Looks like I won't be around much either. Offline mode is a must for me, as my internet connection is crap. It's one thing to connect, and download a game, but a required connection to play won't work. Sigh...
"The above is the intended single player experience. However it will be possible to have a single player game without connecting to the galaxy server. You won't get the features of the evolving galaxy (although we will investigate minimising those differences) and you probably won't be able to sync between server and non-server (again we'll investigate)."
From the Kickstarter FAQ:
I can live with that my Galaxy will be static and that I can not sync with anyone else.
But this FAQ point was what made me back this project.
I have been severely burned in the past by games that force someone to get online even if only once in a while. If they do not make this game playable singleplayer only, I would consider this a failed project and I would want my money back!
This was a clear and promised feature.
Now, the statement from the newsletter still leaves some loopholes open for interpretation, so I won't say something like "fraud".
Yet.
I'm sitting her pondering whether I want a refund. I pledged for a game I'd be able to play if FD ever went bust. Now I'm not getting that game. This was a major factor when I decided to become a backer.
If Frontier don't make the game available with a true off-line solo mode, then they're deliberately breaking the promises they made during their ks campaign - and lot of backers will be royally ticked off - including me.
yes, i backed this game - but i am not going to support a on-line-only or massive multiplayer on-line game. I expect Frontier to make the game both true off-line and on-line capable - else I'm going to bail and attempt to get a refund for this.
Yes, I bought the game for a large part on the prospect of off-line play. Luckily, I play a lot of games so when I get in the situation that I can't play my game because of ISP-troubles, or server downtime at any point where I feel like playing and that happens often enough, I'll eventually discard the game and move on. The money is gone, I've spent it and it's no use crying over spilled milk.
But will I recommend Elite to my friends? No. Because none of my gaming buddies like always online games. (Not even talking about Early Access Games. That's why I'm on my lonesome here, lol) Now Elite's recommendation is "Forget it. It's always online.".
Even what they added after the start is still a clear promise of an totally offline game if I want to."Update! The above is the intended single player experience. However it will be possible to have a single player game without connecting to the galaxy server. You won't get the features of the evolving galaxy (although we will investigate minimising those differences) and you probably won't be able to sync between server and non-server (again we'll investigate)."
I'm guessing this part is what you are talking about. It looks like it was added after the start.
No off-line singleplayer... well that sucks. Makes you wonder if Frontier has noticed the constant backlash that always on-line games catch? They better have the servers to handle it, because I expect devs who force always online to have pretty stable servers that allow me to play my game whenever I want to.
Yes.
Color me crazy, but I feel that Frontier has now taken it upon themselves to make sure that the servers are online and accessible all of the time, everytime. Without fail.
How will single player work? Will I need to connect to a server to play?
The galaxy for Elite: Dangerous is a shared universe maintained by a central server. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players. This includes the galaxy itself as well as transient information like economies. The aim here is that a player's actions will influence the development of the galaxy, without necessarily having to play multiplayer.
The other important aspect for us is that we can seed the galaxy with events, often these events will be triggered by player actions. With a living breathing galaxy players can discover new and interesting things long after they have started playing.
Update! The above is the intended single player experience. However it will be possible to have a single player game without connecting to the galaxy server. You won't get the features of the evolving galaxy (although we will investigate minimising those differences) and you probably won't be able to sync between server and non-server (again we'll investigate).
I will not write my concerns there because I do not share almost all of the concerns that were given there.post also here your concerns: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=58048 we must put in the mind of frontier Dev that we are not satisfied!
Yeah having the servers up 24/7 is a big ask for a game which has such limited MP aspects. Its a shame because I was hoping for SP Off-Line as a way to overcome all the graphical stuttering issues which have plagued my experience since day one. Still its DBs game and he clearly has his heart set on the online only model now.
To me, it is very important.But then again, in this day and age... is it really that important?
In the sense that a number of us backed with a lot of money on the basis that the game would be playable if the servers were ever shut down, then yes. If we were talking about a game I'd picked up for £20, then no. The off-line mode was an incentive for many of us to pledge high."A fully offline experience would be unacceptably limited and static compared to the dynamic, ever unfolding experience we are delivering."
Does imply a lack of offline play, to put it mildly.
But then again, in this day and age... is it really that important?
I wonder how it can be that developers are so completely blind to the landscape. They all get that weird kind of tunnelvision when Multiplayer comes into play and really by now, the only people who think that always online is a good idea are developers. EA saw three games in a row go under because of always online. Blizzard had their Korea offices sacked by angry korean gamers!
So here we have Frontier Development going, "You know what's a great idea? ALWAYS ONLINE!!" *Popping the corks of the champagnebottles*
Seriously... I don't get it.