As much as no one, including myself, likes to think of things in this way... Elite: Dangerous has and always will have a fraction of the budget of Star Citizen, at this point Star Citizen is literally making up things to justify their crowdsourcing funds while Elite: Dangerous is likely to struggle.
Actually, the budgets are quite similar, the Elite Kickstarter was more to gauge the level of interest, Frontier Developments had their own cash reserves to invest and also sold a minority stake in the company on the stock market to raise more.
If you factor in the fact that Frontier have a fully tooled team already up and running at an established location and have spent years building their in house engine to run both the space and planetary landing aspects of their game you could argue their budget for creating the game is actually larger than SC.
You really should take a look at their game list. Nothing in there screams money to me. Nor an incredible amount of talent.
Most of their games are made for a publisher for example Microsoft, they get a fee and make the requested game for less, The publisher then sells it. This has grown a company valued at £38m by the stock valuation. I believe they invested £7m of their own cash, raised a similar amount from selling a minority stake on the stock market and £2.2m crowdsourced. That's a budget of £17-18m or about $27m, that's a fraction of about 8/10 of SCs budget.
As for talent, firstly I am guessing you never heard of the original Elite and Frontier games, and secondly there is enough there that companies such as Nintendo and Microsoft choose to employ them to develop their launch titles. This has allowed them to get paid money to develop their own in house Cobra engine custom designed around a future Elite release.
Time will tell which of E:D or SC is the better game, either way I am happy we are getting 2 space sims with large budgets.
The main difference is that ED has a publisher and Star Citizen does not. For publisher titles, most of the money does not go to developing the game. CR said himself the same thing. However, for a game like Star Citizen, about 5/6 of money goes directly to development. So $40 million for SC is like $150 million for game like GTA5 in terms of money spent on developing the game.
Elite: Dangerous is self-published by FD, don't mix usual investors with publishers. For publisher titles we don't know exactly how big money is spent on anything, because frankly they don't openly say or admit losses. Big chunk of big AAA games are usually from licensing and marketing, true, but it doesn't mean they are majority.
Also this measurement with how much money is put into development of the game is flawed. "Don't Starve" is just amazing game, and it's development cost fraction of even ED budget. That's not what makes game worthy to buy and play.
I think there is only one reasonable answer to the OP's post: Both!
Both games show incredible promise and yet they are quite different. They are not subscription based wich means you should be able to play them both.
I did back SC so far and did not back ED's kickstarter. I did so because SC was well presented and one of the most professional kickstarter campaigns i have seen. I was convinced that these guys will pull it off one way or another.
ED did not convince me enough at that point but i swore myself to keep my eyes on it. At this point i am quite convinced that ED will end up being an incredible game and i will pick it up for sure.
With nearly $38mils compared to $3.8mils, and your pitting these 2 games against one another? Seriously? SC keeps us well updated, informed and excited with all of its transparency. They have a rich and alive community and has attracted both older and younger players. I've looked at Elite:Dangerous and it looks 'ok' but I think you need to educate yourself on how much better SC will be instead of just taking stabs at a whale with a toothpick. SC will be made and then you will understand.
First PC Game: Pool of Radiance July 10th, 1990. First MMO: Everquest April 23, 1999
Originally posted by Stone_Fountain With nearly $38mils compared to $3.8mils, and your pitting these 2 games against one another? Seriously? SC keeps us well updated, informed and excited with all of its transparency. They have a rich and alive community and has attracted both older and younger players. I've looked at Elite:Dangerous and it looks 'ok' but I think you need to educate yourself on how much better SC will be instead of just taking stabs at a whale with a toothpick. SC will be made and then you will understand.
Don't forget the $11m Frontier raised from selling a minority stake in the company and the $11m of their cash reserves Frontier have committed. Also the fact that Frontier have developed their own custom in house engine over the years with the aim of producing Elite, the fact they have a fully staffed studio and established location. The budgets between the two are not so dissimilar.
A larger budget doesn't necessarily mean better gameplay, or even a more polished experience. People need to let go of the idea that the more money is thrown at a concept, the better it becomes. That's a terrible, wrong paradigm.
A larger budget probably does mean more marketing, and more art.
"The simple is the seal of the true and beauty is the splendor of truth" -Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Authored 139 missions in VendettaOnline and 6 tracks in Distance
Alpha of ELITE Dangerous is already more polished then most full versions of most games these days. I really hope SC is not just a over hype with fancy art work. I realized they are making too many promises to the community. Anyone can make fancy art work and sell ships. I only hope they can delivery and keep their words. Good luck to both games.
Elite Dangerous Alpha 2.0 Starts like tomorrow or something.
