Multiplayer / Co-op / PvP in The Long Dark -- All threads will be merged here

[hinterland_community]

This thread is for discussion related to multiplayer in The Long Dark. It has been left unlocked to give players a place to share and discuss ideas, as well as see Hinterland's comments about the topic. Future threads related to multiplayer/co-op/pvp will be merged here.

The Long Dark was designed from the beginning to be a single-player experience and we don't have any plans to add multiplayer. It doesn't quite fit with type of experience we are trying to build and yes, the technical challenges of trying to add multiplayer to the existing game would be pretty significant.

However we do understand many people are interested in a multiplayer experience, and don't fault anyone for finding the idea compelling (it IS fun to imagine). We've seen quite a few requests for it, and it might be something we consider for a future game -- but not this one.

[Skiru]

Multiplayer in The Long Dark

I think it would be amazing if the devs added multiplayer some time in the future... just think about it, no monsters or anything, just pure nature is the danger and all of the players work together to survive... or kill eachother for the loot to survive, think about it!

[MycroftCanadaNS]

I can only speak for myself here but having the ability for MP is cool. Coop is an interesting way to go. I dont know if the developers are going to allow for massive forty person servers be created, and maintained.

The sore spot for me in having larger servers is that they will always turn into a PVP fest which ruins survivals games (like I mention, my personal feel of the MP situation).

As far as Co-op is concerned I'm all for that.

[Skiru]

Originally posted by Mycroft (Canada, NS):

I can only speak for myself here but having the ability for MP is cool. Coop is an interesting way to go. I dont know if the developers are going to allow for massive forty person servers be created, and maintained.

The sore spot for me in having larger servers is that they will always turn into a PVP fest which ruins survivals games (like I mention, my personal feel of the MP situation).

As far as Co-op is concerned I'm all for that.

I have to agree with that, it is definitely true that most games like this that are multiplayer are PVP fests, but the devs should keep single player, but have a multiplayer option. It would just be amazing.

[Accurize2]

I think one of the main issues that would cause issues would be the time lapse would cause a de-sync between the players in the world. If you have time lapse, then you can't have MP. I know Project Zomboid hasn't figured out how to work around this issue. Their answer was to eliminate sleeping altogether and basically have everyone just stand around all night long until daybreak.

If anyone knows of a way to have time-lapse AND MP in the same game session, I'm sure Hinterland or the highest bidder would be interested in your advise though. :D

[Skiru]

Originally posted by Accurize2:

I think one of the main issues that would cause issues would be the time lapse would cause a de-sync between the players in the world. If you have time lapse, then you can't have MP. I know Project Zomboid hasn't figured out how to work around this issue. Their answer was to eliminate sleeping altogether and basically have everyone just stand around all night long until daybreak.

If anyone knows of a way to have time-lapse AND MP in the same game session, I'm sure Hinterland or the highest bidder would be interested in your advise though. :D

True, hopefully this can be resolved for a multiplayer option.

[TattooedMac™]

There isn't going to be Multiplayer per se, but in Story mode, at some stage, there has been talk about having t other players in the world you can either kill or make alliances with to survive. The H-Team are holding their cards to their chests for now, so if it happens and when is in their hands

[Addendum | I do not work for Hinterland Games, but I am apart of the Scout Corps within The Long Dark Forums ~ All thoughts are my own and are in no part of The Hinterland Games Team]

[Skiru]

Originally posted by TattooedMac:

There isn't going to be Multiplayer per se, but in Story mode, at some stage, there has been talk about having t other players in the world you can either kill or make alliances with to survive. The H-Team are holding their cards to their chests for now, so if it happens and when is in their hands

[Addendum | I do not work for Hinterland Games, but I am apart of the Scout Corps within The Long Dark Forums ~ All thoughts are my own and are in no part of The Hinterland Games Team]

Oh, that seems interesting.

[THU31]

I agree. I hate that most of those survival games have no co-op. It is a lot more fun surviving with a friend.

