Elite IV chat and discussion
Greetings fellow pilots! Welcome to EliteForum.org
If you are looking forward to Elite 4 and wish to show Frontier Developments that you are out here then register with EliteForum and you will not be waiting alone any longer.
On the forums discuss and disseminate information on the Elite series of games, from the original 1980s game Elite, through the sequels Frontier and Frontier First Encounters and finally to the eagerly awaited Elite IV.
Latest News
Elite IV: The Next Encounter Coming Early 2010
http://www.toc-gaming.co.uk/blog/PermaLink,guid,a0388dc0-faf5-4697-860b-c461ef829dbe.aspx
Cool. 
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David Braben to announce new Elite in 2008
GamersGlobal reports that Braben may announce Elite 4 in 2008.
http://www.gamersglobal.com/news/612
[read more]
The Outsider news & interview from EDGE
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8228&Itemid=2
Some interesting things highlighted in this interview, including details on gameplay elements such as the real-time conversation system.
Elite is gonna be so good! [read more]
Translated French interview with David Braben - by Jack
This is the transcript of a French interview with David Braben that has been translated by Jack and split off into a seperate topic to give it more prominance.
- MATTeL
Here the interview : (I hope there are no translation error).
Of course, if you just arrived in the video game, David Braben is just frontier’s founder and boss, a video games development company. A company who has developed “Thrillville” and “The Outsider” which he talks about in the Developers Conference of Brighton. But Braben is a part of the legends of video games since 1984 with Elite for older gamers, the first Elite game realised by Braben, a game which succeeded to make 8 galaxies and 2000 planets in 22 Ko
jeuxvideo.com> you have worked in video games for 25 years; we can say that you’re a veteran. What do you think about this media today? Do you still have fun with it?
David Braben> yes. The industry has changed, but it is always exciting. The difference is essentially what you can do and the way you can realise it compared to the 1980’s methodology. At that time, for instance, we passed all the time to develop the game. Answer to an interview like this one means less time to work on it, the press was a future data. When Elite was diffused in 100 000 unities, it was incredibly big. Today, we always hope to sell at least 10 times more than Elite. If today Elite’s out and sell 1 000 000 unities, we would considered that it was an average success.
jeuxvideo.com> and have you the feeling that today you don’t have to failed than before?
David Braben > we have certainly made a lot of mistakes at the time. But if you made a mistake, you could repair it without any consequence to ruin your company. We employed less people to develop games. I found endlessly, companies have built an excellent reputation without adding something new. They simply take money. It’s really bad for our industry because there are people who spend 40 or 50 euros for a game and if this game is bad; it affects the whole industry. We have to know, as developers, that we’re not selling games only to people like us. That was the case at the time you mention. Today, we develop for children, for people who have a limited knowledge of computers and who doesn’t understand immediately how to play a game.
jeuxvideo.com > actually, you develop to a larger audience, does it tend to foster a decline of artistic creativity?
David Braben > this alters this factor, in fact. It is a bit the bad side of having a wider public. Touching more people, it’s very positive because money begin to return so you can put more resources into other projects. That is why, on our side, we must ensure that the casual players, even if they do not understand all the intricacies of a game, reach much fun for, and they can take pleasure in thinking: "Hey, that was funny!" The aim is also to speak with others who they say: "But you saw this or that?" So they return and are even more interested in the side of the game that they did not know. That's very rewarding for a developer. With Elite, we might even be moved to higher level. There is in this game of the things I am always particularly proud. But there have been cases in which people come to me talking about things they have found great, and when they have described me, I knew that these elements were not in the game They imagined functions and motivations that we have never included in the game It is a mistake that demonstrates just how they were and are still committed to this title. And I said that this was more true for Frontier for Elite because he got more things going on. It's fantastic. They had imagined a story that, in fact, is not in the game but they had seen the draft by playing. I remain very honoured by that.
jeuxvideo.com > you are working on a game named The Outsider. What could you say about it ?
David Braben > this game is born on a real desire to tell stories. I think that today, games don’t take care about immerse players in a true story. In fact, it is the intermediate sequences that tell the story, not the game. And, these sequences have no real influence on the game. It presents in the outline what is going to the player, which he is going to have to kill, but they do not allow it to participate in the unfolding of the plot. Result: the player did nothing more quickly to make this plot since it can not influence it. All they have to achieve the objectives that he was assigned, that’s all.
