Elite Dangerous: Difference between revisions

'''''Elite Dangerous''''' is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic.<ref>[https://www.elitedangerous.com/ Elite Dangerous official website - June 2024]</ref> It features a 1:1 scale simulation of the [[Galaxy|Milky Way galaxy]] with dozens of customizable [[ships]], [[On Foot]] gameplay, [[Planetary Landing|planetary landing]], free-form [[System Colonisation|system colonisation]] and influence the overarching narrative via [[powerplay]] and [[Community Goals|community goals]]. It is the fourth game in the [[Elite series|''Elite'' series]]; the longest running space simulation series in history.<ref>[https://twitter.com/gwr/status/611537566299463681?lang=en Twitter: Guinness World Records, 18 Jun 2015]</ref> It was developed and published by [[Frontier Developments]] with [[David Braben]] as the director. The Windows PC version launched on 16 December 2014. The [[Kickstarter]] campaign covered only a small slice of the development budget which grew a lot.<ref>[http://www.pcgamer.com/elite-dangerous-crowdfunding-covered-less-than-one-quarter-of-its-total-cost-creator-says/ PC Gamer: Elite: Dangerous creator says crowdfunding covered less than one-quarter of its total cost]</ref> The Mac version was released on 12 May 2015,<ref name=":53">[https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/05/elite-dangerous-now-available-for-macs-both-direct-and-on-steam/ Ars Technica: ''Elite: Dangerous'' now available for Macs, both direct and on Steam]</ref> but Mac OS support was dropped on 11 December 2018 due to technical barriers.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/important-mac-announcement.424243/ Frontier Forums: Important Mac announcement]</ref> The Xbox One version launched on 6 October 2015,<ref name=":63">[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/elite-dangerous-xbox-one-release-date-revealed/1100-6430369/ GameSpot: Elite: Dangerous Xbox One Release Date Revealed]</ref> followed by the PlayStation 4 version on 27 June 2017.<ref name=":73">[https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/05/16/elite-dangerous-touches-down-on-ps4-june-27/ PlayStation.Blog: Elite: Dangerous Touches Down on PS4 June 27]</ref> Development for old-gen consoles ended on 10 March 2022.<ref name=":1" />

*[[System Colonisation]] was also added with the Odyssey expansion.  

[[File:Aulin-Enterprise-Station.png|thumb|250px|Aulin Enterprise Orbis Station]]Elite Dangerous has a vast 1:1 scale simulation of the [[galaxy|Milky Way]] which evolves in real-time. The galaxy is based on real scientific principles, scientific data and theories.

In the tradition of the original [[Elite]] from 1984 and open-world games; there's no linear story. You can be a rich trader, a veteran bounty hunter, a feared pirate, a lonely miner, a notorious smuggler, all of them or something else entirely, based on your own actions.[[File:Type 9 mining.jpg|thumb|250px|Type-9 mining]]Among the trillions of people in the [[galaxy]] - you start off as an insignificant new member of the [[Pilots Federation]]. You receive an indefinitely loaned and insured [[Sidewinder]] and a small sum of [[credits]] from a secret benefactor. You've got a [[Ships|ship]] and some spare [[credits]] to get started. One day, you might gain fame, wealth or glory. Unlike RPGs, players in Elite Dangerous do not choose their role by customizing the stats and skills of their character. Instead, the player is free to pursue any career akin to real-life. The [[careers]] can be categorized as combat, covert, exploration, mining, trading, transportation and utility. Blaze a trail to fame and fortune as a [[Trader]], [[Miner]], [[Explorer]], [[Bounty Hunter]], [[Smuggler]], [[Courier]], [[Mercenary]], [[Assassin]], [[Xeno Hunter]] or [[Pirate]]. Customizing your [[Ships|ship]] gears it towards specific careers. Hybrid careers are possible through emergent gameplay. For example defensive bounty hunting while trading in a multipurpose vessel, or taking long-range trade missions and exploring systems along the way.[[File:Anemones-planetary-ring.png|thumb|250px|Anemones and a planetary ring]]The player can customize his or her character's physical characteristics with [[Holo-Me]]. It allows deep character customization which can be done at any time. For example, players can change their [[Remlok Suit]], head, facial features, gender and other cosmetics. The fully functional [[Camera suite|Camera Suite]] enables  third-person views, sophisticated screenshots, machinima and control a ship or SRV in third person.

Hundreds of ships can be owned by a player and customised for certain careers. Unused ships are stored in [[shipyard]] [[Hangar|hangars]]. They can be retrieved by returning to a [[station]] or [[settlement]] at any time. Ships can also be delivered to a station near your location if it has a shipyard.

