Game options for single player

[KING5TON]

No. I have no way of knowing the answer to that question, and neither does anyone else. Only time will tell.

Yes we do, using you're beloved statistics.
72% of gamers play online.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-02-72-percent-of-gamers-play-online-npd


We also can see from an E: D poll that 219 people polled will play MP in some form while 129 will play single player. So of just E: D backers 62% will be playing mutliplayer as of february. I bet there's been some people migrating to some form of MP since then.

 

[noodle]

Yes we do, using you're beloved statistics.
72% of gamers play online.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-02-72-percent-of-gamers-play-online-npd

Arguably that's because MP is becoming more prevalent, as developers realise that it's a lot easier that writing compelling SP campaigns. None of this means that people don't want to play SP games.

 

[Oss133]

Yes we do, using you're beloved statistics.
72% of gamers play online.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-02-72-percent-of-gamers-play-online-npd

But that poll refers to online rather than multiplayer. It also includes mobile devices which I doubt means multiplayer games. Candy Crush and Farmville are "online".

I suspect I will enjoy multiplayer encounters less in E: D than others will, because that is the kind of player I am. I will not be surprised if I end up in SP online mode. This will still push the 72% up slightly even though I am flying alone.

I have been reading about multiplayer games being the future for the last 10 years but that does not really matter a jot.

Cinema has not replaced the Theatre.

Films have not replaced books.

Games have not replaced Television.

 

[KING5TON]

Arguably that's because MP is becoming more prevalent, as developers realise that it's a lot easier that writing compelling SP campaigns. None of this means that people don't want to play SP games.

I'd say they're more prevalent because that's what people want to play rather than devs being lazy.
Games are more fun if you can play with other people.
If a game has a single player element and a co-op multiplayer element that's the same as single player (e.g. borderlands, saints row etc..) then myself and most of the other gamers I know prefer to play co-op rather than singleplayer. It's just more fun IMO.

I agree that people want to play single player games, not arguing that. I like single player games and do play them.
9 times out of ten though I'd prefer it if there was also a co-op mode.

 

[KING5TON]

But that poll refers to online rather than multiplayer. It also includes mobile devices which I doubt means multiplayer games. Candy Crush and Farmville are "online".

I suspect I will enjoy multiplayer encounters less in E: D than others will, because that is the kind of player I am. I will not be surprised if I end up in SP online mode. This will still push the 72% up slightly even though I am flying alone.

I have been reading about multiplayer games being the future for the last 10 years but that does not really matter a jot.

Cinema has not replaced the Theatre.

Films have not replaced books.

Games have not replaced Television.

So you're just going to ignore the E: D poll that shows 62% are going for some form of Multiplayer?

Given the choice of the same game in multiplayer as singleplayer more people will choose mutiplayer as proven by that poll.

The poll was from February so we didn't know much about the game then as we do know. I'd be interesting to see the results now as I've seen many people post that they're since changed their minds and will now play MP in some form compared to zero people (from memory, there may be some) moving from MP to SP.

 

[The Space Pirate]

Arguably that's because MP is becoming more prevalent, as developers realise that it's a lot easier that writing compelling SP campaigns. None of this means that people don't want to play SP games.

As long as they don't use that as an excuse not to work hard on the AI. Left for Dead 2 for example - an online focused game, but with pure garbage for AI - the rest of your team haven't a clue. L4D/L4D2 are both mind numbingly boring singleplayer.

 

[OillyRag]

Yes we do, using you're beloved statistics.
72% of gamers play online.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-05-02-72-percent-of-gamers-play-online-npd

I took a poll today:
In my household only 25% are gamers and out of the other 75%, 33% would prefer whiskers but then she is a cat

Psst: statistics are the tools of politicians & advertisers; don't trust them.

 

[Shishakli]

Games are more fun if you can play with other people.

While I've found this to be true, I've found the complete opposite to be also just as true.

EDIT: No idea what the debate is here... We know what Elite: Dangerous will have and that's not changing anytime soon.

 

[JeffRyan]

I want to play with Psykokow and Mobius.

 

[Barns]

EDIT: No idea what the debate is here... We know what Elite: Dangerous will have and that's not changing anytime soon.

True enough. It is interesting speculating about some of the slightly under-defined points though, like exactly "how" evolving the single player offline mode will be. The point about NPC actions causing evolution got me thinking for example. FD have gone on about player actions feeding the underling sim, but what about NPCs? Do all those NPC traders have no effect? Similarly the question of "pausing" the galaxy; when online this obviously won't happen, but I hadn't thought about the offline mode in this regard before. It makes it more tempting, to be honest, to at least have an alt commander in there.

 

[ste]

I think I will spend the majority of my time in sp, but how I sort of saw it was you could jump in and out of multiplayer.

