Elite Dangerous: Difference between revisions

* A shared narrative which is influenced by players on all different platforms. This occurs with community events like [[Salomé]], [[Community Goals|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. The latest information on in-game events and stories are reported on [[GalNet]]. See the [[Elite Dangerous Timeline]] for a chronological list of events.

== Multiplayer vs Solo ==

Elite Dangerous has a seamless, lobby-less galaxy, with the ability to rendezvous with friends as the player chooses. People can play with up to four players in a [[Wings|Wing]] or join other people's ships via [[Multicrew]]. This was tested since the early betas, and uses a combination of peer-to-peer (to reduce lag) and server connections. Frontier spent a lot of time getting this tech to work, because it's way more complicated than a central server.<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/elite-dangerous-creator-talks-sci-fi-politics-and-whats-next-w492781</ref> The networking system has gradually improved and changed to accommodate new features like Multicrew.

== Evolving Universe ==

Elite Dangerous has a vast 1:1 scale simulation of the [[galaxy|Milky Way galaxy]] which evolves in real-time. The galaxy is based on real scientific principles, current scientific data and theories.

== Procedural Content ==

[[File:Elite Dangerous - procedural generation|right|250px]]

Elite Dangerous uses [[Procedural Generation|Procedural generation]]. It's a technique where content is generated from rules. It abstracts repetitive or arbitrary elements of content creation in a very efficient way.

=== Trading ===

In previous Elite games [[trading]] was limited to a relatively small number of different commodities such as hydrogen fuel, precious metals, computers etc.  

=== Piracy ===

Players can steal cargo from other ships by using a variety of means. They can employ [[Limpet Controller/Hatch Breaker|hatch-breaker limpets]] which, when fired at an un-shielded target, will latch onto the [[Cargo Hatch|cargo hatch]] and extract cargo canisters from it. In addition, once shields have been dropped a player can shoot the cargo hatch manually to damage it which has the same effect, but requires more skill in most cases. Once stolen cargo has been scooped, it can be smuggled and sold at stations and outposts with [[Black market|black markets]].

=== Bounty Hunting ===

Consequently, many criminals seek refuge in systems with an anarchy status. Anarchy systems are ruled by a faction that doesn't enforce the rule of law. However, players are able to scan other ships in these systems with a [[Kill Warrant Scanner|kill warrant scanner]] in order to see if they are wanted in any other systems. Upon destroying a wanted ship the player can travel to the system the bounty was issued and claim it.

=== Mining ===

[[Limpet]]s - disposable autonomous drones - can be very helpful when mining. [[Limpet Controller/Prospector|Prospector]] limpets can help you find the best resources, while [[Limpet Controller/Collector|Collector]] limpets retrieve mined asteroid chunks.

== Hyperdrives ==

Previous Elite games tried to obey 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.

==Landing On Planets==

[[Atmospheric Landings]] will be added with a series of major updates in the future.

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A wide variety of energy, projectile and missile-based weapons are available for ships. These are thermal, kinetic, thermal kinetic, explosive and defensive weapons. There are also mining lasers.  

==Realistic Astrophysics and Scale==

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 current 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.

* The vast 1:1 scale [[galaxy|Milky Way galaxy]] is based on real scientific principles, current scientific data and theories. It's created using a mix of [[Procedural Generation|procedural generation]] and artist direction.

* Around 400 billion [[Star Systems|star systems]] according to current scientific theories of star system formation with planets and moons that orbit and rotate. It includes well known systems like [[Sol]] and [[Alpha Centauri]]. Some systems have multiple [[stars]].

== Behind the Name ==

[[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>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOYhoFYIWmw</ref>''

== Elite Dangerous Packaging ==

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</ref><ref>Elite Dangerous - Digital Art Book</ref>

== Development ==

In 2012 space sims were unpopular among publishers so it was difficult to attract funding for such a project. Due to the financial failure of Freelancer in the early 2000's publishers were skeptical of space games in general. Publishers would want to steer the game in a particular direction which was unacceptable for [[David Braben]]. In an interview he said ''"Working with publishers is great, but as part of the process, inevitably the publisher will want to steer the game in a particular direction. It happened with “[[Elite]]” – the game was rejected by Thorne-EMI because it was so different to what had gone before; to what they believed would be successful because those sort of games were successful before. They wanted three lives, a score and a ten minute play time. That was because that was the norm at the time. Today, we would be steered to make a game with cut-scenes that would appeal to an imagined audience. That is not the game I want to make."''<ref>https://www.pcinvasion.com/credits-cobras-and-crowd-funding-david-braben-tells-us-about-elite-dangerous</ref>

==Gallery ==

<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

Elite-Dangerous-Vertical-Poster-by-atackart.png|Elite Dangerous official vertical poster by Josh Atack

Elite_Dangerous_Logo_Big.png|Elite Dangerous logo big