Kickstarter

Creator Commander Boz on November 22, 2012

@Christopher Hatton - In my experience, there are a proportion of Chinese speakers who like material in English to practise. Might be a tiny proportion, but remember that's a tiny proportion of a fairly huge group! It would be great if there were international versions offered.

Creator Bil Irving [Juniper] on November 22, 2012

@Chris, @Phillip: Every MMO has tried (and failed) to ban the purchase of in-game money with real money. Chinese gaming farms get ahold of these games, and play them to death to sell the in-game money on eBay and other sites. It happens.
I think this is DB's way of a) short-circuiting that particular black market and b) using it for a useful purpose like keeping the servers running.
So no, I don't like it, but it's reality - and FD are simply taking the pragmatic view.

Creator Alien on November 22, 2012

My opinion on the buying in-game credits is, if you buy in-game credits, then what is the point in even playing the game?

Creator Lars Jørgen Kire[Lortsamler] on November 22, 2012

The only way i will play the game,is with ingame credits. If you want to be a skilled pilot,that's the only way to do it.

Creator Chunk on November 22, 2012

Anyone up for getting some funds together for some google ad-word advertising ??

Just an idea that popped into my mind :)

Creator Commander Boz on November 22, 2012

David Braben responded to a post of Chris Stablers' suggestion of 4 different starting points, one for exploration, one for piracy, one for military adventure, one for trading. "yes - those sort of starting positions were the sort of thing I had in mind." - sounds fantastic!

@FrontierDevelopments - would you be kind enough to copy and paste in the comments you're referring to when making a reply? It helps us keep track of the answers you've given. ^_-

Creator Captain Donoghue on November 22, 2012

Just think how great it feels to have actually earned the credits to buy your next ship or that better weapon. People can buy their way to better stuff if they want, but to me it's not what Elite is about.
Each to their own though.

Creator Chris Stabler on November 22, 2012

@ Philip that sound like cheating to me.

Creator Darkmoon on November 22, 2012

I could get some some promo copy translated to Chinese. But, I don't think a game as complex as Elite is going to work for any foreign language speakers unless a fully translated version can be promised. Would you pledge on a game that's not going to be made in your language?
@David Braben, do you have any official line yet on internationalized versions, and would you like a contact for Chinese translation?

Creator Drew Wagar on November 22, 2012

@Dave - Thanks for the vote of confidence there. Putting yourself in the public space requires you to have a bit of a thick skin. I'm game, don't worry about me.

I'm sensitive to people not wanting to hear about what I'm doing. There's a fine line between genuinely responding to people's questions, talking about something which is relevant to Elite and being seen to be spamming endlessly. I understand that. Damned if you do and damned if you don't unfortunately. I'll voluntarily limit myself to a few comments a day on the novella. I'm doing my best to be a good citizen.

@Dave - As for the commercials on my potential novella. It might look a little like a license to print money, but I can assure you it isn't. Viewed in pure monetary terms this would be a non-starter, because I'm giving away the ebook for 'free' to pledgers. In book circles this is called 'p***ing in the drinking water'. The vast majority of the potential audience will already have the book before it goes on sale.

The market for a book like this is not actually very big outside of the immediate fan community anyway. I'm only asking for the £4,500 to pledge here, all other costs I expect to bear myself: editing, type-setting, cover design, proof-reading etc. If I break even on this project I'll be doing extremely well - and that before you factor in my time, which I estimate at between 70-100 man days.

I will get a bit of publicity out of it, which is never a bad thing - would you deny me that after 100 man days of work? All I truely want to do is write an official Elite Novella. If that floats your boat, pledge for me. If not, pledge here. The end result should be the same. Let's ensure Elite:Dangerous happens.

