Elite: Dangerous - OUT NOW!

[Gandalf]

I watched an alpha video, it looked nice but there didn't seem to be much going on, nor a particular point to proceedings (hello planetside 2). Ofc this is just a really early version so things will change I imagine.

[Adept]

[quote="Gandalf"]
I watched an alpha video, it looked nice but there didn't seem to be much going on, nor a particular point to proceedings (hello planetside 2). Ofc this is just a really early version so things will change I imagine.
[/quote]
The alpha tests are focusin on basic flight and ship-to-ship combat so far. It's a very small (but of course important) part of the game. Alpha 4.0 will bring travel and trading.

@Phantom. The game does have gimballed weapons which track the opponent, and lasers (and railguns) which are basically hitscan. It also has multicannons which fire actual bullets. If you can reliably land multigun fire on targets you will have a large advantage. Those weapons don't produce significant heat, so they are very stealthy. Actually if you keep your shields down and your heat signature low an enemy with tracking weapons can't even lock them on to you. The gimballed weapon mount also takes a lot of space, so those who go with tracking weapons will do so at the cost of power.

The gimballed weapons will most likely be a very good thing for the game, as it gives people who can't aim to save their life a way to fight. The DPS is much less than what can be achieved by manually aiming multicannons and railguns though. Additionally Elite isn't really a PvP game anyway. At it's heart it's a shared universe PvE game you play either solo or as co-op with friends. Sometimes the human pilots will end up on opposite sides of a conflict (and some will no doubt want to play as pirates), but the focus isn't on PvP at all.

[Adept]

I think I'm the only one on this forum who participated in the kickstarter, but this bit of news may still be of interest. The Alpha testers are getting to try a more complete game, likely later this week, and the first proper beta test of the main parts of Elite will begin in six weeks. I suspect I'll indulge myself then and pay the additional 70 or so euros for Premium Beta. It's not as bad as it sounds as it includes pre-buying all the future expansions (40 euros) so I'll just end up paying 30+ euros for the privilige of getting to play Elite in it's half-baked form. Not economically sensible really, but I'll get to participate in the forum design discussions with 1st hand experience rather than just based on press releases and youtube-footage.

Hi everyone,

Today we are happy to announce the start of Premium Beta access, with Beta players able to download a single player combat build of the game.

The full Premium Beta will start on 30th of May 2014, and until then, players will be able to practise with a single player combat build.

The ability to upgrade to Premium Beta is now available for anyone who has already pre-ordered the standard Beta or the final game. This option is now available on the store after signing in.

For Alpha players, there will be one more Alpha phase release before going to Beta which adds Travel and Trading.

Alpha phase 4 details below

Alpha phase 4 expands significantly on this with two modes of faster than light travel - in-system 'super-cruise' and between-system 'hyperspace'. The full Milky Way galactic map, containing some 400,000,000,000 star systems, will be present. Alpha 4 game play is focused on a 200 cubic light year volume of space, far from Earth.

The date and further details of Alpha Phase 4 will be announced shortly. Alpha contributors get early access to future builds and a lifetime benefit of discounted in-game ship insurance. Elite: Dangerous Alpha access is available for order until 25th April. Find the Alpha here.

Some words from Frontier CEO, David Braben looking at the progress so far and the move to Beta :

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have played such an important role in Alpha testing, and I’m very happy that we will continue to benefit from their valuable input as they test Beta builds approximately 2 weeks in advance of release.
On the 30th of May we move into a new phase of Premium Beta testing with an increasingly complete game, and I’m delighted to be able to welcome a significant numbers of new players to Elite: Dangerous today.�

PS. If there is ever going to be an Allegiance remake or 2.0, I think creating it as a mod for Elite is the way to go. The p2p networking means very little server overhead, and everything needed is already in the engine.

[id3nt1ty]

I've been keeping an eye on this and Star Citizen. Not sure where to put my money yet, but I'd definitely be keep to play one of these games with you guys. I guess I can only get access to the premium beta if I pre-order the game now?

