No off-line mode

[Cmdr Kharma]

. I'm a fucking idiot.

I'm not gonna argue ....

[Zieman]

Summary of the no offline:
FDEV made a decision they should not have made IMO. But £££ talks, they HAVE to release the game by Christmas.

Communicating the decision to backers/players/tester/customers, that they fucked up BAD.

A simple announcement like "We're terribly sorry, but we cannot include the promised offline mode at launch. See <link> for the technical and financial reasons. If this compromises your ability to play the game, please contact our support <link> for arrangements. We're still looking for possibilities and suggestions on how offline could be made reality in the near future <link>. Thank you for your understanding, and sorry for the inconvenience." would have been okay.

But no, they had to try to hide the announcement as a casual remark inside marketing drivel in the newsletter, without any hint of remorse or consideration towards people who were mislead during the Kickstarter (FAQ), on the Forums (https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthrea ... post254938 for example) and in the official Store until saturday.

I'm not really affected byt the decision. But I'm mad at the gross incompetence they show in dealings with paying customers (and people who donated to the cause before that!), at the DDR-level PR.


Summary of the mammoth thread at Frontier Forums:
Some people are upset - for a reason IMHO. No problem there.
Trouble started when trolls jumped in and some (who are right in being upset) went ballistic in the opposite direction.


My idea on how thing could be made a bit better:
David Braben should aknowledge that they made a bad call, and as the bare minimum offer full recompense to those who cannot play E: D at launch time because of the always online requirement.
Also, FDEV should elease a feature-freezed offline version after E: D 1.0 launch, with randomised 'Galaxy secrets' and diminishing possibility of star systems having a dockable in them, starting at 5% at the edge of human-controlled space.

Would delay first expansion maybe a week or month?
Then, as time goes by the offline version might get a patch or two per year if game stability or game engine technical advacements warrant it.

[GlobusDiablo]

Aren't we all?!

Cheers Philip.

I'm not shaved!

/facepalm/...

[GlobusDiablo]

.....https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthrea ... post254938 .....

......My idea on how thing could be made a bit better:
David Braben should aknowledge that they made a bad call, and as the bare minimum offer full recompense to those who cannot play E: D at launch time because of the always online requirement.
Also, FDEV should elease a feature-freezed offline version after E: D 1.0 launch, with randomised 'Galaxy secrets' and diminishing possibility of star systems having a dockable in them, starting at 5% at the edge of human-controlled space.

Would delay first expansion maybe a week or month?
Then, as time goes by the offline version might get a patch or two per year if game stability or game engine technical advacements warrant it.

Thanks Zieman. That link doesn't make me feel any better mate.

It's a bait and switch money grab poorly hidden. They can't sell in-game advertisement to off-line gamers. Simple really. <REDACTED><FILTERED><FILTERED><REDACTED><REDACTED>!!!.... Ah, that's better.

[Philip Coutts]

Globus old mate if you do get a refund and you still want to play a single player offline space game have a look at Limit Theory. Might not have the massive budget of ED but it looks promising:

http://forums.ltheory.com/index.php

[Wolf]

Another good write up. This time by T.James with a focus on the communication of FD, understanding the technical reasons, but not rose tinted at all!

http://outofthedarkness.info/blog/elite ... line-only/

[Philip Coutts]

Wolf, thanks for that. I have to say that's probably the best piece of writing on the whole affair I've read. Well other than my own posts which as always are the stuff of legends......

[GlobusDiablo]

Globus old mate if you do get a refund and you still want to play a single player offline space game have a look at Limit Theory. Might not have the massive budget of ED but it looks promising:

http://forums.ltheory.com/index.php

Cheers friend. I know of it.

I think I'll be giving space games a rest for a while. I was/am rather emotionally attached to Elite: Dangerous, and up until friday thought that it was everything I hoped it would be.

Looks like it's going to be a clean break. Which is good I suppose.

[Somerled]

The news is spreading! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30097229

[Philip Coutts]

Wow, that's bad news for Frontier a BBC article no less! I get a feeling they may have to change their minds on this, the PR damage being done is getting out of hand.