No Single Player offline Mode then?

[Cathy]

You DID read what she said about her child?

One major advantage of offline gameplay is the option to simply hit "pause" even in a heated battle.

I guess you would rather let your child suffer than passing a chance to frag an NPC, or risk losing your precious ship then?

Funny story: what happens to your ship if you have to jump off the PC when the baby cries or the doorbells rings was an early discussion in the DDF. Consensus was that PvP shouldn't try to accomodate because it wasn't fair on the other player, log outs could be exploited, and it's a complex thing to cater for so even in pve if AI takes over and gets you killed you should just take the hit. Final conclusion - we're ok to kick this one into touch because anyone who is affected by it can choose to play offline and never be troubled by it.

Perhaps that's just one of many done and dusted conclusions that requires a re-think if FD don't change their minds.

 

[Daffan]

Can I ask why you think more players equal a better universe?

I'm not the guy your quoting but;

More players, more pvp, more market action, more dynamic events (AI will never overtake a player's dynamic ability ever)

In reality, what harm can come to more players? - but it'l never happen because with solo-online everyone farms there and then goes and pvps around stations and pseudo-battlegrounds (lmao immersion) in open-play

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Does it?

Personally I would have liked the emphasis to have been on a Single Player game with a co-op feature to have a private server for 4 or 8 players maybe. This would have been a much better design choice IMHO.

MMO's of classic games don't work. Look at Elder Scrolls. Amazing single player experience games with huge depth. Elder Scrolls Online comes along and doesn't quite have the same magic.

Ohhh, so bias finally comes out.

See, problem is, FD decided to do their own thing. Offline mode never really fitted in it. They made mistake promising it and will pay consequences.

But ED will march on, as in inception - galaxy witch evolves.

Now, you can do two things - complain how MMOs doesn't work really, etc, or like rest of us, trying to help FD to make it work.

 

[cherbert]

...to suggest others should suffer because of your priorities is very selfish.

How is he suggesting you should suffer? Up until Friday there was to be best of both worlds to keep both camps happy. That was taken away and he is simply asking for it back - as are all the other people upset by its removal.

 

[Deyn]

oooo clever cutting of my comment there, please dont let my whole post spoil your moment

as i said, if more players equals better universe, why do you want to play on your own?

Because,
- I can pause the game, when ever I want
- When I get back to the game after a week, the economics for a trade run might not have changed in real time
- I can play when connection is an issue
- When I play and get a nice time critical Mission , I don't get a "disconnect" and fail the mission, as it takes me minutes to get back in.
- I paid for the feature and like the original ELITE (singleplayer) feeling.
- I like to be able to train myself in flying, trading etc. offline, before I mess up my "Online" player. (Just accidently fired a weapon through a joystick config glitch inside a station. Now that is the end of my peaceful trader career, as I'm now wanted in FedSpace. Would be cool to play offline singleplayer and simply load the COMMANDER SAVED a few jumps before the mishap!)
- ...and the decision for buying into beta was mainly based on two features: I can play offline, with no internet connection at my own pace, and I can play online without lunatic human killers, waiting for me... the later was covered by Groups, now about offline mode?

 

[temotodochi]

As mentioned in the newsletter thread the game has changed a lot since the initial kickstarter. One of the biggest changes is the importance of the the offline component to manage the galaxy and interactions. This isn't something we can translate into an offline experience as we'd effectively have to make a new game world - we couldn't share the same world and that throws out the intent for a shared universe.

Michael

Is cool for me now, i feel a bit disappointed, but not much. But can you answer at some point how Elite will be handled in the future to allow privateers to play it after.. let's say 10 years?


And do you refund for those who have no reliable internet connection or actually live geographically in locations which makes online play to US/EU impossible?

 

[Carnster]

I can't believe you said that on the Elite forums.

Times have changed. I loved the original and its follow-up. However, I also remember thinking how good it would be to have real people playing together. There's no point pining for yesteryear, progress in technology doesn't just mean the lovely visuals and sound it also means how we play games and how that technology can present new and different opportunities you couldn't get otherwise.

Yes, Elite started out as a single player game. It's modern interpretation was always going to be based around multiplayer regardless.

 

[Aldric]

You think standing still in space, while set to open play in a game fraught with danger is a sensible thing to do?

If you have other priorities other than gaming ofc thats fine, but to suggest others should suffer because of your priorities is very selfish.

FD have stated offline mode would require the entire project take a step backwards to be implemented, a very small proportion of the player base wants it and so that is what you are asking for before you ask me why i say such a thing.




Finally might i suggest you take care of your other priorities before you sit down to game?

I tend to agree, would you get out of your car in the middle of the road to buy a grapefruit ? why would you park your eagle in the middle of space with pirate npcs about ? it is like doing the car thing then blaming other motorists for them getting annoyed rather than looking at your own actions.

 

[Solei]

It appears, however, that many people will jump to the defence of the an organisation that has fundamentally and categorically breached the trust of its customers.
-
Maybe trust and honesty are now outdated concepts for the "online generation".
-

...

This quote sums it up nicly:

"Most gamers don't care depressingly. They have more in common with heroin addicts than rational customers."
- grassyknoll

 

[tagos]

You have got me worried now. I had this sudden vision of a future where there are instances where 16 players enter a raid to kill a Thargoid mothership. The thought makes my stomach sink that this game could end up being WOW in space.