All that counts is to unlock the next level. This principle is reflected even in games that purport to provide complete freedom to the player. If you play GTA: San Andreas, for instance, you will always have to pass tests which, first, have little to do with the story, and two, will be "eliminatory". If you do not pass it, the game will stop there for you. For me, this is a real problem of the game designing when you do not tell a story using this kind of model. To return to The Outsider, we want to apply the principle of a consistent scenario. Beware, this is not to construct a story that is a sequence of events style, X do this or that when he comes to do this or that. We work more with motivations of each other and the problems arising from it. Thus, it builds the story in a consistent world. I was very impressed the first time I saw Star Wars because I understood how the context may be important to tell a story. Star Wars do not talk just about a rescue of a princess. There is also space fighting that come into play, a variety of motivations of good, nasty, the Force, and so on. Each of these elements is not linear and could lead you away from the main plot. They are used primarily to add depth to a synopsis which, in itself, is desperately simple.
jeuxvideo.com > If we believe in the initial revelations about The Outsider and if we coincide this with what you have just told us, the choices of a player will change the game story radically ...
David Braben > Absolutely
jeuxvideo.com > Yeah, right ... we are promised that since years and years, and, in almost all cases, if not all, the player has no real influence on the script ...
David Braben > I fully agree with you. It is a promise that was made very often and which has hardly ever been held. I could cite Fahrenheit, for example. I think that the result was far from the promises made during development. I do not feel at ease to criticize like that because, at least, they tried to reach their goal, but we must recognize that the result was not there.
jeuxvideo.com > Can we quote you?
David Braben >Absolutely. And if there is an opportunity, I would say it directly to developers although I am sure they already know that. I am not trying to break them down freely. I drew even my hat to them for going at the end of the project. What I mean is that for a Fahrenheit, there is a plethora of games that try anything. They do not attempt to push the limit. Those who annoyed me the most are the games developed by exploiting licenses movies. They have generally colossal budget and the result is invariably disappointing. Games are incredibly simplistic. They provide no experience. The experience in a game, what is it? It is the feeling to be the character that we are playing. Well, these games never reach there, that's all. And I think it's a shame to miss such opportunities. This is a kind of game that is detrimental to our industry. You know, we are really behind the film industry. We are their second market, a sort of marketing exercise; movies producers perceive us like that. It is imperative that we change that. If we do not begin to develop our own methods and apply them to our own media to tell our own stories rather than being continually referencing movies, or even worse, trying to adapt these films into a game when the result is invariably bad in terms of principle and content, we will always be the poor relation of the film industry, we are always inferior. Worse, if we do not move, we do not draw on the technical possibilities fantastic that Microsoft and Sony offer to us with their latest generation of machines. And if the slump persists, it may be that there is no other generation of consoles thereafter. In my opinion, the machines of the next generation should help develop a set of more economical. From a technological point of view ... Let's say we are at the time of the films in black and white and that we want to color, CinémaScope, stories built and all these things that could involve us in games. We begin to get that with the machines we have. It depends only on us to appropriate these opportunities to make something new.
jeuxvideo.com > The atmosphere of The Outsider seems dark, right?
David Braben > Right, the atmosphere is rather loud. It is something I have always liked in the games. But in a certain side, this atmosphere will be as dark as you want it to be because it is your way to play that affect on it. To return to GTA, we had no real influence on the character. You will be required to do things like steal a drug dealer by attacking their train. But I think what I wanted to do was just shoot this dealer. And since I had to do some things to unlock all the elements of the game, personally, I ended up ignoring completely the character. However, I never asked to be better than my character, I feel very close to him. It was already a bit the case with Elite. The player felt involved in the fate of his character. In GTA, it looks to read the different chapters of a book. There was only one alternative: to do what we are asked or stop playing. That's what I did and I know lots of other people in this case.
jeuxvideo.com > Do you Hope that the main character in The Outsider becomes a video game icon, a hero like Sam Fisher or Lara Croft ?
David Braben > I would be disappointed if it were to happen. I expect much more. When we consider the interaction of the game, we are aware that the subject is paramount. Of course there are some similarities with Sam Fisher, as well as many other games characters. But this character goes well beyond all because everything is not based only on him. If you had to define what makes Sam Fisher, I think you would be much bothered. This is simply because this character has no personality. He's a hero of fiction that could be summed up in three greens points. That is Sam Fisher as many people see him, as I see him. I would be unable to recognize Sam Fisher. I saw the trailer of the next Splinter Cell(Ndr: Splinter Cell: Conviction), it is not Sam Fisher. It is a common character which bears the name of Sam Fisher.
jeuxvideo.com > Do you really think that ?
David Braben > I even think they (splinter cell developers) don’t know who is their character.
Jeuxvideo.com> Can there be the multiplayer in a game like The Outsider which allows the player to change the story, and thus to give the solo mode this importance?
David Braben > It seems to me that one of the most important factors when we develop a game and especially when it comes to the multiplayer side is to be able to make compromises. When you have a scheme in which a single character faces all those around him, it is absurd to imagine we can offer a mode in which a lot of players lead characters confronting all those around them in the same game. Having said that, we found a good solution in which we will build the multiplayer side of The Outsider. But it is evident that we will not play in multi like playing solo. It will not be a campaign. However, we want that what players will do in The Outsider is also important in multi as in solo. The important point is that the scenario becomes less important in multi. We abandon the story for more interaction between players in multi.
