I don't think anyone here is calling it a game breaking bug, personally I think it's a little sloppy considering what they have achieved regarding creating planets. With all that being said, it's a completely different team working on ship designs/contact/damage models etc.
I couldn't say obviously without the experience in coding a monster game like this, whether this is sloppy or just part and parcel of such the learning curve in developing a monster environment like this. With nothing like Elite out there, to some degree, refinements are part and parcel, and as you say, it's a rough edge than something big. The reason I mentioned game-breaking bug is because there was a suggestion that such bugs went against the quality of purchase, which could be easily argued as being "game-breaking" if one feels your money has been mis-spent due to this particular issue. I disagree with that, obviously.
Regarding explorers, since gamma explorers have been running with no shields, you have explorers out there that have been gone for over a year. There is a reason the devs automatically installed the approach suite without the need to return to a station back in the bubble.
I appreciate that, my point wasn't to suggest that explorers are in the wrong per se, more that we perhaps need to re-assess what is sensible. Going out with no shields is every explorers right, and I understand why. I'm just saying that going out into the black is dangerous for any player as no game can guarantee a smooth and issue free ride. Taking shields is really for the same logic in-game as it is to enforce the illusion of realism: space is risky. Elite is big, things may go wrong, a layer of shields might be wise. I would imagine "real" explorers would take shields in case a "bug" ruins their day and ends their life! Same in Elite, a little lag, a glitch in the physics, whatever, and shields might just save you from being screwed. I guess in realism sense that would be the equivalent of a servo going as you land, or a gravity pocket screwing with you that would be invisible to be seen. As a simulator, Elite like space is unpredictable, so shields are wise in both cases!
That said, I'm not justifying ignoring any bug. This is all academic musing. Yes, until its fixed, use shields, slow that exploration and be safe, but yes if it is a small bug, as it sounds it is, it should be sorted. No argument there whatsoever.
Once again I'll state that I am a huge fan of the work the devs are doing, but it's no secret that there are countless minor bugs that we have to bring to their attention, every beta it's the same thing - We point out bugs, some get fixed when rolled out to the masses, others are on a todo list or the devs need reminding.
Totally agree. Yes its a massive incredible game, and it inevitably will have imperfections in which it is in part the obligation of the players to raise and thereby contribute to the ongoing task of making the game great.
