It's a bit like saying two FPSs set in modern day are the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dice and Infinity Ward or whoever make COD now have different ways of working which create different games. I see ED and SC the same way.
Poll: Elite Dangerous or Star Citizen?
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It's a bit like saying two FPSs set in modern day are the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dice and Infinity Ward or whoever make COD now have different ways of working which create different games. I see ED and SC the same way.
Elite Dangerous is my choice. Partially because of my love of playing Frontier on the Amiga, but also because it fulfils the space simulator ideal that I've missed since then (though Jumpgate came close). I bought the Beta ages ago and have loved messing around in the current release. The idea of combat inside ships and walking round space stations is nice, but a bit of a diversion that I'm not too bothered about tbh.
Star Citizen sounds ambitious but seems to be trying to do too much at the start, with the risk that the project could stall. Though the later release for SC means that it could tie in nicely as an alternative to an established ED.
But for me ED is the best bet - for legacy, gameplay and progress reasons.
As always it's a personal choice. The debate about the ambition for both projects reminds me a bit of the debate and flame wars about "Battlecruiser 3000AD" in the 1990's...
Star Citizen sounds ambitious but seems to be trying to do too much at the start, with the risk that the project could stall. Though the later release for SC means that it could tie in nicely as an alternative to an established ED.
But for me ED is the best bet - for legacy, gameplay and progress reasons.
As always it's a personal choice. The debate about the ambition for both projects reminds me a bit of the debate and flame wars about "Battlecruiser 3000AD" in the 1990's...
Of course it makes no sense for ED, because it's following on from the previous game's legacy. Watch anything where Braben talks about past Elite - he says specifically why space was chosen, but never comes across as promoting the game as a "space experience" - he always emphasises it to be a game, that happens to be set in space.
CR on the other hand is promoting SC strongly on the experience of being in space.
I'm not making this up when Braben is saying it himself, for goodness sake. I'm sure if Braben could use any other setting to his advantage for making the ultimate theory lover's game, he would do so.
Edit: The two are vastly different approaches, with the only thing in common being the setting - Space.
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ED and SC are very alike, yes there will be differences, but they are essentially the same game, space combat and resources, player driven politics and economy. They are far from what Curunen is saying.
If you put it like that, then yes - the game mechanics are obviously going to be similar, because of involving spaceflight, combat, economy etc. You could make that comparison with many MMOs for example - they also have economies and can have player driven politics - the only difference being space flight and combat.
But the philosophy behind each game is completely different - like I said, this is not me just making **** up, both DB and CR say it themselves.
I don't like how ED is heavily relying on procedural generation - the setting and lore are not the focus of ED - it is the freedom of player choice and consequences in a system with rules. Again, DB says this himself - it's all about the game theory and interaction with players for him. It might have a nice shiny space setting and combat on the outside - which don't get me wrong will be a lot of fun to play I'm sure - but at the heart of it the lore and setting are secondary to the game's intent.
While SC at the moment has a heavy emphasis on dogfighting, the lore/setting/story are the centre stage, on which CR can create his vision of a dream space game. From having people in universe recording and broadcasting news and so on, the aim is for the universe to feel "real" and believable, where you can get immersed in roleplay or whatever you like. Again, totally different philosophy from DB.
I'm sure Elite could be recreated in a completely different setting, if DB found it would work well. SC cannot be anything other than in space.
Both games will be good to play, but don't pretend they are essentially the same game.
What rubbish, so ED doesn't have a heavy emphasis on dogfighting? The dogfighting mechanisms are far better on ED. Far better thought out. And yes there is procedural content as it's huge, however important systems and places are not procedural. It's a combination. "the mechanics and philosophy are not as different as you make out.
And just LOL, ED can only be space.
As I say once all add one are applied to ED, you have a very similar game, there is no massive difference like you say. The biggest difference is how they are going about development and release.
And just LOL, ED can only be space.
As I say once all add one are applied to ED, you have a very similar game, there is no massive difference like you say. The biggest difference is how they are going about development and release.
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Oh for goodness sake - I never said ED doesn't have an emphasis on dogfighting - I know what the game is doing... don't put words in my mouth please.
I said SC AT THE MOMENT is focused on the dogfighting, because it's the only thing they have to show for the development, other than a hangar.
I suppose Fallout 3 and Borderlands are "essentially the same game" then? Or COD and Crysis or whatever?
Edit: We can't say for sure how either SC or ED will compare at the end once they're both released, but I'm willing to bet they will be quite different, other than being able to fly/trade/fight in a spaceship.
Edit 2: I forgot to add - DB always comes across as largely ambivalent to the space setting, only using it because it suits what he wants to do in a game.
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didn't put words in your mouth, and DB is so disinterested in the space aspect. He's always tried to make space flight (massively tonned down as that did suck from game play point of view, was like jousting at 100,000 mile an hour.) and the milkway as true as possible. Just utter garbage, believe what you want. There will be differences, but they are very similar.
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You did assume I was using dogfighting as a comparison between ED and SC, when I was actually comparing SC internally with itself - only stating that it is what SC is focused on at the moment but it is not necessarily the driving force behind the game. I can see how my wording could have been misinterpreted.
Just utter garbage, believe what you want. There will be differences, but they are very similar.
But anyway, we're obviously going to have to agree to disagree.
I see ED as a game - a very good game - but I can't see myself becoming immersed in the lore, and will probably only play it for the game aspects - ie space combat, exploration and so on.
Edit: Obviously DB is wanting to try and make the space aspects as good as possible - otherwise what would be the point. In any case I still stand with my previous statement.
I can see myself becoming immersed in SC lore and roleplaying in their persistent universe, and feeling like I can invest time and effort into it.
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Jesus, why does anyone bother to argue with Glaucus? I don't know his history but I can only assume he suffers from some form of autism or aspergers that makes him as mentally flexible as an iron rod, as he just seems to fixate on a certain detail and then grab on like a pit bull to the neck, whether it is relevant or not (usually not). No-one else generally shares his opinion, so why waste everyone's time arguing with him when we could be reading actual relevant and constructive stuff about the games?
Please don't ruin a potentially interesting thread with this broken record style of bickering, because it really just looks incredibly naff.
Exactly how I feel. Superficially they are similar but they are very different games, both Chris Roberts and David Braben have stated this numerous times.
Subjective - ED lore is not strong enough to pull me in. Doesn't matter that a PU exits if it's fairly shallow (again subjective). Game will be good for the sake of the game mechanics, and that's about it for me.
I'm not sure how anyone can say Elite is short on lore. The original game shipped with an excellent novella "The Dark Wheel" to set the tone of the universe and a game manual that read like an instruction manual for your ship.
There are what 5 novels currently set in the Elite : Dangerous universe. DB strikes me as one of the biggest space nerds out there
Frontier are trying to recreate the milky way as accurately as possible, the sheer scale means the only option is procedural generation, but as has been mentioned developer placed content will also be used.
There are what 5 novels currently set in the Elite : Dangerous universe. DB strikes me as one of the biggest space nerds out there
Frontier are trying to recreate the milky way as accurately as possible, the sheer scale means the only option is procedural generation, but as has been mentioned developer placed content will also be used.