I think I'm done.
It's always difficult to write a quitting-the-forum post, because it will always come over as sulky and petulant. So be it: I accept that that's how I'll look, and no you can't have my stuff, and yes I'll be sure not to let the door hit me on the way out, etc. And of course it does make it difficult to change your mind later without being jeered at.
The thing is, I find I'm thoroughly enjoying this game, and I'm excited about the release and where ED might go afterwards. But these forums no longer feel like a good place to feel like that.
I've admitted elsewhere that I can give the impression of hopeless fangirlism, because I feel very positive about ED. In fact, this game isn't at all what I always imagined Elite IV would be, and it's not the game I would have designed. I'm not immune to dissatisfaction, and at least a couple of design decisions have disappointed me a little. The flight model is a particular bugbear for me - I'd really hoped for something a little less arcadey and a bit more of an advancement on FFE. But that certainly doesn't stop me enjoying the game.
Creating ED as a multiplayer game, with the gameplay concessions and reworking of the universe that had to go with that, is another decision that I wouldn't have taken. Again, I'd rather have a plausible universe: for example, a jump taking hours or days in witchspace as in FFE, rather than seconds as for ED - but again, this is a minor thing.
And I do think the offline issue could have been handled better.
So: fangirl or not? You'll make your own mind up, I'm sure.
All that said, we do, finally, have an Elite IV, and honestly, for every point I could complain about there are several positives that easily tip the balance back over. And the main thing is, I am thoroughly enjoying this game. I love the look, the feel, the sound, the immersion. The attention to detail is breathtaking, and nothing that's missing detracts too much from the game.
For all the things I'd have done differently, I'm very pleased with the work FD have done. It's already been worth what I paid, and I look forward to what's yet to come. I'd certainly like to think that others, whether 84s like me, or whether they come new to Elite, are enjoying it too.
But I'm not enjoying what the forum community has become over the last few months. There are still good comments, of course. In fact, given I've been mulling this over for a day or two it's always possible the forums have recently and suddenly reverted to their former jolly and positive feel and I'm just out of touch. But recently I've found reading the forums a chore, so it seems silly to keep doing it.
So for now I'm going to bid goodbye to the forums, but I'll be in the game at every opportunity. I'd love to keep in contact with others who are similarly enjoying themselves, so please, feel free to 'hit me up' (as I gather the kids say these days) in-game: just ask for Cait Kryos of the Sidewinder 'Banjax' - for the moment I'm usually somewhere round the Eos, Vetr and Anemoi systems. Possibly in a bar.
And if there are any non-PVP groups looking for members, let me know.
Happy flying, all. See you in the galaxy.
-- Cait
It's always difficult to write a quitting-the-forum post, because it will always come over as sulky and petulant. So be it: I accept that that's how I'll look, and no you can't have my stuff, and yes I'll be sure not to let the door hit me on the way out, etc. And of course it does make it difficult to change your mind later without being jeered at.
The thing is, I find I'm thoroughly enjoying this game, and I'm excited about the release and where ED might go afterwards. But these forums no longer feel like a good place to feel like that.
I've admitted elsewhere that I can give the impression of hopeless fangirlism, because I feel very positive about ED. In fact, this game isn't at all what I always imagined Elite IV would be, and it's not the game I would have designed. I'm not immune to dissatisfaction, and at least a couple of design decisions have disappointed me a little. The flight model is a particular bugbear for me - I'd really hoped for something a little less arcadey and a bit more of an advancement on FFE. But that certainly doesn't stop me enjoying the game.
Creating ED as a multiplayer game, with the gameplay concessions and reworking of the universe that had to go with that, is another decision that I wouldn't have taken. Again, I'd rather have a plausible universe: for example, a jump taking hours or days in witchspace as in FFE, rather than seconds as for ED - but again, this is a minor thing.
And I do think the offline issue could have been handled better.
So: fangirl or not? You'll make your own mind up, I'm sure.
All that said, we do, finally, have an Elite IV, and honestly, for every point I could complain about there are several positives that easily tip the balance back over. And the main thing is, I am thoroughly enjoying this game. I love the look, the feel, the sound, the immersion. The attention to detail is breathtaking, and nothing that's missing detracts too much from the game.
For all the things I'd have done differently, I'm very pleased with the work FD have done. It's already been worth what I paid, and I look forward to what's yet to come. I'd certainly like to think that others, whether 84s like me, or whether they come new to Elite, are enjoying it too.
But I'm not enjoying what the forum community has become over the last few months. There are still good comments, of course. In fact, given I've been mulling this over for a day or two it's always possible the forums have recently and suddenly reverted to their former jolly and positive feel and I'm just out of touch. But recently I've found reading the forums a chore, so it seems silly to keep doing it.
So for now I'm going to bid goodbye to the forums, but I'll be in the game at every opportunity. I'd love to keep in contact with others who are similarly enjoying themselves, so please, feel free to 'hit me up' (as I gather the kids say these days) in-game: just ask for Cait Kryos of the Sidewinder 'Banjax' - for the moment I'm usually somewhere round the Eos, Vetr and Anemoi systems. Possibly in a bar.
And if there are any non-PVP groups looking for members, let me know.
Happy flying, all. See you in the galaxy.
-- Cait
