Elite: Dangerous (PC game) - Successor to "Elite"

[Neil]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20165344


David Braben, one of the creators of the original, is seeking £1.25m ($2m) via Kickstarter to fund the updated version.

Called Elite: Dangerous it will involve the same mix of interstellar travel, trading, piracy and spaceships as the original 8-bit game.

Those who pledge cash to the project will also get a chance to shape the development of the updated version.

"Elite is a game that I've wanted to come back to for a very, very long time," Mr Braben told the BBC. "It's the sort of game that I would very much like to play today."

[Cykotic]

Never played the original... to those who have: any good?

[Neil]

Never played the original... to those who have: any good?

These days? Not really! 25yrs ago? It was an absolutely mind blower! Seriously!

There had been nothing like it. Not only did it give 3D graphics with hidden surfaces, but somehow, it fitted the entire game code, 8 galaxies each with 256 planets (with names), each with their own economic models, in about 20K of memory!?!?!!?!?!? There were even some special missions hidden in there too!

Think how big a 20K jpg is for example!? Most of our avatars are larger in size! Yet Elite fitted in there!!!!

[shootemindehead]

Took me a long time to get into 'Elite', but when I did, I was hooked. Such a fantastic, layered game. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out on this one. If done right, It could be one of those great games that stays on the HDD for years.

[krakenslayer]

These days? Not really! 25yrs ago? It was an absolutely mind blower! Seriously!

There had been nothing like it. Not only did it give 3D graphics with hidden surfaces, but somehow, it fitted the entire game code, 8 galaxies each with 256 planets (with names), each with their own economic models, in about 20K of memory!?!?!!?!?!? There were even some special missions hidden in there too!

Think how big a 20K jpg is for example!? Most of our avatars are larger in size! Yet Elite fitted in there!!!!

Exactly. Today, it's easy to look at the wireframe graphics and bleepy sound (well, you can't "look" at the sound, but you get me) and see it as not so hot, but the technical achievement within the limitations of the technology was truly astounding.

The vastness of the game was actually achieved using procedural generation: the Elite universe was not STORED on the floppy disc, instead, most of that 20kb was taken up by one small-ish but exquisitely-honed equation that always produced the required game elements with the same values and the same predictable states of existence (the planets/stars in certain locations with certain names, the different ships and factions), while reproducing other elements with varying degrees of realistic randomness (economies, starting locations and motives of NPC vessels, etc.). As a side note, I suppose it takes us back to the idea of the simulation hypothesis, that a "god" might set in place certain rules at the beginning of a simulation in the knowledge that it might eventually produce a particular desirable result, but I don't want to open that can of worms again :P

It's basically the same tech that allowed the landmass in Daggerfall to be 341,608 km^2 within 200MBs in 1996, whereas Skyrim just about squeezes ~40km^2 into almost 7GBs in 2012. In Skyrim, all the towns, villages, caves, monsters, islands, mountains, rocks, trees, insects, eagles and dungeons are hand-placed and actually stored on disc. Obviously this has the benefit of making the game feel a lot more detailed and realistic, and locations are more unique and livelier, but it has the trade off of consuming masses of memory, not to mention the man-hours required to place everything manually.

To put Elite in perspective, in comparison to the other games of its time, it was almost as impressive as if someone today made a game the size of Daggerfall with the detail and depth of Skyrim. It blew minds, ended marriages and failed students the world over.

[shootemindehead]

"It blew minds, ended marriages and failed students the world over."

Ha ha...now there's a blurb!

I'd buy that for dollar!


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Chn3-nvy-WA/TVxH80njRtI/AAAAAAAAAao/P2CpR3qYq84/s1600/buyfordollar.jpg

[Neil]

They've reached their Kickstarter target - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20897768

[Mr. Clean]

Reminds me of this game...

Darkstar One: Broken Alliance


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXuS_EM_gt4

You can be a bounty hunter, pirate, smuggler, trader.....seems like a few other things but don't remember....You collect these crystals in different solar systems(hundred or so solar systems give or take) and upgrade your ship. Pretty fun game....picked it up in a $10 bin once and was kinda surprised that it didn't get any attention really or seem to do so upon release.

