Limited co-op multiplayer

[Falcrack]

Not asking for an MMO (wouldn't work IMO for the scale of this game), but it would be really nice to be able to play multiplayer with a limited number of friends in a universe. I am thinking like the Anno series, which I played with my wife quite a bit where we could both control different aspects of our empire. This sort of limited multiplayer, where a few players could either share control of ships, or act as a separate faction, would be highly entertaining I think.

[Alan Phipps]

Already asked at XCon. Awaiting to see if answered.

[Earth Ultimatum IV.]

I'd love to see this. At least some P2P co-op where a player joins your game on invite (or you join his) and you act as one of his crew members.

[Sandalpocalypse]

yeah, the design looks ideal for coop multiplayer, down to ship objectives showing as missions for players in them. so the economy player could issue the fight player an objective and it would work seamlessly.

[Lingo]

I agree. I'd like to see this too.

[LTerSlash]

Yes, i want this, nothing mayor that needs massive changes to SP gameplay, just SP with coop, thats all i ask. Even if that means the other persons are not other players ingame, just controlling an NPC/SHIP under my property.

I keep wondering how great X3 whould have been if i could invite a friend or two to fly a diferent ship that i own. That whould have been a lot of fun.

[Falcrack]

My wife usually doesn't get into games, but she enjoyed watching me play X3. I kept thinking a bunch of times how it would have been nice for someone to play empire manager (which she is pretty good at) while I go out and shoot stuff.

[LTerSlash]

Yes thats exactly what i mean, two or more persons controlling the same player ententy, with access to all ships and property. So while one fly a capital, the other fly a fighter, or one pilots while the other uses a turret, or as you said, one combat while the other do economy stuff... That whould have been awesome to have on X3, i really hope they give it a chance with X4.

All of this on P2P using steam so Egosoft does not have to provide any kind of server.

[Rail_Balco]

Nice, playerbase seems to be less aggressive about multiplayer in X series, maybe it can happen one day
Certainly would love to see such feature.

[Ricemanu]

I'm pretty sure we won't see any of this, but i'd love to have an X game with some coop functionality some day.

[LTerSlash]

Nice, playerbase seems to be less aggressive about multiplayer in X series, maybe it can happen one day
Certainly would love to see such feature.

CBJ said it some years ago, the reason we dont have MP on X series is because if they go MP is to go MMO and no anything less. They are wrong on that, switching to a MMO is taking away what makes X series great, and im sure that a MMO is something that is way over their budget. MMO is not the way to go for X series.

They need to reconsider, and start with a basic form of coop like the one i mentioned that fits X series MUCH better than anything else. Is the only way to do MP whiout having to do comprimises with SP gameplay.

Also times have changed over the year, and any form of MP is something people consider when buying. I think they will reconsider, and market is going to force them to do so. I hope they will consider it for X4.

[Ynemey]

My experience is that the best single player games don't have multiplayer, and I have doubts that the X series can pull it off if other AAA titles can't do it. Anno only worked because it functioned like an RTS. If you consider Anno 2205, which is more similar to the X games than Anno 2070, they couldn't make multiplayer a feature. Furthermore features like SETA will have to be cut for multiplayer, and I would guess many others would be cut as well. If they have the resources to make a spin-off multiplayer version, I'll try it, but the main series should always be single player in my opinion.

[Augustini]

Not asking for an MMO (wouldn't work IMO for the scale of this game), but it would be really nice to be able to play multiplayer with a limited number of friends in a universe. I am thinking like the Anno series, which I played with my wife quite a bit where we could both control different aspects of our empire. This sort of limited multiplayer, where a few players could either share control of ships, or act as a separate faction, would be highly entertaining I think.

Although it would be epic, i wouldn't hold my breath for it.
The X-series has always been singleplayer and i doubt it would work well as small scale multiplayer.

If multiplayer was to be included in a proper way, the entire game should be focused around it and built in from the start.

[LTerSlash]

If multiplayer was to be included in a proper way, the entire game should be focused around it and built in from the start.

Thats only if you want to do a MP with multiple planyers woking as independient players each one.

In a SP game with coop MP, no changes must be done to the SP other than allow more players to join in and use the same player data and assets.

In X4, a good example whould be allowing a friend to take control of a NPC working for me and warever he does is like im doing it myselft.
That does not take away the SP gameplay in any way. Is more like the SP player is in multiple places at the same time, is not the same as supporting multiple independient players in the same universe.

[Falcrack]

About the only snag I can think of with a limited co-op multiplayer for the X games would be SETA. You couldn't just activate it at whim without the other player's consent.

[forloren]

If I had a vote, I would vote no.

I would much rather see the developers spend time and resources on developing and improving features that are at the core of the game, like the planned end to end economy. That, IMHO, is a HUGE part of what is going to make X4 The Next Big Thing, not some, again IMHO, tacked on feature that I won't even use.

That's not to say I am against adding innovative new features that enhance the core game play, maybe something like an API to facilitate external apps, akin to Fallout 4's PipBoy App. Though the actual value such an API or app would add is debatable, it would provide some of the features mentioned above, and would not involve having to dive into the black hole that is "Netcode".

[X2-Illuminatus]

Nice, playerbase seems to be less aggressive about multiplayer in X series, maybe it can happen one day
Certainly would love to see such feature.

