The Science of David Braben

[milligna]

The whole point of creating your own galaxy kinda is to do whatever you want with it.

We need more of this stuff in the game anyway to make exploration more interesting. So let Braben geek out to his hearts content if it means more variety.

MORE SCIENCE! MORE STUFF! MORE SENSIBLE SWEATERS!

 

[LameoveR]

Science-Fiction.

 

[Monk]

Science being a major component to how the galaxy is presented is NEVER GOING ANYWHERE and will always be a priority for Frontier. So y'all can just give up on that futile crusade.

 

[Sysmon]

I cant agree with Braben´s idea of science in the game when we have these alchemists playing to be engineers.

Yes it is a game, I like it, I play it a lot and will be doing so for many seasons to come. But don't tell me "science" and then do whatever you want with it.

Alright. Let's get rid of hyper drives as well. Seems a bit like fantasy to me.

 

[Cmdr Karolis]

Or you will end up with an excellent game called Skyrim. Or Minecraft. Or WoW. Or DOTA. Or Mass Effect 1-3. Or Witcher 1-3. Or ...

1st, didn't knew skyrim was a space sim. how bout lets not compare apples to oranges
2nd you seem to know how those games where made, what makes you think they didn't ask an advice of a scientist for certain things.

 

[milligna]

Alright. Let's get rid of hyper drives as well.

Only if we replace the SRV with a penny-farthing. Low G penny-farthing!

So what's the argument here, if Elite didn't have science it'd be Skyrim?

I gotta go dragonrend some Pythons.

 

[saremun]

Yes! Please make more lists of limited-scope games with pretty graphics and not much else. How about putting Daggerfall on the list instead? Still limited, but at least it felt big.

And we are comparing apples with achrondites anyway. Please make a list of space arcade sims with procedurally generated backdrops instead.

I won't say Elite is perfect, i even uninstalled the game because the way they setup the system where risk and reward means nothing, you can play in Solo yet effect the galaxy in the same exact way, i don't like how they place something between 400bil stars and say search for that, don't like how they control the factions in game when it should have been only player owned factions..i the list of things goes on and on and on and on and on...you get the idea...

But when i see that they are focusing on the smallest details then that makes me excited because in 2 year time this game will become a deep and meaningful space game, by that time SC is out so we can compare and see which game fit us best!

 

[Ian Phillips]

Joking aside - seriously: modeling of tectonic shifts and the thermodynamics of magma flow doesn't scream "revolutionary game design". It screams "OCD". And not in a good way.

Pokemon isn't the most popular video game on the planet because some guy said "Let's study the anatomical structure of a small dinosaur, then cross-reference that with the fire patterns of a flame-thrower spewing napalm at 2LT/minute. Then we'll study wind patterns and adjust for the position of the player, such that the fire from Charizard convincingly envelopes the Pokeball to give the player a satisfying real-world immersion."

No, they just made a cartoon lizard and let you throw balls at it. They made it fun, and a few billion people are playing it.

Sometimes you just don't need to consult a geophysicist when you're designing a video game.

And sometimes..... you do!

 

[Jumpin' Jack Flash]

*Future Scenario*...

"Help!...I parked my ship near a live volcano" (post topic)
When I arrived back to my ship in my SRV the ship had been consumed by lava. What do I do now?
Damn the Devs and their geological realism, this game sucks...an' I want a refund!

.
Jack

 

[PavelKCZ]

I won't say Elite is perfect, i even uninstalled the game because the way they setup the system where risk and reward means nothing, you can play in Solo yet effect the galaxy in the same exact way, i don't like how they place something between 400bil stars and say search for that, don't like how they control the factions in game when it should have been only player owned factions..i the list of things goes on and on and on and on and on...you get the idea...

But when i see that they are focusing on the smallest details then that makes me excited because in 2 year time this game will become a deep and meaningful space game, by that time SC is out so we can compare and see which game fit us best!

Problem is that with their approach, no one will be playing ED in two years, except couple of fanatics and with the lack of further financial income, they will shut the servers off.

