Everything so far has largely been all about Multiplayer and introducing events that have Leader Boards while everything else remains the same (or was nerfd).
I understand the need for better Comms and Grouping, but that doesn't arrive until Wings.... honestly these things should've been worked out anyways before the game was released while it was still in Alpha/Beta. I didn't test 1.1 because i didn't want to spoil the update, now that i realize there wasn't much to spoil i just kinda feel nothing. Im currently exploring, i could still do it before 1.1 although not as easily because of the weak Route Plotter. Hunting Bounties is the same, unless you took advantage of the spawn system around planet rings pre-patch. Conflict zones were upgraded from "this is pointless" to "this is simply irritating". We do, or at least i have noticed more missions though.... but the number of missions wasnt the issue, it was the missions themselves. You can explore, trade, or shoot things and the Bulletin Board only offers two of the three, trade and kill jobs. Mining is still trading, just a really weak form of it that only masochists enjoy. Missions need a massive overhaul. As a gamer ive done my share missions through the years enough to recognize a trope or two. And ill stop there, going any further would overshadow the rest of the post because the list is long imo. lol
Changes were made to some modules and weapons which made low tier ships actually feel low tier again as well as enforcing the already linear ship progression... I don't really disagree with a pecking order but i do feel i need to say this, "Give us content that breaks linearity". Give us reasons to opt for an Eagle over a Viper, or an Adder over a Cobra. Most of the game linearity lies in the fact that there isn't much to do (see above on missions) and the income gap between a trader and hunter pidgeon holes those who want a different ship within a reasonable amount of time. When you start the game you become a hunter if you want to profit as much as you can because you have no access to ships with large cargo bays, yet. Once a hunter obtains a Viper, that person has plateaued in efficiency and operating costs.... any thing bigger is excess and only adds pointless risk.
Building a game around a grind doesnt make people stay longer. Ive played F2P games with ridiculous amounts of grind only to finally achieve that one "thing", use it, and then quit the game because that "thing" ended up being a heaping pile compared to what i had to do to obtain it. There was simply no justification in the end. Can a player truly justify having an Anaconda right now besides simply having it, or for trading? What about a Python? Or even a Clipper? Wheres the point in becoming Elite right now? All the missions remain the same... there is no unfolding story arc, lower ranked NPCs don't treat you differently, ships dont get bonus stats, blast shields still move slow, black market doesnt give better prices.
To me, it seems like the game is getting watered down as it progresses. As i think about it, most games that give a strong focus towards multiplayer aspect often feel this way. This is where i think developers in general mess up. I believe people don't want a multiplayer game.... they imagine a multiplayer game that plays like a single player game. I know i do. Why? Because single player games have better detailed environments. The activities in game are more engaging, so engaging you dont need another person with you to do it. The NPCs are better. Main stories, sides stories.... sub stories of side stories to the main story. However, a Multiplayer game will rely on player interactions to fill in the gaps where a story would be, or an intelligent NPC. Only problem with that is... well, you are relying on real people. Instead of stories, theres matchmaking. Instead of stronger gear, you get different gear with the same stats. Instead of an experience, you get a leader board. Instead of saving the universe, you focus on tea bagging that one guy who probably lives in his grandmas basement and sleeps covered in cheeto powder because he killed you.
I just hope FD treads carefully and gives more thought about the direction of their game and what it means to be multiplayer versus enjoyable. Sure they could forgo the ideas of an ever changing environment, persistent NPCs, worthwhile experiences in favor of weekly community events injected into the higher activity systems so players can grind against each other on a leader board, but that would defeat the whole purpose of why i supported Elite in the first place.
I understand the need for better Comms and Grouping, but that doesn't arrive until Wings.... honestly these things should've been worked out anyways before the game was released while it was still in Alpha/Beta. I didn't test 1.1 because i didn't want to spoil the update, now that i realize there wasn't much to spoil i just kinda feel nothing. Im currently exploring, i could still do it before 1.1 although not as easily because of the weak Route Plotter. Hunting Bounties is the same, unless you took advantage of the spawn system around planet rings pre-patch. Conflict zones were upgraded from "this is pointless" to "this is simply irritating". We do, or at least i have noticed more missions though.... but the number of missions wasnt the issue, it was the missions themselves. You can explore, trade, or shoot things and the Bulletin Board only offers two of the three, trade and kill jobs. Mining is still trading, just a really weak form of it that only masochists enjoy. Missions need a massive overhaul. As a gamer ive done my share missions through the years enough to recognize a trope or two. And ill stop there, going any further would overshadow the rest of the post because the list is long imo. lol
Changes were made to some modules and weapons which made low tier ships actually feel low tier again as well as enforcing the already linear ship progression... I don't really disagree with a pecking order but i do feel i need to say this, "Give us content that breaks linearity". Give us reasons to opt for an Eagle over a Viper, or an Adder over a Cobra. Most of the game linearity lies in the fact that there isn't much to do (see above on missions) and the income gap between a trader and hunter pidgeon holes those who want a different ship within a reasonable amount of time. When you start the game you become a hunter if you want to profit as much as you can because you have no access to ships with large cargo bays, yet. Once a hunter obtains a Viper, that person has plateaued in efficiency and operating costs.... any thing bigger is excess and only adds pointless risk.
Building a game around a grind doesnt make people stay longer. Ive played F2P games with ridiculous amounts of grind only to finally achieve that one "thing", use it, and then quit the game because that "thing" ended up being a heaping pile compared to what i had to do to obtain it. There was simply no justification in the end. Can a player truly justify having an Anaconda right now besides simply having it, or for trading? What about a Python? Or even a Clipper? Wheres the point in becoming Elite right now? All the missions remain the same... there is no unfolding story arc, lower ranked NPCs don't treat you differently, ships dont get bonus stats, blast shields still move slow, black market doesnt give better prices.
To me, it seems like the game is getting watered down as it progresses. As i think about it, most games that give a strong focus towards multiplayer aspect often feel this way. This is where i think developers in general mess up. I believe people don't want a multiplayer game.... they imagine a multiplayer game that plays like a single player game. I know i do. Why? Because single player games have better detailed environments. The activities in game are more engaging, so engaging you dont need another person with you to do it. The NPCs are better. Main stories, sides stories.... sub stories of side stories to the main story. However, a Multiplayer game will rely on player interactions to fill in the gaps where a story would be, or an intelligent NPC. Only problem with that is... well, you are relying on real people. Instead of stories, theres matchmaking. Instead of stronger gear, you get different gear with the same stats. Instead of an experience, you get a leader board. Instead of saving the universe, you focus on tea bagging that one guy who probably lives in his grandmas basement and sleeps covered in cheeto powder because he killed you.
I just hope FD treads carefully and gives more thought about the direction of their game and what it means to be multiplayer versus enjoyable. Sure they could forgo the ideas of an ever changing environment, persistent NPCs, worthwhile experiences in favor of weekly community events injected into the higher activity systems so players can grind against each other on a leader board, but that would defeat the whole purpose of why i supported Elite in the first place.