I kind of expect something like that and wouldn't mind really. I play Star Trek Online and it has fun stuff like Borg incursions where everyone who happens to be around gets to go into an instance and fight them. It's pretty exciting stuff and I'd love to get a 'Thargoid incursion' message in the system i'm in and have the option to go join in with others fighting it.

My problem at the moment is that Braben is only talking he talk on the dynamic galaxy. We've yet to see the game walk the walk in any way. It's less dynamic than Frontier was. He'd have been in a much better position if he could demonstrate what great stuff solo players miss out on. Prices, rep and all that stuff could be processed locally just as it was 23 years ago.

Sadly it looks like ED is releasing without anything that merits the term 'dynamic'.

 

[SuBSynk]

How is he suggesting you should suffer? Up until Friday there was to be best of both worlds to keep both camps happy. That was taken away and he is simply asking for it back - as are all the other people upset by its removal.

Try reading what FD have stated about the backward step that would have to be taken to enable offline mode and then posting maybe?

 

[Adept]

Maybe you are blind to the fundamental irony here.
-
Allow me to enlighten you: even whilst in the middle of playing a computer game - even one as immersing as ED promises to be - it's still just a computer game. And if I want to divert my attention.away from the screen even *during* gameplay due to my "priorities in life", then I will do just that.
-
So I did that last time I played beta - a couple of weeks ago now. Stopped my basic Eagle far away from destination to attend to family matters.
-
When I came back a few minutes later my hull was at 10% and decreasing because I was being pounded by another player. No comms. No nothing. No bounty on me. No challenge for the other player. Just sat there stationary being blown up.
-
Although it's just a game - that moment took away the *precious* time I'd invested in it.
-
It could be argued, therefore, that offline mode is a strong requirement for anyone who has other "priorities in life".
-

The thing to do is hit save. Everything comes at some cost. The MMO Elite is something we could barely have dreamed about a decade ago, but it does need a little more commitment than a solo game. It's true with any hobby though. If you are building a model aeroplane, or painting miniatures you need a few moments to disengsge from the activity safely. I don't see why needing to save the game is somehow worse and more onerous.

 

[undercovergeek]

Because,
- I can pause the game, when ever I want
- When I get back to the game after a week, the economics for a trade run might not have changed in real time
- I can play when connection is an issue
- When I play and get a nice time critical Mission , I don't get a "disconnect" and fail the mission, as it takes me minutes to get back in.
- I paid for the feature and like the original ELITE (singleplayer) feeling.
- I like to be able to train myself in flying, trading etc. offline, before I mess up my "Online" player. (Just accidently fired a weapon through a joystick config glitch inside a station. Now that is the end of my peaceful trader career, as I'm now wanted in FedSpace. Would be cool to play offline singleplayer and simply load the COMMANDER SAVED a few jumps before the mishap!)
- ...and the decision for buying into beta was mainly based on two features: I can play offline, with no internet connection at my own pace, and I can play online without lunatic human killers, waiting for me... the later was covered by Groups, now about offline mode?

thankyou Deyn, an honest post without the need to attempt oneupmanship and snidey remarks

 

[tagos]

I tend to agree, would you get out of your car in the middle of the road to buy a grapefruit ? why would you park your eagle in the middle of space with pirate npcs about ? it is like doing the car thing then blaming other motorists for them getting annoyed rather than looking at your own actions.

You would if you were the only car. Which is kind of the point being made.

 

[cyberus]

Yes because its been designed around multiple players interacting to keep the economy flowing and keep the factions evolving.

I just really wonder if some ppl really read about the game core design.

The game will be the same as offline.....with all procedural processes .....the option what FD is opens to us with multieplayer is to join those events......alone or with groups or with complete strangers if like so.

Good example is given right now in beta. The war in Eranin. As a player you has completely no any single impact will be the war started or not. But because of this procedural event you can now join one side or other....to just add that little bit of influence to one side or other. Same is with market.
Those are affected by the event.....not the players.

Well....nvrm. Some simply will never get it.
It is not eve online.

 

[cherbert]

Try reading what FD have stated about the backward step that would have to be taken to enable offline mode and then posting maybe?

So you suggest we should suffer then in favor of your side of the fence?

 

[Adept]

You have got me worried now. I had this sudden vision of a future where there are repeating instances where 16 players enter a raid to kill a Thargoid mothership. The thought makes my stomach sink that this game could end up being WOW in space.

Couldn't be much further from the design philosophy. I guess you haven't watched the interviews.

 

[SuBSynk]

So you suggest we should suffer then in favor of your side of the fence?

A company makes decisions based on making the best possible experience for the majority of its customers, it does not ruin an experience or product for the sake of the few.

 

[Juniper]

Another reason why I want single player offline is that I had bought a 2nd copy of the game (with an expansion pass) for use by my 9-year-old daughter, thinking she'd be able to play it on a (as yet unbuilt) PC that didn't require internet access.

I'm not at all comfortable in allowing her unfettered access to the internet, and the fact that it could be played offline (or occasionally in a private group with me under strict supervision) was a selling point for me also. The galaxy is real, and flying around it would have been an amazing passive learning experience for her.

Now that is basically shot to pieces too.

 

[cherbert]

Couldn't be much further from the design philosophy. I guess you haven't watched the interviews.

Their design philosophy seems to have changed somewhat in the last 72 hours.