Kinds regards,

Drew.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1245019716/reclamation-an-elite-novella-by-a-fan-for-the-fans

Creator Colin Barker on November 22, 2012

@Ollie Clark: If there was an option to buy in-game-credits, I don't think I would even think about it. Not because I don't want to pay or anything like that, but because it takes out that fun part of gaining credits! I personally went for the bigger ships because I always wanted them, and I think what @Philip Turner has said rang true then... the achievement when I finally got the Panther Clipper was awesome, just wept a little inside when I had no credits left ;)

Creator Lars Jørgen Kire[Lortsamler] on November 22, 2012

@All: like this link ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch…. Or feel my wrath when i come at you in a "ironass" Cobra :p

Creator Andy Harrison on November 22, 2012

I really hope they reconsider the 'supplemental purchase of Credits with real money'. I think it takes away from the game

Creator Andy Harrison on November 22, 2012

@Philip Turner, from the FAQ:
Will the game be free to play after the initial purchase?
We do not plan to make it subscription-based. Once you have purchased the game up front, you will be able to play thereafter for no further cost. Everything in the game will be purchasable with in-game Credits, earned from trading, bounty-hunting, etc. We will probably allow the supplemental purchase of Credits with real money, for those who want to accelerate their progress through the game.

Creator Steven ten Have on November 22, 2012

@Ollie Yeah I know what you mean, you kinda hit a plateu in terms of having things to spend money on. It's at that point that missions really came to the fore. What I'm hoping with E: D is that there is scope in economies and 'things to buy' to make a career of making money and there being an ultimate purpose for it.

Creator Lars Jørgen Kire[Lortsamler] on November 22, 2012

@Kerrash: lol,that would be borderline annoying :p

Creator Kerrash on November 22, 2012

@Lars, Add the video to a play list. Mute it. And leave it running in the background on repeat. :P
That should get the view count ticking up LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch…

Creator Philip Turner [AKA PianoPhil @ FD Forum] on November 22, 2012

I know DB has talked about this, but cannot remember what was said. Paying real money for people to get ahead in a game doesn't seem right, but it does seem common practise. An iPad golf game I got offers the same thing in turns paying money to improve your ability instead of hard graft.

Makes me think we live in a microwave world where food is cooked in minutes instead of placing things in the slow cooker and letting them cook nicely and tenderly. If you can wait then the sense of achievement is better :-).

Creator Bil Irving [Juniper] on November 22, 2012

@Andreas: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight. Love it. :)

Creator Lars Jørgen Kire[Lortsamler] on November 22, 2012

I don't mind subscription,as long as we can get free dlc and updates. It all depends of the subscription price though.

Creator Ollie Clark [+£1 Elite Friday] on November 22, 2012

I have to admit that the whole buying credits thing worried me a bit but then I remembered how short a time (relatively) you have too few credits in original Elite. Once you've been trading for a while you'd have enough to buy all the equipment and so extra credits aren't much of a help.

So I'm not actually that worried about it any more. People can accelerate buying equipment at the beginning of the game but after that there probably wouldn't be much benefit to buying extra credits.

Creator Eric on November 22, 2012

@Commander Boz

Yeah, I've noticed, hopes it keeps on rolling. :)

Creator Andy Harrison on November 22, 2012

The ability to buy in-game credits for real world money would put me right off multi-player

Creator Chris Stabler on November 22, 2012

@ alex thats why im asking for two options

Creator Nicholas Hansen on November 22, 2012

There's been vocal stuff for an OSX release which I would love eventually hell yes - but for launch all I would ask is that it would be great at least if the game is compatible with graphics cards in iMac or Macbook 2013/14 models, then folks can just use bootcamp.

Creator Lars Jørgen Kire[Lortsamler] on November 22, 2012

@all: put like on this -->

http://www.youtube.com/watch…

Creator Commander Boz on November 22, 2012

@Andreas Meyer - Vielen dank for getting the message out to a wider German-speaking audience!
DB mentioned China being a large market at the moment. Anyone speak Chinese? :)

Creator izzy on November 22, 2012

@Alexander Lyakhov : agree, no subscription.

