Elite: Dangerous

[SmartCheetah]

Awwright, couldn't resist and bought it. Landed on my first flight without a problem after changing some controls, so it's not that bad. Efficient combat is much more tricky part for now, but I'll learn. Looks very nice so far.

 

[bonescraper]

Beta Closing - November 22nd!


Access to the Beta will be closing on November 22nd.

After November 22nd the opportunity to join the Beta will no longer be available for new players, but the Beta backers can continue to test (and play!) the game until the release of the game and beyond. All Beta backers will continue getting builds to test and play up until the final release.

Being a Beta backer extends far beyond getting early access to the game. All Beta (and Alpha) backers have access to the beta forums and we will continue to support Alpha and Beta backers with additional benefits and special offers in the future as a thank you for the early support you have given us.

Today we want to announce one of those benefits.

In Elite: Dangerous there will be areas of the game that will not be immediately accessible. Players may have to build a reputation with the governing faction in order to be given a permit to visit an area under their jurisdiction.

The Solar system, which is the star system of the birth of humanity, is restricted in this way. In the year 3300 humanity's homeworld has become a rich playground for the successful, the wealthy, and the powerful and famous. And of course, as a Beta backer, you belong in that set. All visiting commanders will need a permit, granted by The Federation in order to visit Sol or anywhere in the Solar system. However, all Alpha and Beta backers will be given an automatic permit, without having to first earn a reputation with The Federation. (For those of you whose allegiances lie elsewhere this could be a very useful benefit indeed!).

Also, they added a handful of new sexy paint jobs to the online store. A small preview:

Well, it's a good way to make money and i approve of that. The skins are of superb quality, kinda pricey, but as long as they keep selling only cosmetic stuff, i'm all happy.

 

[J_C]

Beta Closing - November 22nd!


Access to the Beta will be closing on November 22nd.

After November 22nd the opportunity to join the Beta will no longer be available for new players, but the Beta backers can continue to test (and play!) the game until the release of the game and beyond. All Beta backers will continue getting builds to test and play up until the final release.

Being a Beta backer extends far beyond getting early access to the game. All Beta (and Alpha) backers have access to the beta forums and we will continue to support Alpha and Beta backers with additional benefits and special offers in the future as a thank you for the early support you have given us.

Today we want to announce one of those benefits.

In Elite: Dangerous there will be areas of the game that will not be immediately accessible. Players may have to build a reputation with the governing faction in order to be given a permit to visit an area under their jurisdiction.

The Solar system, which is the star system of the birth of humanity, is restricted in this way. In the year 3300 humanity's homeworld has become a rich playground for the successful, the wealthy, and the powerful and famous. And of course, as a Beta backer, you belong in that set. All visiting commanders will need a permit, granted by The Federation in order to visit Sol or anywhere in the Solar system. However, all Alpha and Beta backers will be given an automatic permit, without having to first earn a reputation with The Federation. (For those of you whose allegiances lie elsewhere this could be a very useful benefit indeed!).

Also, they added a handful of new sexy paint jobs to the online store. A small preview:

Well, it's a good way to make money and i approve of that. The skins are of superb quality, kinda pricey, but as long as they keep selling only cosmetic stuff, i'm all happy.

That sealed it. I will buy a beta access, just to get immediate access to that part of space. But I will only buy it on 16th November, when I get some money.

 

[mikaelis]

Guys, I have a question regarding the controls. I have an old Black Widow stick which has only one POV-hat. Typically it is used for looking around the cockpit, but I would really like to use it to maneuver thrust (left right up down). Hence my question regarding Elite: Is it a good option or having a cockpit view assigned to POV is really important for the gameplay? (haven't touched new Elite yet, but will probably fire it up next weekend).

If the game sucks me up I may consider buying Saitek X-52 Pro, but I would really like to try it with cheap Black Widow first.

 

[The Fish]

Guys, I have a question regarding the controls. I have an old Black Widow stick which has only one POV-hat. Typically it is used for looking around the cockpit, but I would really like to use it to maneuver thrust (left right up down). Hence my question regarding Elite: Is it a good option or having a cockpit view assigned to POV is really important for the gameplay? (haven't touched new Elite yet, but will probably fire it up next weekend).

If the game sucks me up I may consider buying Saitek X-52 Pro, but I would really like to try it with cheap Black Widow first.

I've never really felt the need to look around too much to be honest. I use a hat for thrusters as you intend to. During combat you can often get a decent sense of where your opponent is relative to yourself through the holographic ship and "radar" on the UI. If you did feel the need to look around a better option to the hat would be http://www.edtracker.org.uk/

 

[J_C]

a better option to the hat would be http://www.edtracker.org.uk/

I'm building one right now. I hope i dont screw it up, i suck at electronics.

 

[Makabb]

This ship looks like Brabens face

 

[Destroid]

Putting flames on really doesn't improve the look of those ships

 

[Azazel]

I don't know what they did, but nearly everything other than just flying around got broke with this beta (and even flying is risky business).

Sucks, since I have an Oculus arriving tomorrow.

