places in game where you can safely just leave it there for half an hour or so.

Maybe a single deathmatch while you are in supercruise but even that can be dangerous.

Naturally, you'd need to "log out" of the main game as part of joining a CQC match.

You're right that dealing with anything that would make said logout awkward is tricky. My own gut instinct is that it would have to be a two-stage process, where when a match is ready you'd get an inbox popup. If you're in an OK place, you accept it, get logged out, and join the CQC match. If you're mid-battle or have changed your mind, you ignore / delete it and the slot goes to someone else.

It's certainly a tricky design problem and easy to see why it hasn't been done yet, but if it can be solved I think it would hugely benefit CQC.

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

I´d be happy with a game of tetris on the lobby waiting screen

 

[Wolfox]

Frontier has a Unsocial Managerial Mentality, calculations is their FUN, that's why you don't find Normal FUN experiences done to unite, socialize, liberty.
They should ask support to ROCKSTAR GAMES, UBISOFT or others that know what is Online gaming and what the community wants to just have FUN.
CQC should be FUN, stress drainer, where you just fight without losing your precious CRs.