[Neil]

Going to be VERY interesting to see how this compares to Star Citizen! Indeed some of it sounds quite similar!


Game engine rendered sequence...
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David Braben explaining it...
V4-gyDLRMXg



Development diary - How the galaxy works!
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[shootemindehead]

Can't wait. Gonna get both.

Loved 'Elite' as a kid.

[Neil]

I'm tempted to sign up to one of the Kickstarter options on this to enjoy the ride :)

[Neil]

Alpha is here...
a-ykj3-q40A

I signed up in the end to Beta Phase 2...

[AcesandEights]

I signed up in the end to Beta Phase 2...

Let us know what you can (within ND limits, of course). I'm starting to get interested!

[Rancid Carcass]

Going to be VERY interesting to see how this compares to Star Citizen!

I think this will be viewed as the plucky underdog next to the financial behemoth of the other one. The thing that worries me about Star Citizen is that it's in danger of becoming a victim of it's own success - it has like a bazillion stretch goals and they keep adding more and more all the time as its funding keeps going up. It seems to be more concerned with adding the next shiny new million dollar feature than it does with anything else - can't remember the last time I read an article about the core game and how that's progressing. With Elite being smaller and more focused on the basics, I think this could be the one to watch.

[Neil]

Let us know what you can (within ND limits, of course). I'm starting to get interested!

There are as yet no ND limits. eg: There's already people actively broadcasting themselves playing the alpha for example - http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9172

I'd imagine I'll get phase 2 beta in about 5-7 months?

- - - Updated - - -


I think this will be viewed as the plucky underdog next to the financial behemoth of the other one. The thing that worries me about Star Citizen is that it's in danger of becoming a victim of it's own success - it has like a bazillion stretch goals and they keep adding more and more all the time as its funding keeps going up. It seems to be more concerned with adding the next shiny new million dollar feature than it does with anything else - can't remember the last time I read an article about the core game and how that's progressing. With Elite being smaller and more focused on the basics, I think this could be the one to watch.

Hope you're right! My concern is to make the game interesting they need LOTS of interesting content, both in missions and just things to see/visit. SC clearly has that huge budget to do that... Elite Dangerous? Less sure...

[Neil]

A clip of someone playing the Alpha build...

VQ-hdT5HSAw

[Neil]

Nice article over at Edge magazine - http://www.edge-online.com/features/frontier-developments-elite-dangerous-the-rebirth-of-a-legend/#null

[Neil]

Footage of the soon to be released Alpha 3 - Docking etc...

iKU8fDwoFgo

[Rancid Carcass]

Awesome! Love the little wire frame on the HUD of the original space station! I'm way more excited for this than Star Citizen it has to be said.

[shootemindehead]

Getting really excited about this now.

[Neil]

ey22m463104

[Neil]

PPpVTiLrcBU

[Neil]

Alpha 4 just released, so now we can finally see the hyperspace jump... 40seconds in.

FIPVegyKksI

[shootemindehead]

Not too sure I like the stars whizzing by effect when you're flying normally.

Looks kinda silly.

[Neil]

Not too sure I like the stars whizzing by effect when you're flying normally.

Looks kinda silly.

Clearly traveling at x hundreds of meters per second you wouldn't see stars moving, so the dots you see are just suppose to be micrometeorites. ie: Just bits of dust.

In truth they wouldn't show them at all other than to help give you a visual clue to your speed/direction.

[shootemindehead]

I hope there's a checkbox to turn them off, or something in a ini file or whatnot.

[Neil]

I hope there's a checkbox to turn them off, or something in a ini file or whatnot.

Maybe, but I think they're in there for a very good reason. ie: Without them you have little/no visual guide to your speed or direction of travel. I suspect they didn't want to have them - as they're not realistic - so have only put them in as a required necessity for good game play.

[shootemindehead]

Oh, I know the reason that they're there. The old X wing vs TIE Fighter game did the same thing. But they're still awful looking.

There must be a better way to indicate speed in a space sim.

[Neil]

BTW - First Beta is out on the 30th...

I'm signed up for second round Beta.

