Overload Coop PvE

[♂TheBlasterMaster™✞]

I played all the old Descent games. I got my hands on Overload as soon as it was available. Like most, Overload met all my expectations. I like how they they were true to the original, however................It is clear to me in todays gaming community, coop is critical. No question in my mind the game needs Coop SP. I would pay for this DLC. I think this DLC would add staying power to Overload. Back in the day, I played Descent hour after hour. Today it seems to get boaring too fast. Coop SP would solve that,

[Mobius1]

I think this was already answered in another discussion. While that would be awesome, I think it would take some major overhauls on the game's code to accomplish it. For example, I remember someone stating that the AI would have to be completely retooled if they tried to introduce single player mode coop. Basically the impression I got was that it would be way too expensive and time consuming at this stage to do it.

[♂TheBlasterMaster™✞]

I read the thread you were referring to. I understand it would take work. Just because there was one thread doesn't mean the issue is finished. I think overload needs this very much. I would hate to see support for the game dwindle away because of no Co-op. And I think that will happen IMHO. A paid DLC would cover the cost of modification.

[[UF]LotharBot]

The devs have been pretty explicit -- coop isn't happening without a *lot* more money. Like, tens of thousands more sales.

[♂TheBlasterMaster™✞]

Originally posted by UFLotharBot:

The devs have been pretty explicit -- coop isn't happening without a *lot* more money. Like, tens of thousands more sales.

Or the income from a paid DLC.

[CHILLYBUS]

Wildly planning a major feature add in a DLC like that is a major upfront risk to take and not everyone who bought the game will purchase it, especially if it had a high cost. Plenty of people are waffling on a $5 set of 20 levels, how serious are those same people going to be about a $15 cooperative mode? Revival would need the guaranteed income of likely several thousand additional sales of the base game (as Lothar mentioned) in order to have the financial means needed to support the company's estimated of six to nine months of development for cooperative play. Will coop bring base game sales? Sure. Is it a safe bet that it'll keep the lights on? I don't think Revival sees it as enough of one to divert a huge amount -- if not all -- of their resources into developing the mode. They've stated several times coop isn't in the cards at this point. It's disappointing, but we can hope their roadmap changes based on a successful console release.

[♂TheBlasterMaster™✞]

But we need it damnit.

[Mobius1]

Yeah I agree that if the console release is successful it could definitely open some doors...and hopefully we will get a sequel or another game by Revival in the future.

[SevenUp / TCA7]

Too many people just think that if we just THROW money at a project and it will get done.

Proper planning is needed first then look at the time needed to do the project then double or triple that time to maybe get close to how long it would take... Reworking software for new features isn't always straight forward.

I'm working on a large software project where we are looking to use Multiple Languages which has something like 160 Screens... If that were done from the beginning it would be easy to do... but we are having to retrofit the software to do it. It will take a lot of code changes... not hard just a lot of messages to setup in a Database by Language. Once the first one is done, we have to add the same number of items for each Language. Then as you make changes to the code, you will have to go back and add new items yet again.

Cooperative Mode made Descent 1, Descent 2, and Descent 3 even better. The same would be true here too.

This long time software developer appreciates the planning and effort that was put into this very polished game.


Thank you for a great game called Overload,
Bill G.
Age 61
Software Developer for nearly 41 years

[♂TheBlasterMaster™✞]

Originally posted by SevenUp / TCA7:

Too many people just think that if we just THROW money at a project and it will get done.

Who said that? This OP is not about funding or complexity. Most all that stuff you brought up has nothing to do with the game. It's like meaningless bable. It's about the request for a coop game type. Programming games is complex. Nothing new here. You are not adding much.
Also, stop bragging about being a developer. I also saw your self righteous posts over at the failed Descent Underground forum. This OP was not directed to you as a wanna be game developer. My wife is a IT manager (programmer) for a large company. So what.
I have no idea if you have development experience or not. If you do, it does not give you special insite into what others want in this game or make your opinion more valid or make you the spokeperson for the developers. Stop acting like yours in the final opinion on all things games related.
In my experience, when someone needs to tell you several times they are an expert, they are just the opposite.

[Mobius1]

"Thank you for a great game called Overload"

I second that, thanks for all the hard work guys, can't wait to play your game!

[Lu2]

what about mod where there few ships and lot of enemies controled by players. some sort of team objective gamemode

or invasion system for extra chalenge and fun in campaign ( again it would require serious game reworking) it would make 1 vs 1 more atractive

just ideas

[GeekyGami]

Oof, with the amount of enemies in singleplayer maps, that would be quite the challenge.

Unless..

What if the second player played as a normal player, but against the other player, while the other NPCS only focused on the singleplayer player, and not the invader?

[kali.mist]

Originally posted by SevenUp / TCA7:

Too many people just think that if we just THROW money at a project and it will get done.

Proper planning is needed first then look at the time needed to do the project then double or triple that time to maybe get close to how long it would take... Reworking software for new features isn't always straight forward.

I'm working on a large software project where we are looking to use Multiple Languages which has something like 160 Screens... If that were done from the beginning it would be easy to do... but we are having to retrofit the software to do it. It will take a lot of code changes... not hard just a lot of messages to setup in a Database by Language. Once the first one is done, we have to add the same number of items for each Language. Then as you make changes to the code, you will have to go back and add new items yet again.

Cooperative Mode made Descent 1, Descent 2, and Descent 3 even better. The same would be true here too.

This long time software developer appreciates the planning and effort that was put into this very polished game.


Thank you for a great game called Overload,
Bill G.
Age 61
Software Developer for nearly 41 years

Bill, I sent you an FR. Looking to talk to you about your being a Software Developer at 61. Im 47 and its fairly ageist here, so hearing a 60+ guy present as a Software Developer (As opposed to a development manager etc.) gives me hope :)

[Luke]

Isn't it possible that modders will do this if the Overload team won't? Look at Subnautica; it's getting a co-op mod which actually looks pretty full-featured.

[♂TheBlasterMaster™✞]

Originally posted by Luke:

Isn't it possible that modders will do this if the Overload team won't? Look at Subnautica; it's getting a co-op mod which actually looks pretty full-featured.

I would hope so.