[Gyson]

I would love to be able to play this co-op with a friend. A survival game with two people instead of one isn't much of a larger stretch, but it sure adds some interesting dynamics to the game as you now have a team of two to worry about (in a land with limited resources) rather than just one. Just because you escaped the wolf attack unscathed doesn't mean your friend did, for example. And now their problem is your problem.

I tend to believe a game that offers an option to co-op also sells more units than had it just been single player only.

[GrinningRabbit]

Originally posted by TattooedMac:

There isn't going to be Multiplayer per se, but in Story mode, at some stage, there has been talk about having t other players in the world you can either kill or make alliances with to survive. The H-Team are holding their cards to their chests for now, so if it happens and when is in their hands

[Addendum | I do not work for Hinterland Games, but I am apart of the Scout Corps within The Long Dark Forums ~ All thoughts are my own and are in no part of The Hinterland Games Team]

That may be true but even don't starve devs said they weren't EVER going to do multiplayer even though people have been screamign for it... now they are.

Long story short, theres been a growing trend of people wanting co op games. MUCH MORE SO co p survival games.... so heres to hoping they get to it down the line, sure... i would definately want the game to be finished fully first, but a social aspect would be great... after all.. two mouths two feed? double the challenge.

[k0nna]

I'd hate to have yet another PvP oriented survival game. Co-op with friends would be the way to go.

[MycroftCanadaNS]

Originally posted by jetstream engine carl:

I'd hate to have yet another PvP oriented survival game. Co-op with friends would be the way to go.

Hi.

It would only turn into PVP when people start running unregulated servers.

PVP, and COOP are game play styles, not a hold, and fast model, and people immediately think that MP = PVP only, and COOP equals something else entirely, I don't know maybe we can start calling it MP2 just to make people feel better.

If anything, the majority of servers would be private servers, and it's up to the admin running the servers who will dictate if there is going to be PVP in the first place, otherwise it just will not happen.

I also highly doubt you will see forty person servers for this game, or see official servers popping up anywhere.

[MycroftCanadaNS]

I have been thinking about how to fix the desync issue concerning the advancedment of time, and the only way to do that is to have the global timer take charge of the day/night cycle only while simulatng the personal action timer for cooking, sleeping, and etc, meaning beinging it down to a more personal level.

What I mean is, if I was playing online with four other people, and I started to cook meat, I would have to wait the time needed to cook the meat but it wouldn't affect the other players in the game world or advance the world timer in anyway, but it would affect me personally as far as calories burned, thirst, exposure to the cold, and etc.

If I needed to sleep, I would sleep but it wouldn't advance the world time, I would of course benefit from the sleep even though nothing else has changed in the world.

Day, and Night cycles would be bound to a predetermined value such as one real hour of game time would equal twelve hours of in game time this way everyone is synched.

I'm just thinking here guys, I have no coding experience whatsoever so there is a pretty good chance of me talking out of my behind.

[Skiru]

Originally posted by Mycroft (Canada, NS):

I have been thinking about how to fix the desync issue concerning the advancedment of time, and the only way to do that is to have the global timer only take charge of the day/night cycle only while simulatng the personal action timer for cooking, sleeping, and etc, meaning beinging it down to a more personal level.

What I mean is, if I was playing online with four other people, and I started to cook meat, I would have to wait the time needed to cook the meat but it wouldn't affect the other players in the game world or advance the world timer in anyway, but it would affect me personally as far as calories burned, thirst, exposure to the cold, and etc.

If I needed to sleep, I would sleep but it wouldn't advance the world time, I would of course benefit from the sleep even though nothing else has changed in the world.

Day, and Night cycles would be bound to a predetermined value such as one hour of game time would equal twelve hours of game time this way everyone is synched.

I'm just thinking here guys, I have no coding experience whatsoever so there is a pretty good chance of me talking out of my behind.

That is actually an excellent idea.

[Hinterland_Studio]

We currently have no plans to make The Long Dark an MP or Co-Op game. The technical challenges alone are non-trivial, and the game would need to be built up around MP or Co-Op mechanics, which it is not. There are other online MP survival-type games out there if that's what you're looking for.