Great input. Curation would indeed be a must, and that would put a burden on fdev, but I do think it would be a cool feature. I remember that some years ago, the "Radiolab" podcast put out their own phone app, which included a feature that allowed listeners to submit a scripted sponsor intro for use in the show opening. It was simple and seamless. It would be nice if Frontier could do something like that. But, honestly, I was imagining submissions by people like me, who have decent recording equipment and some experience with making sound clips and such. But I imagine that Frontier, like most game developers, have to-do lists and bug reports miles long and such a thing would be forever cooling on the back burner, if even considered. Just my own pipe-dream!
I think you're onto something, really! It's clear that a game so HUGE like Elite needs more content, and it's not a surprise to me to see how much of the current content in the game seems "hidden" from new players like myself.
I was only able to find out about the guardians upgrades because I watched a youtube video!! That's not nice... I'm not the type of person who goes on youtube to find out how to quickly progress in a game. I like to enjoy, discover, figure things out by myself, etc. I'm old school.
I started watching youtube just because I like ObsidianAnt voice (man, what a deep voice that guy has! lol), but I was really surprised to see how everyone playing the game ended up finding out about those things (guardians, thargoids, etc). It makes me wonder how much content is just there, waiting to be found yet!
It would make a lot of sense to hear comments from other players about stuff they are finding IN GAME!
Maybe inside GALNET (which would make GALNET a MUST GO PLACE when you log in, opposite to what it is today... where you look there to get some aleatory information that may or may not indicate something!)
Although it will be some work, I think Frontier could benefit LOADS from it since it would be less frustration about content... and less weight on their back to provide it!
For example, a week ago I was destroyed in the Deciat system 3 times by some other players... I ended up switching to solo player just to finish some missions to get some credits. I would love to WARN everyone in the game about my experience in that system, at that time, so other newbies like me would be careful!!
Something like Lori drivers talking over radio about what they are encountering on the road ahead, so the drivers behind could be prepared!! How awesome would that be!!!
And in a "automatic voting system" as I suggested, that would be extra extremely useful content coming from players, helping other players, without the involvement of Frontier.
You known what? To make things even simpler, Frontier could actually add support inside Elite to watch youtube videos and to hear podcasts in Galnet!
So people recoding videos/podcasts to some service like youtube, twiter, etc; could add an extra TAG in their videos which Elite would use to filter in the media to show in Galnet! How cool would that be!
Frontier could actually generate a per/player pre-generated tag with an embeded key in it, which Elite would parse to make sure the content is coming from actual players... Then it can show on Galnet with the proper commander name. That way, Frontier can revoke the key if someone abuses (like spamming galnet with junk) and Elite wouldn't show content from that player anymore!
That way, instead of leaving elite to watch search and watch a youtube video about Elite, it's already there!!
You can add to your playlist and watch/hear it while you're waiting to get to that planet 115000Ls from the main star!! lol
Elite could play the video on the side of your ship dash, for example... a small little floating window, like a hologram screen, on top of your dash!! That would be fantastic!!!
The other day I was playing in VR, and had to take my oculus go off to watch Obisidian video on how to unlock the guardians upgrades. It was a "take it off, put it back... take it off, put it back" really annoying gaming session!! Not good!
Again... I really think you're onto something, matte! I hope Frontier is "watching" this thread!
Lets keep poking then!
or maybe we should write a plugin!! (I code for a living, but I have no idea if that's possible in Elite! lol)
cheers...