Galaxy: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Terrestrial planet brown dwarf.png|thumb|200px|Terrestrial planet and a brown dwarf.]] | [[File:Terrestrial planet brown dwarf.png|thumb|200px|Terrestrial planet and a brown dwarf.]] | ||
* The vast 1:1 scale 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. It has realistic astrophysics and scale. | * The vast 1:1 scale 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. It has realistic astrophysics and scale. | ||
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== Milky Way Galaxy == | == Milky Way Galaxy == | ||
[[File:Milky-Way-Panorama-1500ly-Above-Galactic-Plane.png|thumb|250px|Milky Way Panorama 1500ly above galactic plane]] | |||
Elite Dangerous players are the first people to experience interstellar travel. The sky is not a painted backdrop, you can travel to each and every star you see. The constellations change with parallax as you explore the galaxy, and the night sky viewed from Earth is, of course, accurate.<ref name=":0">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/features/our-galaxy Elite Dangerous: Our Galaxy]</ref> | Elite Dangerous players are the first people to experience interstellar travel. The sky is not a painted backdrop, you can travel to each and every star you see. The constellations change with parallax as you explore the galaxy, and the night sky viewed from Earth is, of course, accurate.<ref name=":0">[https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/features/our-galaxy Elite Dangerous: Our Galaxy]</ref> | ||
We achieved this by starting with as much information as we could gather about the 160,000 known star systems from our galaxy.<ref name=":0" /> | We achieved this by starting with as much information as we could gather about the 160,000 known star systems from our galaxy.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
We know the temperature, size and metallicity (the periodic elements that make up the star's composition) of those stars. And we also know the mass distribution of the Milky Way.<ref name=":0" /> | We know the temperature, size and metallicity (the periodic elements that make up the star's composition) of those stars. And we also know the mass distribution of the Milky Way.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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We end up with a huge amount of technical information about each star and its planets, moons and asteroid fields, such as temperature, chemical composition and orbit.<ref name=":0" /> | We end up with a huge amount of technical information about each star and its planets, moons and asteroid fields, such as temperature, chemical composition and orbit.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
[[File: | [[File:Planet_lights_ring_system.png|thumb|200px|Planet with city lights and a ring system.]] | ||
This delivers both an incredibly accurate and beautiful cosmic ballet, with all the motions of the celestial bodies correct, and is also the foundation for the different economies of each system in-game.<ref name=":0" /> | This delivers both an incredibly accurate and beautiful cosmic ballet, with all the motions of the celestial bodies correct, and is also the foundation for the different economies of each system in-game.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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== '''Planets''' == | == '''Planets''' == | ||
For Planetary Landings we've extended the simulation still further. We take into account the factors that govern the formation of [[planets]], from the basic chemical composition, size, neighbouring moons and tectonic activity.<ref name=":0" /> | [[File:Terrestrial planet and a Cobra.jpg|thumb|200px|Terrestrial planet and a Cobra]]For Planetary Landings we've extended the simulation still further. We take into account the factors that govern the formation of [[planets]], from the basic chemical composition, size, neighbouring moons and tectonic activity.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
We simulate the compression of tectonic plates, so we can see where they'd move together and move apart. That creates where ridges are formed, mountains, or canyons and trenches.<ref name=":0" /> | We simulate the compression of tectonic plates, so we can see where they'd move together and move apart. That creates where ridges are formed, mountains, or canyons and trenches.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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== Hard Science == | == Hard Science == | ||
[[File:Viper Ring system.png|thumb|200px|Viper in a ring system.]] | |||
Elite Dangerous is groundbreaking in that it's based on a lot of hard science with all sorts of star surveys that are fixed and merged to for the first time in gaming history compose a very consistent model of the Milky Way galaxy and it's rich enough to plot the night sky. | Elite Dangerous is groundbreaking in that it's based on a lot of hard science with all sorts of star surveys that are fixed and merged to for the first time in gaming history compose a very consistent model of the Milky Way galaxy and it's rich enough to plot the night sky. | ||
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== Online == | == Online == | ||
The online galaxy of '''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ Elite: Dangerous]''' is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players on all platforms. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. The aim here is that a player's actions will influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer. | [[File:Gas_Giant_Ring_system_SRV.jpg|thumb|200px|Gas giant with a ring system and SRV.]]The online galaxy of '''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ Elite: Dangerous]''' is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players on all platforms. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. The aim here is that a player's actions will influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer. | ||
The other important aspect for the developers is that they can seed the galaxy with events, often these events will be triggered by player actions. With a living breathing galaxy players can discover new and interesting things long after they have started playing. | The other important aspect for the developers is that they can seed the galaxy with events, often these events will be triggered by player actions. With a living breathing galaxy players can discover new and interesting things long after they have started playing. | ||
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The server transparently creates free roaming sessions (instances) when meeting other players and [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7494 NPCs] within that galaxy based on a perception bubble around you, that is defined by your scanner/visual range. That means that those [http://www.wowwiki.com/Instance_limitations#Player_Limitations instances are '''not''' a fixed location in space as in most other MMOs], but they dynamically move around. The effects of those instances are then stored on the central galaxy server and shared by everybody. | The server transparently creates free roaming sessions (instances) when meeting other players and [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7494 NPCs] within that galaxy based on a perception bubble around you, that is defined by your scanner/visual range. That means that those [http://www.wowwiki.com/Instance_limitations#Player_Limitations instances are '''not''' a fixed location in space as in most other MMOs], but they dynamically move around. The effects of those instances are then stored on the central galaxy server and shared by everybody. | ||
[[File: | [[File:Nebula and SRV.jpg|thumb|200px|Nebula and SRV.]] | ||
Because the game features very high speed twitch combat and very detailed damage models, this is the most reliable way to do it, also keep in mind there can be many sessions within a star system and those sessions can dynamically move around, also because this game uses a [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How big will planets and star systems.C2.A0be.3F|1:1 scale Milky Way galaxy]], sessions will typically be spread out much farther away [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How are players going to meet each other in such a huge galaxy.3F|(although most of the action will be within the core systems)]] and it wouldn't be immersion breaking as opposed to a space game in a smaller area. | Because the game features very high speed twitch combat and very detailed damage models, this is the most reliable way to do it, also keep in mind there can be many sessions within a star system and those sessions can dynamically move around, also because this game uses a [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How big will planets and star systems.C2.A0be.3F|1:1 scale Milky Way galaxy]], sessions will typically be spread out much farther away [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How are players going to meet each other in such a huge galaxy.3F|(although most of the action will be within the core systems)]] and it wouldn't be immersion breaking as opposed to a space game in a smaller area. | ||
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== Visible Galaxies == | == Visible Galaxies == | ||
A total of 32 galaxies have been identified by CMDR Dr. Kaii (including dwarf and irregular galaxies). The nearest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud at 158,200 light years. The furthest is NGC 6703 at 106 million light years.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=202295 List and Sky Charts of other Visible Galaxies in Elite] | [[File:External_Galaxies_Below_Andromeda.png|thumb|200px|Visible Galaxies below Andromeda.]]A total of 32 galaxies have been identified by CMDR Dr. Kaii (including dwarf and irregular galaxies). The nearest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud at 158,200 light years. The furthest is NGC 6703 at 106 million light years.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=202295 List and Sky Charts of other Visible Galaxies in Elite] | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
This table gives an overview of visible galaxies. | This table gives an overview of visible galaxies. | ||