[Adept]

[quote="id3nt1ty"]
I've been keeping an eye on this and Star Citizen. Not sure where to put my money yet, but I'd definitely be keep to play one of these games with you guys. I guess I can only get access to the premium beta if I pre-order the game now?
[/quote]
Premium beta has some "support the development" extra £ in it, but it's not a terrible deal IMO. 100 pounds gets you immediate access to Alpha 1.1 build for some solo practice, access to the premium beta as it launches on the 30th of May, and includes all the upgrades that will come at a late date (1st person avatar stuff inside ships, stations and landing on planets and such.

I think I will get it, and probably persuade Myotis from the old SF to join me. I'm in no hurry though, as it will still be six weeks until prem beta launch.

I'm currently rather pessimistic about SC. Too much feature creep, huge ships for organisations and worrying hints about allowing EVE-style scammong and griefing.

[Adept]

Also... My ship to come <3

[Raveen]

Is that a cobra mk 1 or 3?

[Adept]

[quote=&quot;Raveen&quot;]
Is that a cobra mk 1 or 3?
[/quote]
Mk 3, the one you flew in the original. I hope they'll add the oddball mk 1 in as well. With 25 flyable ships coming in the first iteration, I suspect they will.

The latest newsletter had quite interesting stuff on the Cobra mk 3, about how to give it that niche it should have (as it's a much loved ship), but to respect the fact that it's not a particularly large one as such, and there are much bigger things you can buy. The Cobra mk 3 is larger and more sluggish in the turns than the Sidewinder and the Eagle fighter (the other "starter options for KS backers), but it has a heavy weapon loadout and excellent top speed. It can get into trouble in a turning fight with the more nimble ships, and may have trouble pulling out of weapon lock from gimbals, but if you just floor the accelerator you should be able to outrun or chase down almost anything.

I'm looking forward to my Federal Trader starter Cobra quite a bit, and wonder if my near terminal nostalgia will even allow me to upgrade to anything bigger 

[Adept]

Braben at the Baftas  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlFwSj_Ix1o

[id3nt1ty]

Hmm I'll have to see.

I keep hearing about the originals, but they must have been before my time or I wasn't paying attention. Is it worth getting hold of the original to play?

Edit: oh wow, the original was released before I was born!

[Adept]

[quote=&quot;id3nt1ty&quot;]
Hmm I'll have to see.

I keep hearing about the originals, but they must have been before my time or I wasn't paying attention. Is it worth getting hold of the original to play?

Edit: oh wow, the original was released before I was born!
[/quote]
Elite is literally the original. Braben and his college buddy Bell published it when they were 20, and I played it when I was 10, or not much older.

[Adept]

Here's a teaser picture from inside a gigantic freighter.



This freighter I think. A "Coriomax" design just barely able to enter through the standardised docking port of a coriolis station.

[id3nt1ty]

So Adept, have you thought about how you're going to play? It seems like there is a lot of scope to do what you want and explore new worlds, or help out existing planets/ groups of players.

[Adept]

Hard and fast plans aren't really possible yet, as a lot of the ultimate gameplay is unknown. What I hope is that Elite turns out to be a gigantic, beautiful sandbox with freedom to both explore and work towards long-term goals.

Myself and Myotis have the kickstarter backer "Federal Trader" start option. That means getting a Cobra mk 3 with basic equipment, 1000 cr in cash, and another 1000 cr worth of trade goods in the hold. In the current Alpha the cost of a Cobra mk 3 is over 40k, and most people assume the actual price in game will be higher. The standard start in the game is a Sidewinder and 100 cr.

Anyway, I hope to meet up with Myo, and hire what friends we can lure into playing with us (hoping Spyball and Dorjan at least) to work as mercenary escorts for out trade ships. The game is supposed to have a very robust and flexible contract mechanism, so we would have an actual in-universe way to help our friends get started by sharing the risk and the profit of doing trade runs.

Starting locations are randomised, so getting together in the first place is the first challenge.

[Raveen]

Just arrange to meet at the Coriolis station on Lave surely