Elite Dangerous: Difference between revisions

'''''Elite Dangerous''''' is a massively multiplayer space epic and the fourth installment in the legendary [[Elite series|''Elite'' series]], the longest running space simulation series in history.<ref>https://twitter.com/gwr/status/611537566299463681?lang=en Guinness World Records, 18 June 2015</ref> It was developed and published by [[Frontier Developments]] with [[David Braben]] as the director. The Windows PC version launched on December 16, 2014. It was partially funded via a [[Kickstarter]] campaign.<ref>[http://www.pcgamer.com/elite-dangerous-crowdfunding-covered-less-than-one-quarter-of-its-total-cost-creator-says/ Chalk, Andy. "Elite: Dangerous Creator Says Crowdfunding Covered Less than One-quarter of Its Total Cost." PC Gamer, 11 Sept. 2014. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.]</ref> The Mac version was released on May 12, 2015,<ref>https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/05/elite-dangerous-now-available-for-macs-both-direct-and-on-steam/</ref> but Mac OS support was dropped on December 11, 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 October 6, 2015,<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/elite-dangerous-xbox-one-release-date-revealed/1100-6430369/ Hussain, Tamoor. "Elite: Dangerous Xbox One Release Date Revealed." GameSpot, 8 Sept. 2015.]</ref> followed by the PlayStation 4 version on June 27, 2017.<ref>https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/05/16/elite-dangerous-touches-down-on-ps4-june-27/</ref> The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions can be played on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 respectively via backwards compatibility,<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/ids3nk/ps5_and_xbox_x_support_from_day1_according_to/ r/EliteDangerous: PS5 and Xbox X support from Day1 according to Interview with Joss Herraez]</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/johmtc/elitedangerous_we_can_confirm_that_elite/ r/EliteDangerous: @EliteDangerous: "We can confirm that Elite Dangerous is backwards compatible with Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5."]</ref> but no new ports optimized specifically for next-generation consoles are currently planned.<ref>[https://twinfinite.net/2020/08/elite-dangerous-odyssey-interview/ Twinfinite: Elite Dangerous Interview: Devs Detail Upcoming Odyssey Expansion]</ref>

Iconic features of the classic ''Elite'' games have been updated for ''Elite Dangerous'' such as the [[Coriolis]] station and [[Cobra Mk III]]. The Coriolis was the first station updated for the game's modern visual character. Many [[ships]] are based on the classic, polygonal shapes of [[Elite]]. Thus ''Elite Dangerous'' continues the rich heritage of the ''Elite'' series.<ref>Official The Art of Elite Dangerous art book, August 17 2016</ref>

''Elite Dangerous'', like the previous ''Elite'' games, takes place in the fictional [[Elite Universe]]. It is set 50 years after the events of ''[[Frontier: First Encounters]]'', starting in the year 3300 (which relates to 2014). The [[Thargoid]] [[species]], introduced in ''[[Elite]]'', have also returned.

Two seasons of post-launch content updates have been released for ''Elite Dangerous'' so far: ''[[Elite Dangerous: Horizons]]'' and ''[[Elite Dangerous: Beyond]]''. From October 27, 2020, all ''Horizons'' content, including ''Beyond'', is included for free with all purchases of ''Elite Dangerous''. A third season of content, ''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]'', will release in Q1 2021.

* Freeform (manual yaw/pitch/roll) interplanetary flight allows to fly freely through star systems in realistic scale to get to a destination. Players can choose to travel wherever they want, including vista points to see [[Earth]] rise on the moon, the sun appearing behind [[Mars]], or they could choose to explore the vast expanse of space and discover new points of interest in star systems.

[[Explorer]]s have the opportunity to earn income and gain reputation by making pioneering jumps into unexplored [[Star system|star systems]], and gathering data on [[planets]], [[stars]] and other points of interest within systems. Exploration data can be sold at the [[Universal Cartographics]] tab of [[Starport]] Services. The first player who sells information about a celestial body will be credited in-game with a "Discovered By" tag on the [[Galaxy Map]].