[Neil]

TGf9OPot8Sc

[shootemindehead]

Nice.

Is there a release date?

[Neil]

Nice.

Is there a release date?

Aimed at "later this year".

Primary Beta release is a week today. This will offer a majority of the game for people to play, so a lot of information will come forth.

I'm signed up for Secondary Beta which will be sometime in the coming months...

...and then sometime after than, true release...

[shootemindehead]

Christmas job then I reckon

[Neil]

There has been lots of talk if an external view will be available or not in the game. This week a Lead Designer implied some sort of external view will be in the game, and indeed the latest video form Frontier Designs seems to show it in action :)

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[Neil]

E3 demo - definitely worth a watch! - http://www.gamespot.com/videos/e3-2014-elite-dangerous-developer-demo/2300-6419611/

[Neil]

Well, the suggestion is the standard beta will be coming soon. My guess is 5-7 weeks. I'm signed up to this :)

[Neil]

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[Neil]

OK, I've been given the orginal Combat Demo to play with, as a little gift to the Beta subscribers. I downloaded and tried it last night.

On my aging machine (6yrs old) with a modernish graphics card (1 yr old) it ran very smoothly (60fps +) for all but the very last missions which is a big space battle. There is was around 30fps.

There's a lot of controls and systems to get your head into to start off with - This is not a quick arcade game to simply load up and play.

But so far so good. I need some time with it, and ultimately when I get the Beta in a few weeks that will be very telling!

[Neil]

Looking around a cockpit is important. It allows you a feeling of immersion, but also allows you to get your bearings and see targets all the better.

Elite Dangerous allows you to look around your cockpit in a number of ways, but one of the most interesting is by using TrackIR. This is a little device you put on your headset so as you look around (a little bit) your virtual view (on the monitor) moves around a lot. So a small look to the left means a bit look to the left in game. It's easy and functional.

The problem is TrackIR is about £140, which I think is a rip off!

Enter clever people on the Elite Dangerous forum who, like me, also think TrackIR is a rip off. These clever folks have made "EDTracker" using cheap arduino movement sensors (like from inside your phone).

I ordered the parts and I now have a box ontop of my headphones about the size of a box of match sticks, and I can look around my Elite Dangerous cockpit very nicely.

Cost? £30! Satisfaction? Priceless!

- - - Updated - - -

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[Neil]

Wow! Look at this gratuitous 16K shot from ED - http://elite.frontier.co.uk/extra/newsletter_2014_07_25/16K_Type6_7.jpg?utm_source=Elite%3A+Dangerous+News letter&utm_campaign=c5e7202cb7-Newsletter_33&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_eb767c006f-c5e7202cb7-303014205

It's showing that the game engine is capable of handling future generations of PCs with high power CPUs/GPUs...

Look at that image and zoom in to see the rediculous detail!



And here's some ED video porn...
ODaiPJRyyxA

[shootemindehead]

Cheers for the regular updates Neil.

I feel that this is going to be a bit of a life sapper.

[Neil]

Standard Betas is out tomorrow, which I'm signed up for :)

[Neil]

OK... Thought I would give a small update.

So I've been playing the standard beta now for a month. It offers a small region of space (40-50 system) within which you can go about your business.

Thusfar a reasonable selection of weapons are available across a small selection of ships. Trading it pretty complete, while the other roles (bounty hunting, piracy and exploration) are yet to truly be available. Missions are in the game, but are thusfar very simple.

The game plays pretty smoothly and the rare hangs and drops and seemingly improving too. Even my 6yr old machine (with a 1yr gfx card) plays the game smoothly at highest detail.

There is a reasonably high learning curve to start off with, and keep in mind the current game has only a small proportion of features coming in the final version! So expect it to take a good week or so to feel comfortable, along with a number of learning exercises given new locations/trades/situations.

I spent a good couple of weeks simply trading to build up some cash to then go and do other things. Trading at the moment is too safe, reason being if you are brought out of warp by anyone, it will be an NPC, and you can easily escape and get back into warp again. In the future when real players can "interdict" you, and threaten to blow you up unless you give them some of your cargo, things will be more "interesting" (dangerous) for traders!