[[File:Horizons-reveal-cobra-landing.jpg|thumb|250px|Planetary landing]]Since ED launched on 16 December 2014, the player was limited to experience the galaxy from a ship's cockpit or an SRV seat. However, [[Horizons|ED: Horizons]] update 2.0 added [[Planetary Landings|Planetary Landing]] on 15 December 2015. This made realistic, full-sized, airless [[planets]] and [[moons]] accessible.

Up until early 2021, the player was essentially the vehicle: a ship or SRV. Walking in person was a long awaited feature which the community dubbed "Space legs". In 2021, [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|ED: Odyssey]] added [[On Foot]] features which extended the level of detail to a first person scale. The player could finally walk around as an individual person rather than a vehicle. Ships became extensions of the player. [[Atmospheric Landing|Atmospheric landing]] on planets with tenuous [[Atmosphere|atmospheres]] became possible. Players can set foot on unexplored planets and receive an accolade that recognizes their [[First Footfall]] on a planet.<ref>[https://customersupport.frontier.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/4405415875218-What-is-the-First-Footfall-system-in-the-Odyssey-expansion What is the First Footfall system in the Odyssey expansion? - 20 August 2021 - Frontier Developments]</ref> Visit [[Settlement|settlements]], [[outpost]]s, [[starport]]s etc. Drive around with an [[SRV]] or walk in person to explore the surface for [[materials]], alien [[species]] etc.

[[File:SRV-Scarab-Driving-Planet.png|thumb|250px|SRV Scarab drives on a planet]]The first available [[Vehicles|vehicle]] is the [[SRV]] [[Scarab]]. It's primarily designed for [[Explorer|exploration]] to allow pilots to drive and jump across planetary surfaces. It's also useful for [[Miner|mining]] [[materials]]. The [[Planetary Vehicle Hangar]] module provides a hangar space on-board a ship to carry and repair an SRV. It's equipped with a [[Wave Scanner]] which is an unidirectional long-range forward facing scanner that detects a variety of vehicles and points of interest. The [[Scorpion]] is a 2 seater combat SRV that was added with [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|ED: Odyssey]] in 2021.

''Elite Dangerous'' is set in the 34th century, 50 years after the events of ''[[Frontier: First Encounters]]'', starting in the year 3300 (which equals 2014). The alien [[Thargoid|Thargoids]], introduced in ''[[Elite]] (1984),'' have returned. This caused the [[First Thargoid War|First]] and [[Second Thargoid War]]. ED and the classic ''Elite'' games have a shared fictional [[Elite Universe|''Elite'' ''universe'']].[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Hero-Connected-Artwork.png|Elite Dangerous hero connected artwork|thumb|250px]]Elite Dangerous features a shared narrative which is influenced by players on all platforms. This occurs with community events like [[Salomé]], community goals and [[Powerplay]] activities. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players. It's not traditional storytelling, rather an interactive, overarching narrative. Players have influenced and changed the course of events. The story unfolds in real time, in which players decide the outcomes and can be the stars.<ref>[https://www.polygon.com/2014/12/16/7402069/elite-dangerous-launch-campaign-single-player-story Polygon: Elite: Dangerous actually has a story, here's how to find it]</ref> The latest news on in-game events and remarkable stories are reported on [[GalNet]]. See the [[Elite Dangerous Timeline]] for a chronological list of events.

The middle-classes of the galaxy can afford spaceships like cars in the 20th century. People who own spaceships gain tremendous freedom. They're encouraged to do all kinds of jobs such as delivering goods and supplies to [[Station|stations]]. For people in the bottom of society, little has changed. Space trade is seldom hampered by politics. The planet-spanning [[Mega Corporation|mega corporations]] employ entire nations and rule unchecked over vast sections of the [[galaxy]]. There's a laissez faire attitude towards weapon ownership and people are inclined to shoot first. The general lawlessness of space, navigational hazards and fierce creatures on [[planets]] make it a dangerous place.<ref name=":23" />

Elite Dangerous was first announced to the public on 5 November 2012.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/EliteDangerousOfficial/posts/10152235720990564?__tn__=C-R Facebook: Elite Dangerous, 5 Nov 2012]</ref> Over a quarter of a century after the original, David Braben of [[Frontier Developments]] launched a successful [[Elite Dangerous Kickstarter|Kickstarter campaign]] in November 2012. The Kickstarter goal was £1,250,000, it started on 5 November 2012 and lasted 60 days till the deadline of 5 January 2013.<ref name=":2">[https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20897768 Elite video game reboot hits funding target] - 3 January 2013 - BBC</ref> The Kickstarter reached its goal 48 hours before the deadline and exceeded it with 25,681 backers who pledged £1,578,316.<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite Dangerous on Kickstarter] - 9 October 2024</ref><ref name=":2" /> The purpose was to test-market the concept, verify whether there's broader interest in a fourth game and to raise funds to help make the game.

File:Elite_Dangerous_Logo_Big.png|Elite Dangerous logo big

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