Players can be [[pirates]] and 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]]. The [[Crime & Punishment]] system affects PVP and piracy.

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 and the latest news.

However, such a mechanism doesn't work in a multiplayer game. Thus Elite Dangerous features faster-than-light travel called [[Supercruise]]. Each ship comes equipped with a [[Frame Shift Drive]] (FSD) which allows it to travel faster than light within a star system, or to other star systems via a [[Hyperspace]] jump. A FSD can be upgraded to increase its range, enabling faster travel around the galaxy and long-range exploration. The Hyperspace range of a FSD is decreased by the ship's mass. So if your ship is outfitted with heavier ship components (hardpoints, internal modules, etc) your jump distance will be reduced. The mass of any carried cargo or fuel reduces it too. This is referred to as the laden and unladen jump range.

* Around 400 billion [[Star Systems|star systems]] according to recent 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]].

* 141 [[nebula]] in the Milky Way [[galaxy]].

* [[Constellation]]s can be seen from [[Sol]].

There are several sapient [[species]] in the Milky Way galaxy. The most notable are [[Human]], [[Thargoid]] and [[Guardian]]. More species are yet to be discovered.

The [[Thargoids]] are an intelligent, highly advanced insectoid species that have existed for millions of years. They are highly territorial and seemingly rebuff all diplomatic overtures with unmitigated hostility, but are also known to be extremely slow to adapt.

The [[Guardians]] are an alien humanoid species. They became extinct 1 to 2 million years ago.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTtiGxJIFyM Interview with David Braben - PAX East 2017 - Elite Dangerous]</ref> Their [[Ancient Ruins]] were first discovered in the Synuefe XR-H D11-102 system on October 27, 3302.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/59l4hk/cmdr_xdeath_found_the_monolith/</ref> The decrypted data from the ruins, as well as from [[Structures]] discovered the following year, provided significant insights into the history and culture of the Guardians.

Here's a summary from [[Elite Dangerous Role Playing Game|EDPRG]]: Cheap and faster than light travel has enabled humanity to expand across the stars. This led to the rise of the [[Federation]], [[Empire]] and [[Alliance]]. These major [[factions]] attract [[Power|powerful people]] who scheme to gain more power.<ref name=":2">[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edrpg/elite-dangerous-role-playing-game Elite Dangerous Role Playing Game - Kickstarter]</ref>

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=":2" />

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.

[[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] had been working on the game as a "skunk-works" background activity for some time prior to its Kickstarter launch. Other projects were prioritized. ''“... has been worked upon by a small team as a ‘skunk-works’ activity in the background as availability permits”''<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/06/elite_dangerous_on_kickstarter/</ref> Elite Dangerous uses Frontier's own state-of-the-art in-house COBRA Engine tools and technology. COBRA has been carefully planned, developed and evolved since 1988.<ref>http://www.frontier.co.uk/our_technology/</ref>

[[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 previous 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 galaxy. [[Elite Dangerous: Beyond|Beyond]] is the third season of expansions which will add 2 major updates and 2 content updates through 2018.

In 2019, ''Elite Dangerous'' made more than £100 million ($133m) in revenue. This is a traders quote from the investment firm Liberum in 2019 ''"The company is working on a number of exciting updates for both franchises and our expectation is that we could see a big refresh release of ED in FY20."''<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/aoc8ue/liberum_our_expectation_is_that_we_could_see_a/</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Br0Ue1-eE Frontier's Financial Position and the Future of Elite Dangerous]</ref> By 2020, ED generated more than £100m ($131) of revenue which first released in December 2014<ref>https://www.financialdirector.co.uk/2020/10/23/frontier-developments-cfo-on-strength-of-video-games-market/</ref>

Since the early access launch in December 2013 and full release in December 2014, ''Elite Dangerous''  hit most of its highest player numbers in 2020 due to the release of the [[Fleet Carriers Update]], the announcement of ''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]'',<ref name=":3" /> and the game being made available for free during its launch week on the Epic Games Store. Another spike occurred in 2021 corresponding with the start of the ''Odyssey'' alpha.

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