Elite on Kickstarter...

[The ghost of raids past]

I am still rather amazed people pay for Alpha and Beta Access. I suppose if someone is prepared to give you 100 quid for access you would be silly not to take it, but it does feel rather strange.

[Portland]

I didn't bother to pay the extra tenner for 1st beta, had to draw the line somewhere...

[Muttley]

I guess Braben has the advantage that he's been writing Elite for 30 years already.

Apparently not (from the FD forums):

I'm sure it's been said before on the forums but technically everything you've seen of Elite so far has been created post kickstarter, not before. Those ten years of skunkworks development got the engine in the right place to start development, but the actual game, the meat of it, was created once the kickstarter finished and proper production began.

Mike Evans is one of the designers working on Elite: Dangerous...

[axel000]

So I chipped in the extra $25 or so to upgrade from beta to "premium beta". It all sounds quite posh and elitist. Wanted to get some time to brush up my skills before the Star Citizen dog fighting module drops, which is sometime this month single player and multiplayer in May.

Looks like alpha 1 missions are in the premium beta but not seeing the station docking stuff yet.

[Muttley]

So I chipped in the extra $25 or so to upgrade from beta to "premium beta". It all sounds quite posh and elitist. Wanted to get some time to brush up my skills before the Star Citizen dog fighting module drops, which is sometime this month single player and multiplayer in May.

Looks like alpha 1 missions are in the premium beta but not seeing the station docking stuff yet.

Yeah, it's basically alpha 1.1 (just the single player stuff) that the premium beta backers have been given to tide them over until beta starts properly (30th May)

[RedOktober]

I guess Braben has the advantage that he's been writing Elite for 30 years already.

Apparently not

Of course all the software is new but don't tell me that the ideas and some of the mathematical processes haven't been rattling round in his head for a long time.

[rowan]

I've just been watching a bit of the Star Citizen PAX video, and it looks positively amateur next to Elite Dangerous.
Considering the difference in available funds, I'm stunned it looks quite so shoddy.

I agree with you - even the state of the offices etc. but at the same time, fair play for showing it as it it, they're not covering up too much.
I'm sure there's plenty of opportunity for them to turn out a quality game still.

I am still rather amazed people pay for Alpha and Beta Access.

I guess at the end of the day a lot of it's down to support of the project. Some people are able, willing & wanting to fund the project to that extent & get some sneak peek fun as reward.
I've put significantly more behind it than I'd pay for any game in a shop & I've only got newsletters & forum access to show for it but so far I don't regret that one bit

[llamaprotector]

If you love a project and believe in the initiator of course objectivity is out of the window instantly. I backed Wings remake knowing full well that Blazing Angels 1 & 2 and Heroes Over Europe are both pretty much spiritual successors to Wings ideologically speaking

[wanye]

If you love a project and believe in the initiator of course objectivity is out of the window instantly. I backed Wings remake knowing full well that Blazing Angels 1 & 2 and Heroes Over Europe are both pretty much spiritual successors to Wings ideologically speaking

HOLY CRAP!?!?! HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT WINGS BEING REMADE!?!?!??!?!

(yes, that needed shouting!)

[Darkflame]

Loving the sound of the heat management mechanic;

...
In more extreme situations you can choose to ‘button down’ your ship for a short while, which stops the normal operation of the heat vents. Your shields are inoperative whilst you are in ‘silent running’ like this, and the heat that is still being generated by your ship’s systems builds up. Effectively your ship is ‘holding its breath’ and this is only a temporary measure – your ship will become disabled if you carry on too long.

Switching off your ship’s systems (even flight assist!) and using only gentle nudges of your thrusters to manoeuvre can result in a very stealthy profile, and you can combine this with the right weapons and tactics and achieve a whole new dimension to space combat. But beware - the hunter can easily become the hunted..!

[t0ne]

I've just upgraded from beta to premium beta for £15 and had a quick go, very nice

[Muttley]

[Muttley]

Work-in-progress shot of a procedurally generated class G main sequence star (with the brightness reduced so you can see some of the detail):



And how about a planetary ring system (plus close-up):

[Darkflame]

I assume that means that as you get closer to the rings you start to see the rocks that make them up?
Getting that transition to look good might be tricky.

btw, the last email update confirmed they arnt just using Kepler data - they hope to keep upto date with real data coming in too.
Not sure quite how that will work out though - seems to imply a planet suddenly popping in front of you if your near

[axel000]

I've just been watching a bit of the Star Citizen PAX video, and it looks positively amateur next to Elite Dangerous.
Considering the difference in available funds, I'm stunned it looks quite so shoddy.

I agree with you - even the state of the offices etc. but at the same time, fair play for showing it as it it, they're not covering up too much.
I'm sure there's plenty of opportunity for them to turn out a quality game still.

Star Citizen isn't slated to start its single player campaign until mid 2015 and its multiplayer game probably late 2015 early 2016, so a little early to judge.

Anyway, here is an up-armored Hornet.

Spoiler: show

And, cockpit with HUD and instrumentation turned off to show cockpit glass effect