1681

The developers play with Gamepads though, like a 360 gamepad. Also several people here use M&K and it works for them.

1682

At the one hi-tech economy I found, they had a demand for them but no supply.
To answer Slainte’s question: it’s definitely very playable but still has a couple of problems, and I think the economy is one. There’s a whole thread about it on the Frontier forums.

1683

If you highlight the item, on the right it should list where it imports them from, which might be where you’ll find a supply.

1684

I thought of that. In fact that’s how I found the as-yet-not-visited-by-me hi-tech system (Njinka or something) as an exporter of another commodity I was looking for. But there was nothing where you mention to indicate the source of Microbial Furnaces.

BTW I went and ordered an X-52 Pro from Amazon today because it’s at around $140. We’ll see how it works and whether I like it better than the HOTAS X (and I might sell the latter if I do like it more).

1685

Wow, you are one prepared guy. I won’t be getting an Oculus anytime in the near (or probably distant) future though, and I can’t really spend $150-$200 on a controller for a single $50 game, so I may have to limit myself to gamepad or maybe a simple flight stick under $40 to start with. Too bad I can’t use my ancient Logitech stick from back in the Wing Commander and Freelancer days, but alas it’s got one of those blue “game port” cables (yes kids I am THAT old). =) Time to upgrade to something with a USB adapter on the end of it I guess!

1686

Gamepad + VoiceAttack (if you use a headset or a good mic) might work decently. I’ve been enjoying VoiceAttack even with a HOTAS. It’s nice for assigning controls that aren’t frequently used enough for me to remember quickly.

Plus, it’s just cool to be able to say “Engage hyperdrive” and have your ship kick into hyperspace.

1687

“Weapons free” is another good one, though only marginally cooler than flicking off the safety on my X52.

1688

I don’t think I could ever get myself to talk to my computer without feeling kinda embarrassed.

1689

But you’re talking to your computer to simulate someone talking to a computer, so it’s all good.

1690

Oh, my wife teases me relentlessly. :) Still worth it. “Say what you will, woman, I’m in spaaaaaaaace”.

1691

Yeah, I get it and I understand the coolness, but…oh well :-)

1692

Looks like Elite will be releasing without grouping functionality or the ability to play reliably with friends. They’re slated for early next year.

I think they’re making a big mistake, as the marketing and perception of this game is really fucked up at the moment. You have a large subset of fans, even the more “hardcore” ones that you find on game forums and the EliteDangerous subreddit, who think that Frontier’s removal of Offline mode means that they removed Solo play. You also have a very large group of people, including most media outlets, that think that Elite is a MMO.

So, they’re releasing a game that is perceived to be a MMO with no ability to form Groups, let alone “guilds”. I think they are going to get absolutely skewered for this, especially given the perception of what the game is supposed to be. This just seems like it’s going to be a shitstorm of epic proportions, following up on the removal of Offline mode like it is.

1693

1694

The MMO spin was a mistake from day one. Its not an MMO, and never well be, but still they insist on calling it that? And yes, releasing it without even grouping will hurt it immensely.

1695

I suspect you’re right, and it’s a crying shame (and a baffling failure of communication), because the game is far better than I ever dared hope it would be. I couldn’t give a toss about the multiplayer side and I can live with an “almost always online” requirement, so I’ve basically got the Elite remake I always wanted.

1696

You and most everyone else, myself included. There’s this very vocal minority that thinks because there’s no offline mode that the sky is accelerating at 9.8m/sec^2, but we heard the same thing about Diablo 3.

1697

The lack of grouping will impact me pretty heavily as I was hoping to play this co-op over the holidays, but I"ll just wait until next year when it’s implemented. I think “crying shame” is right, though. There’s a real gem of a game here but I’m worried that they are setting themselves up for evisceration by the media and first impressions, and that can deal a game a blow that it never fully recovers from.

I think Elite right now is a fantastic platform to build and expand on, but I’m worried if they shit themselves on release day they’re never going to get the chance to make it what it could be.

1698

I’m worried that they are setting themselves up for evisceration by the media and first impressions

This is what I don’t get. A massive, faithful remake of Elite from the ground up, complete with a bunch of ships and components to buy, wares to trade, enemies to shoot, millions of systems to visit, etc. etc. is going to be eviscerated by the launch lack of co-op and no offline mode?

OK, it may be eviscerated by the whatever percentage of folks are laser-focused on those two features to the lack of everything else the game has to offer, but I am laying money down that the rest of the world is going to be pretty happy with what they get: Elite 2014.

1699

Unfortunately, thats not true. By setting themselves up on the store page, in interviews, in marketing as an MMO, they are giving expectations to a lot of people, the media included, that will not look favorably on the game, despite how great it actually is. For a game that requires money for evolving (The planned expansions that are already sold through “season passes”) its critical that the game gets a good reception and sells well. Hell, for paying the servers that are required for the game, its critical it sells well.

This does not help it in any way, no matter how much you, I, and others enjoy the solo play.

1700

By us? The old geasers who were playing Elite in the 80’s? Probably not. For the vast majority of players who have never even heard of Elite and think they’re getting a space combat MMO (because that’s how the game is being marketed and described)? Emphatically, yes!