Thursday last week was a sad one for thousands of people across the world, as news of famed author Terry Pratchett made its way around the internet. The author of fantasy classics set in the Discworld was an inspiration for many other modern writers, including some of the guys behind the expansive space sim, Elite: Dangerous. And what better way to show their respect than an immortal tribute in-game?
With very little fanfare surrounding it, Frontier Developments has launched their own Terry Pratchett tribute within Elite: Dangerous. Players can now visit the aply named “Pratchett’s Disc” starport, which will remain in the game forever. The starport, sadly, is not on the back of a massive space turtle.
Frontier added the tribute as part of their 1.2.05 update, which went live last night. Speaking to the guys at Eurogamer, Frontier expressed their love for Pratchett’s work, and credited it with some of the inspirations for the game. They felt a small tribute to the late author was the best way to show their respect for him, as well as reflect the sentiment of their players.
“At Frontier we have a great many Pratchett fans on staff and we were all saddened to learn of his passing. The sentiment was reflected by our community so we felt it would be right to remember him in Elite: Dangerous.
If you manage to get yourself to the Pratchett’s Disc starport, but sure to have some fitting music playing in the background – and try hold back the tears.
Last Updated: March 19, 2015
Kensei Seraph
March 19, 2015 at 13:09
I want there to be a restaurant in that station called “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe” in honour of Douglas Adams.
Whoever decided men must not cry was a bastard.
RinceThis
March 19, 2015 at 13:15
Pratchett is sitting With Adams at the End of the Universe having a good time 🙂
Sageville
March 19, 2015 at 13:15
Sigh
Brady miaau
March 19, 2015 at 13:18
Milliways? Adams was funny, but he lacked the consistency of Pratchett, for sure.
Kensei Seraph
March 19, 2015 at 14:35
I knew it had a proper name but I couldn’t remember what it was called.
Pariah
March 19, 2015 at 13:21
http://i.imgur.com/gytCGgu.jpg
Brady miaau
March 19, 2015 at 13:17
I am now even more determined to get this when it comes to Xbox One.
Good on them
Chaos Lord Norm
March 19, 2015 at 13:25
Massive respect!
ReaperOfSquirrels
March 19, 2015 at 13:26
Would have been awesome if they recreated Discworld in the game.
Pariah
March 19, 2015 at 13:32
THAT would be amazing. I’d buy the game just for that. Get to Discworld, and never leave. EVER!
Dutch Matrix
March 19, 2015 at 14:36
You know what? It is such a fond wish of mine that they make Discworld into a Skyrim-esque game, open Discworld to explore, factions to join (witches, barbarians, wizards etc), visiting Ankh-Morpork, meeting the Patrician. Tea at Granny Weatherwax’s…
And of course, when you die, you get to meet the Grim Reaper himself as he ushers you into the heaven of your faction.
Pariah
March 19, 2015 at 15:03
I’d love to see them play with the death theme present in the novels. Imagine dying, you then meet death, and there’s like a mini-game involved there. Would be so awesome.
Or a quest line regarding the postal service?
The possibilities…
Pariah
March 19, 2015 at 15:03
I’d love to see them play with the death theme present in the novels. Imagine dying, you then meet death, and there’s like a mini-game involved there. Would be so awesome.
Or a quest line regarding the postal service?
The possibilities…
Loftus
March 19, 2015 at 13:49
You might not be far off with that one, Rhianna Pratchett (Sir Terry daughter) did some of the writing, if not all of it for Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Let’s drink some re-annual wine and find out!
Loftus
March 19, 2015 at 14:04
Just searched her, she did write Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider, so she is well versed in gaming
BacchusZA
March 19, 2015 at 16:52
That would have been pretty cool, but it would have clashed with the “real where we know, science based procedural generation for the rest” way the game has been built, so it wasn’t going to happen. I was kind of hoping for a unique station design of some sort, something that spoke more to a disc than the stations already in game do, but that’s not something you throw together in a few days, sadly
I’m definitely planning on making a pilgrimage here though, and also to the Leonard Nimoy Station, sometime in the next few weeks, to raise a glass to these two men who provided us such great entertainment over the course of many years.
Dutch Matrix
March 19, 2015 at 14:27
I still get emotional thinking of Sir Terry…
Johann
March 20, 2015 at 09:45
Now I will definitely get this. Just sad it’s going to be a while before it’s released on Xbox One