Elite / Frontier What would prevent *you* from buying E4?
- Thread starter DraQ
- Start date
could it be that complicated? 
but maybe it's easier to understand if one's riding the same wave
but maybe it's easier to understand if one's riding the same wave
Hereby I lengthen my message to at least 5 characters.
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Meaning what?
I'll assume that you are trying to use that quote to show that i have suggested ungrouped players are in the same session. Well no I'm not, and it doesn't say that.
If you were grouped (and therefore sharing a communal mission timer within the group session) and wanted to leave, you'd press "leave", get a confirmation popup, and if confirmed you'd leave the group. The other members would no longer be in your session, and you would now be back in your regular calendar.
It's a simple way of introducing temporary fun group play while keeping the game essentially true to the philosophy of the original. Lots of games already feature a similar function. Get it yet?
I'll assume that you are trying to use that quote to show that i have suggested ungrouped players are in the same session. Well no I'm not, and it doesn't say that.
If you were grouped (and therefore sharing a communal mission timer within the group session) and wanted to leave, you'd press "leave", get a confirmation popup, and if confirmed you'd leave the group. The other members would no longer be in your session, and you would now be back in your regular calendar.
It's a simple way of introducing temporary fun group play while keeping the game essentially true to the philosophy of the original. Lots of games already feature a similar function. Get it yet?
You really think you solve any problems by using words like "session" or "world" in some strange way? When I said "same game session" or "same game world" I simply meant that a multitude of players is online in the same game (on the same game server)! Which of course is crystal clear to you!
With a multitude of players online on the same game server where some use time compression and others don't the problems that have been pointed out to you several times can't be avoided! Until now you said NOTHING that would even remotely address these problems!
All you say is "they have their own calendar", "they are not truly in the same world" blah blah blah. The point is they are online in the same game with game-time out of sync which leads to complete rubbish which has been pointed out to you in detail.
With a multitude of players online on the same game server where some use time compression and others don't the problems that have been pointed out to you several times can't be avoided! Until now you said NOTHING that would even remotely address these problems!
All you say is "they have their own calendar", "they are not truly in the same world" blah blah blah. The point is they are online in the same game with game-time out of sync which leads to complete rubbish which has been pointed out to you in detail.
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No, as i have stated time and again, a player is only in the same session/game/world as you while you are grouped, in which circumstance you share a communal mission timer.
Please re-read.
Nothing has been pointed out that interferes with the idea. If by "in detail" you mean that you keep repeating the same thing, without making the effort to understand a pretty simple concept, then yes, you have given an immense amount of "detail".
Please re-read.
Nothing has been pointed out that interferes with the idea. If by "in detail" you mean that you keep repeating the same thing, without making the effort to understand a pretty simple concept, then yes, you have given an immense amount of "detail".
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Blah.
My version is very simple, there is only single "adventuring party" on the server and it's in-sync through the entire session, with synchronised stardreamer and hyperjumps.
The coop multiplayer would generally function as fluid extension of single player.
Upon connecting to a server, players would automatically synchronise their gametime by making the lagging players skip till they catch up with the leading player. This would automatically synchronise the stations and cellestial bodies.
Then the local system would sync to the server-side. Upon leaving the group, the games would desync and players who have left would seamlessly switch to SP, retaining the gametime and local system info from MP session they left.
My version is very simple, there is only single "adventuring party" on the server and it's in-sync through the entire session, with synchronised stardreamer and hyperjumps.
The coop multiplayer would generally function as fluid extension of single player.
Upon connecting to a server, players would automatically synchronise their gametime by making the lagging players skip till they catch up with the leading player. This would automatically synchronise the stations and cellestial bodies.
Then the local system would sync to the server-side. Upon leaving the group, the games would desync and players who have left would seamlessly switch to SP, retaining the gametime and local system info from MP session they left.
Yes Time compression is possible in Mplay but also very restricted.