So now I've built up enough credits to not have to worry about it I'm flying around in a small figher ship (Viper) with various weapons shooting anything with a bounty on it :)

Note: There will be a total game data wipe in the future before release (maybe two), so anything I have now, I will certainly lose!


The next Beta will add a lot more we've been told, but there is nothing specific except more complex missions etc. I would hope this update will be coming in the next two weeks at a guess?

[Neil]

Beta 2 is out on Sep 30th.

It's the 30th anniversary of the original Elite too this week...

364nSyFk5tk

[shootemindehead]

Just got my new machine last week. An i7 4790K with a GeForce 770 GTX and 16gb of RAM.

So, I can't wait for this thing to come out.

Should run as smooth as silk.

[Neil]

Just got my new machine last week. An i7 4790K with a GeForce 770 GTX and 16gb of RAM.

So, I can't wait for this thing to come out.

Should run as smooth as silk.

My 6yr old machine (with 1yr GFX card) struggles a little at time, but generally it runs it 40-60fps, which is perfectly playable.

My plan is to upgrade next year onto Intel's new hardware and Micro$oft's new OS.

[shootemindehead]

I've just "upgraded" to Windows 7 :lol: after being with XP for 10 years or more.

I can see the same thing happening.

I avoided Vista (wife's laptop) and was forced to have 8 on my laptop. Neither of which I like(d).

To be honest, I'm getting sick of the rapidity with which Micro$oft releases operating systems. It's a pain in the arse for the consumer generally, transfering everything over. It's taken me the better part of a week to get the new machine up and running the way I want.

There's absolutely no need for it except financial gain.

[Neil]

Well Beta 2 hasn't been received that well by some. For some reason they changed the flight model/mechanics from the previous version, and many think it's for the worse.

I think I agree too. They've trying forcing the ships to fly like planes in space, and all the nerfs and odd behaviours they've done to try and force this means the combat feels "flattened" and less interesting.

There's talk of them dialing it back, but I fear we'll never see the lovely flight model that was in Beta 1 again :(

[Neil]

Utter genius!

Frontier Developments release this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6peGu2yG6o

Meanwhile... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZeO-4F45WM

[EvilNed]

Still not sure wether to buy this or not.

[Neil]

Still not sure wether to buy this or not.

If you're a dip in/out and play sort of guy... No.

If you don't mind dedicating a lot of time to a learning curve and income grind, then consider it...

[shootemindehead]

Hey Neil,

In your honest opinion, is this game worth getting at the moment? Or does it need a few more months in the pot. BTW, I was a big fan of 'Elite' when I was a kid.

[Neil]

Hey Neil,

In your honest opinion, is this game worth getting at the moment? Or does it need a few more months in the pot. BTW, I was a big fan of 'Elite' when I was a kid.

If you haven't got it yet, I'd say wait to see how it pans out. There lots of talk about potential but I'm slightly concerned it might all just be "potential".

My concern is a lot of the talk might be akin to the Generation Ships in the original Elite. Remember how those were mentioned in the manual, and how you always hoped to bump into one... and they never existed?

[EvilNed]

If you're a dip in/out and play sort of guy... No.

If you don't mind dedicating a lot of time to a learning curve and income grind, then consider it...

I think I've decided to wait at least until "No Mans Sky" is released. At which point I'll take a look at both and pick one to buy. Right now, it's leaning towards No Man's Sky.

[Neil]

I think I've decided to wait at least until "No Mans Sky" is released. At which point I'll take a look at both and pick one to buy. Right now, it's leaning towards No Man's Sky.

I think waiting (for ED) is the right move.

As for NMS, I've no idea at all what the gameplay actually is! It might be a wonderful sandbox box but there's nothing to really do in it!

[shootemindehead]

If you haven't got it yet, I'd say wait to see how it pans out. There lots of talk about potential but I'm slightly concerned it might all just be "potential".

My concern is a lot of the talk might be akin to the Generation Ships in the original Elite. Remember how those were mentioned in the manual, and how you always hoped to bump into one... and they never existed?

Ah right. I might hold off and see what happens with it then.

Looks great though.

