No Single Player offline Mode then?

[mbabbs]

I thought this thread was starting to fizzle but with the BBC and all the announcements it seems to be gaining momentum ....

Yeah. Sadly its mostly a circular discussion thread until we get more news.

 

[deusx_ophc]

its a repeatedly loss making company without significant future plans beyond releasing a crowd funded game that is fairly niche and with strong competition. doubt elite has the sales potential to turn it around. im not so sure a long hold is a good move here. This is a sharemarket only opinion- id like to see FD do well despite the majorly poor comms effort and game bugs.

I love elite, btw, so dont flame me off, just adding a very experienced investors words here.

DB will likely be given advice by his accountants to lay off staff post release and to move some shares before the value returns to something that makes sense (revenue ratio etc).

well this is not only about ED - FDEV have set out a clear plan of changing the companys business model, part of that is self publishing ED. other key asstets are their cobra engine, 270 staff in 2 locations and long term relationships & contracts with the likes of ms and amazon. the loss last year was as planned with focus on ed development, FDEV will return to profit this year. and i am confident that they will go on to deliver a great product at hat eventually will be hailed again as landmark.

FDEV made expected losses twice in last 5 years, returning to healthy profit each time. they are hiring staff for both locations today, 17 positions in total.

shares in FDEV won't move, way to illiquid and they are still sitting on that cash pile to fund ed development in the short-medium term. plus additional deferred inc turning into revenue on 16th december plus they are debt-free and have a 3mio gbp line with their bank... that is a lot of water to go down on this particular episode of ED ^^

 

[Ryder35]

I was so looking forward to the offline version.

Its a great shame but there is only one reason why they would choose to go with the online version over the offline.

MAKING MONEY!

You guys kick started their hopes and dreams to start developing a new and improved money making / micro payment driven paradise.

They have got what they wanted and cast all the die hard fans (their bread and butter) aside.

Never bite off the hand that feeds you!

Now they have made so much money from their play wile its being developed model they could effectively refund every single person and still have around 7.5 million to play with.

Quoted from BBC:
Frontier raised more than £1.5 Million from its kick starter project and since then, has raised £7.5m from more than
140,000 people who have been playing the various beta or test versions of Elite
as it is being developed.

Well as a post from someone who joined today (welcome BTW) that was a load of utter tosh!

 

[mbpoblet]

Bullocks! People who want an offline game are not going to flock to another online game when it releases. Those who want a true MMO space game will go to EVE once they release the WASD movement for ships they are working on.

No, but people who want an online game might very well migrate to the newer, shinier one.

Also, there's Squadron 42 (which is supposed to be able to run offline), and Wing Commander was almost as influential as Elite, if in a slightly different genre...

 

[m000]

And they were not supposed to. The game was supposed to be modable. So you could make your own skins.

It was also supposed to support offline mode.

 

[sHRUB sOLO]

I am vary mad about

I lost all respect for david braben

I don't want no more this game ONLY CASH REFUND PLESE

HE MAKED A LIE ON US

 

[Quietman]

quote from forum member '-0-' earlier...;

DB: Things are too quiet. We really need something to get the media excited about just before our launch next weekend.

MB: Well, we still have a few hundred mugs we can send out to them.

DB: No .. No .. We need to try something explosive .. something dangerous.

MB: Theres no way I am getting in that g-string again!

DB: In Fridays newsletter, I want you to slip in something quietly that will ruffle a few feathers.

MB: Ahhhhhh .. the Thargoids awaken .. I like it.

DB: No, Sweenys still struggling with their HOTAS grip.
DB: We need to break them down, before we can build them up.

MB: Huh?

DB: You sir, may be a imaginative writer, but your blind to your dark side. We tell them that something has been pulled ... umm, like that offline version.
DB: Then we sit back and wait.

MB: But we finished implementing that offline module even before the Beta started. Thats why we never tested it.

DB: Yes, but they don't know that. Then we sit back and enjoy the show.

MB: But that will be a disaster which will cause irreparable damage.

DB: Normally it would, but I have recently aquired a rather unique shinny artifact which can work PR miracles.
DB: Once a fews days have passed, the BBC will get aboard, and whip them into a frenzy, ready for us to strike!
DB: I can even get Drew to prepare a story on the disaster.
DB: <evil laugh> Our own private War of the Worlds!
DB: With the world's media attention focussed on us, at the official launch we announce a sincere apology and ask our loyal backers for forgiveness.
DB: We then inform them that we, through our own personal funds, will work night and day to ressurect the offline version before Christmas.
DB: We will be lauded beyond belief, and will be seen as Legends. You might also be knighted yourself, or at the very least be delivered a truckload of pizza.

MB: Thats so crazy, it might work.

DB: It is destined to work my dear fellow. Now get to work ... we have history to make.


genius post, -O-

can't plus 1 but have one public instead

I +1'd him for you, best laugh I have had all week.

 

[Juniper]

Suffice to say, it's all over the interwebs now.

C&VG have just done a good piece.

 

[Phil Lee]

Hopefully you'll get a refund.

Out of interest is it because you have no internet connection or because you'd like the ability to pause or perhaps stop playing and return to the same background game state?

Internet connection isn't an issue. I wanted to play it like I did Elite all those years ago rather than as an evolving universe that I dip in and out of. This is mainly down to the amount of time I have available for gaming. If I play for 1 hour a week, online play is pointless for me.

 

[Herne]

Yeah. Sadly its mostly a circular discussion thread until we get more news.

