Thoughts of a lurker.

[Vira]

To be honest, I'm rather surprised that this game isn't subscription based; I'd still pay if it was. Having played WoW for ten years, EVE for one (admittedly very dull) year, I'm comfortable with regular payments. For me though, I have longed for Elite to return and have been delighted with it so far. Yes, there are issues but I just get on with enjoying the game rather than coming to the forum to rant - chances are someone has already raised the issue since this community is very active.

I was initially wary of Open Play and started the first few weeks playing solo, but having played in Open Play for many weeks, my own experience is that I rarely meet other players and the longest conversation I had was while queuing to dock at an outpost and everyone was very polite. Space is big, very big, so it's no surprise there is little interaction outside any of the major player hubs. However, you have to think about the genesis of this game. It was a single player space trading combat game (I was lucky enough to play the original on a BBC Micro all those years ago) and ED is an excellent evolution of that idea. This game will not suit everybody, but it ticks all my boxes so buy it, try it and form your own opinion instead of reading other people's opinion (including mine). What will it cost you? The price of a few Dominos Pizzas or a round of drinks at the pub? It's not like the game is expensive

 

[Tuub t Tute]

This might have had reasonable troll potential if the OP hadn't been so obvious. I doubt this one will even reach the threadnought, it is so transparently seeking a reaction.

 

[W4rSkuLL]

Small disclaimer - I have not played the game and this is all my opinion.

So with the above being said the question becomes why am I posting. I post out of pure selfish intent. I want the game to grow. "But You haven't played the game" Indeed I have not. But let me hold your focus for a moment.

I am a game career mmoer. I thrive off competition and having the "shiny". So for this I am drawn to mmos. Now my mmo of choice is sci fi. But let's be honest sci fi mmos do not seem to thrive well. Excluding the holy grail, EvE. So for this I support all growing sci fi mmos.

Now to the point, I lurk this forum nightly reading the posts and keeping up with news. My first thought is I love the community here. Very mature, dramatic at times, but mature. I have no negative thoughts on the community. My negative thoughts come from people opposing plug and play qualities. While CQC is to it's very base a matching system it is a step in the right direction. As well as pulling in console market since there is a drought for game of this context on console. However CQC must Never become a staple for open space combat. That may hurt more then help.

My second thought is while I see how vast the world is I see from information that it's vastness has no real purpose outside of recently introduced PP. Which I full support. May I recommend maybe having triggered events that would cause to explore your massive world?

My third thought, the shop is brilliant. Cosmetics sell. Just a fact of life. You can even have gamble boxes to help stimulating revenue. I support this direction it's slippery though make sure not to venture in to F2P. However I believe you will need more. May be its time to work in some form of a sub bonus. Before in lynched hear me out. This game is by itself right now. Its traveling a unique path in the form it's a more plug and play friendly sci fi piloting simulation. It needs to dip it's toe in many ideas before becoming solidified. So I'm just suggesting it as a thought. It doesn't have to be ground breaking sub bonus, simply convenient.


My last thought, may I suggest looking in to forcing more direct player interaction. I feel as though even in open mode your players do not clash enough. PP helps this of course I'm simply saying keep on this. Solo games do not last. Swtor is barely alive. ESO is gambling on console and cash shop sells. Multiplayer content is the life juice of games.

Anyway just the rambling of a lurker. My resume to make such comments are 10+ years of EvE. 16+ in mmos just in General. Twitch stream of 20k and up. But none of that matters. Maul over what I said. Best of luck. I might join in the fun if PvP gets more intense.

Maybe its time to start playing the game and lurk less

 

[Julissa Silver]

Forcing content.... You mean how pirates and agents interdict you?

You're correct that there is a point where forcing content down the player's throat is not ideal. But far before that, there's the point where the problems you have with the 'forced' content is actually a problem with YOU (the individual), and not the game. A game should not sacrifice its identity just to please YOU (the individual). The game is a roller coaster, and if it is too much for YOU (the individual) to handle, then you shouldn't even step on in the first place.

You really shouldn't use the argument of the game not being suitable for other individuals as a basis for defending change to make it suitable to other individuals. If you don't like the idea that people don't enjoy changes being made with the intent of forcing more people to associate or interact with one another, then why can't the exact same logic be used to suggest you shouldn't be on this "roller coaster"?

 

[Katkon]

OP - I agree with some of those thoughts. Would like to suggest, though, that you buy and play the game. It's 10x better than the forums suggest, will only get better, and costs the equivalent of a week or two trips to Starbucks. You really can't go wrong with their 25pct off sale, either. This game is way underpriced IMHO. I've played this game more than any other game I've ever owned, and I've owned hundreds in various formats.

