Elite Dangerous: Difference between revisions

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a12IYynvXlY COPDMCRULEZ - 3 Jun 2017]</ref> On 3 December 2023, for AXIN's 5th Birthday, over 350 CDMRs of the [[Anti-Xeno Initiative]] got together.<ref name=":0">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK9eoD1hVHY Largest instance ever in Elite:Dangerous? - 3 Dec 2023 - CMDR Mechan - YouTube]</ref> There were 150 players in a single instance.<ref name=":0" />

[[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.

[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Codex-Commander-Stats.png|thumb|250px|Commander stats in the Codex]]The [[Codex]] shows your findings and progress in the [[galaxy]]. It has personal stats, session logs, discoveries in both a collaborative and individual way. It also provides encyclopedia-style information about [[lore]] topics, the latest news via [[GalNet]] and exploration data pertaining player-made discoveries of [[species]] and [[Points of Interest]] in the [[Galactic regions|Galactic Regions]].

[[File:Anaconda-Hyperspace-Jump.png|thumb|250px|Anaconda hyperspace jump]]The [[Elite series|Classic Elite]] games obeyed the laws of physics to a certain extent. This meant conventional thrusters were limited by the laws of relativity i.e. players couldn't travel faster than light within a star system. [[Frontier: Elite II]] used the Stardreamer feature (perceived time dilation by slowing the pilot's bodily functions) as a realism/gameplay trade-off.

File:Elite Dangerous- Odyssey - Exploration Montage - Episode 16

File:ELITE DANGEROUS in 2026- Is it Worth Playing

</gallery>

[[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.

[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Milky-Way-Galaxy.png|thumb|250px|Milky Way in Elite Dangerous]]Elite Dangerous features realistic astrophysics, with bodies in star systems at the correct distances, scale, and move along their orbital paths in real time. Planets orbit and rotate around stars in 1:1 scale and real-time. The universe is modeled based on authentic and recent galactic charts. New features will be added iteratively over time. [[David Braben]] confirmed the inclusion of new encounters with e.g. comets, black holes and quasars.

</gallery>

[[File:Elite Dangerous - procedural generation|right|250px]]''Elite Dangerous'' uses procedural generation. It is a technique where content is generated from rules. It abstracts repetitive or arbitrary elements of content creation in a very efficient way.

Imagine a medieval landscape. Laying out towns, roads, castles, farm land, forests etc. can be done by a system of rules – putting castles widely spaced out on vantage points, towns near rivers but under the protection of such a castle, roads between them, then farm land to support them all. An artist can still design the castle, the houses in the towns, but this approach greatly magnifies the content that can be created. [[Frontier: Elite II]] used this tech for star systems and planets. [[Frontier Developments]] goes much further with this technique in Elite Dangerous.

The [[Flight Model|flight model]] of Elite Dangerous has Newtonian physics with a fly-by-wire layer applied over the top to make the combat feel visceral and seat-of-the-pants, rather than [[Frontier: Elite II|Frontier]]'s jousting at huge distances.<ref name=":03">[https://www.pcgamesn.com/elite-dangerous-will-have-100-billion-star-systems-plus-thargoids-braben-reveals-whats-next PCGamesN: Elite: Dangerous will have 100 billion star systems, plus Thargoids — Braben reveals what's next]</ref>

The fly-by-wire system of [[Flight Assist]] is a ship computer which keeps the ship within flight parameters, constrains the angular and linear velocity and makes it easier to pilot. It can be turned off so you have to manually adjust the thruster forcers, but Flight Assist and fly-by-wire is always partially on to keep the ship movement in specified limits overlayed on a Newtonian mechanics model.

Elite Dangerous is a groundbreaking title for [[Virtual Reality|virtual reality]] gaming, because its one of the first major titles to offer full VR support with an exceptionally immersive experience in an all-encompassing universe. It was the go to game for many VR headset demos before the devices were commercially available. From a technical standpoint, Elite Dangerous is one of the PC’s most high-end VR titles, pushing even very powerful PCs to their limit. Elite Dangerous is designed from the ground up to support Virtual Reality and 4K Ultra HD display technology. It has Cutting-edge visual quality and performance enabled by Frontier's COBRA engine. It supports the latest displays at 4K resolution, and is built for the future with full 8K and 16K support. It's compatible with Oculus Rift, SteamVR and Vive headsets.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180324213554/https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/made-for-vr/ Elite Dangerous: Made for VR], through archive.org</ref>

In March 2015, [[David Braben]] said supporting the Oculus Rift right from the start was possible, because Elite Dangerous is self-published by [[Frontier Developments]] rather than a publisher. With a publisher they'd have to make a business case for it and it would end up being pushed out into the future.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLpX1G5I5tQ YouTube: Elite: Dangerous - David Braben Interview]</ref>

<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

</gallery>

[[File:Elite_Dangerous_OST_Cover.jpg|thumb|250px|Elite Dangerous OST, released on 1 April 2015]]The [[Elite Dangerous Music]] was made by composer [[Erasmus Talbot]] and Frontier Head of Audio, [[Jim Croft]]. The Elite Dangerous Original Soundtrack has over 2 hours of music content to immerse yourself in the Elite Dangerous universe.

