No Single Player offline Mode then?

[Turjan]

I backed a game that was meant to be the next in the Elite series and it was going to be online (at last). I feel sorry for those that wanted to play in offline mode if they are going to have to connect online sometimes to authenticate their installation and update their game files but I certainly don't feel scammed or burned.

*sigh*

As has been stated countless times, starting with a post by Michael Brookes himself in fact, this is more than simply having to "connect online sometimes". Michael stated that even making a simple transaction at a station requires the player to be online because the transaction has to be authenticated by the server.

I don't blame you however - once again, I point the finger at FD for the misleading "time to time" comment in the newsletter, and the ongoing failure of communication they have in clearly setting the record straight.

If they can email everyone a newsletter, perhaps they might want to consider an email explaining their decision to scrap offline mode with an explanation of how the online mode requires continual transaction data from the player?

Just sayin'...

 

[littleminxundr]

Planetary Anihilation... so glad I got that on a deep discount. Say, I don't suppose you've a bag of popcorn spare? I feel like getting settled in for the weekend.

Hands off of my pop corn, buster!

 

[Zenicetus]

The storm is going to hit regardless now .. its too late to do anything about it as the 'mob' have now taken over, are in the process of making sure that every major gaming website has this news, and have started multiple threads on SonyGAF about it no doubt.

The damage has already been done, the mob will have their way which may well end up hurting ED and FD, which is counter productive to anyone who may want a proper offline version in the future.

We have seen it countless times over the last couple of years ... Pathetic..

The problem isn't the reaction, it's the poor handling of this situation by FD. As much as I like the game and want it to succeed, they didn't handle this well.

They either allowed development of an offline version to proceed way too late before announcing the news, or they knew it wouldn't work weeks or months ago, and allowed people to continue buying pre-orders anyway, based on features they knew wouldn't be in the game.

Choose which version you want, because after 37-odd posts by a developer in this thread, we still haven't heard what that timeline was between the decision and the announcement. It goes directly to the integrity of the company, and whether this was a last minute decision, or delayed news to boost pre-order sales.

This is the crux of the matter, and I think they need to say something about it by Monday, if not sooner. People will understand if this feature just wasn't possible (and I sure do). People will not forgive milking last minute sales if they knew this feature wouldn't be in the game.

The reason I'm concerned personally (because I do plan to play online) is about whether we can trust what FD says about future expansions they want to sell. We all expect minor goalposts to be moved before release. But taking money and then moving a major selling point is in a different category. Without a monthly access fee, they're depending hugely on expansion sales going forward. To maintain a stable cash flow they need to sell pre-orders, and that means they need the customer confidence that what they say they're selling is what actually arrives, after they've taken the money.

 

[jmga]

Why on earth would I want to be playing any game in 10 years time?

I will be playing BF8 by then.

Maybe because a good game remains good for ever? There are still CS 1.6 championships, but I assume you end selling, burning or throwing away all your games and replacing them with new ones.

 

[gravityztr]

The reason I'm concerned personally (because I do plan to play online)

the internet is great but we all depends on this whole internet to be able to do all stuffs we do. if there was no internet ATM for everyone let me say we would all get bored pretty quickly. Thats why a game offline is the major wonder we can have. no need of updating with patches and expansions for more contents. it would be nice if all the expansions they plans and all stuffs would be worked on before and then once all done and ready they could afford to release on CD. now that would have a really nice receipt for public ! ^.^ !

 

[ThatFuzzyTiger]

Hands off of my pop corn, buster!

But... *tigereyes* ... I make for a good furry sofa? 'sides, I get the sense this thread can only go places, great places

 

[Perramas]

I have always boycotted DRM and "Online Connection Required" games in the past, that hasn't changed. What has changed is the commitment of Offline gaming you stated from the very start. Will be seeking my premium beta refund amount if this decision isn't reversed in the very near future.

I dont mind having DRM and online verification of the games I buy. I mind having others influence my game. I dont want others changing the market or making discoveries in the game I am playing.

 

[alan]

I imagine nobody here bought an Xbox 1 when they were told it had to be online all the time?

 

[OriginalBadBoy]

The problem isn't the reaction, it's the poor handling of this situation by FD. As much as I like the game and want it to succeed, they didn't handle this well.

They either allowed development of an offline version to proceed way too late before announcing the news, or they knew it wouldn't work weeks or months ago, and allowed people to continue buying pre-orders anyway, based on features they knew wouldn't be in the game. .

Your not going to get any argument form me on that one .. if someone asks me the question 'how has FD handled this?', I will say 'badly', thats fair, indeed they do need to put a statement out.

