The term scope and scale are getting thrown around a lot and its to be assumed that those terms don't mean different things depending on how they're applied, and that's 100% untrue.
GTA V's open world, Skyrim, these are linear and focused game spaces. Some areas in these games may be repeated, but they aren't procedural when it comes to layout and design. The art style or decor of areas is also intentional. The scale of these games is enhanced by how many purposeful, intentional differences there are across the entire game world. Intentional design and attention allow for certain emotions and thoughts to conjure, there's a purpose.
If you look at something like Minecraft or any procedural game, scale and scope matter for gameplay mechanics first and foremost. The purpose behind the world matters a lot less than what the player wants to do in that world. It isn't about what can be found, its about what can I do now in this large space.
With No Man's Sky, the scope and scale being based around procedural generation, its going to be about the gameplay mechanics and what you can do differently on each planet, what you can do with NPCs in space. For many people, the scope and scale matter a lot less when its random.
GTA V, Skyrim, those are like treasure hunts. Games like Minecraft, its about taking nothing but scale and scope and turning it into treasure. No Man's Sky has been shown off a lot more this year, but what has been shown is still not enough for people to believe the scope and scale will matter or actually compliment the current gameplay mechanics at all.
That's all it comes down to when it comes to pricing and why people aren't seeing eye to eye. Some people see a massive game with endless discovery. While other people are questioning if discovering what's in No Man's Sky is worth it.
