Elite: Dangerous Standard Beta (Starting Jul 29th - $75)

Watch sold! So far, ordered a Thrustmaster T Flight Stick X (plan on using my Razer Orbweaver in left hand), the game (beta), and a SteelCase Leap. My current chair is falling apart! Still on the fence about ordering a Rift. I'm hearing a LOT of opposite sides of the spectrum on it.
Wait for the retail version no point in dabbling into beta hardware if you are not a developer.
 
Open Play (multiplayer) is still pretty buggy, but Solo play seems fine for the most part except for usual beta problems. I'll do multiplayer when I have a ship firing more than just soap bubbles :)
 
I want to be a trader, but I find it hard for two reasons:

1. I never can tell which systems/stations have commodity markets very easily.
2. Buying and selling is basically a waste of time. I upgraded from the Sidewinder to another ship which was classified as a hauler of some kind and it has 8 cargo slots instead of 4. However, even if I purchase something for 1 credit and sell for 100, that's only a profit of 800 credits. Basically worthless when missions are so much more profitable.

Am I doing it wrong? I think they should change trading to the way the X series did it. Have different "sizes" of cargo. My cargo holds should be able to hold like 8 pieces of huge equipment in the 8 holds, or 800 shipments of algae in the same 8.

Maybe I'm just missing something here.
 
I want to be a trader, but I find it hard for two reasons:

1. I never can tell which systems/stations have commodity markets very easily.
2. Buying and selling is basically a waste of time. I upgraded from the Sidewinder to another ship which was classified as a hauler of some kind and it has 8 cargo slots instead of 4. However, even if I purchase something for 1 credit and sell for 100, that's only a profit of 800 credits. Basically worthless when missions are so much more profitable.

Am I doing it wrong? I think they should change trading to the way the X series did it. Have different "sizes" of cargo. My cargo holds should be able to hold like 8 pieces of huge equipment in the 8 holds, or 800 shipments of algae in the same 8.

Maybe I'm just missing something here.
In beta 2 I bought an hauler and searched for unidentified signal sources. 30 percent of the time I found gold. Made a fortune
this way. No idea if this still works.
Good luck!
 
Newsletter!

TL;DR:
- Release date will be announced next week.
- Beta closes on november 22nd (still playable for those already in it until the full release of course).
- "In Elite: Dangerous there will be areas of the game that will not be immediately accessible. Players may have to build a reputation with the governing faction in order to be given a permit to visit an area under their jurisdiction." Sol is one of those areas, but beta and alpha players get a permit for free at the start of the game.
- Screenshot of Sol!
Kinda...
- The making of Elite: Dangerous.
 
Btw, I downloaded the latest Oculus VR drivers -- 0.4.3. and the new update Beta 3.0.2 and everything seems to be working fine. Last night, it was very jittery and the pilot in-game was too far ahead of your actual sitting position so it made it impossible to look behind you. That's been fixed. Also 75Hz refresh is back in the options.
 
Nice video. As I read each persons job I kept thinking stuff like "oooh the audio, great work!" or "cockpits, yes! Keep it up, they're amazing!" but that's only natural with the game shaping up as well as it is.
 
I want to be a trader, but I find it hard for two reasons:

1. I never can tell which systems/stations have commodity markets very easily.
2. Buying and selling is basically a waste of time. I upgraded from the Sidewinder to another ship which was classified as a hauler of some kind and it has 8 cargo slots instead of 4. However, even if I purchase something for 1 credit and sell for 100, that's only a profit of 800 credits. Basically worthless when missions are so much more profitable.

Am I doing it wrong? I think they should change trading to the way the X series did it. Have different "sizes" of cargo. My cargo holds should be able to hold like 8 pieces of huge equipment in the 8 holds, or 800 shipments of algae in the same 8.

Maybe I'm just missing something here.
The "8" refers to tons, not size. Since you can fit eight tons of something like algae or biowaste, you could, in theory, probably fit two hundred tons of gold in the same space, but your ship wouldn't be able to take off. They're trying to keep it simple.

Don't forget you can upgrade your cargo space. You can add in extra cargo racks to take the Hauler up to 16 tons without having to drop any other equipment. Take out unnecessary things like the discovery scanner and you can fit a few more tons in there.

