Looks like MS has decided to the the Apple approach to pricing.

@billzihang: Well said.

@abram730I assume you're a late backer. SC was pitched as a return to old school space sims like Wing Commander and X-Wing. Chris Roberts actually used the term WWII in space in describing SC combat early on. The current physics model being used is crap. The G-forces pilots are being subject to would turn a human being into jelly. It's not at all realistic. The control (IM) and flight model are exactly like Freelancer, the game that killed space sims. Freelancer was a essentially a child's game where you could not even use a HOTAS or any other stick. It was only added later as a mod. Using IM in SC, you're able control 4 axis with a 2 axis controller. Hardly a space sim. The game plays like an FPS or turreting in space. All you need to do is move your reticle over your target on a screen and click. That's not piloting a ship, that's pointing and clicking. No thought into flight maneuvers, simply a click to kill mechanic that gets excruciatingly boring over time.

Elite has it right. They've nailed down a great flight model that allows thoughtful engagement with a HOTAS setup. Elite is most certainly not an arcade game, far from it. It has a deep flight model mechanic that's engrossing to play and takes some actual skill to master. You have full 6DOF, I use it all the time especially when docking. Those maneuvering thrusters are mapped to the throttle hat on the x52 pro. You can switch to uncoupled mode by turning flight assist off.

Using a HOTAS in a space sim is the right tool for the right job. Ever seen the cockpit of the space shuttle? No mouse in there. They use a joystick.

@notaniceman: SC combat is extremely boring and simplistic. There's no mass to any of the craft. They flit about like hummingbirds. You have no sense of flight whatsoever. It's a simple point and click interface designed for mice. It's not a true space sim, just an arcade shooter. In Elite your craft actually have mass and you have a true sense of flight. Using a HOTAS is a joy in Elite. In SC, it's a burden, something no true space sim would do.

For giving it a 6, it really looks like they're having a lot of fun playing.

EPIC!