Comments on: Elite 4 to be DRM-free http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 09:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: First Last http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1586714 First Last Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1586714 It was pretty much perfect on the Amiga. I played it for years and don't think I ever saw a single non-docking computer bug. (when you fast-forwarded within a certain range of an orbital station it would sometimes either play chase-the-tail with the station circling it forever, or it would just slam you straight into the side instantly destroying your ship) It was pretty much perfect on the Amiga. I played it for years and don’t think I ever saw a single non-docking computer bug.

(when you fast-forwarded within a certain range of an orbital station it would sometimes either play chase-the-tail with the station circling it forever, or it would just slam you straight into the side instantly destroying your ship)

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1586458 Guest Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1586458 Yeah, that's it! What a cute little exploration game. Suffered from a serious lack of action, though. Program your drive, descend to the planet, climb a mountain, watch a sunset, chase the occasional vector bunny or -avian; repeat. Yeah, that’s it! What a cute little exploration game. Suffered from a serious lack of action, though. Program your drive, descend to the planet, climb a mountain, watch a sunset, chase the occasional vector bunny or -avian; repeat.

]]> By: KanedaJones http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1586412 KanedaJones Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1586412 Maybe it's Noctis? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b-gSeLji-o Maybe it’s Noctis?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b-gSeLji-o

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1586047 Guest Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1586047 I played Frontier until I got sick of it, which took me quite a long time in those days. To this day I am not sure if there were any aliens in it, If so, I could never find them. I think that with proceduraly generated worlds, you have to take care to generate a story with enough depth to make good use of the world. If you have thousands (or millions) of worlds, but only simple "carry A to B" and "shoot X at Y" missions to connect them, eventually boredom will set in. You need to connect a more complex plot with the depth of your world, and maybe make several aspects of that plot procedurally generated too. Anyone remember the name of that one indie game, where you controlled a spaceship shaped like a box with a hemispherical dome on top, and computer interfaces in the walls to control it? It had cool worlds, some even with vector-graphics wildlife, but unfortunately no plot at all. Sounded something like "tardis" I think... I played Frontier until I got sick of it, which took me quite a long time in those days. To this day I am not sure if there were any aliens in it, If so, I could never find them. I think that with proceduraly generated worlds, you have to take care to generate a story with enough depth to make good use of the world. If you have thousands (or millions) of worlds, but only simple “carry A to B” and “shoot X at Y” missions to connect them, eventually boredom will set in. You need to connect a more complex plot with the depth of your world, and maybe make several aspects of that plot procedurally generated too.

Anyone remember the name of that one indie game, where you controlled a spaceship shaped like a box with a hemispherical dome on top, and computer interfaces in the walls to control it? It had cool worlds, some even with vector-graphics wildlife, but unfortunately no plot at all. Sounded something like “tardis” I think…

]]> By: John McNamara http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585814 John McNamara Sun, 18 Nov 2012 12:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585814 i remember the colour coded coordinate map that a lot of games used for their drm. great fun! i remember the colour coded coordinate map that a lot of games used for their drm. great fun!

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585527 Gilbert Wham Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585527  It was a fucking nightmare. God, that thing made me cross.  It was a fucking nightmare. God, that thing made me cross.

]]> By: echolocate chocolate http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585298 echolocate chocolate Sat, 17 Nov 2012 03:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585298 Eve is not really a successor to Elite. It's a more detailed exploration of one aspect of Elite--the trading game. Everything else stems from that; the combat is decided almost entirely by relative strength, which is basically "how many weapons can I make/buy". Elite was as much a flight-sim-in-space as it was about trading: the combat was more like dogfighting, the infamous docking with space stations, scooping fuel from the sun, and a ton of exploration. There's a great opportunity to make a space exploration game that's the exact opposite of Eve: accessible and immediate, broad rather than deep. Less spreadsheets, more zooming around and going pew pew pew. I want to feel like Captain Kirk, not a Ferengi. Eve is not really a successor to Elite. It’s a more detailed exploration of one aspect of Elite–the trading game. Everything else stems from that; the combat is decided almost entirely by relative strength, which is basically “how many weapons can I make/buy”. Elite was as much a flight-sim-in-space as it was about trading: the combat was more like dogfighting, the infamous docking with space stations, scooping fuel from the sun, and a ton of exploration.

