People have overreacted massively, and had a right tantrum in effect trying to punish FD by doing as much damage as possible.
The vindicative, destructive stupidity of this behavior boggles the mind. People are petty, nasty creatures and can't behave like civilized beings.
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I wonder how many even realise that if Frontier put half a years's effort into creating a fully off-line mode for the game, that is half a year lost from actually putting in the features in the DDF into the main (online) game, and from working on the expansions.
Even those who are facing bad internet connections and such, do they think that situation will never recover. Do they think the world is going into a less-connected age, and they will forever be without reliable net access? A game that is planned to be developed over a decade should be worth embracing and supporting even if you are facing limited access in the immediate- or near future.
Such hateful, vindicative mob actions. Reminds me of the bloody gamergate idiocy.
People have not overreacted massively. A one line sneaked in mention in the newsletter that something many people have expected to exist - and for some, it was the sole reason they purchased beta or backed the kickstarter - won't be there. Do you really think that is OK?
No-one is being vindictive. And most are acting like civilized human beings, except for some of the koolaid drinkers who come on here to say I'm all right, Jack, quit your whining, buck up buttercup - take your pick - without showing any empathy or awareness that some people feel betrayed and incredibly let down by a company they had a great deal of faith in.
I think plenty of people also realize that if FD had to put 6 months of work into creating something they hadn't denied wouldn't exist until 2 days ago it would take away from other aspects... But why weren't they working on offline for the last 6 months? Why didn't they notify the community earlier that erm, maybe guys offline might not happen? They waited until a week before their big gamma release. It's not cool.
Aaaand, yeah - people are in situations where the internet just won't happen. Go back and read the whole thread. We'll wait. And where will you be if FD's internet servers go down? In the same boat.
Finally, gamergate? That's predicated on invented annoyance, driven by a misogynist agenda and with absolutely no real reason for it other than the lulz. People here have a genuine grievance, just because you can't see it or understand it or view it as entitled whining, doesn't change that fact.