 

[Ulminati]

I have a 600.000 fine (probably a bounty by now) in federal juristiction.

I went exploring and found a star system with a really nice shipyard. (Every ship but the Anaconda, tons of upgrades including 32-slot cargo racks and class A frameshift drive). They also manufactured and sold battle weapons at 1k cr under the market average, so I bought me a hold full of those, save for a few slots I kept free for a Transport Gold to Station Y quest.

I check the system I'm going to. Prohibited goods are Narcotics, Sugar (lol) and Biowaste. No worries then. Looking forward to making a nice profit on my guns. Turns out that when I get to the place I get scanned and get a 500k cr fine for carrying prohibited cargo. Then they refuse to give me docking permission, so I can't finish my transport gold quest. Then the police chase me for having "stolen cargo" as the quest times out while I'm trying to get docking permission.


Frontier needs to get on missions to faraway stations that decide they won't let you dock. (I'm assuming it was because the Lakon-6 I was flying in was too big to fit on the small station landing pad. But if that's the case, the mission should be marked as unobtainable by me). And systems having prohibited goods that aren't listed on the system map as well.

Oh well. Beta's gonna beta. I'm probably selling my guns at a black market at a loss to recoup some of th emoney I've invested, then taking a break until 4.x is out and my lolcrazy fine is lifted.

 

[Makabb]

How is the mmo portion of the game?

 

[Ulminati]

It's... 'k.

I alternate between multi and solo. Sometimes in multi, loading times in core systems get a bit long (stuck in hyperdrive while it waits for server) which annoys me to no end. When that happens and I'm in the mood for running core system missions, I tend to switch to solo.

Most of the ships you meed are still NPC ships. You have to go out of your way to look for players if you crave PvP action. The size of space and the relatively low # of backers means you can go for long periods without running into anyone. Anyone buying this thinking it's the next Eve are in for a disappointment. Fortunately I was mostly in it for the single player game, so it doesn't bother me much. Running into other people is just a pleasant (or not-so-pleasant if I'm trading) surprise.

When I do end up fighting other players, combat has been good. No weird lag-teleporting all over the place and combat has been satisfying. There are a lot of carebear players out there who get upset if you kill them though.

 

[Mortmal]

MMO portion is not really functionnal yet, i tried picking a few missions, but they were not on the bulletin board to cash in= fines , worse sometimes the landing pad doesnt release your ship and you are stuck .Only way is to log off, but then you get fines (or death)if you dont escape the station quick when logging in+ the hefty fines....I dont see it becoming a true mmo anytime soon.
The solo game is very playable, everything works, and almost feel complete, theres a lot to show already , not done the private multiplayer part yet.

 

[Trash]

How is the mission diversity Ulminati? Is it all courier, trade, escort and kill or do we have something more interesting to look forward to?

 

[J_C]

not done the private multiplayer part yet.

What do you mean by private multiplayer?

 

[Ulminati]

not done the private multiplayer part yet.

What do you mean by private multiplayer?

You can play multiplayer in a "private server" where you can only end up meeting people in your private server group. EG: If we made a 'Kodex Kool Kluster', you could play on it and only get ganked by other codexers. IT's fore carebears who want ot pretend they're playing multi.

 

[Makabb]

But are the servers player hosted? meaning there is a server for 64 players with 3 billion planets?

 

[Mortmal]

But are the servers player hosted? meaning there is a server for 64 players with 3 billion planets?

No idea yet , its not implemented , but i think thats the only way multi will be viable. No one is going to risk ships like that when its so easy to lose it cause of crash or lag. Theres much grinding if you dont use an exploit.

 

[Ulminati]

How is the mission diversity Ulminati? Is it all courier, trade, escort and kill or do we have something more interesting to look forward to?

Current mission types:
- Take good X from here to station Y
- Take message from here to station y (no cargo)
- Find good X and bring it here
- Steal good X and bring it here
- Kill x ships of type y (system authority, civilian, specific faction) in system z
- Kill specific ship in system z (wanted criminal)
- Smuggle illegal good from here to station y
- Mine x units of mineral Z and bring them here
- Bring humanitarian aid to station y (like regular cargo transport. Pays less but you get a reputation boost)

There's supposed to be exploration and espionage missions too, but I don't think they're implemented yet. All missions have a time limit. If you fail to complete them before the time is out, you may get a fine (ex: If you're transporting cargo and run off with the goods).

 

[Raapys]

No escorting yet?

 

[Weirdstuffinspace]

Is seamless landing on planets going to be implemented ?

 

[Ulminati]

No. Yes. Questions have been asked and answered about a dozen times before.

 

[Weirdstuffinspace]

What about newtionian physics then ?

 

[Space Satan]

How's overall economy? Game fectures fluctuations, deficits and shortages or it's just a fixed prices at different stations?

 

[Mortmal]

Its 3 fixed prices for each good, low , med and high demand, the player impact seems limited so far. Not seen drastic differences between systems yet . Far away sectors have better trade runs so maybe player supply does a difference, but might be wishful thinking .