 

[Ghostickles]

OP - I agree with some of those thoughts. Would like to suggest, though, that you buy and play the game. It's 10x better than the forums suggest, will only get better, and costs the equivalent of a week or two trips to Starbucks. You really can't go wrong with their 25pct off sale, either. This game is way underpriced IMHO. I've played this game more than any other game I've ever owned, and I've owned hundreds in various formats.

As a long time MMO player who likes the social aspects of gaming I would caution you wait before buying in to this ride. Wait long enough for FD to improve the basic matchmaking, connections, whatever that are a huge detraction to online play. There is no point in playing an online multiplayer where you cannot, or sometimes* can, see other players.
My favorite part is when they complain of combat logging, which probably is the P2P and not combat logging because it is that bad. Its horrible and may never improve, meanwhile there are other software houses re writing net codes to make improvements. When FD follows suit and the multiplayer works the game will begin to come into its own, but until then its a mediocre online multiplayer at best, at worse a single player game that requires an online connection.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

--- Deleted ---

 

[Herik]

Small disclaimer - I have not played the game and this is all my opinion.

So with the above being said the question becomes why am I posting. I post out of pure selfish intent. I want the game to grow. "But You haven't played the game" Indeed I have not. But let me hold your focus for a moment.

I am a game career mmoer. I thrive off competition and having the "shiny". So for this I am drawn to mmos. Now my mmo of choice is sci fi. But let's be honest sci fi mmos do not seem to thrive well. Excluding the holy grail, EvE. So for this I support all growing sci fi mmos.

Now to the point, I lurk this forum nightly reading the posts and keeping up with news. My first thought is I love the community here. Very mature, dramatic at times, but mature. I have no negative thoughts on the community. My negative thoughts come from people opposing plug and play qualities. While CQC is to it's very base a matching system it is a step in the right direction. As well as pulling in console market since there is a drought for game of this context on console. However CQC must Never become a staple for open space combat. That may hurt more then help.

My second thought is while I see how vast the world is I see from information that it's vastness has no real purpose outside of recently introduced PP. Which I full support. May I recommend maybe having triggered events that would cause to explore your massive world?

My third thought, the shop is brilliant. Cosmetics sell. Just a fact of life. You can even have gamble boxes to help stimulating revenue. I support this direction it's slippery though make sure not to venture in to F2P. However I believe you will need more. May be its time to work in some form of a sub bonus. Before in lynched hear me out. This game is by itself right now. Its traveling a unique path in the form it's a more plug and play friendly sci fi piloting simulation. It needs to dip it's toe in many ideas before becoming solidified. So I'm just suggesting it as a thought. It doesn't have to be ground breaking sub bonus, simply convenient.


My last thought, may I suggest looking in to forcing more direct player interaction. I feel as though even in open mode your players do not clash enough. PP helps this of course I'm simply saying keep on this. Solo games do not last. Swtor is barely alive. ESO is gambling on console and cash shop sells. Multiplayer content is the life juice of games.

Anyway just the rambling of a lurker. My resume to make such comments are 10+ years of EvE. 16+ in mmos just in General. Twitch stream of 20k and up. But none of that matters. Maul over what I said. Best of luck. I might join in the fun if PvP gets more intense.

Yes, the 10+ years of Eve and the 'forcing more direct player interaction'....

NO and double NO from me; an ex Eve player of several years. How do I play ED? Strictly Solo or Mobius group. Player behavior and Eve mechanics drove me off.

Solo games do not last? Not true; talk about Skyrim, and the Fallout franchise... Other than this; thanks for posting from a non ED player perspective; I "Mauled" it over.

 

[Herik]

As a long time MMO player who likes the social aspects of gaming I would caution you wait before buying in to this ride. Wait long enough for FD to improve the basic matchmaking, connections, whatever that are a huge detraction to online play. There is no point in playing an online multiplayer where you cannot, or sometimes* can, see other players.
My favorite part is when they complain of combat logging, which probably is the P2P and not combat logging because it is that bad. Its horrible and may never improve, meanwhile there are other software houses re writing net codes to make improvements. When FD follows suit and the multiplayer works the game will begin to come into its own, but until then its a mediocre online multiplayer at best, at worse a single player game that requires an online connection.

Good Ghostickles. This game for me is a single player game; and when the expansions and other dlc. content come into it, it still will be and I wont' be missing a thing.

 

[Phibes]

Alien abduction video's are always hilarious, please post a link.

Ishould point out that that isn’t me replying to myself underanother account. I would have replied to myself under anotheraccount sooner, only I had some chores to do.



I should point out that that isn’t me replying to myself under another account. I would have replied to myself under another account sooner, only I had some chores to do.