Alpha of ELITE Dangerous is already more polished then most full versions of most games these days. I really hope SC is not just a over hype with fancy art work. I realized they are making too many promises to the community. Anyone can make fancy art work and sell ships. I only hope they can delivery and keep their words. Good luck to both games.
Elite Dangerous Alpha 2.0 Starts like tomorrow or something.
Yes, that will the multiplayer dogfighting module of the alpha. I am having some serious Alpha envy as a gamma level customer.
That video is pretty impressive! The game play looks great.
I've supported and will play both games. I personally couldn't wait over a year for SC while while another space sim was out especially one called Elite! It was Elite in the 80's that got me hooked on PC video games and 30 years later I've got a slightly faster computer ;p
I suppose we'll be playing Elite long before SC is even released, so I don't really think they'll compete much in terms of box sales. Surely someone interested in the genre wouldn't want to be missing out on either game.
Originally posted by darker70 Easy answer Both !!! and throw in Limit Theory for good measure gotta love Kickstarter.
Yup, I pledged for both. I don't understand those folks who have decided to ignore the other game completely because the one they chose will the best space game ever of all time.
Originally posted by goldtoof Well there's a strong possibility valkarie will be a console exclusive.
They can't be that stupid again...
Yes, CCP really has become that stupid. Somehow, they lost the plot back in 2008.
In my opinion, the Chairman of CCP changed from being a gamer / programmer to somebody who was just doing his job for the money. That would explain an awful lot.
SC will be more involving initially because of the single player game - it will be just like starring in your own film, like the old Star Wars films and the Milenium Falcon.
ED will have the better 'bread and butter' dogfighting because of the 3D 'holographic' display on the dashboard. Nothing has ever beaten this system. This could be part of the reason why SC had its public alpha delayed.
ED will play amazingly for the first few months, but then the computer-generated world will become boring and predictable - just like MineCraft.
ED will try to be revived with new expansions, but this won't be enough to overcome the boring computer generated universe (which will be far bigger than any expansion - expansions will just be downed out by sameness).
SC will continue to be interesting for as long as people develop mods for it and they are added into the game.
I predict a long, slow and painful death for CCP as the company is crushed between ED and SC. However, the Chairman of CCP will sell CCP, without notice, to a company like Sony in an emotionally detached manner - which will really put the 'status quo'-loving Eve fanboys in their place
The most rational and logical response from any space sim fan is "Both".
At least this OP didn't use the usual "apple and orange" comparison of the more than 10years EVE, with the pre pre alpha SC.
Fully supporting STAR CITIZEN by the Legendary Grandmaster of the Space Game Genre, Chris Roberts.For Captain Eisen's memory.....For Squadron 42...For the Space Genre....For the PC....I pledge! Star Citizen TOG Star Citizen-Join Us
If both games are looking good support both in their development. If you are wait and see kind of person, if both game review well at release by both.
Like if you were murder mystery fan would you walk into a book shop, ask the clerk what is the single best murder mystery, by and read only that one book ever?
Seriously given the cost of a computer to run them on, it's not like videogames are so expensive you can only afford to by one ever. To goal is to build a library of good games and if you a space sim fan it's looking very much like both are worth your money.
Comments
Elite: Dangerous is self-published by FD, don't mix usual investors with publishers. For publisher titles we don't know exactly how big money is spent on anything, because frankly they don't openly say or admit losses. Big chunk of big AAA games are usually from licensing and marketing, true, but it doesn't mean they are majority.
Also this measurement with how much money is put into development of the game is flawed. "Don't Starve" is just amazing game, and it's development cost fraction of even ED budget. That's not what makes game worthy to buy and play.
I think there is only one reasonable answer to the OP's post: Both!
Both games show incredible promise and yet they are quite different. They are not subscription based wich means you should be able to play them both.
I did back SC so far and did not back ED's kickstarter. I did so because SC was well presented and one of the most professional kickstarter campaigns i have seen. I was convinced that these guys will pull it off one way or another.
ED did not convince me enough at that point but i swore myself to keep my eyes on it. At this point i am quite convinced that ED will end up being an incredible game and i will pick it up for sure.
I also didnt back ED because it allready passed the point of being funded. So I figured ill chip in at release.
Still , i have vague feeling it will be even better than SC.
But only one of them is just that - a promise, a hype train of absurd proportions.
First PC Game: Pool of Radiance July 10th, 1990. First MMO: Everquest April 23, 1999
Don't forget the $11m Frontier raised from selling a minority stake in the company and the $11m of their cash reserves Frontier have committed. Also the fact that Frontier have developed their own custom in house engine over the years with the aim of producing Elite, the fact they have a fully staffed studio and established location. The budgets between the two are not so dissimilar.
A larger budget probably does mean more marketing, and more art.