In regards to money, it's something you have to work up to. It's not going to immediately be super-profitable, that will come way later. The Lakon Type-9 can have upwards of 500 tons of carrying capacity, and if you're making a thousand-credit profit per ton, that starts to add up real fast. Back in Beta 1, I was seeing people rake in 600-700k credits on a single run.

But anyway, I'm stoked about the Sol bonus for backers. I was looking forward to seeing what they were doing with our system anyway. I wonder if they actually have every last satellite and dwarf planet?
 
I'm tempted to buy the beta just to get the pass to the Sol system (and whatever other benefits there are?), but then again I like the idea of working towards getting a pass in the game itself. Feels like that might be more rewarding? Hmmm what to do...
 
For me the DK2 support has almost turned worse for every update, to the point that I can no longer play the game. I do realize DK2 support is a fan service (DK2 not being a consumer product), but it still saddens me :(

(When inside the cockpit, looking at the side menus that pops up, I can't read the text from the mid position up clearly (because the DK2 lense is only clear in the middle) because the menu just vanishes once I move my head upwards try to read it! It's a real mindfuck juggle..
The new issue in the 3.x Beta is that when I look at the station service menu at the left side, it just goes inactive/greys out. Also a real struggle for my brain. Tried to find an item in the commodities list yesterday, and I was actually tired with a headache after..
However, the biggest concern I have is that VR absolutely needs rock solid performance at all times. But in Elite Dangerous, when in supercruise and the game starts to load in details (planets and points of interests) it lags several times for about 0.5-1 seconds. The freeeze/lag just does my head in, it's extremely uncomfortable to the point that I just can't do it anymore)

I should probably send it to Braben & co as a glitch report..
 
(When inside the cockpit, looking at the side menus that pops up, I can't read the text from the mid position up clearly (because the DK2 lense is only clear in the middle) because the menu just vanishes once I move my head upwards try to read it! It's a real mindfuck juggle..

Interesting. I just move my head closer to the text and I can read it. You have head-tracking active right?

The new issue in the 3.x Beta is that when I look at the station service menu at the left side, it just goes inactive/greys out. Also a real struggle for my brain. Tried to find an item in the commodities list yesterday, and I was actually tired with a headache after..

Haven't played the main game yet. I'm still in the tutorials.

However, the biggest concern I have is that VR absolutely needs rock solid performance at all times. But in Elite Dangerous, when in supercruise and the game starts to load in details (planets and points of interests) it lags several times for about 0.5-1 seconds. The freeeze/lag just does my head in, it's extremely uncomfortable to the point that I just can't do it anymore)

Hmm.. what videocard do you have? I just bought a 980. I have a GTX690 and while I hate the jitter in areas that are crowded, I don't get it when I'm in outer space.

-M
 
Interesting. I just move my head closer to the text and I can read it. You have head-tracking active right?
Haven't played the main game yet. I'm still in the tutorials.
Hmm.. what videocard do you have? I just bought a 980. I have a GTX690 and while I hate the jitter in areas that are crowded, I don't get it when I'm in outer space.

Yes I have full positional tracking. Maybe it's something in my local settings (I hope). Yes it is possible to read if I keep my head pointed at the mid-lower part of the panel, but I instinctively move my head up to get the upper part text/menu items in the center of the DK2 lense, and as I do that, the whole panel including the text dissapears.. :)

I have a GTX970, but I don't think it's a graphics issue it's a streaming/loading issue when the game needs to load in planet details etc. Although I run the game from a fast SSD as well..

It's a beta, I shouldn't expect perfection, but I just was hoping they had fixed the "brain-straining" parts of the DK2 implementation in the 3.x version. But if no one else has these issues, perhaps there is hope that I'll be able to tune it away.
 
Yes I have full positional tracking. Maybe it's something in my local settings (I hope). Yes it is possible to read if I keep my head pointed at the mid-lower part of the panel, but I instinctively move my head up to get the upper part text/menu items in the center of the DK2 lense, and as I do that, the whole panel including the text dissapears.. :)

I have a GTX970, but I don't think it's a graphics issue it's a streaming/loading issue when the game needs to load in planet details etc. Although I run the game from a fast SSD as well..

It's a beta, I shouldn't expect perfection, but I just was hoping they had fixed the "brain-straining" parts of the DK2 implementation in the 3.x version. But if no one else has these issues, perhaps there is hope that I'll be able to tune it away.

