No Single Player offline Mode then?

[ToddlerfromHell]

While I wasn't as high profile a backer as Liq, I still backed with little over a hundred pounds on the words they used and the promises they gave (which to me, is alot of money for just a game).
I'm holding off with asking for a refund just yet based on the hope that your number 1 scenario might be happening (cause seriously, the 'persistent universe is just taking the mick out of me when playing with all the bugs and inane design decisions causing me to get fines and deaths all the time without allowing me to reload an older save).

I can't see myself ever spending a dime on anything these guys had something to do with in the future, though, given the current state of affairs and their disregard for consumers.

I'm in the same boat. I pledged a hefty chunk of cash because I had been waiting for this eventuality for almost 20 years.
Now, since I can't play offline I'll have to return to the waiting game once more. Maybe I'll have to wait another 20 years, but I still hold out hope that whoever decided this will come to his or her senses, or be overturned by someone in charge down the line.

-Toddler

 

[Jason S]

We never expected an offline version to be dynamic so they could have created the static offline version.

Do not believe the technical arguments about not doing an offline version as it is not over whelming for them particularly if they just delay it a few months.

Josh from limit theory has managed to create a offline universe with rich economy and AI all by himself. He believes FD could do it, he has stated this.
There is a russian guy who has created a universe simulation by himself for offline play.

It can be done and FD could do it.

 

[Quietman]

The bit that gets me is when people talk about Kickstarters, and how they're always a risk. The thing that I'm struggling with is the feeling that FD never even seriously tried to incorporate off-line play.

Whilst this may be a possibility, for now I have faith in the FD staff that they didn't deliberately set out to deceive any of their users over a long period of time.

Whether the reason/s for this mess were technical/political/financial or some combination, there is no doubt that their communications of the issue were borderline incompetent and their sugar coating with the extra ships and other bonuses were patronising and condescending.

 

[FrogsFriend]

He's the highest tier backer and of that tier, there could only be one. He would also get to name a system in the final release.

If Liqua sticks to his guns, FD will have to buckle as unwillingness to deal with your most important backer is something the press will be very interested in.
(I don't think that for him, FD will suddenly bring back off-line though)
The tier said he pledged 5K Pound-Sterling. But we don't know how much he really pledged. It could very well have been 10K. At any rate, Liqua being disgruntled is in itself a worst case scenario. FD can field a 200GBP backer packing with a dismissal... But Liqua is a different matter.

I think you overestimate the power of the Liqua!
Don't get me wrong I really like him and he's certainly added a great deal to these forums and the DDF over the last two years... but, let's be honest, if he hadn't taken the 5k pledge tier somebody else would have, and I'm sure he'd be fairly incredulous if FD decided that the game lived or died on his opinion.
It's not the first time that some of the higher tier backers have stormed off over some perceived (whether real or imagined) sleight by FD, mostly to return later, and no doubt it won't be the last.

 

[peter101cycle]

members who are devastatingly affected

Over-exaggeration if I ever saw one.....can we please keep some perspective?

 

[Joey Krypton]

The bit that gets me is when people talk about Kickstarters, and how they're always a risk. The thing that I'm struggling with is the feeling that FD never even seriously tried to incorporate off-line play.

It was pretty clear to me from the KS description that ED would be an MMO. I was peeved THEN, but decided to contribute anyway, because I wanted to be part of the experiment. That was what? Two years ago now. Can't say I'm surprised that it's still an MMO.

I think it was the sense of excitement for the project that turned me around, and still fuels my enthusiasm. Is ED going to be a perfect game for everyone who plays it? No, I've got my issues as well. But it really does feel like an undiluted Elite game, and I'm constantly astounded by the beauty and detail of the universe.

 

[littleminxundr]

Yes this is a possibility. I've seen no evidence that offline play was developed as every thing we have seen required an online connection. Maybe they thought they could add it later and realised that things had gone down a different road?

Speculation but who knows? Not us.

How legally binding is a Kick Starter statement of intent?

I don't know. I wish I never KS-ed Wastelands 2 though... KSing nostalgia is not a smart thing do. I learned that the hard way. But I did get the game I dreamt of... if only I could stay awake long enough to enjoy it. *snore*

 

[Quietman]

Over-exaggeration if I ever saw one.....can we please keep some perspective?

So members that will no longer be able to play the game could not possibly be devastated?

In my work industry we call this kind of a problem, (from the affected user's perspective), a catastrophic failure; is that an "Over-exaggeration" as well?

 

[strangerdanger]

I think you overestimate the power of the Liqua!
Don't get me wrong I really like him and he's certainly added a great deal to these forums and the DDF over the last two years... but, let's be honest, if he hadn't taken the 5k pledge tier somebody else would have, and I'm sure he'd be fairly incredulous if FD decided that the game lived or died on his opinion.
It's not the first time that some of the higher tier backers have stormed off over some perceived (whether real or imagined) sleight by FD, mostly to return later, and no doubt it won't be the last.