Jeuxvideo.com> It is clear that the player will occasionally make moral choices in The Outsider. To win, should we necessarily stay on the right side of morality, or be able to act as a bastard and win anyway?
David Braben > We have think about this problem, especially after what has happened with Manhunt 2 and the issues that will raise with GTA IV. These are hazards that violate our industry. You have asked if we can behave as the last of the last, but won anyway. The question is' What is meant by the word "win"? ". You can always finish the game. The thing with The Outsider is that if you start shooting at anything that moves indiscriminately, people will begin to exploit you. They will come see you by saying "You have very well killed Gizmo, continues like that.". And that is exactly what you will do. You will become a killing machine operated by others. But you do not come to light on the real goals of the story. Yet you will have an end and when you will see it, you would say: "That is interesting. Damn, I missed all.". (Laughs)
Jeuxvideo.com> Do you have an idea of numbers of different end which will be proposed?
David Braben > Currently, there are six very different “end” and each of them has some subtle variations depending on the way you play to achieve it. You can become a real villain, completely unrecoverable. And it will be very hard to get there. On the other side of the spectrum you can also discover the end of the plot, but here, I can not tell you more. These purposes will depend at the same time that you do, but also how you will do. What you need to know is that up to a point very late in the game, you do not have "branched" to an end or another. You are still free and you can change everything.
Jeuxvideo.com> Do you confirm that after The Outsider you finally working on a new Elite?
David Braben > Absolutely.
Jeuxvideo.com> Thank you, Mr Braben
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Riskiest games are the most financially rewarding
David throws down the gauntlet to the industry regarding accepting riskier games that might go against the current trend of releasing sequals of games and the same tired genres in this rather interesting interview.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=30078
Now does anyone else see this recent press actvity by David as slightly interesting especially as they are still to announce a publisher for The Outsider? [read more]
Feedmoo: Elite IV Story
Another story about Elive IV for this current generation of gaming machines meaning 5 years or less by my very inaccurate guessing looking at times between PS1, PS2 and PS3 as well as X-Box and the 360.
Well here is the story, now if you can get it to fully expand please post the link up as I struggled with it and then got distracted by a book...
http://feedmoo.com/2007/10/26/elite-elite-iv-coming-this-hardware-generation/ [read more]
Braben reveals more on The Outsider, Elite IV
David gave some lucky people in Nottingham a few more sneak loks at The Outsider and did confirm that Elite IV is likely to be released for the current generation of gaming hardware! 
Full stroy HERE.
[read more]
Get a job working for Frontier Developments
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We are looking for designers who are full of creative flare and enthusiasm and have a passion for, and extensive knowledge of, games and gameplay. The roles are varied - both original IP and AAA licenses feature in our strong project line-up, spanning a number of game genres, and our reputation for compelling gameplay is achieved by our designers contributing fully at all stages of our game developments, from concept through to final gameplay balance.
Successful candidates will also have excellent verbal and written skills, possess the ability to work closely with a team, have excellent communication skills and ideally be educated to degree level. Experienced candidates should have at least one AAA game design to their name.
Frontier offers 25 paid days holiday per annum in addition to public bank holidays, rising to 30 after 10 years service, a bonus scheme and share options. Salary will depend on experience and capability.
Please send CV and covering letter stating current salary or salary expectation quoting reference DNG0607 to Anna Dakin, Frontier Developments Ltd, 306 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 0WG or email designerjobs@frontier.co.uk Only applicants eligible to work in the UK should apply. No Agencies.
and
We have a reputation for technological innovation and our programmers get involved in all aspects of system architecture, design and implementation. We are looking for candidates in both game-side programming and tools & technology, such as: 3D graphics, maths / simulation / physics, low level code and optimisation, game AI and tools.
Successful candidates will have a solid track record in Computer Science or programming in another discipline such as Maths or Physics and have an advanced understanding of C++ & OOP as well as being well organised and capable of code design.
Frontier offers 25 paid days holiday per annum in addition to public bank holidays, rising to 30 after 10 years service, a bonus scheme and share options. Salary will depend on experience and capability.
Please send CV and covering letter stating current salary or salary expectation quoting reference PNG0607 to Anna Dakin, Frontier Developments Ltd, 306 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 0WG or email programmerjobs@frontier.co.uk Only applicants eligible to work in the UK should apply. No Agencies.
Not hot news but.... DB Comments on alt.fan.elite from 1998 to 2001
I found it made very interesting reading.
http://sslmit.unibo.it/zat/files/elite4/afe_E4news.htm [read more]
Game 07 - A write up of the event
Here is an article regarding the recent Game 07 event hosted by University College London.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14056 [read more]