Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.

As some people know, the initial release for Fallen Enchantress will not have multiplayer enabled. It was decided early on that 100% of the design and development focus for Fallen Enchantress would be on delivering a world class single player experience.

But after release, lots of things become possible.  Advocates of multiplayer tend to be vocal. To gauge genuine interest, how many Fallen Enchantress players would be willing to pay a dollar to support the development time for a multiplayer mode (Internet cooperative / competitive).

To vote, go to:

https://www.elementalgame.com/journals

Please only vote if you are actually in the beta (the admin poll will display what % of users are actually registered users).

Result: 60% would not pay $1 for MP DLC. 40% would.


Comments (Page 3)
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on May 12, 2012

I voted no. A dollar would be a great price for something like that, but I personally have no desire to play multiplayer.

on May 12, 2012

I'd be willing to pay up to 5 bucks (big spender, I know!) if:

1) mp supports tactical battles

2) mp supports events and quests

3) mp supports mods

otherwise I have no interest in mp. I understand others will have different demands, those are mine. I haven't cast a vote yet.

on May 12, 2012

Couldn't care less.

Bring on content expansions! 

on May 12, 2012

No.

I find that the more games focus on multi-player, the more they tend to cut down on things I enjoy. I'll give two examples:

-I love strategy, but my hands are all mangled and slow, yet turn-based games are neigh impossible to come by (for several reasons, i know) one of which is that games move faster, and require less time commitment if they are RTS.

-I love a good story, an expansive one with little nuances that make it all feel alive this is why i'm devoted to the elderscrolls from day 1. it's why i played the ME series (though I haven't bought ME3 yet) and what is the multi-player about? it's just some random battle that gives you.... points? How about CoD or MW (which various friend and siblings of mine play)? again, fast paced, no story, no meaning, just a lot of random words of positive reinforcement. Sure, games like WoW manage a bit of narrative, though to accomplish that they need to devoting their not inconsiderable resources and large amounts of time to make the entire game to mulit-player (which i avoid for other reasons) but even there is it really a multi-player story? you're in a world filled with people that have already saved the world the same way you want to and little about that will change.

These examples are meant to illustrate the loss of the very thing video games provide for me: escapism. If life were like visiting jurassic park, i'd probably never play. but it's not. it's level grinding at a desk, or on roof. it's not mining for gold to smelt and forge into a suit of armore, it's mining for coal that someone else will deal with. there're no dragons, there's no magic. I want these things. more than that i want to believe it. when i play FE i want to walk around and talk to people, if only in my mind. and i can't do that if there's no time. i can't do that if the world is two cities and a field. i can't do that if i have to sit around waiting for someone 10 time zones away to make their move (i was president of a chess club in a law school: i hated it). i can't do that if they're not online when i am. i don't want my enjoyment to be determined by someone out collecting trophy's made of 1's and 0's. - i could continue about how it seems that games that add multi-player then tend twoard a focus on it, relegating single-player to a glorified tutorial and from there they start charging money for items, but i'd like to believe Stardock would never do that. Instead i'd like to address one more issue:

-people. People are smart. they'll find the simple solution; if there's a unit that can be spammed to win they'll do it. they'll turn an entire civilization into mindless drones, missile boat captains or cannon fodder infantry and throw them at you in a ridiculous show of mathematical prowess. they'll focus on "achievements." they rage quite. they sleep. they eat. they'll talk to you. and all of this is fine in mariokart 64 or golden eye, where the game doesn't really matter to you, where it's really just backyard wrestling in the digital age, play fighting on tv. but in a game you care about, a game you use to escape the co-workers that rage quit meetings, or trash talk at the water cooler, it destroys the appeal. yet even if you find someone that can let you keep the escapism, someone that can keep the game fun and you're available at the same time, as the game stretches on other needs surface and choices need to be made; does your new friend spend time with you, or with his wife? does he order more pizza or make himself a healthier meal and get some exercise? if you don't worry about your new friend you're kind of a monster, but if you do the game begins to be overridden by real life. sure, a new friend is great, people interacting with people can be fun, but then are you playing the game because you like the game, or because you care about the other person?

 

sorry for the rant: The point i wanted to make was, in short: i don't like multi-player. i think it destroys most games (esp. RPGs) and as far as FE is concerned not only would i not pay for it, i would never play it even if it were free.

on May 12, 2012


I voted "no".   Personally, I have never really had much interest even in the concept of a 4X game, or a Turn-Based-Strategy (TBS) game, being available in multi-player mode.

And while I would not wish to spoil other people's fun, I would be concerned about Stardock expending scarce/valuable resources on multiplayer mode, and thus detracting from achieving the best possible ( "world class", you called it ) single player experience.

On the other hand, I would be willing to pay more ($5 - $10), for significantly improved/expanded content, either as part of a later-stage "expansion pack", or a "Gold Edition" type version.  Once you really get the Retail-version, single player game, nailed, there is always going to be a good prospect for extending the franchise. 

But for now, please  DO concentrate on perfecting that "World Class" single player fantasy game that ( I think ) you originally envisioned!   Thanks ...

on May 12, 2012

Stardock used to use pre-orders to set the budget for their games, which is a kind of kickstarter when you think about it.

 

I think if the MP folks really want MP, and they can prove to Stardock that it would be profitable, then they should get it.

 

The big thing holding this game back ATM to me is tactical AI, and MP would provide that, though it would likely need some large modifications to make it work viably.

 

 

on May 12, 2012

Didn't vote cos the voting question doesn't cover hotseat.

Internet competitive: no

Hotseat cooperative: prolly would pay 20$ for that.

on May 12, 2012

Would I pay a dollar? It depends on what kind of multiplayer you're planning.

I would love to design my own units and fight with them in some sort of skirmish mode.

But playing the entire game in MP is nothing I have time for.

 

on May 12, 2012

I voted no because I don't play multiplayer. Sure, playing AoW on LAN with my family was fun,  but I don't see myself doing that any time soon anymore. I think that multiplayer would be a diversion for things that are more important for me, like content for the singleplayer.

on May 12, 2012

I never play multiplayer, so no interest for me, however a multiplayer DLC makes sense inasmuch those who do play MP will have the choice

on May 12, 2012

While I love Multiplayer as it allows me as a user to share my experience with others, there should foremost be a solid game underneath that I'm glad to share. It also cannot be tacked on as an afterthought or else it'll end up being a frustrating experience for everybody. So imo it seems bundling a well tested Multiplayer in a later expansion after there's a strong core game would be the wisest course of action if you're running on limited resources.

on May 12, 2012

Mutliplayer suits FPS and nothing else.

on May 12, 2012

If it had a system where I got an email when it was my turn I could play sloow games with friends. If I have to sit down and play at the same time as them, then I would not have the time.

on May 12, 2012

No

Just not interested in multiplayer and money isn't the only resource that would be used to make multiplayer happen it would also take the development teams time (both in creating and supporting), time which I would much much rather be spent improving and adding to the single player experience.

 

on May 12, 2012

Someone at SD is now saying:

"See? I told you most of them wouldn't even pay a lousy buck for MP!"

 

I get the feeling that the poll was meant to demonstrate that, anyway. Who makes $1 DLCs for anything but superficial stuff?

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