You're missing the point. The highest known pledge demanding a refund and calling the developer out for false advertising will cause some ripples. I'll personally make sure the information gets to as many gaming blogs as possible, depending on FD's response to all this tomorrow.

 

[Quietman]

And you know this how?

You want to know the definition of irony?

I could respond to the majority of your short responses in this thread with the exact same quip.

 

[strangerdanger]

So members that will no longer be able to play the game could not possibly be devastated?

In my work industry we call this kind of a problem, (from the affected user's perspective), a catastrophic failure; is that an "Over-exaggeration" as well?

I find these posts pretty hilarious. We're supposed to downplay the fact that a large number of backers and buyers can no longer play the game on release. How does it get any more catastrophic than that?

 

[sbdags]

I don't know. I wish I never KS-ed Wastelands 2 though... KSing nostalgia is not a smart thing do. I learned that the hard way. But I did get the game I dreamt of... if only I could stay awake long enough to enjoy it. *snore*

Yeah I'm 30 hours into WL2 and it's not the greatest experience.

Anyway back on to topic. We weren't supposed to be agreeing with each other!

 

[Ikari]

I don't know. I wish I never KS-ed Wastelands 2 though... KSing nostalgia is not a smart thing do. I learned that the hard way. But I did get the game I dreamt of... if only I could stay awake long enough to enjoy it. *snore*

If you backed WL2 you have my sympathy, Inexile released the game half broken expecting to be able to patch it before anyone noticed.

I think the problem everyone now has with FD is what will happen next... No offline mode was a big bomb to drop this close to gamma and it worries me what other things they "have up their sleeves" as they put it.

 

[S.H.A.D.O]

The thing that saddens me the most throughout this long thread is the total lack of compassion for our fellow gamers.

I have a good net connection and a great isp, my connection is fast (fibre) and usually very reliable and that means I can play Elite Dangerous just fine and no offline mode won't personally affect me but I'm not selfish enough to not care about others.

Some here will be affected greatly, some have flakey net at the best of times and will have problems with the game constantly disconnecting etc etc. Some others who paid at the kickstarter will now not be able to play because the have no home internet (even in the uk our broadband coverage is not 100% and only 77% of uk households have internet access)

I really feel for these people and I can think how upset I would be if I was in their place. I hope Frontier change their mind and make some kind off offline version for these people, even if its a cut-down version of the game.

Please lets stop the 'I'm alright jack' attitude and consider other people. Thank you

 

[Jason S]

I think the problem everyone now has with FD is what will happen next... No offline mode was a big bomb to drop this close to gamma and it worries me what other things they "have up their sleeves" as they put it.

Next: "We have to introduce a subscription or we cannot afford to keep the servers running"

 

[Zieman]

If you backed WL2 you have my sympathy, Inexile released the game half broken expecting to be able to patch it before anyone noticed.

I think the problem everyone now has with FD is what will happen next... No offline mode was a big bomb to drop this close to gamma and it worries me what other things they "have up their sleeves" as they put it.

Wouldn't be surprised if Mac version was the next one to be axed. "Sorry, E: D is in Linux servers - no Mac for you. See how fancy this new bobblehead is!"

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

You're missing the point. The highest known pledge demanding a refund and calling the developer out for false advertising will cause some ripples. I'll personally make sure the information gets to as many gaming blogs as possible, depending on FD's response to all this tomorrow.

So....is it me or it is just petty revenge then?

It will be some news with comment sections full of people complaining how everything is online only these days. It's not first KS to dropping features. Won't be last. But I don't think it will change anything.

 

[noodle]

And you know this how?

Do you understand what the word "feeling" actually means? Did you fail to notice how I specifically avoided saying that I know anything for a fact? Would you care to respond to something that I've actually said, rather than words that you've put in my mouth?

I personally question people understanding of stakes here

I personally question your blind support of FD at every available opportunity. If there's a good light you can cast something in, then that's what you'll do.

 

[stimutacs]

Can't say I'm surprised that it's still an MMO.

I guess some people are surprised because of this -

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56686

Note the dates.

Particularly

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56686&p=984344&viewfull=1#post984344

on 12/11/14

Literally days before the newsletter people were still being directly told by mods in response to specific questions that they would receive a DRM free, offline playable game. This wasn't something the mods made up, they were going on the same information as everyone else outside FD. This went on for years. Are you surprised that somehow people got the idea that this is what they would receive?

 

[Ulfar]

If you backed WL2 you have my sympathy, Inexile released the game half broken expecting to be able to patch it before anyone noticed.

I think the problem everyone now has with FD is what will happen next... No offline mode was a big bomb to drop this close to gamma and it worries me what other things they "have up their sleeves" as they put it.

This is the next big issue and people are going to be mad when there is no "magic patch". I read the newsletter in this way that they were trying to mitigate people's surprise when Gamma offers nothing new or very little.

What worries me is if you look at the game objectively, apart from an update to graphics I don't really see what we have that hasn't been in the games previously. The dynamic invirse I am afraid is sadly lacking from the evidence seen so far. The only dynamism we have had was generated by players in Eranin in an effort to entertain themselves.