"The simple is the seal of the true and beauty is the splendor of truth" -Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
Authored 139 missions in Vendetta Online and 6 tracks in Distance
Alpha of ELITE Dangerous is already more polished then most full versions of most games these days. I really hope SC is not just a over hype with fancy art work. I realized they are making too many promises to the community. Anyone can make fancy art work and sell ships. I only hope they can delivery and keep their words. Good luck to both games.
Elite Dangerous Alpha 2.0 Starts like tomorrow or something.
Yes, that will the multiplayer dogfighting module of the alpha. I am having some serious Alpha envy as a gamma level customer.
Some great Elite: Dangerous MP video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvl7uaR1sfI
That video is pretty impressive! The game play looks great.
I've supported and will play both games. I personally couldn't wait over a year for SC while while another space sim was out especially one called Elite! It was Elite in the 80's that got me hooked on PC video games and 30 years later I've got a slightly faster computer ;p
Elite: Dangerous looks to be great with the OR as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0UDLF-4uX0
I suppose we'll be playing Elite long before SC is even released, so I don't really think they'll compete much in terms of box sales. Surely someone interested in the genre wouldn't want to be missing out on either game.
Yup, I pledged for both. I don't understand those folks who have decided to ignore the other game completely because the one they chose will the best space game ever of all time.
Yes, CCP really has become that stupid. Somehow, they lost the plot back in 2008.
In my opinion, the Chairman of CCP changed from being a gamer / programmer to somebody who was just doing his job for the money. That would explain an awful lot.
SC will be more involving initially because of the single player game - it will be just like starring in your own film, like the old Star Wars films and the Milenium Falcon.
ED will have the better 'bread and butter' dogfighting because of the 3D 'holographic' display on the dashboard. Nothing has ever beaten this system. This could be part of the reason why SC had its public alpha delayed.
ED will play amazingly for the first few months, but then the computer-generated world will become boring and predictable - just like MineCraft.
ED will try to be revived with new expansions, but this won't be enough to overcome the boring computer generated universe (which will be far bigger than any expansion - expansions will just be downed out by sameness).
SC will continue to be interesting for as long as people develop mods for it and they are added into the game.
I predict a long, slow and painful death for CCP as the company is crushed between ED and SC. However, the Chairman of CCP will sell CCP, without notice, to a company like Sony in an emotionally detached manner - which will really put the 'status quo'-loving Eve fanboys in their place
Elite: Dangerous isn't boring computer generated, I suggest you read the FAQ
I agree with you. I've changed my mind - I'm now financially backing both Elite: Dangerous and Star Citizen.
I'm still a cynic - I doubt they will be perfect, but I'm fed up with big corporations copying successful ideas.
Eve Valkyrie could be good, but CCP's modular approach to gaming is ultimately restricting.
I'm still a cynic - I doubt they will be perfect, but I'm fed up with big corporations copying successful ideas.
Eve Valkyrie could be good, but CCP's modular approach to gaming is ultimately restricting.
Elite Dangerous is where the real stuff is. People remembering David Braben knows
It is a pity that ED isn't getting much attention but that is what happens when you are talented but lack business skills
Elite Dangerous looks very...average to me. Which makes me sad. (I just watched the alpha multiplayer footage).
I hope when the whole package comes together it will be better.
Isn't Valkyrie just a lobby-based multiplayer flick? If that's true I don't see how it will have any chance with sim nuts over SC and ED.
I'm now really, really excited about Elite: Dangerous. I can't remember being so excited about a game before.
There is something very poetic about David Braben starting the whole space sim genre, and coming back decades later with something amazing.
I'm already bought Elite: Dangerous (£35 + £35 for ongoing expansions as well), Star Citizen (£25), I'll be buying Valkyrie, Oculus Rift when it comes out, and something like the Saitek X52 Hotas Flight Controller System Joystick: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saitek-Flight-Controller-System-Joystick/dp/B00030GSJY/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1393066989&sr=8-11&keywords=joystick
I already bought a Saitek X52 Pro. Just waiting for the games now!
The most rational and logical response from any space sim fan is "Both".
At least this OP didn't use the usual "apple and orange" comparison of the more than 10years EVE, with the pre pre alpha SC.
Fully supporting STAR CITIZEN by the Legendary Grandmaster of the Space Game Genre, Chris Roberts.For Captain Eisen's memory.....For Squadron 42...For the Space Genre....For the PC....I pledge!
Star Citizen
TOG Star Citizen-Join Us
Yep Both.
If both games are looking good support both in their development. If you are wait and see kind of person, if both game review well at release by both.
Like if you were murder mystery fan would you walk into a book shop, ask the clerk what is the single best murder mystery, by and read only that one book ever?
Seriously given the cost of a computer to run them on, it's not like videogames are so expensive you can only afford to by one ever. To goal is to build a library of good games and if you a space sim fan it's looking very much like both are worth your money.