No off-line mode

[Combiseries]

After reading this entire thread with interest, these are my thoughts. While I don`t play that often because of time constraints with work, family and other things that I do - finding out that there will be `no-offline mode` struck me like a Ryu uppercut. I`m still reeling from it. Dizzy and sick.

I tend to agree with Flip when he said that 4TB of data would be too much to fit onto most peoples hard drives. In ten years time or sooner we will most likely have USB drives that are bigger in capacity, so I don`t think it would make a problem - not for me anyways. Bring it on, I`ll take 4TB download any day.

Also, what they could do is take most of the Galaxy out of it and just leave in around 2000 stars or some such, that way would leave enough code to implement a working dynamic economy.

They have software called MiniElite which mimics the economy speeded up by AI so I don`t see this as a problem if it was implemented as part of the games code - essentially enabling some sort of offline play.

Freelancer is still going strong with the Discovery servers and that game is 10 years old. And to be honest if the game is still going after 10 or 15 years I will be happy, as no doubt there will be other `better` games - wether they are space or something else that would pique my interest.

All I`m saying is - Give Frontier a chance, they know they messed up in the past with early releases, I don`t think David would want to mess up and their reasons for taking out offline mode must be based on logistics rather than ripping us off - even if we do feel a little ripped off.

I have sympathy for those with shit connections, and that the game is unplayable, but knowing that my connection is shit would have meant that I would not have bought into the beta and I would have waited for an improved connection before giving my cash.

I also have sympathy for those who feel that they have been ripped off, but I would also say, wait a bit, see what happens in six months time - it might be that they will bring out `offline mode` in the future when they have worked out a way that they can.

There is more that I would like to say, but I have to go smash a face in....

All the best.

[GlobusDiablo]

....I do have one question though. If you are in this group were you expecting to not play in it? My understanding is that groups wouldn't be a standalone thing and even if you could have had offline groups (not sure how that would work without someone running a standalone server) the actions of others in that group, which now isn't that small really and will only grow as far as I can see, would affect the environment you play in anyway. Not slagging off your opinion or belittling the disappointment you feel at all. Just something I wanted to ask.

Cheers Mags

I'll try to keep my reasoning short and sweet.

I consider myself part of "the old guard". People who played computer games before anything was "online".
All the previous games in the Elite franchise have been offline. Games I bought hard copy and kept on my pc, and played when ever and where ever I liked. Offline. Long after (20 years) the games were discontinued.

Fast forward to Elite: Dangerous. The kickstarter is struggling to gain funds. A lot of "the old guard" are asking about offline capabilities. David Braben and FD commit to supplying an offline version, and the money starts pouring in. From then till one week before Gamma, FD have again and again confirmed the offline version was in. Selling the game world wide on this premise.

Then suddenly, out of the blue, one week before gamma they sneak the "oh by the way, offline is out" into a newsletter.

In the time that I have been a premium beta backer, I have been "testing" primarily in open play, as I considered this the hardest part for FD to get right. After release I would be switching between open play for hard core thrills, and this fabulous group for jolly online co-op.

The point being, that like with my other Elite games, I didn't have to worry about servers going down, or FD stopping the servers when profits get low.

I would still have a hard copy on my pc to play for as long as I liked. Like the previous titles. This was promised by DB and FD from the get go, and it was a key feature in actually getting the kickstarter off the ground.

But no. Instead they stick it to their core backers, by leaving it out (and in no way do I believe that they just found out 3 days ago), and not telling anyone until a week before gamma.

It really is a classic bait and switch money grab, and I just didn't see it coming. How stupid am I? (Don't answer that Kharma!)

So, that was as short and sweet as I could make it. I hope it answers your question.

....Bad news doesn't stop being bad news just because it isn't delivered. At the very least, FD should man up and take it on the chin. Try to salvage some respect, while they still have any left TO salvage. Tis a sad day indeed

Indeed.

[Cmdr A von Uberwald]

I was disappointed by the no offline, but then thought, well its not really going to affect me (as some others have already said (I'm also aware this is selfish)), but if people who are friends/members of this group and in game, who are also regular contributors to our forum, then this will affect me, it will affect us all.

The fact I'm posting means it matters to me.

Hot headed, rash and worse (not hear, we're better than that here) has been attributed by some to those who have elected to leave, to be fair, I also think it is a bit rash. Having said that, I was a bit rash and hot headed in years gone by, so feel hypocritical even commenting on others decision, even more so as I fully understand there reasons.

I'm not trying to imply or other wise say anything, other than it's not just the game your leaving, its also this group and our ever growing community, sleep on it a bit more, you got to be curious about 3.9. Respect whatever you decide.

[GlobusDiablo]

....I'm not trying to imply or other wise say anything, other than it's not just the game your leaving, its also this group and our ever growing community, sleep on it a bit more, you got to be curious about 3.9. Respect whatever you decide.

Thanks Überwald

I hear you, and yes I am upset.

I've completely lost faith in FD and DB.

Who cares what they say, They're just telling us what we want to hear.

They've got their own little plan. And it's all about the dosh:

http://youtube.com/v/iEe3hBXZEyI

[Cmdr A von Uberwald]

Go have a look at these, should help cheer you up. Everyone go look.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59790

Already sent mine for making up, just a question of how big V's how many and cost.

Don't think there from our group but this is some of the latest stuff members of the ED community are producing for each other, Titus's Balls latest video as another example.

[SJT]

This is sad news. I hate to see anyone give up on the game because of this, especial you, Globus, but I fully understand every ones frustration. I hope FD has a rethink and maybe SP will be back on in a year or two, but I'm not getting my expectations up anymore. Take care, and I hope to see you again some day.

Thanks Commander.

Fly safe.

Bloody hell Tim! I didn't know it was you. You were the greatest voice of reason on that thread. I admire your principles. I, however, have no principles and will be staying.

[SJT]

Drew Wagar wrote a little blog about the "no more offline" issue which actually picked me up a little.
It is written very balanced and he also puts himslef in the "disappointed" camp.
But then he goes on and describes the vision of E:D and made me understand a little better why an offline mode really might have been too restricted to please even the ones who are sad right now (me included). So presuming FD really did try and saw no way of pulling it off without compromising this vision, I can now relate better to the decision.
Read it here: http://www.drewwagar.com/progress-repor ... g-offline/

Is that the Drew Wagar, writer of the Elite Dangerous book Reclamation, whose profits will be proportional to the success of the game?

[Mr_Average]

Shania Twain was so fucking hot.

[GlobusDiablo]

This is sad news. I hate to see anyone give up on the game because of this, especial you, Globus, but I fully understand every ones frustration. I hope FD has a rethink and maybe SP will be back on in a year or two, but I'm not getting my expectations up anymore. Take care, and I hope to see you again some day.

Thanks Commander.

Fly safe.

Bloody hell Tim! I didn't know it was you. You were the greatest voice of reason on that thread. I admire your principles. I, however, have no principles and will be staying.

I hope you're not referring to me as being Tim? Because I'm not, and I hope I haven't suggested otherwise.

[SJT]

I hope you're not referring to me as being Tim? Because I'm not, and I hope I haven't suggested otherwise.

I wondered why you didn't have a funny accent in that video!

Erm, I'll just get me coat....