All way through beta / gamma, i repeatedly asked of we could have a detailed user manual that explained the game mechanics to the testers.
This was mainly so that we could understand how the game was MEANT to be working by design. Thus allowing us to actually test if the underlying mechanics were working correctly (you know... Actually testing the game)
Not only were the requests ignored, the decision to not provide a user manual was vehemently defended by the FDDF... So much so that i simply gave up and just tried to guess if thing i noticed were bugs or by design.
Well... Now we are live and there is STILL no user manual.
ED is a fundamentally complex game (and that is great!), with mechanics in place that can have LASTING CONSEQUENCES for a player who does not understand the implications of their actions (case in point... The reputation system)
There absolutely HAS to be documentation, or a user manual that explains the complex systems and mechanics that drive the game. So that players understand what implications their choices have and understand how to progress in their desired career.
Information presentation in game is woefully lacking... For example... The summary screen that appears on mission completion... There is no context in game that adequately explains what all the terms with arrows against them actually mean
"lockdown" red arrow?
"Boom" blue arrow?
I understand that ED is meant to have a steep learning curve (and that is refreshingly great as well!)... But having your players stumble blindly around unable to make INFORMED CHOICES is detrimental to the experience.
This can be evidenced by the MULTITUDE of forum posts asking for clarification around all the various complex mechanics the game employs.
Please, FD... I am begging you. I love this game... But You need to explain how your wonderfully complex faction system is meant to work... You meed to explain how the missions and naval progress is meant to work...
You NEED to provide us with a user manual!
Thankyou for reading.
This was mainly so that we could understand how the game was MEANT to be working by design. Thus allowing us to actually test if the underlying mechanics were working correctly (you know... Actually testing the game)
Not only were the requests ignored, the decision to not provide a user manual was vehemently defended by the FDDF... So much so that i simply gave up and just tried to guess if thing i noticed were bugs or by design.
Well... Now we are live and there is STILL no user manual.
ED is a fundamentally complex game (and that is great!), with mechanics in place that can have LASTING CONSEQUENCES for a player who does not understand the implications of their actions (case in point... The reputation system)
There absolutely HAS to be documentation, or a user manual that explains the complex systems and mechanics that drive the game. So that players understand what implications their choices have and understand how to progress in their desired career.
Information presentation in game is woefully lacking... For example... The summary screen that appears on mission completion... There is no context in game that adequately explains what all the terms with arrows against them actually mean
"lockdown" red arrow?
"Boom" blue arrow?
I understand that ED is meant to have a steep learning curve (and that is refreshingly great as well!)... But having your players stumble blindly around unable to make INFORMED CHOICES is detrimental to the experience.
This can be evidenced by the MULTITUDE of forum posts asking for clarification around all the various complex mechanics the game employs.
Please, FD... I am begging you. I love this game... But You need to explain how your wonderfully complex faction system is meant to work... You meed to explain how the missions and naval progress is meant to work...
You NEED to provide us with a user manual!
Thankyou for reading.
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