</gallery>

[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Limited-Edition-Box-Set.png|thumb|Elite Dangerous Limited Edition Box Set|250px]]Elite Dangerous was delivered to most people digitally. There was a special boxed edition and a Limited Edition Box Set for certain Kickstarter backers and the [https://www.frontierstore.net/ Frontier Store]. Some backers received an official star map poster.

The Elite Dangerous Limited Edition Box Set was part of certain Kickstarter rewards which backers received. The Limited Edition Box Set contained an Elite branded polo shirt with the correct shirt size, a limited edition game pack (copy of the game), a paperback novel of [[Elite: Legacy]], the original soundtrack, an Elite pin badge which worked as a fastener and a personalized letter written by [[David Braben]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire OBE] for each of the 7,000 recipients. It all fit into a bespoke shipping carton and was distributed to 7,000 individuals worldwide. It was designed so that owners felt like they received something special. This boxed set was nominated and ‘Highly Commended’ in the 2015 British Luxury Packaging Design Awards.<ref>[http://www.bridgemediagroup.com/Blog/files/tag-elite-dangerous.html Bridge Media Group: Elite Dangerous], through archive.org</ref>

[[File:Elite Dangerous Key Art 2020 Wide.jpg|right|250px|ED Key Art 2020]]

[[David Braben]] explained the story behind the name: ''"This is Elite 4, but I wanted something that was a fresh start. We looked at the story behind the other names. So Frontier is because the key thing with Frontier versus Elite is the action takes place on the periphery, on the frontier. Because logically from a story perspective if you imagine sort of cowboy semi lawless worlds they will tend to be on the frontier of human space. The core systems will be a lot more secure. You wouldn't get unruly systems so close."''<ref name=":83" />

Dangerous is the third best rank for members of the [[Pilots Federation]] and the galaxy is dangerous. Here's related lore: ''"Relentless, increasingly well organized piracy and the need to maintain their reputation and influence as the best of the best caused the Elite Pilots Federation to start opening its membership to candidates from the Deadly rank who were able to pass a rigorous test and then, as demand continued to soar, to those from the Dangerous rank."''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200517111759/https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=f72c0f91b2 Elite Dangerous Newsletter #22]</ref><ref>Elite Dangerous - Digital Art Book</ref>

''Elite Dangerous'' has a fixed, one-time purchase price, and no subscription fees or free-to-play fees. After purchasing the game, it can be played at any time provided that the owner has an adequate internet connection and the servers are online. Only one player profile is permitted per account, however, and players who wish to have multiple profiles must purchase multiple accounts.

</gallery>

On 26 May 2017, the producer for the Elite Dangerous PS4 version Lloyd Morgan-Moore said, ''“The Elite Dangerous team is over a hundred people strong, and while we have a dedicated PS4 team to handle things like PSN infrastructure, everyone is working on content which will appear simultaneously on all platforms. We don’t regard platforms separately when it comes to content."''<ref>[http://www.redbull.com/en/games/stories/1331858657533/elite-dangerous-ps4-interview Red Bull: The tech behind Elite Dangerous’s PS4 debut]</ref> The team size was confirmed by a few people who visited the Frontier offices during the week of 9 June 2017.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/my-visit-to-frontier-developments-and-the-future-of-the-game.356790/ Frontier Forums: My visit to Frontier Developments and the Future of the Game]</ref>

{{main|Development Plans}}[[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] uses an iterative approach with development. They gradually build upon features to expand and improve them. Expansions and major updates will bring [[Development Plans|various new features]] to Elite Dangerous. Some of these were available in classic Elite games and some are completely new to the [[:Category:Elite series|Elite series]]. [[Horizons]] is the first expansion which consists of a season with major updates that add many new features, content and improvements to the Milky Way. [[Elite Dangerous: Beyond|Beyond]] is the third season of expansions which will add 2 major updates and 2 content updates through 2018.

During an interview at [[Lavecon]] 2015, Frontier stated to have a clear intention of a 10 year development plan.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/lavecon-news.165775/ Frontier Forums: Lavecon News?]</ref> It's confirmed by [[David Braben]] during a charity livestream in December 2016.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS33cyq6Z_A&t=21m00s YouTube: 24 Hour Charity Livestream! Part 1! 2016]</ref> In an interview with the Rolling Stone, Braben said, ''"It's down to fans engaging with it, to be honest. But I would very much like to see it still going in 10-plus years. We might change things but, we'd like to keep the same basic idea."''<ref name=":93" />

*[https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/horizons Landing / driving / prospecting on airless rocky planets, moons & asteroids - Elite Dangerous: Horizons] - see [[Planetary Landing]].

*[[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Can I walk around the ship.2C planets and space stations.3F|Walking around interiors and combative boarding of other ships]]. - see [[On Foot]].