Suspending development of networked multiplayer

[dbaumgart]

I'll repost here the statement from today's development blog post[www.gaslampgames.com]:
"We have decided to suspend development of simultaneous networked multiplayer for Clockwork Empires indefinitely. There are, simply put, technology issues and design issues that we don't feel we can satisfactorily solve in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, we don't want to devote time to addressing those issues if that time will detract from the single player experience, which people are currently enjoying and which is the major thrust of the game. Support will exist in engine for round robin "let's play" games, and we will continue to build that out as we work our way out of Early Access and into a new stage of development, which we are tentatively calling, uh, "Access." As always, we thank you for your patience and understanding of the harsh realities of game development."

If you like feel free to share your thoughts with us directly by emailing [e-mail] or, of course, by chatting with us here in the forums.

[Jimbob Helldiver]

Not mad at all, was never going to use that feature any ways.

[dbaumgart]

Originally posted by (UvG)Ninja Tom:

Not mad at all, was never going to use that feature any ways.

(Turns out this is the most common response we've received. Glad you're cool with it!)

[Anonymous Helper]

Good news for me as this means you'll be able to allocate all your resouces in making the single player portion and probably will be able to get game out sooner. Wouldn't have touched multiplayer even if my life would've depended on it. Keep up the good work!

[Zero Grim]

I kind of expect that if multiplayer ever existed it would be in a more unqiue way, my thoughts where that since the overworld will apprently change due to your action why not have the over world also change to the actions of everyone, like if the majority of people playing on "multiplayer" mode went to war with a nation that nation would be more hostile to everyone in "multiplayer".

Two players on the same map just sounds like your asking for people to argue over reasorces, Im glad the focus is on the single player and im sure many people will be thankful you at least tested the water of multiplayer, i mean in an alternative dimension it could have been really easy :P

[DoMo]

+1 to going on the right path. I enjoy the single player mode thing ... if ever there is a competative part of the game maybe a tournament board on achievments of some sort kinda common these days i know but still kinda fun. .. but not the in game ranting and hateing crap .. that stuffs just geting old and plain yucky and it never fails some type of infighting.

[DeusExMachina]

Yeah that's fine. I don't think I've ever used the multiplayer in city-building games. Focusing on the single player game is definitely a better bet.

[Donkey]

Thank god. Netcode is a resource sink.

[Primus]

Your single player is already very good and VERY optimistic this far. Letting go the multiplayer and focusing/giving more frequent patches to singleplayer will be in mutual benifit as I believe. New maps, New structures, multi layer buildings, walls, new jobs, less lag etc. The game is good at its current state if we dont count the high pop lag and random crashes. This game is probably one of the games which has the greatest potential to become something awesome. I bought the game the minute I saw it. Colony? Redcoats? Town builder? With Fight Mechanic? Epic. The only thing we would need and which would be extreme is probably designing the buildings as like in future, instead of boxes ^^ Carry on devs cheers

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by dbaumgart:

I'll repost here the statement from today's development blog post[www.gaslampgames.com]:
"We have decided to suspend development of simultaneous networked multiplayer for Clockwork Empires indefinitely. There are, simply put, technology issues and design issues that we don't feel we can satisfactorily solve in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, we don't want to devote time to addressing those issues if that time will detract from the single player experience, which people are currently enjoying and which is the major thrust of the game. Support will exist in engine for round robin "let's play" games, and we will continue to build that out as we work our way out of Early Access and into a new stage of development, which we are tentatively calling, uh, "Access." As always, we thank you for your patience and understanding of the harsh realities of game development."

If you like feel free to share your thoughts with us directly by emailing [e-mail] or, of course, by chatting with us here in the forums.

Hate to say 'I told you so'.....but...."I told you so." :P

I made a post almost two years ago that recommended dropping Multiplayer for the exact reasons you mention above. Anyways, live and learn.....glad to see the game is coming along nice!

I purchased your game in very early alpha because i wanted to suppor the product, and I am very happy to see you and your team have progressed as far as you have in only a couple of years. I very much look forward to experiencing a finished product!

On a side note: I just started a new Youtube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Rq0jnAyAkf1zjDhP60ARA

and am anxious to execute a LET'S PLAY, First time playthrough, of Clockwork Empires.

Please let me know when you feel the game as at a point that it would be favorible to record and post a 'like live' video.

[theseeman]

maybe in Clockwork Empires 2: The Clockworkening?

[Anonymous Helper]

Originally posted by theseeman:

maybe in Clockwork Empires 2: The Clockworkening?

Let's get this one out and complete first before starting to speculate about possible sequel shall we? ;-p

[Dr. August]

Lol I'm actually a little disappointed. I'd love playing a game like this with my wife. Could create supply lines and spend time figuring out where each other spawned. Like a co-op mode but separate villages.

[Alexhandr]

I'm with Dr. August. I was hoping to play this with my fiancee. C'est la vie. Good luck, keep up the good work.