Same issues for me too, bj00rn. I'm just trying to stay patient while they work through some of the problems this latest coat of paint has introduced.

Those head tracked menus are acting really annoying however! Stay still, god damn it!
 
bugousq5.png

The game is trolling me right now.
 
I think I'm doing something wrong...

I have yet to successfully evade an interdiction or really even get started on it.

Every single time I see the effects start I try to do the "keep the escape vector in your sights" thing but it seems I am always either going to fast or it just whoosh, goes right over top of me and I am instantly submitting to the interdiction.

I never even get the chance to fight for it. If you are going "too fast" are you basically just screwed?
 
Yes I have full positional tracking. Maybe it's something in my local settings (I hope). Yes it is possible to read if I keep my head pointed at the mid-lower part of the panel, but I instinctively move my head up to get the upper part text/menu items in the center of the DK2 lense, and as I do that, the whole panel including the text dissapears.. :)

After playing most of the weekend, I see what you are saying. Yes, this is quite annoying. They need to adjust the sensitivity on the panels so that it doesn't go away. I think the devs can fix this.


I have a GTX970, but I don't think it's a graphics issue it's a streaming/loading issue when the game needs to load in planet details etc. Although I run the game from a fast SSD as well..

Yep. Experiencing this as well. The texture loading is pretty extreme. And yes, it makes me dizzy too.. LOL! Hopefully they can load in the textures faster somehow by streaming them.

It's a beta, I shouldn't expect perfection, but I just was hoping they had fixed the "brain-straining" parts of the DK2 implementation in the 3.x version. But if no one else has these issues, perhaps there is hope that I'll be able to tune it away.

Despite these problems, it is still the most immersive experience in gaming I've witnessed. I can't stop going into that world and feeling like I'm flying in space.

I just wish the game allowed you to enter the atmosphere of planets and fly around on the surface of them just like the asteroid belts.
 
I've spent most of this sunday playing elite with the DK2 and it is still glorious. Minor complains would be ocasional stutter while loading assets when travelling through a solar system and once having a different skybox in each eye, which made the asteroid field feel slightly transparent and confusing (I'll ticket it if it happens again).

Anyway, I just bought a Hauler and I plan to go find some trade routes either tonight or tomorrow.
 
Any GAFfers heading to the "Elite: Dangerous Premier Event" on the 22nd?

Since this is the day they stop accepting Beta, I imagine it will be signalling the shift from Beta to Gamma and they will provide us with a launch date.

I have some time off and blagged a ticket - so will be heading down. Anyone else?

Otherwise I will just have to wave at you on Twitch...
 
Wish I could make it but I've got other plans I can't get out of that day, gutted. Apparently they'll put up a highlights video up on Youtube at some point afterwards, which will probably make me wish I could have gone even more!

Btw, the release date is being announced this Friday in a newsletter, but I agree it'll probably go Gamma from the 22nd.
 
Watch sold! So far, ordered a Thrustmaster T Flight Stick X (plan on using my Razer Orbweaver in left hand), the game (beta), and a SteelCase Leap. My current chair is falling apart! Still on the fence about ordering a Rift. I'm hearing a LOT of opposite sides of the spectrum on it.

Couple thoughts, just from my experience. I tried with a G13 for my throttle/left and really didn't enjoy it, I use it for almost all other games though (Guild Wars 2, FPS, etc .. ). I'd definitely use the throttle side of the HOTAS you are ordering.

If you were 'on the fence' about the Rift, wait, use that money to buy a really good HOTAS and return the T Flight (not that it isn't a great stick from what I've read by any means). An X52Pro or an X55 (I have this, it's amazing, couldn't imagine playing without it) and both are almost 1/2 the cost of the Rift.

My thoughts, with having a G13, great gaming KB/M (G15/Naga) and a DK2 in order of importance for this game:

1. HOTAS + good chair setup
2. GPU to power it
3. DK2

I do like playing with the DK2, it's great. But if you are brand new to it, I can almost guarantee you'll be put off jumping into the game without prior knowledge of with the DK2 because there are SO MANY BUTTONS and things to read.

Either use the full HOTAS you're ordering, use the DK2 money to get a X52Pro, X55, CH setup (I want twist to yaw so didn't go this route) and definitely get familiar with the game and wait for CV1 to launch to fully jump into the VR aspect.

