Can we get a poll up to gauge the amount of players that play online vs offline

[S77th-konkussion]

There have been many good points made and I've tried to keep up with them on this thread. Also the thread about the multiplayers locked and etc. I can understand why a group going through training and testing does keep them locked. However, having never done any online flying with a combat sim (many hours with FSX group) how is someone who is tentative like me, have a chance to know what online is all about? I know there used to be invites to sit and listen in or join in a flying session without joining a squadron, but again, what about us new people out there? I've many hours in single player and enjoy it alot, but sometimes I just want to get up and fly with a real person. My good flying partner in FSX wanted to join me in A-10, but he is very ill. My other buddies I used to fly with in FSX are not interested. All the movies and pics I have sent them, they still want to mosey along (is that slang still used) in their Cessnas' . Maybe someone (maybe I will do it) should start a thread where we ask and allow newbies to have an area -and I believe it was just mentioned a couple of days ago- could hang out and fly together. I use Teamspeak but have no idea how to find or open a new channel. Anyone have any ideas?

So at this point- I remain 100% offline, but with a desire to go online. My last 6 or so checks of the servers in the last week showed me that everyone was locked. Maybe I missed an opportunity. Thanks for considerations

 

Dane you will see a S77th Recruitment server up frequently. Keep your eyes peeled for it. It's not up 24/7 obviously. If you have TS 3- you can go to s77th.com (forums) and click on the TS window at the top and you'll be in.

 

Get on TS channel before flying in any public server.. If it's a 104th server- go to their site and get TS info, etc.. You can make bookmarks in TS too.

 

Gotta do it. No one is going to put a big effort into training via the chat function.. Fingers will fall off.. it's mentally and literally tiring.. You can even get on it and not be flying- say if you have verbal questions, etc. If others on TS are not busy flying etc. -they'll help.

Edited January 20, 2011 by S77th-konkussion

[thebigherm]

So if it comes down to it; would players sacrifice new development/modules (fighter perhaps) for a more dedicated time building a dynamic campaign or implementing more features online? Would people pay extra for these features? How much would you pay?

 

Lets talk bottom line here, it's not like ED offers NO MP features in their products. I'm quite satisfied with them generally, if they had more it probably wouldn't make much of a difference to me. If 100% of the market played exclusively online all the time I'm sure the development process would be different. Apart from MMO's there are no complex games that are exclusively online, it's generally a medium who's gameplay is centered around the lowest common denominator, if a person has a crap internet connection...their gameplay suffers heavily.

 

Whatever case any individual has about gaming online and the future etc there is an equal and obviously more powerful argument against them. Dedicated online works for simple console games who's single player component is no longer than 5 hours and which requires a monthly subscription (xbox life) to enjoy. (PS3 guys excluded of course, but also endure more lag than xbox users).

 

I don't know why I feel so strongly about this, I have thought a lot of the same things people are writing down here for online gaming, but fact of the matter is the bigger picture doesn't always take into account our beliefs/desires/gameplay preferences. We have to accept that...voice an opinion of course, but be more understanding when those who know more than us fill in the blanks we've left out.

 

Some posts I read make me feel as if there's no mp feature at all and that simply isn't the case. There is only so much a boutique developer can achieve in a given amount of time. I've seen nothing but progress in the YEARS i've been following ED products (lomac day 1) and I'm CONFIDENT the greatest things are yet to come. I love those boutique shops because frankly they're making the type of sims I want to play. If it weren't for ED, 777 Studios (i forget the russian u something initially), Madox games etc we'd have no modern day sims.

 

The trend in FPS is even starting to shift, CASUAL gamers is the new audience. Vastly more popular than the COD teen market, games require FAR less frills to produce and they sell to a wider audience across multiple platforms. Angry Birds is your worst nightmare...not MP features in DCS series ;)

 

I beg to differ with just about everything you said. I run a multiplayer community based around a military simulation game called Arma2 as well as DCS A-10. A good, well thought out, custom mission can go on for weeks while being played exclusively online. Of course, this is with a persistent battlefield and so on. This game, which differs a lot from COD, BFBC2, and other run and gun shooters requires constant teamwork, communication, and cooperation to achieve a mission. This game is NOTHING without the utilization of the TEAM. DCS A-10C, in my most humble opinion, can be played with much the same focus on teamwork. Teamwork isnt for everyone, some people like being Rambo...or in this case Maverick, but some people strive to attain as much knowledge and implement that knowledge as a team, or wing, or flight...however its divvied.