[Neil]

Well this is good news I feel. So far from ramping development down...


To make this happen we’re expanding the team working on the game so that we can maintain a regular schedule of updates as well as working on paid expansions.

We’ll also be having beta test periods for these major updates and access to these will be open to players who already have beta access for the game. More details on this will be revealed in the coming weeks.

[shootemindehead]

Have you played any more of the released game?

Have the dev team added anything more to it?

[Neil]

Have you played any more of the released game?

Have the dev team added anything more to it?

I'm playing regularly :)

The next major update will be in 2-3 weeks when amongst other things they'll be adding "Wings" which is a means of allowing groups of people (friends) to fly/play togethor. How much this will add, and what else will be in that 1.1 update I do not know.

But there other things in there too - eg: They're beefing up the graphics for gas giants too.


I'm done with exploring until there's enough been added to make the experience more "interesting"...

[shootemindehead]

I'm thinking of having a punt on it soon. Might wait til after the next patch.

The price is still pretty hefty at the moment, but the more I read, the more I like.

[Neil]

I'm thinking of having a punt on it soon. Might wait til after the next patch.

The price is still pretty hefty at the moment, but the more I read, the more I like.

Just remember - Hell of a brutal learning curve! Loads of YouTube videos on most topics to help you!

[shootemindehead]

Learning curves can be good.

I remember reading the manual for 'F-15' years ago. Hours, it took...hours.

[shootemindehead]

Right. I bit the bullet and bought it.

Flew through the tutorials and am now downloading the main game files.

The installer is a bit of a dick.

[shootemindehead]

I'm home.


1369

[Neil]

While out exploring, I stopped by to admire some icesteroids...

hVvEspDE880

[shootemindehead]

What are you flying?

[Neil]

What are you flying?

Gone out exploring for a couple of weeks in a 34+ly jumping Asp...

[EvilNed]

Wow, that looks cool.

[Neil]

Wow, that looks cool.

I must admit, exploration is strangely enjoyable. It - like a lot of the game - definitely needs more content/depth, but it's still fun.

I'm hoping over the next one or two months they add a load of content/depth to it, as it's desperately thin in places!

Pretty stars!
JImYoy_djE8

Black hole! This effect needs some TLC and improving IMHO!
IORq2s4MIwY

Nice little effect. You're in a station, but sometimes you forget it's rotating! Sunlight through the docking bay door reminds you.
Oon4Lwm_zHM

[shootemindehead]

There's lots of nice effects and the game looks great, but it's very empty yet.

Like 'DayZ' it has the ability to be one of the greatest games ever made. I just hope all the promises turn out to be real. I'm still in a Cobra making money from killing, because speiss pew pews and assassinations are about the most interesting thing going on at the moment.

[Neil]

There's lots of nice effects and the game looks great, but it's very empty yet.

Like 'DayZ' it has the ability to be one of the greatest games ever made. I just hope all the promises turn out to be real. I'm still in a Cobra making money from killing, because speiss pew pews and assassinations are about the most interesting thing going on at the moment.

Well, 1.2 is coming out soon with the Wings addon for group play. Unless there's the mission to back it up I'm not entirely sure of the point.

It does at least have an external camera at long last!

x9yrG-0xTC4


V1.3 (next month) needs depth/mission/something added to make it more interesting!

[shootemindehead]

Aye. The wings thing isn't going to bother me one bit TBH.

[Neil]

Really not impressed with their V1.3 release.

It just packages up the existing grind in the game, and basically makes you join Powers to so your grind increases bar charts...

Really not impressed so much time and effort has gone into simply orchestrating the same grind mechanics in the game, rather than making the universe and what you do in it deeper and more interesting!

[shootemindehead]

Oh, that's a shame.

I haven't played the game since April and was hoping for a bit more expansion.

[kidgloves]

This is coming to the Xbone

[Neil]

This is coming to the Xbone

Indeed... Looks like some Arena game play modes too?


