I've been on the outside looking in for long enough.
When I discovered Elite: Dangerous in July I spent six weeks reading every statement and blog from Frontier, backers and players, watching every clip several times over, learning gamer lingo and completely blowing the limits on my broadband contract. I finally indulged myself and stumped up for my own licence (AND a joystick AND super-duper surround sound headphones AND Voice Attack). Every day for the last two months I've been astonished at the breadth of vision, implementation and exploitation of the technology that has led to such a playable and pleasurable experience. The overall design and detailed sound and visual expressions are almost out of this world. And the best thing is - it's going to get better.
In nearly 40 years' computer ownership I've only bought four computer games: the three Myst programs for the Mac and Elite for the BBC-B, so you will appreciate that I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination, a gamer. You will also understand that I'm not at all willing to present myself as laser fodder to some overgrown youth with (pseudo?)sociopathic tendencies who is sublimating his antisocial urges thrashing and trashing the non-violent using non-transferable skills (which I can never hope or wish to equal) developed while spending too many hours pounding pixels. As several other veterans on these forums will testify, the sign of a mis-spent youth used to be an uncanny abilty potting snooker balls - but times change.)
For me, the Mobius group is the perfect refuge and I'll try not to rant in any future post.
In nearly two months' play I've only destroyed one other craft after being attacked and I'm quite happy with that record, but it would be good to receive some acknowledgment for delivering contracts on time: is the reputation system for traders and other non-combative groups - suggested in the early specs - ever going to be implemented?