 

[dubsdj]

I'm all for Scientific accuracy but this game is science fiction. If mankind are still alive and well in space in the year 3000 something then I'm sure they won't be driving yellow lorries up and down the space station.

 

[GimpstersGhost]

There are a lot of things I like about the game and there are a lot I do not. The hard science roots are one of the things I like, sure some features may feel a bit out of place. However, based on the rate of advancement of technology in the last 100 years, I think it is quite possible that in the next 1300 years we could achieve the technologies used in this game. So I like the science, I like the fact that technology in ED has advanced to the point I don't have to deal with orbital mechanics and can jump between stars. I don't agree with the real space flight mechanics but have learned to live with them. Minor changes would be welcomed however. I see no reason that all ships in the game should not be able to reach identical linear and angular velocities but the time it takes to achieve them should be based on mass and design.

 

[Cmdr Karolis]

I cant agree with Braben´s idea of science in the game when we have these alchemists playing to be engineers.

Yes it is a game, I like it, I play it a lot and will be doing so for many seasons to come. But don't tell me "science" and then do whatever you want with it.

you seem to be mixing world with game-play mechanics. so for you the game to be scientifically accurate, the pilot would have to go take a      from time to time? you have to take science into acount if you are creating universe like that, its the only way to ensure that it will look believable. Otherwise everything will just look cartoony, bland and not immersive.

 

[WeirdWizard]

Ahh the game that could of been had DB been lead designer and they'd stuck with science nerdiness throughout. Alas ED is not and never will be that game now. Its riddled right through its core with gamey, absurd, and downright silly elements. A real squeal to FFE would of sold less probably, but I'd be willing to bet it would be more loved by those who bought it. But as is it's nice that at least in the planet generation tech they're trying to do things right.

 

[Monk]

Y'all, don't forget the science has to do with the backdrop of the game which is the galaxy, nebulae, stars and planetary bodies.

Everything else is there so there can be a GAME that can take advantage of the scientifically based backdrop. Obviously, there isn't much of a game if we can't even get to the nearest airport in less than 30 minutes.

I thought DB made that pretty clear.

 

[milligna]

Problem is that with their approach, no one will be playing ED in two years, except couple of fanatics and with the lack of further financial income, they will shut the servers off.

People have been saying that for two years but it helped Frontier transition into self publishing and they have teams working on season 3 and 4 content. And when the servers ARE shut off quite a longer away from now than you think, and they release the code as promised -- the game will live on in modded form for ages to continue delighting it's niche audience, some of them having gone on to be scientists, programmers, and the like... it's what happens with stuff like this. Well, better to inspire a kid to get into science than monster collecting and fireball hurling.

But would you expect anything else from a Raspberry Pi guy?

 

[saremun]

Problem is that with their approach, no one will be playing ED in two years, except couple of fanatics and with the lack of further financial income, they will shut the servers off.

I won't say that that doesn't worry me tbh, i just think that its better to hand the players the tools to create content themselves and that is by turning this game into real Sandbox because right now it is not..

The way they designed the system with the three modes to play the game will limit the choices in the future because we will NEVER have a real Piracy system or Bountyhunting system(what we have currently is the same thing just renamed), the other thing is the Background Sim, i don't feel like my actions matter or does anything but according to ED it does but only in the background which i can't see, that needs to change so we can see the direct consequence of our actions...

 

[Troy_McClure]

That depends. Did he pull developers off..

Sorry?

 

[WeirdWizard]

when the servers ARE shut off quite a longer away from now than you think, and they release the code as promised

I wouldn't hold your breath on that. Enjoy the game while Frontier are running it because any future beyond that is a long shot at best.

 

[Monk]

Problem is that with their approach, no one will be playing ED in two years, except couple of fanatics and with the lack of further financial income, they will shut the servers off.

LOL, OKAY

Save yourself the trouble and get out now before you become a fanatic. Go ahead...SAVE YOURSELF!!!!!