But is there the suggestion of content coming to the XBone before the PC? Prepare for the pitch forks given the game is only here because of the PC community kickstarting it!

jG5J5hCAC4c

[kidgloves]

You guys might enjoy this. Came after the Elite Dangerous announcement.

https://youtu.be/XWK_WCSR_vk

[Neil]

So Elite Dangerous: Horizons announced. This is basically planetary landings on objects with no atmostphere etc. Scheduled to be released around the end of the year...

Personally unless it adds more/deeper mechanics I can't see it helping the game myself, which is in desperate need of deeper more varied stuff to do, and ideally deeper mechanics to start giving birth to emergent gameplay.

[Neil]

-Et5Ivi_yIg
[STARTS AT 8 MINUTES IN]


They had a Livestream last night showing off some of what to expect with (no atmosphere) planetary surfaces in the forthcoming V2 ("Horizons") in a few months...

A very interesting watch IMHO.

[Neil]

Well, here's my "Distant Disc" mission video and notes... I believe I have reached the most distant systems from the core... It's my farewell nod to the game for a while I suspect...

Missions notes - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=231416&p=3548585



Note: This video will not play on a mobile device, or if you are in Germany! Sorry! It's because of the backing track I used...
gQejIcCgpTA
If you simply cannot watch the above version (on a PC) for some reason, here's an alternative with free music from youtube which therefore has no limitations on access - [click (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6CE3bQPVbw)]

[EvilNed]

For those of us who don't play Elite, what's a distant disc and the significance of it?

No Man's Sky is released in 3 months I believe. I wish some aspects of this game and that game would mix.

[Neil]

For those of us who don't play Elite, what's a distant disc and the significance of it?

No Man's Sky is released in 3 months I believe. I wish some aspects of this game and that game would mix.

"The Distant Disc" is my attempt to reach the most distant systems from the galactic core...

I believe I achieved it ;)

Read the missions notes if you want more a full run down of it - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=231416&p=3548585




NMS will be interesting to see...

[Neil]

Well I'd have to say the latest 2.1 release hasn't been very successful. While it has improves some areas, its corner stone new gameplay, "The Engineers", IMHO is an over-bloated random-grind-fest introducing no real gameplay, but instead inane almost cynical new mechanics. It's actually driven me to stop playing!

In truth, in the last year this game has moved forwards very little...

Worrying!

[shootemindehead]

Been about a year since I last played. Can't see myself getting too bothered to try again TBH, unless something spectacular happens.

Still think 'Star Citizen' is going to destroy this in short order.

[Neil]

Been about a year since I last played. Can't see myself getting too bothered to try again TBH, unless something spectacular happens.

Still think 'Star Citizen' is going to destroy this in short order.

They just keep seeming to add more non-content? ie: Nothing that actually makes things deeper or more involved.

The latest Engineers mechanics are basically a random-inane-click fest!

They had a chance ot make a truly great game, slowly building and improving it... But they're blowing it!


I don't know if it's the management or designers at fault... But someone is making bad bad choices!

[Neil]

So... Six years after release...


So, will the new "space legs" create enough worthwhile gameplay value for the huge development effort going into it? Or will it create a novely/niche feature most CMDRs will bother with? And/or a whole new bunch of gameplay mechanics and balancing issues for Frontier to struggle with?

And will the plant life mentioned by clevery procedurally generated on a plethora of scientically sensible values, or just be half a dozen hard coded/artist generated variations? Because, IMHO if these plants are not being created by a solid/clever procedural engine, then they are almost a waste of effort.

Bpe7ULtkYbU

[shootemindehead]

I've been meaning to jump back into Elite for a wee while. Was playing again for a bit a year ago, but little had changed. It was still just all about the grind and I dropped out again pretty quickly.

The space legs thing that's been rumoured for years looks like an ok idea. But there still needs to be something to do, which in Elite, there's not much of really.

[Neil]

I've been meaning to jump back into Elite for a wee while. Was playing again for a bit a year ago, but little had changed. It was still just all about the grind and I dropped out again pretty quickly.

The space legs thing that's been rumoured for years looks like an ok idea. But there still needs to be something to do, which in Elite, there's not much of really.

The question with Space Legs is how much gameplay will it bring. Risk is it will be as pooly considered and engaging as Multicrew, which was an appalling waste of time!