Yeah... I think the Kickstarter was a demonstration of viability to convince the mystery investors to come onboard. As for consoles... there's been some discussion about that on the forum. Dumbing-down is the fear, of course. I had hoped it would be a pure, full-on PC game... but we shall see. If they try to please too many types of player, it may not work out too well, which would be a pity.

The grouping and PvE/PvP issues, and the in-system travel are my main concerns - but I'm only a low-level backer.

It all depends on the control scheme that is created, you don't have to dumb a game down for a console really. You could create a casual mode (controller players) and advanced mode (where you play with Bluetooth keyboard and mouse/joystick) it is doable especially on the new Xbox and PS since they are essentially high end PC's. As long as they make a quality game and not try to make money with micro transactions I will be happy 🙂

Frontier Developments has 200+ employees. DB needs at least ten times the amount of money he made on Kickstarter to run it for 1 year.

I don't think it would cost Frontier 10x to run the studio but it must be a good 2 or 3 million every year.

Console version have always been on the card for any new Elite game, I think the best we can hope for is the PC is main development platform although Frontier have not made a PC game in years.

He may have 200 employees but I doubt they're all working on a single project, they're probably making several games. Anyway, if they are all working just on Elite, well then, this really should turn out to be quite a cool and massive game, after all it's 200 people ! Would suck if they came up with a bad game.

I don't think it would cost Frontier 10x to run the studio but it must be a good 2 or 3 million every year.

 

Console version have always been on the card for any new Elite game, I think the best we can hope for is the PC is main development platform although Frontier have not made a PC game in years.

Well, all games are developed in PCs, issue being the system they are primarily targeted in terms of game design and graphics. In this case, PC first (I hope ;)).

These XBox joypads they showed in one of the Kickstart vids keep coming back to hunt me. 😆

I don't think it would cost Frontier 10x to run the studio but it must be a good 2 or 3 million every year.

How would you do that with this figure? And that's just a salary. You also have to consider rent, taxes, sofware licenses, electricity, equipment and so on.

These XBox joypads they showed in one of the Kickstart vids keep coming back to hunt me. 😆

Everywhere Chris Roberts showed up during the original crowdfunding campaign for Star Citizen, he had one with him too.

It's only a guess base on an interview that team 17 gave a couple years ago, in it they said that their studio cost over a million a year to run.( they had about 80 people working for them at the time of the interview )

Star Citizen got them as well, there's no getting away from the XBox joyoad. 😮

Hello , i am a star citizen backer, & was curious about this game, looks good from screen shots but kind of confused ,

conflicting info, is the game out yet? If not when? I would want some more info before I invest any money as I just

got burned on steam w/t the xrebirth fiasco , still waiting on refund w/t everyone else. Also looks like they are asking

for payment in euros ? What is the conversion for that I mean is 5 euros ten bucks lol! Just curious.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Shadowma

December is the closed alpha if I recall.

The Kickstart estimated March next year for the games release bar any slippage.

You can still back the game but I think they only take funds in sterling http://elite.frontier.co.uk/register/#.UpBUCOJcUdU Just Google "currency converter" to work the prices in Dollars or Euros.

Just looking at the first tier which offers the game is at £30 which is about $48 and around 35 Euros at the present time.

Hello , i am a star citizen backer, & was curious about this game, looks good from screen shots but kind of confused ,

conflicting info, is the game out yet? If not when? I would want some more info before I invest any money as I just

got burned on steam w/t the xrebirth fiasco , still waiting on refund w/t everyone else. Also looks like they are asking

for payment in euros ? What is the conversion for that I mean is 5 euros ten bucks lol! Just curious.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

Shadowma

I'm a backer of both SC and Elite.

The game is not out yet. Alpha release, available for those that qualify (people who bought alpha access in the Kickstarter - I  think it still is available for purchase), is scheduled for mid December (take this as a Xmas gift :)). This will be a phase of testing stuff and getting player feedback about flight mechanics, performance and so forth. Several alpha builds are expected and your online stats (e.g. credits, ships) will be reset.

Afterwards - I'd say January/February - it will be Beta stage - people who bought the beta access will enter the game. More fine tuning about equipment and so forth.

The is Gamma stage - March - access to the game to all who bought it though KS/FD site. David Braben (Frontier Development boss) announced that they will have a "public" gama stage longer than originally thought for extended fine tuning before selling the game to the general public (take it a bit like the "beta" stage of gmail :P). They do not expect to do any resets to stats and assets from gamma to final release, as it is basically the full game with a more focused audience being tuned.

What to expect from the game: As a part of the DDF (Design Decision Forum - a no longer available backing level), I can state that FD did consult quite a lot with the players. And they redid the design documents of the game incorporating players suggestions and preferences, as long as they fit within the original game vision (it is not a design by committee kind of thing). and I'm expecting a large (no, HUGE), vibrating and rich universe with good physics and lots of detail. It is a full sandbox: the player has complete freedom regarding activities and where he goes (within the game simulation rules, of course ;). 

Anyway, the game can be backed through FD site and prices are in sterling pounds, that usually go around twice the price of a USD. For conversions:  http://www.oanda.com/

Wow guys thanks for the info, much appreciated

Shadowma

Btw, today's newsletter announced the end of current backer products.

From December 6th:

To start with, only the following will be available in the store:

Alpha demo access

1st Round Beta access – pre-order

2nd Round Beta access – pre-order

Elite: Dangerous game (digital copy) – pre-order

Each Alpha/Beta access will also allow access to later tests and the full game when released.

So most of the options are going to be removed, including special starting positions and respective gear.

I'm a backer of both SC and Elite.

 

The game is not out yet. Alpha release, available for those that qualify (people who bought alpha access in the Kickstarter - I  think it still is available for purchase), is scheduled for mid December (take this as a Xmas gift :)). This will be a phase of testing stuff and getting player feedback about flight mechanics, performance and so forth. Several alpha builds are expected and your online stats (e.g. credits, ships) will be reset.

 

Anyway, the game can be backed through FD site and prices are in sterling pounds, that usually go around twice the price of a USD. For conversions:  http://www.oanda.com/

The Alpha was very 'polished' considering what I have seen and enjoyed from various other Alpha's 

most notably The Dead Linger ... :ninja:

[that is NOT a dig @ TDL I have enjoyed that very much]