IMHO, of course.
 
Either use the full HOTAS you're ordering, use the DK2 money to get a X52Pro, X55, CH setup (I want twist to yaw so didn't go this route) and definitely get familiar with the game and wait for CV1 to launch to fully jump into the VR aspect.
IMHO, of course.

I disagree with this. DK2 is pretty much the bread and butter of enjoying this game in an immersive environment. Yea, you can get away with playing it without the DK2, but it will be significantly less appealing IMO. I'd say both HOTAS and DK2 are required.

Waiting for CV1 to come out (which is probably going to be late next year or early 2016) is wasting a lot of time that you could have been enjoying the VR today.
 
I've enjoyed Elite but mining is just terribly boring because you have to cargo scoop each tiny piece of metorite (which is an exercise in tedium itself) that you shoot off with lasers and then manually process it. Its just not fun IMO and really kills mining.
 
I think I'm doing something wrong...

I have yet to successfully evade an interdiction or really even get started on it.

Every single time I see the effects start I try to do the "keep the escape vector in your sights" thing but it seems I am always either going to fast or it just whoosh, goes right over top of me and I am instantly submitting to the interdiction.

I never even get the chance to fight for it. If you are going "too fast" are you basically just screwed?
Too fast isn't the problem, it's not getting the escape vector in your sights fast enough. Throttling down will automatically submit to the interdiction, it's like pulling over for a cop. You'll want to stay at max throttle and get that thing back in your sights. Having something like TrackIR or playing in the Rift will help you find it by looking around. I've never had an interdiction where I didn't have enough time to align.
 
Wasn't there talk from Frontier of an official iPhone companion app for this game? Anyone heard anything about that recently? Would be great having the galaxy map on an iPad for instance.
 
I've enjoyed Elite but mining is just terribly boring because you have to cargo scoop each tiny piece of metorite (which is an exercise in tedium itself) that you shoot off with lasers and then manually process it. Its just not fun IMO and really kills mining.

I think stuff like drones are planned that can help mine for you/fetch the ore for you, especially if you mine in larger ships.

However, mining in general I've always found boring in every space game ever, the only game I indirectly enjoyed it in was the X series like Terran Conflict/Albion Prelude where I had a fleet of mining ships in my empire mining for me. :P

The mining in E:D with scooping it is tedious, but there is more mining equipment planned to improve this that still has to come out.
 
I think stuff like drones are planned that can help mine for you/fetch the ore for you, especially if you mine in larger ships.

However, mining in general I've always found boring in every space game ever, the only game I indirectly enjoyed it in was the X series like Terran Conflict/Albion Prelude where I had a fleet of mining ships in my empire mining for me. :P

The mining in E:D with scooping it is tedious, but there is more mining equipment planned to improve this that still has to come out.

When you get dedicated mining ships they will add drones that pick upp the peices
 
Missions are still disappearing from my transactions list to the point where it's not worth accepting them, especially cargo transport ones. Guess I'll be bounty hunting for a while.
 
I think stuff like drones are planned that can help mine for you/fetch the ore for you, especially if you mine in larger ships.

However, mining in general I've always found boring in every space game ever, the only game I indirectly enjoyed it in was the X series like Terran Conflict/Albion Prelude where I had a fleet of mining ships in my empire mining for me. :P

The mining in E:D with scooping it is tedious, but there is more mining equipment planned to improve this that still has to come out.

They might as well copy EVE Online's mining mechanics and be done with it. I know they want to but don't want to be seen as copy-cats.

Missions are still disappearing from my transactions list to the point where it's not worth accepting them, especially cargo transport ones. Guess I'll be bounty hunting for a while.

Don't do the cargo missions, they have a tendency to drop fines on you. If missions disappear, restarting the client often brings them back.
 
When you get dedicated mining ships they will add drones that pick upp the peices

Missions are still disappearing from my transactions list to the point where it's not worth accepting them, especially cargo transport ones. Guess I'll be bounty hunting for a while.

Don't do the cargo missions, they have a tendency to drop fines on you. If missions disappear, restarting the client often brings them back.

I hope they get the mining and missions in order by release, because that's the main way I intend to play Elite. Basically like a Euro Truck Simulator 2 in space. I'll of course have a combat ship stored in a hangar somewhere for the times I do feel like blowing things up.