What news ? The only news that counts is that due to technical limitations offline is out, that's old news. No amount of screaming, shouting or waving of pitch forks will make the technical limitations any less technically limited.

 

[Wolframium]

But that being said, the online iteration with the dynamic universe was clearly the focus of development, and you can't deny that the ability for them to focus on it will make for a better product then a half-cocked version of both at the same time.

First, thank you for your reply. It's nice and refreshing to share thoughts with someone who shows a little empathy and understanding.

Now, I never really had the impression that the dynamic universe was "clearly the focus of development". I thought both offline and online aspects were equally important. I'll admit I did not religiously read through all the newsletters, nor have I often visited the forums, so it is entirely possible that I missed something, but I never felt that the game was going to be mainly online and that offline mode was just a side dish of secondary importance.

That is, in the end, the point of a kickstarter. It isn't a commission or preorder.

In all honesty, I am not an expert on the Kickstarter subject. I have seen people raise some valid points on this issue in both camps, but I will admit that I implicitly took a risk when I decided to back the project.

Respect them for it; even if you disagree with it.

Respect goes both ways though. I don't think dropping a bomb as big as this one semi-hidden in a newsletter entry one month prior to release was respectful towards the sizable portion of customers who bought the game specifically to play it in offline mode, nor is it very respectful of them to insist on this radio silence.

 

[mbabbs]

What news ? The only news that counts is that due to technical limitations offline is out, that's old news. No amount of screaming, shouting or waving of pitch forks will make the technical limitations any less technically limited.

They will be making more statements. Therefore that will give folks more things to talk about. Maybe.

 

[Ilseroth]

What news ? The only news that counts is that due to technical limitations offline is out, that's old news. No amount of screaming, shouting or waving of pitch forks will make the technical limitations any less technically limited.

Pretty much this. This will just keep going until everyone finally ends up on that last stage of grief known as acceptance.

 

[Skizomeuh]

I wonder what the reaction would have been like if the boot was on the other foot?

Suppose DB had mentioned that the multiplayer was just not working out so E: D would be released as single player only. Would those who are busy telling the dispossessed to pipe down be on the barricades instead?

I thrown my money at FDEV hoping they could achieve their game. So if it would become a solo offline, I would not have been disappointed either. The only thing that could disappoint me is if I wasn't able to play ED at all.

 

[OriginalBadBoy]

I get what you're trying to say here, but you're wrong I'm afraid.

You cannot simply create a Kickstarter to help fund a product or project, and then go off and do something completely different. You are under obligation to fulfill the obligations you set out, or come to an agreement with your backers as to an alternative.

Frontier haven't done this. They have completely changed the nature of the game for many, and are now delivering a different product to what they achieved funding on... with zero consultation with the backers.

It was billed as a game that could be played online - but it was never billed as an always-on MMO. In fact, during the Kickstarter, David Braben was at pains to point out (in several places) that it wasn't an MMO. The networking was to be more ad-hoc, like Call of Duty (was the example he used). The MMO tack has come later.

Offline was a critical part of the game for many people - including me.

There are KS rules, and there are even laws - although few have been tested with crowdfunding. This may end up being a test case.

I think your reaching a little there ... FD have completely changed the nature of the game? .. err no they haven't ...

If you look at the original KS campaign, the various videos doing the rounds at the time, it was pretty obvious that the game was intended first and foremost to be an online experience.

 

[Salvatory]

I can understand if it's not workable - but each time i've logged in the open play has been fully of warping ships that get worse with each iteration (this i could understand to maybe overworked servers/peak time play or stress testing)

Single player mode (with the dynamic connection online to the developing universe) was my best option.

Hopefully near/after release the online play is solid and can just muddle on!

 

[mbpoblet]

The only thing that could disappoint me is if I wasn't able to play ED at all.

Which is precisely what has happened to backers who don't have a constant or reliable connection, unfortunately.

 

[Steve50]

What news ? The only news that counts is that due to technical limitations offline is out, that's old news. No amount of screaming, shouting or waving of pitch forks will make the technical limitations any less technically limited.

What happens if in 3-4 months we are told that planetary landings won't be happening now as due to technical limitations it's not possible. I suspect some people calling complainers here 'whiners' would change their tune pretty fast.

 

[Vandaahl]

Wowzers, this has now made it into mainstream BBC news!



[h=1]Elite fans protest over losing offline mode[/h]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30097229




Cmdr Thrust from Bradford is really upset this time!

And thats good. Actually its one of the most sensible peaces i've read on the subject. Hopefully it spawns news ideas or possibilities.

 

[WeirdWizard]

well this is not only about ED - FDEV have set out a clear plan of changing the companys business model, part of that is self publishing ED. other key asstets are their cobra engine, 270 staff in 2 locations and long term relationships & contracts with the likes of ms and amazon. the loss last year was as planned with focus on ed development, FDEV will return to profit this year. and i am confident that they will go on to deliver a great product at hat eventually will be hailed again as landmark.

FDEV made expected losses twice in last 5 years, returning to healthy profit each time. they are hiring staff for both locations today, 17 positions in total.

shares in FDEV won't move, way to illiquid and they are still sitting on that cash pile to fund ed development in the short-medium term. plus additional deferred inc turning into revenue on 16th december plus they are debt-free and have a 3mio gbp line with their bank... that is a lot of water to go down on this particular episode of ED ^^

All of which makes the rushed 2014 launch and cutting of offline all the more difficult to understand when they are well placed to delay and deliver a stronger better product mid next year.