No Single Player Offline Mode then? [Part 2]

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I believe NPC combat will be locally instanced in the same way that player vs player combat will be peer-2-peer instanced...so no lag

that has been my experience so far ... in space on my own the npcs behave normally, but with other players they warp about somewhat (being grouped with peeps across the world when i am on the eqvalent of dial up :D)
 
You were not lied to. You misunderstood how KS works, and possibly what a physical DRM on a disc means.

Do a little search for the word "Physical" on the KS page and look at what you find.

Like many other kickstarts, the ED one tagged with the word "physical" any rewards that would require real world delivery. Which is why you will see among the optional rewards things like "physical CD", "physical paperback copy", "physical hardback copy", and "physical 3D model". Thus, a "Physical DRM-free boxed edition" means a real world boxed edition that is DRM-free, rather than a boxed edition that does not have a physical DRM.

Besides, trying to use the meanings the way you point in order to weasel out of the promise of being DRM-free is the kind of behavior that easily makes me stop dealing with a company. And in some places of the world it alone might be considered fraud if intentional.

BTW, if you think about lies of omission, then those backers that trusted the promise of an offline mode were lied to anyway. While Frontier promised an offline mode, they only intended to deliver it if they could create it without sacrificing their artistic vision for the connected game. But they never explained that last part.

It might have been unintentional, of course, but how they dealt with it going forward, letting it simmer hidden until it all exploded last week, was certainly an error.
 
I honestly do sympathise, but I followed the KS with a keen eye from the start, and all the development. It's clear Frontier thought they could provide an acceptable single player build, but the key is it was never in the KS rewards or goals. The "physical DRM free disc" seems to have been misunderstood by many, but it also didn't mean a "DRM-free version of the game"

It's very unfortunate, but it's not deliberate. I get that people got upset and disapointed, and that Frontier hadn't realised how strongly some people felt about the off-line version. The reason I kept reading and posting in these threads is that Frontier and David and Michael were attacked as liers, where the actual case was one of misunderstanding and a mis-estimate of the cost and scope of the bonus feature they attempted to squeeze in.

Peace,

-Adept the Finn
If this wasn't a well constructed and polite reply, then nothing is.

Even if you seem to miss the point I tried to make. :)

I meant that maybe the fellow you claimed to not understand Kickstarter, maybe he didn't even look at the Kickstarter? You know, someone says "E: D is great", he finds the store & forums, search on forums nets him mr Brookes' answer "Offline is in the game" - yay - $/€/£ change owner - come last friday -> big disappointment -> frustration, anger.

I don't say that what I just described is how it happened, I merely advocate giving him the benefit of the doubt. :)

As you said, peace.

Cheers,
Z
 
Wages are immutable as are other overheads, all good businesses have them well covered. The simple point is that FD have been bleating that all this fuss is being raised by a tiny minority.

Well if it's a TINY minority two things stand out likes dogs b@alls

1. A TINY minority represents a pinprick of refund dollars to a $3.75 M organization
2. IF that miniscule amount is the difference between make or break or even decent profitability then that company is run by chimpanzees.

I haven't seen FD once say that this issue was being raised by a tiny minority. Although looking at the KS progress it certainly WAS a minority to some extent being less than half the userbase.

I believe the quote about a 'tiny minority' to which you pertain was regarding personal threats directed at Michael Brookes...
 
That is appreciated - what should remain are the fans who want this game to succeed and like myself probably cant wait for the 16th.

cant rep you again so soon - need to spread it around, so good show sir.

Mr Brabens comment is appreciated, and if offered the refund I will with some sadness take it.

I do not want this to fail for those that remain, I hope it brings them all a lot of enjoyment.
 
Now here's where I get really petty:

I don't want a refund. I'm not applying for a refund, and I'm certainly not going away.
I want an offline mode...

no you are not being petty! I'm in exactly the same place, with exactly the same thinking.

David and Michael both explicitly said there would be an offline game! the fact that they have failed to deliver on that is no fault of yours, ignore the white knights / sycophants attempts to portray us as the flamers!

for me this isn't about destroying Frontier Developments, nor about killing/boycotting ED: online, just about delivering what was promised!
 
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I believe NPC combat will be locally instanced in the same way that player vs player combat will be peer-2-peer instanced...so no lag

Fantastic! I thought the same but wanted more opinions. If I could bother you further, about multiplayer p2p. Let's say that there are 2 peers in an instance. One becomes the server, handling the AI and transmitting the info to the other peer? Or if you have a link to technical discussions about this, just point me to that. Thanks!
 
"Yes, the game code will not include DRM (Digital Rights Management), but there will be server authentication when you connect for multiplayer and/or updates and to synchronise with the server."

So no DRM in the game code but still server authentication...https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous (FAQ at the bottom)
I guess if the lead dev thought it was possible then they might know what with their experience of coding and such like ^^

Connect to play multiplayer - sounds legit
Connect to synch with server - Sounds like ME/Torchlight etc. who synch with the server when they can or when you tell them to - but no server connection is required.


Contrast with Online Solo Play -
1) Login - game phones home
2) play game
3) system constantly talks to server asking if login is still valid and pushing and pulling data constantly
4) Lose connection - Get booted


Contrast with how other games with the "not always connected" work it (These games have DRM btw, just not 'always on' DRM)
1) Start game
2) Get message that you are in offline mode and cannot connect to server
3) Play anyway.
OR
1) Start Game
2) Lose connection
3) Keep playing

It was not so hard to believe that the Big Gigantic Server out there was going to be available only when you wanted it.

Shroud of the Avatar has advertised the same setup - And is keeping people updated on the status of offline play and what they are doing about making sure it is still possible.
 