However the reaction is very much the problem as the internet 'mob' will pick up on this and run with it (if they haven't already) so I don't agree in that regard as it is something to worry about. Most gaming websites these days are based on 'clickbaits' so they will run with the story regardless. Of course negative publicity could actually help the game get noticed even more, so there is that element, however FD are not big enough to weather a storm like that. It will hurt them, their investors and eventually Elite itself, nobody is a winner in that scenario.

 

[Steve50]

Why on earth would I want to be playing any game in 10 years time?

I will be playing BF8 by then.

Well for a crappy game like BF I can understand that but Elite is different.
30years on I still play the original BBC model B Elite and it's just as fun as it ever was. As is Frontier, unfortunately it's unlikely that people 30 years from now can play Elite Dangerous.

 

[OriginalBadBoy]

I imagine nobody here bought an Xbox 1 when they were told it had to be online all the time?

And there it is ... Thought that would come up eventually ... Didn't bother me in the slightest all they were trying to do is the same as Steam is currently doing.

 

[lollover]

I think what is very disappointing is that the community manager and or customer services/relations manager have not posted any thread relating to issues like this...... , I recognize the fact that at FD HQ they are all working very hard, especially now they have a release date to hit!. But lack of communications is a very bad no!. I am not after secrets, and I am very sure that next week on the 22nd all will be revealed , but some sort of clarifaction on aspects of the game would be nice and courteous to its customers, after all without us this amazing game would be just a wet dream to most. I have enjoyed my testing of this game and don`t want to be be negative... but lack of response is no good to anyone .....

 

[alan]

Well the fact everybody shouted about that ruined what would have been a good console

And there it is ... Thought that would come up eventually ... Didn't bother me in the slightest all they were trying to do is the same as Steam is currently doing.

 

[OriginalBadBoy]

Maybe because a good game remains good for ever? There are still CS 1.6 championships, but I assume you end selling, burning or throwing away all your games and replacing them with new ones.

Bad example considering CS runs on Steam, a platform that requires an internet connection, and a game that requires an active one at that (assuming you are not playing bots).

 

[Danelin]

I think it's quite simple. Frontier have the right to make the game they want to make. I take what they say at face value.

In so doing they found they could not achieve offline any longer and have engineered around it, by deleting that option. So they have managed the technical impact of their discoveries, and they now need to manage the human impact. Those people that feel misled by the decision should be given a clear path to some recourse with FD, that's obviously a refund.

Michael came on here and said all refunds would be considered on a case by case basis but every direct question I and others put to him he dodged or ignored.

So whilst FD were happy to make a clear decision to pull the offline technology in the newsletter, they are not happy to make a clear decision on the customer impact. That is simply weak management and people are understandably concerned.

Of course they're not answering case by case answers in a public forum. That would be bad business.

 

[Perramas]

Well for a crappy game like BF I can understand that but Elite is different.
30years on I still play the original BBC model B Elite and it's just as fun as it ever was. As is Frontier, unfortunately it's unlikely that people 30 years from now can play Elite Dangerous.

I still play Daggerfall, Ultima VII, Sid Miers Alpha Centauri and a few other older games I still have discs for.

 

[Ydiss]

Your "pity" is irrelevant, I stand by what I feel and that is, there's more to this than meets the eye. I can't put my finger on it, but it smells fishy and in that lies my issues.

Don't let me delay you with my naive notion that the world isn't out to screw you over.

Apply for your refund and get it done with.

I feel sorry for you because the only alternative is much more negative. If you think FD intentionally tricked you into giving them money, why beat around the bush?

 

[srinidhalaya]

To maintain a stable cash flow they need to sell pre-orders, and that means they need the customer confidence that what they say they're selling is what actually arrives, after they've taken the money.

I just don't see them maintaining any sort of realistic revenue income without some sort of monthly type subscription service, be it mandatory or a sort of premium variant. Offline mode was the guarantee that wouldn't happen, and since it's gone, don't be surprised when ED goes to that kind of funding model.

 

[jmga]

Bad example considering CS runs on Steam, a platform that requires an internet connection, and a game that requires an active one at that (assuming you are not playing bots).

Wrong. You can play CS in LAN without any Internet connection.

 

[enbeekay]

Bad example considering CS runs on Steam, a platform that requires an internet connection, and a game that requires an active one at that (assuming you are not playing bots).

Open steam -> click steam menu -> go offline.
you only need to be online to actually register + install games.
unless said game is a multiplayer...and thinking you can do that offline is rather silly