 

I understand that ED, as a "boutique studio" has a lot on their plate already...but lets not neuter the market here by not allowing those of us who want to play cooperatively online in a server with more than a couple people to do so. Currently, the MP capabilities are severely limited to "listen servers" This, again my my humble opinion, is not the way forward.

 

I respect your opinion, but you also have to be able to see both sides of the ball and respect the opinion of those whose differ from yours.

[Spartan]

And I will re-iterate once more that while your statement is generally correct, it fails to take into account the parameters of this trend. How big it is actually? How fast is it moving?

 

The reality is that it is small, and moving slowly. For what reason then, should ED drop everythign and go and restructure MP right this moment? I guess I have to reiterate the trend that you are not seeing here. ED has a plan, and they follow it carefully, and revise where it is needed. DCS is an evolving project and it is not standing still by any means. The gains over previous ED offerings are huge, and they can do this because they follow their plan. At some point, they will turn their attention to the MP part proper, whereas right now they are just keeping it working as best as they can given time constraints (and it is not a zero-effort exercise. Quite the opposite).

 

This is no different than any other part of the sim: The sound engine has gotten a significant treatment, so has the ME, so have the graphics and physics engines, the AI. There's a move towards multi-threading as well, and there is the 64-bit binary. MP will get its turn.

 

I also don't see DCS being advertized as an offline game in general, it is advertized as a combat flight sim series with an MP component.

 

 

Now this is what i call a productive post, clean precise and informative.

It gives us mear mortals an insight into the ED work horse and some of there goals..

+1

[element1108]

I beg to differ with just about everything you said. I run a multiplayer community based around a military simulation game called Arma2 as well as DCS A-10. A good, well thought out, custom mission can go on for weeks while being played exclusively online. Of course, this is with a persistent battlefield and so on. This game, which differs a lot from COD, BFBC2, and other run and gun shooters requires constant teamwork, communication, and cooperation to achieve a mission. This game is NOTHING without the utilization of the TEAM. DCS A-10C, in my most humble opinion, can be played with much the same focus on teamwork. Teamwork isnt for everyone, some people like being Rambo...or in this case Maverick, but some people strive to attain as much knowledge and implement that knowledge as a team, or wing, or flight...however its divvied.

 

I understand that ED, as a "boutique studio" has a lot on their plate already...but lets not neuter the market here by not allowing those of us who want to play cooperatively online in a server with more than a couple people to do so. Currently, the MP capabilities are severely limited to "listen servers" This, again my my humble opinion, is not the way forward.

 

I respect your opinion, but you also have to be able to see both sides of the ball and respect the opinion of those whose differ from yours.

 

Yeah perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough, I'm not against the opinion of online, hell I LOVE playing online. My main point (however unclear it was) is that the gross majority of players (these are statistics, not my personal opinion) who play pc games do so the majority of time offline.

 

The whole boutique thing was just to reinforce the fact that there isn't endless resources from which to keep digging. If you don't stop at some point, when do you stop when it comes to features.

 

At some point you have to wrap it up and move on, that's all. As accessable as the internet appears to be, the majority of users do not have a strong enough connection to offer high quality online play. People complain (rightly so) when an internet connection must be maintained to play a game, they simply will not buy said game if one is required (rise of flight initially, SH5).

 

I actually play ARMA 2 and I only play online, i'd prefer to play online more in the DCS series but time is just a factor for me (and if its a factor for me, it's a factor for a lot of other players as well who are in similar situations).

I have done my best learning from flying Black Shark online. When I heard FC2 and Black Shark were being made compatible I lost my S&&T I was so happy to hear that.

 

Evidence suggests they're aiming for a bigger mp compatibility, the goal of ED is in fact for the modules to be online compatible...that in itself indicates the companies dedication and respect for multiplayer.

 

Of course I respect the opinions of others, I do apologize if that's been lacking.:pilotfly:

Edited January 21, 2011 by element1108

[Gonzo01]

Always online except when testing missions

[Henchman14]

Offline only. Black Shark. Reason is, while I enjoy learning the aircraft to the fullest, I find the world its in pretty bland and boring. No human intelligence on the ground, lots of plains and large mountains, Falcon IV type world. So, basically, I'm really only interested in learning the heli.

