I spent too much time typing this out as a reply in another thread that got closed. It was kind of funny to see the "sorry, this thread has been closed" message. So I thought, what the hey? Make a new post.
When it comes to ANY game, there are a finite amount of things to do. It all boils down to your tastes of those things. And your imagination.
I have always been enamored with the thought of flying, atmospheric or in space. I fly RC drones and can never get enough of it. Some people look at me doing that and don't get it. Some do. If I describe the actual action of it, its nothing more than moving some sticks around on a radio and watching some hunk of carbon fiber/plastic thing with nylon props floating in the air for MAYBE 5 - 10 minutes. To repeat that involves waiting up to an hour for the LiPo battery to recharge. And that's it from an external point of view.
But in my mind? I am in that craft, soaring above the Earth, defying gravity, and seeing what the eagle sees.
I will never be able to afford a pilots license, plane purchase (or even rental) or the cost involved in maintenance of equipment and the time needed to keep my license current. That's the reality in the real world. But it doesn't influence or stop my complete enjoyment of the hobby.
When others see me playing Elite, all they see (for now) is me sitting in front of my computer. It doesn't look much different than when I am doing work on it or playing another game. Now once I get the CV Oculus Rift, well , ok, externally speaking, that will look weird. But I digress,,,,,,
What I see is what the future will hold for mankind when technology allows us to escape the atmosphere of Earth and seek out other places in the cosmos. It will be full of wonder and beauty, along with some buttheads who are bored with "That's it? It all looks like the same stuff! All the planets are round, all the stars are round with some having different colors, and a black backdrop that completes the picture." the experience.
I don't care what they think. I am out here to find out what's next, who's out here with me, and what (or who) might be waiting for me?
I won't live long enough to even read about what is in store for the first brave souls who explore our solar system. And those who go beyond it? Heck, I am not sure my grandkids will be around for that.
So for today, I am going to imagine (With the help of David Braben and the talented folks at Frontier) how humanity is going to fare out in the stars. What will we take with us? Are we going to be in awe of how big our existence is? Will we have a terrible realization that we are smaller than the tiniest speck we can see in our hands against the vastness laid out in front of us? How will we deal with each other? What will we share with other life we encounter? Will we display our finest qualities or show our lowest?
And again, I know, it's just a game. It's not real, it only lasts as long as you can find time for in the real world, yada, yada, yada. And for those who find other things more enjoyable, great. Recognize what you enjoy and revel in it.
Don't ever stop trying to find the wonder you see in a child's eyes when they see their first Christmas tree lit up, or the awe in someone's eyes when they witness their first sunset on the Pacific ocean. It doesn't last long, and it doesn't come (often) enough. At least for someone like me.
The other night I was not paying enough attention to the radar while I was approaching a station and as I was entering the outer part, a Python on its way out suddenly filled my screen. "Oh jeez, Mother of Six! Evasive action!!!" I imagine the other Cmdr was having similar thoughts as he made a radical deviation to his flight path in (fortunately) the opposite direction of myself. Unholy sounds of metal grating against metal erupted over the speakers as we both tried to get through the port in opposite directions. My shields held, his did as well and I received a cheery "Aloha!" over the comms. As I (shakily) finished my docking I sent a quick "Howdy" over the local comm. Not sure if the other Cmdr heard it or not.
Just that brief (maybe 4 seconds?) encounter had me laughing and shaking as I shut down my ship on the pad. I don't expect this encounter of mine to ever be used as a selling point to someone else. But it is what I find entertaining about this "game".
I will keep playing, looking for others who (like myself) tilt at windmills and are probably related to Walter Mitty, no matter how far removed.
And when (or if) Frontier allows the manning of ships with other players, and IF I can afford it, I am going to have 2 CV Oculus rifts.
Maybe my wife will be able to (finally) see what I see from the copilots chair.
But that's me. Fly well Cmdrs!!!
When it comes to ANY game, there are a finite amount of things to do. It all boils down to your tastes of those things. And your imagination.
I have always been enamored with the thought of flying, atmospheric or in space. I fly RC drones and can never get enough of it. Some people look at me doing that and don't get it. Some do. If I describe the actual action of it, its nothing more than moving some sticks around on a radio and watching some hunk of carbon fiber/plastic thing with nylon props floating in the air for MAYBE 5 - 10 minutes. To repeat that involves waiting up to an hour for the LiPo battery to recharge. And that's it from an external point of view.
But in my mind? I am in that craft, soaring above the Earth, defying gravity, and seeing what the eagle sees.
I will never be able to afford a pilots license, plane purchase (or even rental) or the cost involved in maintenance of equipment and the time needed to keep my license current. That's the reality in the real world. But it doesn't influence or stop my complete enjoyment of the hobby.
When others see me playing Elite, all they see (for now) is me sitting in front of my computer. It doesn't look much different than when I am doing work on it or playing another game. Now once I get the CV Oculus Rift, well , ok, externally speaking, that will look weird. But I digress,,,,,,
What I see is what the future will hold for mankind when technology allows us to escape the atmosphere of Earth and seek out other places in the cosmos. It will be full of wonder and beauty, along with some buttheads who are bored with "That's it? It all looks like the same stuff! All the planets are round, all the stars are round with some having different colors, and a black backdrop that completes the picture." the experience.
I don't care what they think. I am out here to find out what's next, who's out here with me, and what (or who) might be waiting for me?
I won't live long enough to even read about what is in store for the first brave souls who explore our solar system. And those who go beyond it? Heck, I am not sure my grandkids will be around for that.
So for today, I am going to imagine (With the help of David Braben and the talented folks at Frontier) how humanity is going to fare out in the stars. What will we take with us? Are we going to be in awe of how big our existence is? Will we have a terrible realization that we are smaller than the tiniest speck we can see in our hands against the vastness laid out in front of us? How will we deal with each other? What will we share with other life we encounter? Will we display our finest qualities or show our lowest?
And again, I know, it's just a game. It's not real, it only lasts as long as you can find time for in the real world, yada, yada, yada. And for those who find other things more enjoyable, great. Recognize what you enjoy and revel in it.
Don't ever stop trying to find the wonder you see in a child's eyes when they see their first Christmas tree lit up, or the awe in someone's eyes when they witness their first sunset on the Pacific ocean. It doesn't last long, and it doesn't come (often) enough. At least for someone like me.
The other night I was not paying enough attention to the radar while I was approaching a station and as I was entering the outer part, a Python on its way out suddenly filled my screen. "Oh jeez, Mother of Six! Evasive action!!!" I imagine the other Cmdr was having similar thoughts as he made a radical deviation to his flight path in (fortunately) the opposite direction of myself. Unholy sounds of metal grating against metal erupted over the speakers as we both tried to get through the port in opposite directions. My shields held, his did as well and I received a cheery "Aloha!" over the comms. As I (shakily) finished my docking I sent a quick "Howdy" over the local comm. Not sure if the other Cmdr heard it or not.
Just that brief (maybe 4 seconds?) encounter had me laughing and shaking as I shut down my ship on the pad. I don't expect this encounter of mine to ever be used as a selling point to someone else. But it is what I find entertaining about this "game".
I will keep playing, looking for others who (like myself) tilt at windmills and are probably related to Walter Mitty, no matter how far removed.
And when (or if) Frontier allows the manning of ships with other players, and IF I can afford it, I am going to have 2 CV Oculus rifts.
Maybe my wife will be able to (finally) see what I see from the copilots chair.
But that's me. Fly well Cmdrs!!!
Last edited:
