No Single Player offline Mode then?

[Kyrgan]

The problem is that the galaxy mechanics all sit on the online servers. The data set and processes are huge and not something that would translate offline without considerable compromise to the vision. Trust me we didn't sit down and think what would annoy people the most! It's a choice we've had to make and so we've taken it.

Michael

It's understandable that development has to take priorities into account. Money is not infinite. However, much hate could be diverted if you promised to deliver this at some point down the line, if things go well, instead of not at all.

 

[Mazhurg]

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

Off-line mode was never about a shared universe and much warning was given that it would probably not be able to sync (via updates) either. I can't see from a technical perspective why a mini-server can't be installed along the single player game on the same machine (given proper requirements) - as done by multiple game companies.

So the off-line game might have a different state than the on-line one. Is that bad? The single player probably cares not on that sync.

 

[Jeverest]

This thread is literally pointless.

why in the hell would you buy a game... KNOWING full well that there would be dynamic changes in the online mode, and settle for offline? 400BILLION BILLLLLLIIIIIOOOOOON systems... and you are crying about offline. Jump a couple systems and be a loner over there.

is it THAT hard?

 

[J.M.Braehe]

okay. I can see there's no such thing as a thinking-man, in this thread, so I withdraw.

 

[AstroCreep]

This "change" makes no difference to me personally, I entered Beta with the intention of treating this game as an MMO of sorts...therefore constant Online activity needed. The same way I approached EverQuest, as good as that game would've been in a Solo Offline Mode I knew it would never happen and never fooled myself into one day dreaming of it happening.

Sure it sucks for those that helped Kickstart E purely on the original premise that Offline would be in, but I fully support the Devs on this matter as at the end of the day it's just as much their game as ours and they are the best ones to deal with decisions that will affect change. If it means the game will be better for it going forward then again I'm totally happy with that, but I do feel for those of you with poor internet connections that may struggle to fully appreciate this wonderful game.

At the end of the day I can't see a mass amount of protest will actually change anything, FD have made their minds up and that's just the way it is.

We can't all have our perfect version of the game unfortunatley, suck it in - accept it - move on.

 

[bamber]

so you bought into elite so you could play if off line? again more fool you - I bought in because it was the best damn space sim I havbe ever played - possibly the best damn game

To me promise delivered

I couldn't care less if I ended up only able to play upside down between 8 and 10 pm on a Friday that is a prime number

 

[EAGLE 5]

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

I have a solution Michael.

Dust off Frontier Elite 2, give it Elite Dangerous graphics and ship it with the release copy.

Problem solved.

 

[Irre]

400BILLION BILLLLLLIIIIIOOOOOON systems... and you are crying about offline. Jump a couple systems and be a loner over there.

is it THAT hard?

stop hyping numbers it´s all random generation it could be 10000 billion doesn´t make a difference if it misses gameplay features, or you enjoy drifting the void? ONLINE REQUIRED?

 

[reload]

I for one would not have backed the game if there was no option for solo play, I have zero interest in multiplayer and now to find out that there is no chance of that I will endeavor to get a refund of the £200 i paid to back the game either from FD of via my CC company

Solo play will be there. You'll just require a connection to play it, in order for your client to receive the evolving game galaxy.

 

[strangerdanger]

so you bought into elite so you could play if off line? again more fool you - I bought in because it was the best damn space sim I havbe ever played - possibly the best damn game

To me promise delivered

I couldn't care less if I ended up only able to play upside down between 8 and 10 pm on a Friday that is a prime number

Quality post.

 

[Belan]

Stating the obvious, all projects, whether building a bridge, making a film, studying for an exam or whatever, carry risk. Projects can run out of time or money, people can leave, assumptions that were made at the start may prove to be mistaken, or the results may simply not be as good as expected. Games development is no different.

The above quote is from David Braben under the "Risks and Challenges" section of the Kickstarter page. In a nutshell, everything is subject to change. All this bait and switch stuff goes out the window. I looked at what each Kickstarter was promised, and no where did it say "Offline Mode." That was a development goal, not a backer promise. Development goals change as the game evolves. No one can get their money back because they are mad a feature will or won't be in the game.

 

[Irre]

Say "bye" to promised offline mode from Kickstarter, this game will only work online

newsletter said so

"A fully offline experience would be unacceptably limited and static compared to the dynamic, ever unfolding experience we are delivering."


more back peddling on Kickster promises!

Kickstarter March release estimate - broken
Everyting available in game (FAQ Kickster) - broken (now selling limited availability 20£ skins, not available in game)
Offline mode - cancelled

this is getting better and BETTER !!

PGI already seems like a saint in comparison

 

[Obsidian Ant]

The problem is that the galaxy mechanics all sit on the online servers. The data set and processes are huge and not something that would translate offline without considerable compromise to the vision. Trust me we didn't sit down and think what would annoy people the most! It's a choice we've had to make and so we've taken it.

Michael

Michael, could you detail how often "from time to time" is - in regards to when the client needs to connect to the server? (And will the game work if I unplug my Internet connection after one of these "updates").

Thanks for taking the time to reply here...

 

[Jorlin]

This thread is literally pointless.

why in the hell would you buy a game... KNOWING full well that there would be dynamic changes in the online mode, and settle for offline? 400BILLION BILLLLLLIIIIIOOOOOON systems... and you are crying about offline. Jump a couple systems and be a loner over there.

is it THAT hard?

It's a matter of being offline, not solo. Read: without internetconnection or servers needed.
It's a matter of having your own universe... without influence from other players ever.
For others it's a matter of modding, cheating, doing what they want with the gamefiles.

Solo/Online does NOT equal offline mode.

 

[Michael Brookes]

Let's be explicit here. What hampering would be necessary? The mission data could surely be packaged up. An "evolving economy" could be done very minimally. What exactly are the technical issues here? Did you attempt to quantify how much dev time it would take to make it happen?

The online servers provide all of the data and processing for the galaxy, interactions between players and all transactions of value. Without it there isn't a game. We always intended that the way to play the game would be online. We had hoped that we could do an offline variant, but as the game progressed the online requirement superseded that. It wasn't an easy choice to make, but to stay true to the game we set out to make we had to make this choice.

Michael

 

[Zephyriel]

EDIT > Merged.

 

[littleminxundr]

Indeed and the biggest promise is the game with the vision we set out with. We haven't taken this decision lightly, but having to hamper the game to work offline would have meant that we couldn't deliver the game we're making.

Michael

Well, you see, the promise that there would be a neutered off line game option was the point where I decided to pull the trigger. I shyed away from Star Citizen because off line was not even in question there. I looked at Star Citizen first because I've played Elite for many many years and I actually wanted something else. However, with no hope of an off-line component, I went with Elite.
The game doesn't disappoint me in the least, but when you guys go *poof*, my game goes *poof*. I'm not in the business of buying russian-roulette-ware, you see.

I see it like this, you guys have my €60. Fine, keep it. But you could have gotten so much more out of me. I'm a gamer and not afraid to drop large wads of cash on my hobby, because I believe that when you do a hobby, you don't skimp on the details. Now €60 is all you'll be getting as Frontier Development is now on my blacklist, next to legendary fail companies Ego-Soft and Maxis.

On a greater scale, do you guys even realise how much damage you have done to your upcoming public release once people on the fence realise that the game is always online? A cynic would suggest that Frontier Development wants Elite: Dangerous to fail...

 

[CmdrPSB]

the Elite game offline model worked already in previous versions of the game. Im beginning to think Braben wasnt the brains behind that

What a peculiar thing to think.

 

[srinidhalaya]

This thread is literally pointless.

why in the hell would you buy a game... KNOWING full well that there would be dynamic changes in the online mode, and settle for offline? 400BILLION BILLLLLLIIIIIOOOOOON systems... and you are crying about offline. Jump a couple systems and be a loner over there.

is it THAT hard?

Easy for you to say, At the house, My internet works half the time. Cant get to those outer systems if you cant connect to required servers... I prepurchased a game that advertised an OFFLINE mode, not just on the KS page, but on the ED page as well. But that's my fault, for pre purchasing a game. I only thought I learned my lesson last time...

 

[noodle]

The online servers provide all of the data and processing for the galaxy, interactions between players and all transactions of value. Without it there isn't a game. We always intended that the way to play the game would be online. We had hoped that we could do an offline variant, but as the game progressed the online requirement superseded that. It wasn't an easy choice to make, but to stay true to the game we set out to make we had to make this choice.

Michael

If you'd included that little word... "hoped".... in the Kickstarter FAQ, nobody would be complaining.