There’s a great opportunity to make a space exploration game that’s the exact opposite of Eve: accessible and immediate, broad rather than deep. Less spreadsheets, more zooming around and going pew pew pew. I want to feel like Captain Kirk, not a Ferengi.

]]> By: Ashley Yakeley http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585192 Ashley Yakeley Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585192 Right on Commander! Right on Commander!

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585101 Matthew Petty Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585101 Noone mention Ian Bell. Noone mention Ian Bell.

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585093 Matthew Petty Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585093 Yes, I remember that. I lent my copy of the helicopter game Tomahawk http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0005317 to a friend, and he lost the Lenslok. Game useless. DRM bad. Yes, I remember that. I lent my copy of the helicopter game Tomahawk http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0005317 to a friend, and he lost the Lenslok. Game useless. DRM bad.

]]> By: Marios P. http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1585020 Marios P. Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1585020 Never had the chance/luck to play Elite, but I did enjoy Wing Commander: Privateer.  I somehow craved for the loneliness of space exploration that I felt in the game.  And of course wished for a similar game ever since. After learning about Google 100000 Stars project a couple of days ago, the old feelings came back. And now Elite! Never had the chance/luck to play Elite, but I did enjoy Wing Commander: Privateer. 
I somehow craved for the loneliness of space exploration that I felt in the game. 
And of course wished for a similar game ever since. After learning about Google 100000 Stars project a couple of days ago, the old feelings came back. And now Elite!

]]> By: John Carter http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584988 John Carter Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584988 While you're waiting, try X3: Terran Conflict (or Albion Prelude) http://www.egosoft.com/games/x3tc/info_en.php - but beware that it's missing a tutorial.  I recommend this youtube video series: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2BC4835802365FF1 While you’re waiting, try X3: Terran Conflict (or Albion Prelude) http://www.egosoft.com/games/x3tc/info_en.php – but beware that it’s missing a tutorial.  I recommend this youtube video series: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2BC4835802365FF1

]]> By: spacedoggy http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584979 spacedoggy Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584979 Interesting talk about procedural generation there. this technique works great for generating graphics and sound in a small amount of memory, used a lot in demoscene for example. I was surprised to hear him refer to Frontier, as I recall the game was a massive failure on release. despite selling well, it was ridden with bugs and known to have ruined PCs to the point of disk format level recovery (not uncommon in mid 90s PC software, but still). Anyone own this game? did they eventually iron out the bugs? Interesting talk about procedural generation there. this technique works great for generating graphics and sound in a small amount of memory, used a lot in demoscene for example. I was surprised to hear him refer to Frontier, as I recall the game was a massive failure on release. despite selling well, it was ridden with bugs and known to have ruined PCs to the point of disk format level recovery (not uncommon in mid 90s PC software, but still).

Anyone own this game? did they eventually iron out the bugs?

]]> By: garyg2 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584897 garyg2 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584897  Oooh yeah, what a pain that was, I think if you got it wrong you had to reload the game (which was ~10 mins from cassette I think...) Happy days. ;)  Oooh yeah, what a pain that was, I think if you got it wrong you had to reload the game (which was ~10 mins from cassette I think…)

Happy days. ;)

]]> By: DevinC http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584891 DevinC Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584891 My impression of Eve was that everything I wanted to do had been done before by people willing to devote a lot more time and brainspace than I was.  And unless you wanted to get into PvP (with aforementioned people), your choices were severely curtailed. Combat was (as Yahtzee described) basically 'run up to enemy, kick him in the shins, he kicks you back, and if he's kicking harder than you are, run.'  In other words, a lot of fire and very little maneuver to make things interesting.  This made PvE missions pretty dull. I tried trading, searching the galaxy for places I could buy low and sell high, but the market seemed pretty efficient, at least in the safe zones. I also tried exploring (which involves a minigame some might find  tedious), but that was pretty much a crap shoot.  ...A grindy crap shoot. One thing Eve Online has done for MMO gaming, though, is a significant achievement: its laissez-faire style managed to draw trolls, scammers and griefers away from other MMOs.  SO there's that. My impression of Eve was that everything I wanted to do had been done before by people willing to devote a lot more time and brainspace than I was.  And unless you wanted to get into PvP (with aforementioned people), your choices were severely curtailed.

Combat was (as Yahtzee described) basically ‘run up to enemy, kick him in the shins, he kicks you back, and if he’s kicking harder than you are, run.’  In other words, a lot of fire and very little maneuver to make things interesting.  This made PvE missions pretty dull.