Play SP, build up your ship, cruise around in mp and then get back to sp.

Kind of like burnout.

I would also be happy if you could have 2 seperate games going, 1 a 100% sp and 1 100% MP where you can not play offline to build up your ship and then take it online.

But online is kind of like offline, as in the game stops where you left it for you. Nobody can steal your ship while your at work or anything. I assume anyway

 

[Gelbrock]

All these awesome topics... I just want to play the game

Its soooooo close now.


Its like one and a half thumb widths on my calender.... considering space is BIG.... one and a half thumb widths is nothing....


As of March both my one year old boy and 3 year old girl are upping their days at kindy and childcare..... to 3 days a week. Im the stay at home Dad


Coincidence.....?



You decide.


And to stay on topic. Single player for me.... at least to start with.

 

[Barns]

As of March both my one year old boy and 3 year old girl are upping their days at kindy and childcare..... to 3 days a week. Im the stay at home Dad

Me too! (dad-at-home). Great, isn't it? One is finally at school, the other only does 1 day a week at nursery so... Wednesdays will be ED-day Of course sod's law will make that server-maintenance day.

Edit: aaaand... I'm Dangerous! yay. Too much time on this forum.

 

[ste]

Is nobody a bit worried that march isnt that far away yet it seems they still dont know the exact date. Its only between 8 and 12 weeks.

Generally this info is made public as soon as possible so people can prepare for purchase and all that.

 

[Barns]

Is nobody a bit worried that march isnt that far away yet it seems they still dont know the exact date. Its only between 8 and 12 weeks.

Generally this info is made public as soon as possible so people can prepare for purchase and all that.

Me, I think March is unlikely. I know that opinion is unpopular though But really, we've only had an initial alpha release, there's tonnes more functionality to be implemented and tested, so I wouldn't expect a more concrete release timetable for a while yet. Summary - my recommendation - don't book a holiday to play a finished ED in March, just yet!

 

[Shishakli]

Is nobody a bit worried that march isnt that far away yet it seems they still dont know the exact date. Its only between 8 and 12 weeks.

Generally this info is made public as soon as possible so people can prepare for purchase and all that.

Generally this info is wrong and games get released either when they're done, or before they're done.

Fingers crossed they're on schedule, but I wouldn't put any money on it. (Actually I might put a LITTLE money on it )

 

[ste]

Generally this info is wrong and games get released either when they're done, or before they're done.

Fingers crossed they're on schedule, but I wouldn't put any money on it. (Actually I might put a LITTLE money on it )

I'm not going to say the game isnt pretty much ready.. it could be, most of it is probably finished.. It seems like its all going to be a bit short notice.

But in the same way you would think they would know by now if it needs delaying..

They most be pretty close but not confident enough to be exact.

I have faith they will do whats best for the game.. which really after some games I played this year like the rushed simcity and the rushed Battlefield will be a nice change despite how how impatient we all might get.

And I guess they arent wasting time with marketing and whatever.. let the game do the talking not the salesman.

 

[-o-]

As mentioned earlier, in a SP offline game, I think you can continue from where you left off after you have not played the game. This is effectively pausing the game till you are ready to play it again.

The only other option to this I can see is the client recognising the time gap between sessions, and performing a rescync just before you entered the game world - each time. Even if that unlikely resync were to take place, it will still need to work from that frozen timestamp when you ended your last session.

All this should mean that a pause feature in SP offline must occur, which in turn begs the question, why can't it also happen during a session. I think the pause option will be there in offline mode. At least that is ONE advantage the offline client has over its online sister.

So let's look at some other offline advantages...

- no need to worry about instancing. That is, what you see is actually what exists in that space, not also hidden away in another instanced space due to technical restrictions.

- no need to deal with idiotic real players. Yes, I know there is a grouping function that somewhat deals with this, but see the previous point.

- ability to possibly mod the game to your liking. Unable to do this in online. For those familiar with mods, this could be a HUGE advantage.

.. anyone think of any other advantages?

 

[Styggron]

The thing is, people just don't want to play alone anymore....

yeah we do.

 

[Doctor_Demento]

OK first of all I think they may well be on time with the game release. BUT if they aren't I won't freak out. I waited this many years, if I have to wait another month, OK.

Second I prefer single player games now after 19 years of gaming online I'm tired of rude, griefing, nasty people. I still play MMO's but just log out if they get out of hand. So I'm VERY selective with online games I do now.

Last of all I love the idea of being able to play single player online and multiplayer online and MMO style online. I'll try the MMO style and see how it goes. I like PVP I just don't like griefing. Also if I have to create one character for single player online and a different one for the multiplayer/MMO online game, I'm OK with that. I might even prefer it.

So bottom line, it's all good.