Creator Alexander Lyakhov on November 22, 2012

*than

Creator Alexander Lyakhov on November 22, 2012

No subscription, please.
Credit purchase by $ can be limited instead ( e.g. no more then 1M Cr for month)

Creator Nicholas Hansen on November 22, 2012

@Andrew Dickson: DB! DB don't forget to update.... Cause you're not anywhere... that I can find youuuuu

Creator econundrum on November 22, 2012

I have to admit for me the buying in game credits thing also leaves a bad taste in my mouth, see it utterly destroy other games.

On the plus side I'm not to worried since I plan on playing single player only.

Creator Commander Boz on November 22, 2012

Coming up to 50 new backers since this morning- fantastic!

Creator Chris Stabler on November 22, 2012

@ DB i was wondering about this buy credits business and was hoping that perhaps we could have two type of server options
1 buy credits or play free
2 subscription but no option to buy in game credits

Creator Andreas M [on flight FD-4N4C to Lave] on November 22, 2012

No need to be depressed, let's have another song:

can you tell me where my star ship lies?
said the backer to his true loves eyes
it lies with me! cried the creator of maybe
for his merchandise, he traded in his prize

update late! cried a voice in the crowd
a backer dies! the note he left was signed old father Elite
it seems he's drowned
selling ED by the pound

commanders of hope & glory
time goes by - it's the time of your life
easy now, sit you down
chewing through their wimpey kickstarter
they read without a sound
commenting ED by the pound

young man says you are what you fly - fly well
old man says you are what you back - back well
you know what you are, you don't give a damn
bursting your pledge that is your homemade sham

commander leads his ship right on through the night
join the flight
follow on! till the Lave sun sets in the mould
follow on! till all slots are sold
flying out with the moonlit pilot
knights of the Jonty pledge and shout

Creator Bil Irving [Juniper] on November 22, 2012

Think I'm going to stay away from here for a few days (or until there's a real update from FD). It's depressing me too much watching the total only creep up, with the realisation that it needs to really shoot up if we're going to reach the target.

Creator econundrum on November 22, 2012

That's rounding up to the nearest penny.

Creator econundrum on November 22, 2012

Every time we get a new backer the average pledge amount we'd need to get there goes down a penny......

Creator econundrum on November 22, 2012

Andrew send it as a question on the main page, but I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to play keyboard only if you wanted....

Creator 'Craib & son' - Bounty Hunters for Hire on November 22, 2012

Being a bit old fashioned and having played Elite on the BBC B only ever using the keyboard, will it be possible to play with keyboard only as an option? One of the things I love about Elite was the flight model and suited keyboard play. I tried with joysticks (on a BBC) and a mouse (on an Archimedes emulator) and it just didn't feel right.

Creator Eric on November 22, 2012

@Melchy

Depending of course on where you consider the week to end. ;)

Creator Eric on November 22, 2012

@Melchy

Well, IF there is a bigger update around the corner it might still happen, but that's out of our hands.

Creator Styggron [ELITE VETERAN SINCE 1985] on November 22, 2012

@Alexander. It was NEVER a question of honesty, this was never in question.

Creator Melchy on November 22, 2012

Good to see the backers count rising. I hate not being able to edit ...

Creator Melchy on November 22, 2012

I had hoped to see £600K by the end of this week, but I think £550K is more realistic. Got to see the backers count rising.

Creator taumel on November 22, 2012

@EOPE42
Don't get me wrong f.e. i did enjoy Dungeon Keeper a lot (except the rather poor balancing on higher levels) but i think crowd funding in a more traditional advertising/pitching style isn't the way you should do it.

I prefer the transparency and honesty which comes with other projects like f.e. DoubleFine demonstrated it. I think that's the only way how to do it if you see it as a long term relationship/business. On the other side if it breaks the illusion that you are treated fair, once you aren't uninformed enough anymore, isn't so cool.

Creator econundrum on November 22, 2012

Good News A.I. it's down to £104.15 , that's 2 pence more for your ham.