The whole party must be in TC. And each gamer must agree.
If encounting a event the whole party drop out TC.
For a free roaming game this can be a problem. Such gamers like to be free wandering there own way. TC would not get used. Because all player must agree to TC. Like would in a sandbox game all gamer want to hang out with the full pack. Praktical, TC would be a non used feature.
In a coöp squad base or fleet or battle group it make senses there is some gameplay mechanic that force all player to go in the same direction as a combat group. TC make sense. And all would agree to it. Is used lot often to avoid boresome travel.
Problem is you depend on good behavior and teamplay. If one moron comes online and refuse to TC your in trouble. You have to deal with a kick mplay mechanic. Or methodes to force fairplay.
So either way it possible but there are to many problems with it. Dev would not burn on such feature. They follow KISS Keep it simple stupid. Lowing risk. In that way planned milesstones and deadline can be reach. Then burn resources on such troublesome feature wich would be dropped out.
So we are actualy discussing something dev won't use in Mplay.Sandbox game.
Wich could work in theory or even with playtester who behave as ask for.
As coöp well TC is possible but Coöp comes often with regular Mplay wich need other solutions wich also works voor Coöp. So jet again no TC.
Pure Single+coop games are rare just like space sandbox games.
So if you want Mplay forget TC and expect a FTL solution.
In save space where your old firefly barrel cant do insane FTL there can be stargates.
Wenn leaving save space you have something better, doing extreem FTL So you aren't restricted by stargates but can explore the wild wild space. Or reach other Oases of save space.
Because it's difficult to oversee these few specific choices of gameplay mechanics wich interact with a whole lot more choices a full game needs. Wich need prototyping and playtesting to see if the full set of gamedesign choices, can lead to fun gameplay.
And as allways, you can't please everybody. So whatever they do you win some and you loose some, gamers.
And bashing on X3TC unrealistic mechanics. As if that would be it's flaw. Well that Isn't wat make it a medicore game.
It's because its not a triple A game. It's a B-game wich doesn';t have ton's of polish it needed for such complex set of features. Even wenn patch 2.6 comes out. It still need polish.
So about Elite 4 I would not buy it if it was rushed game with lot of bugs and broken UI or gameplay. But would wait buyin, if most of big problems are solved by patches. like X3. Still need lot of polish even after patch 2,5.
If it would be a triple A game I expect a well polished game, but takes a lot more dev time and funding. wich I doubt. I think more a medium budged game. So won't expect full polish. But I hope it's playable from release.
Well Mplay and Timecrompesion, would more lead to this. Avoid time compression at all. They put the common proven Mplay modes in a space theme. Where you start close to the action. And after a preset time the session ends and there is a winning team or a highscore. Wenn leaving combat zone you destroyed instantly after a 10 sec warning countdown. No sandbox but a big enough combat zone. No place or need for TC.
For Coöp play the game go in group campain. Where TC is replace by cutscenes so skipping the boresome travel completly and jump from action to action.
While the singleplayer would be sandboxed and there TC is posible. Or like masseffect skip it with a smal cutscene
This means three different gameplay mechanics. Wich lead to lot extra work. And triple balancing and no TC.
As so far as I know, frontier didn't even started yet with Elite4. It can go any direction. Like would it even get Mplay at all. Nothing is set in stone yet.
Of course they would look at competition and the state of the market. And what works today. Wich lead to?
Consoles? And because it takes some time to produces. 2013 to 2015 depending wenn they start within 2 years.
Nextgen consoles? chance is small. Tiple A games form the first wave of next gen consoles. It would be for current gen consoles if the go for consoles to.
Wich lead to a consolised gameplay mechanics. With that also more aimed at that specific domegraphic audience wich use consoles.
Where online play archievements trophies come also with it.
So to me Elite4 is way off in the future and now mostly vague what they going to do.
In the mean time lookin out what competition brings within 3 years. Filling the gap.