Is there a limit to how many ships you can own at once?
 
Couple thoughts, just from my experience. I tried with a G13 for my throttle/left and really didn't enjoy it, I use it for almost all other games though (Guild Wars 2, FPS, etc .. ). I'd definitely use the throttle side of the HOTAS you are ordering.

If you were 'on the fence' about the Rift, wait, use that money to buy a really good HOTAS and return the T Flight (not that it isn't a great stick from what I've read by any means). An X52Pro or an X55 (I have this, it's amazing, couldn't imagine playing without it) and both are almost 1/2 the cost of the Rift.

My thoughts, with having a G13, great gaming KB/M (G15/Naga) and a DK2 in order of importance for this game:

1. HOTAS + good chair setup
2. GPU to power it
3. DK2

I do like playing with the DK2, it's great. But if you are brand new to it, I can almost guarantee you'll be put off jumping into the game without prior knowledge of with the DK2 because there are SO MANY BUTTONS and things to read.

Either use the full HOTAS you're ordering, use the DK2 money to get a X52Pro, X55, CH setup (I want twist to yaw so didn't go this route) and definitely get familiar with the game and wait for CV1 to launch to fully jump into the VR aspect.

IMHO, of course.

Thanks sir!

I've definitely decided against getting a DK2. I was on the fence still until yesterday. I got my joystick in, and here's my hesitation regarding a more expensive/nicer HOTAS setup.......I effing SUCK with this thing. The sensitivity is insane, and no adjustments can be made. I don't want to spend a ton of money on a very nice HOTAS, just to have the same frustration. Obviously, it's a new input system, so I shouldn't expect to be good with it, and understand I need to practice, but ugh. Move the joystick one inch to the left, ship barely moves. Move it 1 cm more, and it's the exact opposite, going wildly out of control. I couldn't imagine doing this with a Rift strapped to my face. I felt sick just looking at it through a monitor!

Using the Orbweaver has been great so far for me though. But I'm also using Voice Attack and A.S.T.R.A., which is awesome. I've also got an EDTracker on order, so that should help as well.

I keep doing the training scenario for basic combat, and damn it's a frustrating experience with a stick.
 
I'm thinking about getting a flight controller setup with this and Star Citizen coming out (eventually). Are there any that are wireless? I almost primarly game on my HTPC on the couch, and I'd rather keep it that way if I can.
 
Anyone in the UK have experience ordering a DK2? Are there likely to be extra import charges added and how quickly do these tend to get delivered?

Tempted to get it in time for the release of E:D
 
Yup - you pay the usual import fees to the courier when it arrives... a nasty sting in the tail... but easier to hide from the SO

Web site says 8 weeks waiting time for DK2... so get yer skates on.

And to continue the discussions above. You need to get a HOTAS setup first. You can make do temporarily with a 360 gamepad, but it is no substitute for the "real thing". A mouse and keyboard are "useless inputs" for VR. So buy that and get used to it before submerging into VR.
 
And EVE Online mining is not boring? :P Thats news to me :)

Oh, don't get me wrong, it's boring as hell, but at least it's not so painful as it seems ED's mining is. Just mind numbingly boring. Not that I know, last time I mined in EVE was back in 2003 or so. Small group PvP was my thing. Not that i play it anymore, though.
 
Anyone in the UK have experience ordering a DK2? Are there likely to be extra import charges added and how quickly do these tend to get delivered?

Tempted to get it in time for the release of E:D

No import charges for me (or the other people I know ordered in the UK). The tracking indicates it was already in the UK from the start of its journey. There are few orders remaining now and shipping is quicker than ever. Shipping should take less than a month, several people have gotten theirs who ordered just a week ago. Most of the European October orders have shipped.
 
No import charges for me (or the other people I know ordered in the UK). The tracking indicates it was already in the UK from the start of its journey. There are few orders remaining now and shipping is quicker than ever. Shipping should take less than a month, several people have gotten theirs who ordered just a week ago. Most of the European October orders have shipped.

Stop doing this to me! I promised myself I'd wait for the consumer version but I'm always getting tempted. I'm gonna take your avatar as a sign not to, since I just did a marathon of that show and was left feeling disappointed so I'll just pretend the same would happen with the rift for now. Totally not doing the price conversion for the billionth time right now.
 
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