Many annoyances about the gane kept getting a lot better actually. I really liked the iterative development attempt, as it seemed to work out well in the end.
But at the same time, all the really wonderful, marvellous things about the game are being destroyed with every iteration of the game. Biggest concerns:
- Graphics.
I really understand David's obsession with getting it as realistic as possible. But man: Space, the Cockpit, some graphic effects - it all looked SO much better back then! The asteroids looked better, they were so much more closer to each other, there was even colorful (!) nebula in the background, which gave the environment some distinctive looks! I know, there's still some out there presumably, but for the sake of realism, most of it was removed. With the result of 95% of the systems really looking alike now (apart from the planetary background of course).
I also cannot remember of LOD problems in beta. It happens from time to time, that while boosting and quickly applying heavy pitch that enemy vessels pop up with the wrong LOD textures applied. It hey takes about half a second to reload these. Kind of ugly, shouldn't be happening. Happens in stations too, when looking through the mail slot. Not always, but regularly. I'm not playing this game on a toaster neither. The hardware should not be the issue here. This never happened to me in beta.
It's not always a good idea of to replace distinctiveness with plain nothing, just for the sake of making a game (and this is still just a game after all) more 'realistic', which kind of leads to my next, biggest issue of the game, when compared to alpha/beta:
- Sound effects:
When my Eagle was released from the landing pad, floating above it with my engines in idle, it sounded like a bund of jackhammers hammering on metal plates. Applying thrust and hitting the afterburner made it sound like trying to keep your grip on a leash that hold a pack of angry screaming predators on the loose.
My Sidewinder (even though being the most basic ship) sounded like a tie fighter on steroids: this high pitched, oscillating roaring... How I miss it!!
Firing up a Viper engine sounded like it was gargling a mixture of gasoline and pebbles.. And my beloved Cobra made the subtle yet distinctive and low-pitched sound of a mammoth.. I guess, I don't know how they sounded, really.
There's still different engine sounds for every ship, but it's only 20% of what it was before. They all sound the same in the mid tones really. Differences are noticeable, but only a fraction of what it was before. Sound was and still is getting worse. Don't believe me? Look for old alpha/beta footage of elite dangerous on whatever reputable video broadcasting portal. Click play, Close your eyes and listen to the engines of a simple sidewinder being revved up. Listen to the sound of a beam laser ripping through a vessel's hull. Listen to an Eagle, being brought up to speed, boosting, or a Viper..
Yeah Yeah, the good old days. I'm not particularly audiophile, but you gotta agree: its one heck of a difference, that's not really hard to spot.