The whole party must be in TC. And each gamer must agree.
If encounting a event the whole party drop out TC.
For a free roaming game this can be a problem. Such gamers like to be free wandering there own way. TC would not get used. Because all player must agree to TC. Like would in a sandbox game all gamer want to hang out with the full pack. Praktical, TC would be a non used feature.
In a coöp squad base or fleet or battle group it make senses there is some gameplay mechanic that force all player to go in the same direction as a combat group. TC make sense. And all would agree to it. Is used lot often to avoid boresome travel.
Problem is you depend on good behavior and teamplay. If one moron comes online and refuse to TC your in trouble. You have to deal with a kick mplay mechanic. Or methodes to force fairplay.
So either way it possible but there are to many problems with it. Dev would not burn on such feature. They follow KISS Keep it simple stupid. Lowing risk. In that way planned milesstones and deadline can be reach. Then burn resources on such troublesome feature wich would be dropped out.
So we are actualy discussing something dev won't use in Mplay.Sandbox game.
Wich could work in theory or even with playtester who behave as ask for.
As coöp well TC is possible but Coöp comes often with regular Mplay wich need other solutions wich also works voor Coöp. So jet again no TC.
Pure Single+coop games are rare just like space sandbox games.
So if you want Mplay forget TC and expect a FTL solution.
In save space where your old firefly barrel cant do insane FTL there can be stargates.
Wenn leaving save space you have something better, doing extreem FTL So you aren't restricted by stargates but can explore the wild wild space. Or reach other Oases of save space.
Because it's difficult to oversee these few specific choices of gameplay mechanics wich interact with a whole lot more choices a full game needs. Wich need prototyping and playtesting to see if the full set of gamedesign choices, can lead to fun gameplay.
And as allways, you can't please everybody. So whatever they do you win some and you loose some, gamers.
And bashing on X3TC unrealistic mechanics. As if that would be it's flaw. Well that Isn't wat make it a medicore game.
It's because its not a triple A game. It's a B-game wich doesn';t have ton's of polish it needed for such complex set of features. Even wenn patch 2.6 comes out. It still need polish.
So about Elite 4 I would not buy it if it was rushed game with lot of bugs and broken UI or gameplay. But would wait buyin, if most of big problems are solved by patches. like X3. Still need lot of polish even after patch 2,5.
If it would be a triple A game I expect a well polished game, but takes a lot more dev time and funding. wich I doubt. I think more a medium budged game. So won't expect full polish. But I hope it's playable from release.
Well Mplay and Timecrompesion, would more lead to this. Avoid time compression at all. They put the common proven Mplay modes in a space theme. Where you start close to the action. And after a preset time the session ends and there is a winning team or a highscore. Wenn leaving combat zone you destroyed instantly after a 10 sec warning countdown. No sandbox but a big enough combat zone. No place or need for TC.
For Coöp play the game go in group campain. Where TC is replace by cutscenes so skipping the boresome travel completly and jump from action to action.
While the singleplayer would be sandboxed and there TC is posible. Or like masseffect skip it with a smal cutscene
This means three different gameplay mechanics. Wich lead to lot extra work. And triple balancing and no TC.
As so far as I know, frontier didn't even started yet with Elite4. It can go any direction. Like would it even get Mplay at all. Nothing is set in stone yet.
Of course they would look at competition and the state of the market. And what works today. Wich lead to?
Consoles? And because it takes some time to produces. 2013 to 2015 depending wenn they start within 2 years.
Nextgen consoles? chance is small. Tiple A games form the first wave of next gen consoles. It would be for current gen consoles if the go for consoles to.
Wich lead to a consolised gameplay mechanics. With that also more aimed at that specific domegraphic audience wich use consoles.
Where online play archievements trophies come also with it.
So to me Elite4 is way off in the future and now mostly vague what they going to do.
In the mean time lookin out what competition brings within 3 years. Filling the gap.