Answer to your Q: No

As to why: Same could be said for you ... Why do you feel the need to continue to bash them ?

The internet is hammering FD right now and perhaps deserved. They have said they are willing to open a dialogue which is the result people want - time now to give them a chance .. Part of my mistake when I exploded on the forums was listening to people constantly going on and on about the issue and it wound me up - rather than take action, I reacted to the situation.

Now I am a lot calmer and prefer to ACT than react.

Constantly bashing them (FD) right now serves no purpose other than to make yourself feel/look good.

Give them some time.

If it turns out to be empty words I will join you in the crusade ...

I got nothing! :)
 
Question to the folks reading this, that I can't find answered anywhere:

In solo mode, is NPC AI handled locally or at the server level?

That is basically why I wanted offline mode, so I could play as lag free as possible.

From their description of "solo", it looks to be server-side.

I say this because of their insistence on a shared global event stream. Why should they trust your client to tell them that you just killed pirate X if they can't trust your client to make market calculations? They have to know that pirate X actually exists. The only way to know that is if they tell your client that it exists.
 
From their description of "solo", it looks to be server-side.

I say this because of their insistence on a shared global event stream. Why should they trust your client to tell them that you just killed pirate X if they can't trust your client to make market calculations? They have to know that pirate X actually exists. The only way to know that is if they tell your client that it exists.

So you don't actually know then?

All NPCs look to be instanced locally to me. There is no lag and sometimes you get the same NPC reappearing even after you have killed him....
 
From their description of "solo", it looks to be server-side.

I say this because of their insistence on a shared global event stream. Why should they trust your client to tell them that you just killed pirate X if they can't trust your client to make market calculations? They have to know that pirate X actually exists. The only way to know that is if they tell your client that it exists.


That sounds like an MMO and that is emphatically not a 'light' connection.
 
Question to the folks reading this, that I can't find answered anywhere:

In solo mode, is NPC AI handled locally or at the server level?

That is basically why I wanted offline mode, so I could play as lag free as possible.
Locally. Solo mode has always been smooth for me, even in the most terrible patch iterations when Open was just not an option.
 
I got nothing! :)

Have you read this, posted earlier today?

Hi All,

I want to keep you all updated.

We initially declined some people's request for refund as our records showed they have already played Elite: Dangerous online. After listening to many of the comments I received after my AMA here, we have since re-opened these requests and informed those people that we will be contacting them so that we can fully understand their individual situation before making a more informed decision.

We will be contacting them each in the next few working days.

Thanks,

David
 
FDs made a mistake - being part of the DDF I can see how it came about based in part on feedback from us. We were very concerned with hacking, cheating, and other such things, and the ony way in which to protect against it was to move functions server side : common practise. I guess they got carried away and forgot about offline mode (as that was never their vision) until it was too late.

However, they are working on it.

Yes they made a promise, didnt expect the reaction they got, around the internet they're paying for it, and in time things will be OK again. From the sounds of your posts however I dont think even that will be enough for you.

Not that I'm judging yiou or picking you up. It's all lost for us now anyway, but during that time on DDF... didn't you ever, ever thought about the vast majority of people outside of forum and what they might want? Cause as it sounds now, and I now this may sound inpolite and rude (not my intention to attack you), you used funds from all the backers to pursue your private wishes and priorities, in the closed sessions with FDs, without stoping and thinking that - hey, maybe we shoul'd leave that for all the folks that might not like our idea and they are not discussing or are not even on the forum?! Yes, you got carried away and now we pay the price.

Anyway, I hope the majority of comunity will enjoy the game!
 
Connect to play multiplayer - sounds legit
Connect to synch with server - Sounds like ME/Torchlight etc. who synch with the server when they can or when you tell them to - but no server connection is required.


Contrast with Online Solo Play -
1) Login - game phones home
2) play game
3) system constantly talks to server asking if login is still valid and pushing and pulling data constantly
4) Lose connection - Get booted


Contrast with how other games with the "not always connected" work it (These games have DRM btw, just not 'always on' DRM)
1) Start game
2) Get message that you are in offline mode and cannot connect to server
3) Play anyway.
OR
1) Start Game
2) Lose connection
3) Keep playing

It was not so hard to believe that the Big Gigantic Server out there was going to be available only when you wanted it.

Shroud of the Avatar has advertised the same setup - And is keeping people updated on the status of offline play and what they are doing about making sure it is still possible.

The physical copy of the game will contain no DRM in its code...so the KS reward is still completely feasible which is what seems to be the question? Basically people looking for other options to pursue refunds with some legal backup in black and white.
 
I haven't seen FD once say that this issue was being raised by a tiny minority. Although looking at the KS progress it certainly WAS a minority to some extent being less than half the userbase.

I believe the quote about a 'tiny minority' to which you pertain was regarding personal threats directed at Michael Brookes...
I repeat

A tiny minority can be accomodated

FD have already admitted fault in failure to communicate the inability to implement offline

They may be able to get off the hook by legal eagle

But apart from fan boys the rest of the kickstarter universe will see them for the corporate creeps they are.
 
Sorry if this has already been asked. Come Nov 22 or when ever the next wipe is. What versions will there be? If I understand correctly the previous solo meant offline. Going forward in live release or whenever, we all will be online mode only with everyone together ?

No, it's only solo offline that's been axed.

You'll still be able to play solo online, which features a shared galaxy but you won't see any other players. The shared galaxy means that you'll have a more dynamic world to play in than you ever would have if you played solo offline. The only bandwidth solo online will use is to pull market prices, system data and other game-world related stuff. You won't need anything like the bandwidth required by those who will be playing in full multiplayer modes.
 
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