This is a funny one. I am reminded of Elite Dangerous and how such an amazing game, concept and game loop (mostly) is top tier and exactly what I was looking for. The
only way to play it properly or in any way usefully is to use third party tools.
For example, markets statistics to see live market information in game for trading, you have to use a user created website.
Want to see what components will get your ship in the configuration you want ?
Third party tool.
Want to plan a nice scenic route somewhere with some interesting/valuable finds on the way ? Third party tool.
Want to go mining and be in anyway profitable, maybe looking for a particular resource, you guessed it, only through a third party tool.
On one hand this has brought the community much closer together as the tools for that in game don't exists. But it's ridiculous that core gameplay loops depend on user created tools.
For example, markets statistics to see live market information in game for trading, you have to use a user created website.
Want to see what components will get your ship in the configuration you want ? Third party tool.
Want to plan a nice scenic route somewhere with some interesting/valuable finds on the way ? Third party tool.
Want to go mining and be in anyway profitable, maybe looking for a particular resource, you guessed it, only through a third party tool.
On one hand this has brought the community much closer together as the tools for that in game don't exists. But it's ridiculous that core gameplay loops depend on user created tools.