I only play FPS - Arma 2 / Infiltration / True Combat / Crysis Wars online. Basically, FPS with realism as close as they could get it, and a living world. I'd love to fly realistic aircraft online in a world like that, but the world of Shark just doesn't do it for me.

Edited January 21, 2011 by Henchman14

[Cali]

i think personally this will help to solve alot of disagreements between people as to the amount of people that actually purchase this game to be apart of a online squad vs just playing solo missions.

 

You should have actually started a poll then

[Henchman14]

You should have actually started a poll then

ditto.

[Headspace]

Not really, not with the 1st VFW anyhow: to get full FORUM access you will need to join us, but to come fly with us is easy. The Team Speak connection info is posted on the main website on the left side under NOTAMS.

 

Come introduce yourself and we will take you up with with us.

 

Let them know Mower/Bramage sent you.

 

http://firstfighterwing.com

You know, Mower, I might take you up on that at some point. While I am still in the process of getting a regular session of DCS going that I run, I wouldn't be adverse to occasionally playing with another group, and the "democratic, no ban on being a part of another group" thing appeals to me.

 

Banning gaming participation elsewhere whether express or implied is an enormous red flag (for me) when closed groups do that. After 15 years of gaming online (starting out with flight sims) it's become one of my dealbreakers.

[Steel Jaw]

Banning gaming participation elsewhere whether express or implied is an enormous red flag (for me) when closed groups do that. After 15 years of gaming online (starting out with flight sims) it's become one of my dealbreakers.

 

Exactly why I am over there. Same experience as you, same conclusions. Sounds like you and I are on the same page.

[slowhand]

Online there is nut'n like it. Good friends, Cold Beer and the Best BS Storys you will ever hear! Just wish there was a few more open servers.:pilotfly:

[HellMutt]

Offline. Tried online once with Flaming Cliffs, taxying onto the runway almost got run over by another player taking off. I wasn't ready, don't know if I ever will feel ready.

[GGTharos]

You never feel ready ... until that first kill :D

 

Then you'll have taxiway road rage like everything else and any time someone cuts you off like that you will wish you could mash on all the SAM launch buttons on this guy.

[sofie_59]

Offline. I'm not that good i think to go online. and then to use Team speak? hmm, my English is not for speaking, just for reading and writing!!A couple of year ago i bought Medusa headphone just for the speaking in Fighter ops training course!!

And that is not even out yet!

[GGTharos]

Ok ... next mention of FO in this thread gets a ban.

 

I think I was pretty clear last time I asked people to stop bashing it, and now it's OT, too.

[Steel Jaw]

no ban please

[OB1]

There is no sense of achievement with offline play... never play offline. I train online with friends and you learn real fast doing so... there is nothing like talking to your buddy on the way to your mission zone or asking or assisting when in trouble. Best of all is when you all touch down with no losses, you get a great sense of contribution and achievement when completing a mission as a team!! Co-op the only way to fly !! "If you cannot share your experiences there is nothing gained."

[PhoenixBvo]

"If you cannot share your experiences there is nothing gained."

- Into the wild

 

That is partly true. Maybe someone can still have a good time alone. That's personal, but the online experience is much more interesting, because you're interacting with intelligent beings as opposed to AI drones.

[Ragtag]

Will definatly go online but first i'm gonna finish the campaigns offline. When that is done i will be able to go online without making a huge mess for everyone else :P

[El_Roto]

I definately like on-line better. The ability to coordinate with a human as opposed to hoping the AI will do what you ask without blindly flying into an SA envelope is much more rewarding. Plus, the comraderie.

[flycats2]

When I first began years ago it was offline MSFS & was afraid of to go online for whatever reasons when combat sims came along, but once I made the move to online there was no turning back. I learned so much more & had great fun with new friends.

 

Now I fly Falcon4 BMS with the 87th Straydogs, Jane's F/A-18 with VFA-41 Black Aces, DCS A-10 Warthog with the War Hawks, & IL-2 1946 with the Tangmere Pilots in the UK.

Edited February 13, 2011 by flycats2

[Krippz]

I play Online exclusively.