CBJ said it some years ago, the reason we dont have MP on X series is because if they go MP is to go MMO and no anything less. They are wrong on that, switching to a MMO is taking away what makes X series great, and im sure that a MMO is something that is way over their budget. MMO is not the way to go for X series.

They need to reconsider, and start with a basic form of coop like the one i mentioned that fits X series MUCH better than anything else. Is the only way to do MP whiout having to do comprimises with SP gameplay.

Also times have changed over the year, and any form of MP is something people consider when buying. I think they will reconsider, and market is going to force them to do so. I hope they will consider it for X4.

In his reply CBJ was, however, talking about the costs involved in developing a multiplayer game and not about what multiplayer gameplay would work best for the X-series. The reality of the development of a MP game (or element) is that it will cost additional money. Seeing how passionate people are about this topic and how many have clearly said that they do not want the X games to become a multiplayer game - I strongly suggest to check out Gazz' Multiplayer FAQ to get an idea about the many discussions revolving around this topic - you cannot simply assume that by adding a multiplayer element you get enough additional sales to cover the additional MP development costs, the lost sales of those who don't buy the game because of MP and those who don't buy the game who wanted MP, but wanted to have a different form of it. If you cannot generate additional money, then you will have to cut back on other single player features to free up the money. Thus, an X game with multiplayer part will have less singleplayer features than an X game without MP. This is exactly the point everyone makes. It's simply prioritizing features one likes over those one doesn't like. With all that in mind, it doesn't really matter, whether you speak of a simple, basic or limited form of multiplayer. As all these variants will require that the single game can communicate with at least one other game. So a big part of the intial work will be the same.

As for the times have changed argument, actually I think we're over the pinnacle of the "every good game must have MP" sentiment already. A couple of years ago, the incentive to add MP was a lot greater, especially for new games and franchises. Besides with so many other space games covering multiplayer gameplay (Elite Dangerous, Star Citizen, Infinity: Battelscape, EVE, No Man's Sky) in so many different forms, I feel Egosoft would have a hard time winning so many new customers, as people are more critical about a proper and their desired MP implementation.

[Kitty]

I agree that MMO for X series is not an interesting point. And there is already functionning games for people intersted in it. I don't play MMO, for very good reasons.

I'd really love having a limited multiplayer like we have in Freelancer, like we have in Neverwinter Night and the like : LAN server, persistant world, we are a groupe of 2 to 5 players that want to share the same experience, together, perhaps a few hours a week.

I know that this would cost us the SETA (or at least SETA would work only if every players would activate it), but... well... without multiplayer, we would buy 2 licences. With it, we would probably buy 4 or 5 to play all the family together on our local server.

Let's dream.

[vahull]

I Know X has been a traditionally Single Player Game , however i would love to see a Multiplayer Mode added, my idea

Player Controlled Dedicated Server - can be run from a home PC/Laptop or hosted by a game hosting company

This Dedicated server creates a game universe that's separate to the single player save and runs continuously ( saving to the server periodically) the server saves player progress however like any single player game if your not online to manage your assets etc you may log back in with nothing or your NPC's may have dominated and you have everything

Steam Integration of player user profiles so your steam friends can join your server ( and a UI to set them as Friend or Foe or Neutral so you can play together / with each other or against each other )

PVE and or PVP options that can be turned on and off ( everyone uses the same setting server wide and all game balancing is the same as single player no altering for PVP balancing )

This would create a new Dynamic aspect to the game My Wife and i love playing X3 side by side , racing each other to finsih the campaign, we would love to be able to play the campaign together , friends on steam that play other space games would love to see X4 as an option for Lan/Internet Play

While this is an out there request for the game it could also be added as an optional extra for players so that the players of X that prefer single player dont have to use it or be affected at all by it being present ( think games of old where you would click multiplayer then create a game or join a server )

Please Comment Reasons For or Against

[Tynaiden]

Multiplayer has been a feature I've been hoping for since X2. I know the engines up until now have no reasonable way to implement multiplayer but was hoping the new engine (or is it a rebuild of Rebirth?) would be more flexible in allowing it with some work.

I know a big draw of the game and focus is about the player being the big shot. I know it would hard to balance or sync a large server. Co-op with a few friends with one either hosting a back-end or a dedicated program could be an option where balance isn't as much an issue with the scripting and mods available.

Three friends I have bought X-universe games for have directly expressed they have given up because the learning curve is daunting and having someone to co-op with makes it easier to get into. Teaching first hand through the game or just helping getting started (by being a wingman or gifting resources) instead of them trying to glean info from lets-plays and often oddly formatted guides presented in a plethora of accents and opinions on how the game should be played.


Seems to me more so now than ever, the sandbox nature of the X-universe is a major point of interest and possibly selling point when sandbox games are largely thriving. Lots of those games make a point to include some form of multi-player be it either mostly just co-op with P2P implementation or even a forked server instance.

Ego has already embraced Steam to a fair degree with their previous titles and Steam offers some tools and support for networking for devs to use.

It is the dev's decision of course on the direction of the game and I still support how they are trying to give the long-time fans more of the things we have loved over the years. This is just some extra feature I would love to see and hope they consider.