I tried trading, searching the galaxy for places I could buy low and sell high, but the market seemed pretty efficient, at least in the safe zones.

I also tried exploring (which involves a minigame some might find  tedious), but that was pretty much a crap shoot.  …A grindy crap shoot.

One thing Eve Online has done for MMO gaming, though, is a significant achievement: its laissez-faire style managed to draw trolls, scammers and griefers away from other MMOs.  SO there’s that.

]]> By: DevinC http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584864 DevinC Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584864 I had the same problem waaay back with  the original Elite; when I was lucky I'd get one docking in five (and usually scraped the sides.)  I'm amazed at just how much persistence I had back then. I had the same problem waaay back with  the original Elite; when I was lucky I’d get one docking in five (and usually scraped the sides.)  I’m amazed at just how much persistence I had back then.

]]> By: royaltrux http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584686 royaltrux Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584686  That's interesting, never heard of that before. I don't remember what, if any, DRM scheme the Commodore 64 version had.  That’s interesting, never heard of that before. I don’t remember what, if any, DRM scheme the Commodore 64 version had.

]]> By: Emma Jones http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584631 Emma Jones Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584631 Am I the only one who thought of the Pokemon games, seeing this title? Am I the only one who thought of the Pokemon games, seeing this title?

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584624 Rob Beschizza Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584624 The problem with Eve is that while it's very interesting to read <em>about</em>, it's an astoundingly boring game to play. The problem with Eve is that while it’s very interesting to read about, it’s an astoundingly boring game to play.

]]> By: royaltrux http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584604 royaltrux Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584604 I agree with you very much. And have often enjoyed online gaming since the 90s. But the loner in me likes single player games, too. Let's just hope the autopilot works when it is time to dock your ship. Hated not having (or knowing how to use?) an auto-docking feature on the few clones I have tried to play in recent years. I agree with you very much. And have often enjoyed online gaming since the 90s. But the loner in me likes single player games, too. Let’s just hope the autopilot works when it is time to dock your ship. Hated not having (or knowing how to use?) an auto-docking feature on the few clones I have tried to play in recent years.

]]> By: Marko Raos http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584572 Marko Raos Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584572 Dunno, I always thought (even before the internet) that Elite is a world simulator and that it would be the natural evolution of the concept to be able to share that world with other people. While I understand Braben's emphasis on procedural generation, imo what made Elite revolutionary is that it was really the first true computer generated world, one which at least gave an illusion that it does not revolve around the player and that goes on even when he's not around... i feel that mmos are the natural evolution of this core concept. Dunno, I always thought (even before the internet) that Elite is a world simulator and that it would be the natural evolution of the concept to be able to share that world with other people. While I understand Braben’s emphasis on procedural generation, imo what made Elite revolutionary is that it was really the first true computer generated world, one which at least gave an illusion that it does not revolve around the player and that goes on even when he’s not around… i feel that mmos are the natural evolution of this core concept.

]]> By: Touch Sensitive http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584545 Touch Sensitive Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584545 When I purchased the original, in Ireland, back in the mists of time. The 48K Spectrum version I brought home with me as a child had the 'Lenslok' ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenslok ) hardware DRM. A small plastic arch with a lens and two slits had to be placed on the screen to 'decode' an alpha numeric code, that needed to be entered rather quickly! When I purchased the original, in Ireland, back in the mists of time. The 48K Spectrum version I brought home with me as a child had the ‘Lenslok’ ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenslok ) hardware DRM. A small plastic arch with a lens and two slits had to be placed on the screen to ‘decode’ an alpha numeric code, that needed to be entered rather quickly!

]]> By: tyr http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584539 tyr Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584539 This is likely our last chance to have a real Elite 4. I'm backing this. This is likely our last chance to have a real Elite 4. I’m backing this.

]]> By: royaltrux http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584501 royaltrux Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584501 The option to play alone? The option to play alone?

]]> By: Marko Raos http://boingboing.net/2012/11/16/elite-4-to-be-drm-free.html#comment-1584390 Marko Raos Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=194548#comment-1584390 Luv the idea, been dreaming about it since... forever? But what about *cough* EVE? Considering that there already exists a true spiritual successor to Elite, what will this new "official" version offer? Luv the idea, been dreaming about it since… forever?
But what about *cough* EVE?
Considering that there already exists a true spiritual successor to Elite, what will this new “official” version offer?

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