Elite: Dangerous (Elite Kickstarter) David Braben/Frontier

[eastyy]

cannot stand not having offline mode not just because my internet connection is not great and the fact there will probably be server downtime aswell

But i cannot understand how having to have a lot more servers would make any financial sense

[charlesr]

Sometimes people just want a standalone product on disc that they can enjoy forever

[Brad]

Pretty pissed off the more I think about it. Perks for their 'valued beta customers'. What about those who pledged the kickstarter the minute it was announced? They aren't valued at all then? I don't actually want any perks BTW, but I don't think anyone should any in-game perk that unbalances things.

Also, they must have known about the online only thing for months.

[MartyG]

I'd suggest getting Elite Plus from Good Old Games but they don't appear to list it. You could always Google it as abandonware and see what you find.

Considering all the recent issues with games that have decided to go online only there's not a chance I'll be getting this at launch now. It's more difficult to sell people stuff via microtransactions* to pay for the upkeep of your servers if they're always offline I suppose.


*I place no claims ED is laden with microtransactions

[Sam The Man]

Very disappointed to hear about there not being an offline mode as that would be what i would be playing the most. I will definitely wait to buy it now until they eventually allow gamers to play offline permanently which i think will eventually happen like Sim City.

[Brad]

ED has microtransactions before it's even launched:

https://store.elitedangerous.com/

Orange Cobra - ?3
Chrome Viper - ?10

?122 of DLC available before the game is even out. It's vulgar.

[MartyG]

Ah, so that is how they're intending to pay for the servers then.

David Braben is doing a Q&A on the forum atm ...

We have no intention of taking the servers down, but I understand what you are getting at. We plan to archive the game from time to time (ie matching client and servers and game world state), and would release such an archive if the servers were to come down. That would also address the issue of how you preserve an online game for the future, from the whole 'retro' perspective.

Of course the servers will come down at some point, that point being when it's costing more to keep them going than the income from the game. I find it difficult to believe server side code will be made available when that inevitably happens, which is what would be required to keep things rolling, just the executables wouldn't be enough.

[VR46]

The latest update on Eurogamer says people can ask for refunds and they will be looked at on a case to case basis. News whether they happen will filter through soon enough I'm sure.
Timing stinks though, is a month before retail launch and they didn't keep people in the loop for the last couple of years with their doubts, sounds like they wanted to grab every penny possible as early as possible.

[fishbowlhead]

The latest update on Eurogamer says people can ask for refunds and they will be looked at on a case to case basis. News whether they happen will filter through soon enough I'm sure.
Timing stinks though, is a month before retail launch and they didn't keep people in the loop for the last couple of years with their doubts, sounds like they wanted to grab every penny possible as early as possible.

This is why I don't support these things on launch. After destiny I also won't ever be supporting a game that is always online either, they can pull the servers or sever the connection at any given time if they wish. Alternatively if you haven't got a decent enough connection you can't play it in the first place.

Sign into our servers, buy micro transactions, buy the add on pack, buy the theme, buy this armour to level up quicker, buy this buy that. support us in kickstarter, now give us more money.

Tell you what, how about you just release the game without trying to gauge everyone first, then, if it's really good people will probably happily support you, till then, F off.

Rant over.

[MartyG]

The recent glut of online gaming issues have shown more than ever that even if you do have a decent internet connection, it's no guarantee things are going to work as advertised.

[VR46]

You can get a full refund - if you've not played the game yet

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-20-frontier-outlines-elite-dangerous-refund-policy-following-no-offline-mode-backlash

[VR46]

Guess this guy isn't losing sleep over the lack of offline mode with this dedicated set up

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-20-man-constructs-elite-dangerous-cockpit-wins-videogames

[VR46]

And they're having a backtrack/rethink on refunds for those that have already played it

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-20-frontier-outlines-elite-dangerous-refund-policy-following-no-offline-mode-backlash

Three posts in a row, achievement unlocked

[MartyG]

Managed to find it hidden away, all the Elite you need

[Deuteros]

Several versions of the original Elite are free to download from Ian Bell's website. He co-created Elite with David Braben but the two haven't been on the best of terms for a while now.