Elite: Dangerous - Review @ COG
 

COG reviewed the space sim Elite Dangerous:

More information.

IMO, it's only worth it in VR. And then it blows your mind. As close to "you're in space" as you can get in 2017.

I backed the game but don't remember if I ever actually tried it out. Maybe I should, but I'm kind of baffled I chose to back a multiplayer game, it's just not my thing.

Heard good things about this one.

Star Citizen comes pretty close.

There are 2 ways you can sign in-- one is "open" server, which is the MMO portion. The other is just the exact same universe but with NPCs. I was 90/10% playing closed. It's more than enough fun without the shennanigans of open play. You only have to lose all your shit and a cargo full of (insert valuable widget) once before you realize having other real people around is BS. Even in space.

So, everything available in the MMO portion is available in the solo play? if that's the case, i may have to re-think this one and give it a shot.

Hasn't this been out since last year or longer?

I play with the HTC VIVE and some thrustmaster and I always have a blast. The only game I use a joystick with.
I do not understand the review though "newcomers who may be expecting a more user friendly experience". Sorry but newcomers who expect that are more precisely "clueless newcomers" who bought a game without even a shadow of homework.

Maybe that's because they said it would have offline singleplayer during crowdfunding/Kickstarter, then about a month before release they announced they're dumping offline singleplayer.

Really classy.

2 years ago actually

According to ChaosTheory single player seems viable? But still, that might have been why I backed it like you said, it was quite a few years ago.

So, the article was wrong? It doesn't have a SP option? Reminds me of Shroud. They promise SP because they know people won't back an MMO. But, as soon as they get their money, the drop SP.

The universe is shared between all players. The game basically has filters. You can play it online like a MMO with all players or you can play it single player which means you still have to be connected to the universe server but you will be all by yourself and not see or interact with anyone else but NPCs.
Finally, you can also join one of the player groups, e.g. if you want to play online with some of your friends or a clan.
Or you can also join one of the larger (huge) groups like that one group with thousands of dedicated PvE players (the group is called Mobius) who have agreed to a gentlemen non-aggression pact, i.e. PvP is possible but people in that group should not attack other players.

When I last played ED, I was in that Mobius group and it worked (no PvP) but you rarely get to see other players anyway (even in full open play). The universe of ED is humongous with its 400bn star systems. The devs have posted stats and even if people keep exploring at the current rate then it will still take thousands of years (real time) before the entire ED galaxy is explored.
That is why seeing another player (except around the solar system which is a popular place, of course) is a rare occurrence, no matter which mode you play.
Currently there is probably also many people around the systems where the Thargoids (aliens) have been spotted. This is the first sighting of aliens since ED's launch so people are flocking to make first contact.

Thanks for the reply. Are there quests? Or is it just a trade/explore/combat type of game?

There are some missions but no real coherent stoyline. It's original Elite and pretty much a pure sandbox. There is some political backstory that is pretty meta and mostly happens as news broadcasts.
Well, and now there is the sighting of the Thargoids which might develop into a kind of story arc or a campaign (hopefully).

Maybe dig around the official website and forums a bit to get a better impression of the current state of the game. I haven't played in over a year either but I'm getting the backer update mail every week so I have kept track of what is going (big picture at least).

Thanks for the info. I will read up on it more. By the sound of it, i may just stick with the X games. But, i will keep an eye on ED.

Those X games are mighty good. Now. ;)

I tried getting into ED, but after 3 hours could not even win a combat or even fly straight. In the tutorial!
Probably the only kind of game where I just lack the skill to play with mouse + keyboard.

And I'm not going to buy a full flight joystick for a game that I'll likely play only 20-30 hours or so.

Someone suggested I should just trade at the beginning and would then gradually learn how to fly. Doesn't exactly sound like fun considering this is a game. One should get the basic controls down after an hour or two ;)

I vastly prefer the control scheme of Freelancer or similar games.

If you enjoy sandboxes with almost no content, then this is a fantastic game. The systems are well done - and the immersion is through the roof in VR. Sound design is among the best I've ever experienced.

Also, playing it with an X-52 Pro is really, really something.

However, if you enjoy meaningful content, as in unique assets, locations with stuff to find, stories, compelling missions and the like - then I'd steer clear.

It's essentially a multiplayer Frontier without the planetary landings. You can land on asteroids and stuff - but that's dull as dishwater.