I would post links to my Alien abduction divides, only they maybe confused with a certain TV program, that despite having aliens who only ever attacked in manageable, sporadic waves. Did at least have girls in purple wigs that were always hot and readily accessible, which is exactly how the future should be!

 

[Dippy]

I don't dip my toe in here much either so I could be called a lurker.

I have played eve from the beginning and was also in beta etc. Elite is nothing like it at all. Elite is not a MMO its a 32 player game period.

Also you have not played it!!!!! You have to play it to know it, its not at all like EVE which I thought would be the new Elite.

Elite is like marmite you either love it or hate it, me I love it don't play it much but when I do like last night. I got drunk and ended up 1000 light years from civilization. Great stuff!

 

[Captain N]

A game - any game - is a set of rules, and those rules have to be enforced on those who play the game. Thus, any game, including Elite: Dangerous in its present form, forces patterns of behaviour on its players.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's just what games are.

 

[Gilgamesh]

Alright, I've tried not to, but I'll bite.

The reason this thread has not had many replies is probably not because everyone agrees, (I disagreed with most points) but unlike me most of the others on this forum are not daft enough to respond to posts by two muppets who don't even play the game.

I see and I respect your choice. However it is just your choice.
I do agree I need to play for a more informed opinion. However loud people tend to get things done. History proves that time and time again.

I am still reading the responses. Thank you for your patience.

 

[faytar]

One of the games plus points is allowing a lot of freedom for players to play how they want and not be 'forced' to interact if they don't want to.

The game caters for 'solo' and 'open' players who in many cases want a different experience. Generally this suits both.

However some open players think the game would be better with more players (they're probably right) but forcing 'open' play would not address this. Solo players would stop playing.

agree with you there , but it is worth noting some people in solo are there because of the for the lolz killers that kill for no reason other then it amuses them on some immature mostly psychotic level, thus trying to force them back into open would most likely lose them as players completely, not to mention the bad publicity that would fallow that (and as any one that has played online games much can tell you upset players can make a hell of alot of noise, generally more then happy players do). we want more people in open , then we maybe should try not to drive folks into solo or make open have the rep of being hell to play in , just a thought. that new cqc might help with some of the lolz killers probably not but eh will see if the complaint threads die down a bit when it comes out lol

 

[Gilgamesh]

Alright. I've read through the posts. I would like to point out a few things. I do want to play the game but I am very busy. I can only forum lurk due to having downtime at work sometimes. So to play I'd have to give up something else. Which is why I'm instead sparking conversation of development and forward thinking.

First point that jumped out at me was the idea that many of you took from the word force. While indeed it sounds harsh, I was more eluding to the fact open mode needs to force more player interaction. Since it is open mode.

Next point is the sub topic. While yes by simple "mass" this May not be on par with MMOS such as wow or ffxiv. It is still plenty massive in it's multiplayer scale. Which is noted by the P2P structure issues you guys are experiencing. With that in mind, stable servers cost. So if indeed they were to tackle the P2P issues it would take a good portion of their budget which is already small. Subs something akin to what ESO or tera offers would help this. It should mainly give bonuses not ground breaking items but things worth it. Quality of life buffs if you will.

I want to also comment on solo play. Solo play is nice indeed. But it will not keep this game populated. While I know this games history I also know it's existence pre ED was meger. Even less noticed than dynasty warriors. I do not want it to slip backwards in to the dark ages sort to speak.

Now to those claiming I troll. Can any topic truly not be a troll to someone? The internet makers up definitions for terms as it goes. And people band wagon the lasted term like a new fad. With that in mind, do explain how I troll? If you put half as much thought in to this topic as I have you would make this game even better.

Now My next thought. The entry level difficulty of ED. The learning curve is harsh. The tutorial is unkind. There is one starter zone. EvE suffered and to this day still suffers from the steep learning curve. I would like to maul over this idea in my head more before commenting on it however.

To those points I did not address stay tuned. I have not forgotten.

 

[Gilgamesh]

I don't dip my toe in here much either so I could be called a lurker.

I have played eve from the beginning and was also in beta etc. Elite is nothing like it at all. Elite is not a MMO its a 32 player game period.

Also you have not played it!!!!! You have to play it to know it, its not at all like EVE which I thought would be the new Elite.

Elite is like marmite you either love it or hate it, me I love it don't play it much but when I do like last night. I got drunk and ended up 1000 light years from civilization. Great stuff!

I never called it EvE. The only thing it has in common with eve is it's niche genre. With that being said I will most likely suffer fanboyism at first making all my thoughts on the game meaningless. It will probably take a while for me to get over it and be objective again. I've seen a few people say you need to play it. I know I do which is what I stated. Yet somehow no one has out right called any of my points wrong. They dislike but not consider them fundamentally wrong. So...in hindsight maybe this form of opinion is better.