So let's talk about Planet Coaster's so called "Offline" capability.

[Hobbes]

First, a couple of core facts to put on the table.

Source 1 : https://support.frontier.co.uk/kb/faq.php?id=333

"Will I still be able to play offline?

Yes! After you have installed Planet Coaster via Steam and run it at least once you will then be able to use Steam's offline mode. You can find details about offline mode on Steam's support site here."

Source 2 : http://store.steampowered.com/app/493340/

"Incorporates 3rd-party DRM: Denuvo Antitamper"

Source 3 : http://www.game-debate.com/news/19209/denuvo-anti-tamper-drm-to-be-used-for-far-cry-primal-and-rise-of-the-tomb-raider?&page=4 (other news sites also carry the same wording in various flavours)

"Denuvo also has to phone home to authenticate itself every so often, so it’s going to need a working internet connection and access to the Denuvo servers. Should Denuvo cease to exist, access to your game ceases to exist. It’s also known that Denuvo carries with it a slight overhead that does in fact hamper performance in games."

-----

So, Frontier, are you pulling an Elite : Dangerous here? Is your supposed offline capability actually going to be much like your other game, promised but not delivered, because if you keep Denuvo in your game, you won't be able to deliver on the ability for the game to run in offline mode, and that means anyone who purchases the game, or already HAS purchased the game under the impression they might be able to play it on their laptop is going to get a very rude awakening soon enough.

I take it you -do- have an answer to this, yes?

Or are you going to hedge like you did on Elite Dangerous and much like in November then go "Oh, it's always online because you need to be connected for reasons"

Over to you Frontier.

EDIT : Derp, title brainfart. And I needed to stuff a smug emote in (yes, I own it)

[Harbinger]

This has already been answered by Brett C from Frontier in multiple Denuvo threads, use the search function.

[Hobbes]

No it hasn't. This doesn't relate to Denuvo itself, although that's an ancilliary problem, this is about the fact that the game -will not- function offline as advertised in it's current state.

Read the whole post.

[Harbinger]

Denuvo is validated on first use and the game functions just fine in Alpha 3 in offline mode, the only reason you need to connect is if you want to download Steam Workshop content.

What exactly are you expecting to change between now and launch that will change this status quo?

[Hobbes]

Denuvo periodically calls in after first use as well, therein lies the issue, if your connection isn't constant, you're not going to have a good time. In fact, you're not going to have fun times at all. Anyone who bought this with the assumption they could "unplug the cable" is going to get a rude awakening.

People like me, who might be away from a reliable connection for whatever reason who might have been considering this game, well, this is a problem. A significant one. So, it's over to Frontier as to what they want to do about it.

[Harbinger]

This is misinformation spread by people lobbying against Denuvo, as long as your hardware doesn't change it has no reason to call home.

[Hobbes]

Considering multiple news sites (some major, I just pulled one at random off google for the sake of making my point) all seem to come to the same endpoint about Denuvo needing access to home servers I'll take your word with a few grains of salt unless you've got some better evidence and no, Denuvo's own PR isn't going to cut it.

[Harbinger]

News sites report common rumours all the time, it doesn't make everything you read on them true.

[Hobbes]

Publicado originalmente por Harbinger:

News sites report common rumours all the time, it doesn't make everything you read on them true.

Agreed, but then neither does your word hold up without something to back it

[Harbinger]

My word is worth no more than yours, I'm not a developer, merely a volunteer forum moderator debating with you as a member of this community.

As to the point made in my first response Brett C has already made several posts on the Denuvo controversy, I suggest you check his post history if you want clarification from an actual Frontier representative. He's definitely dismissed the always online fallacy recently.

[Jacknm2]

I dont want like to sound as a defender for denuvo as i detest this "Anti-Tamper Solution" but I can confirm I played Planet Coaster yesterday offline when my ISP had issues in my area, something i had no control over. So this should confirm what has been said by others.

[Hobbes]

Upon further research, I can confirm the game will need to phone home under the following conditions :

* Update made available
* Time has elapsed (this seems to be variable, but there is a period at which the license key will expire and then Denuvo will demand you go online to refresh the key)
* Hardware change within the PC (specifically, CPU upgrade, possibly other hardware upgrades as well)

So, yeah, we're back to "If you want to unplug the cable, you won't be able to for very long."

Back to you.

[Harbinger]

Cite your sources.

[76561198185868419]

Yes, on update it will require re-authentication. When you get an update (which you've got to be connected to get anyway, right?) simply running the game once and immediately quitting will be sufficient. Then offline mode will continue to work until the next update.
Time has elapsed simply isn't true. It authenticates once against your current hardware setup. If you change that it will need to re-authenticate.

Cheers

Andy

[Hobbes]

http://www.gamersnexus.net/industry/2555-denuvo-drm-loopholes - That covers the last two.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.941513-Denuvo-DRM-has-been-cracked-again - Scroll down to the bottom and you'll find a most enlightening bit of information, it's the same as I've been confronted when my EXE has had an update made available, and that covers the first one.

So far you've only put your word on this, I've sourced everything I've put forth. So, if you're going to spout that it's misinformation, from this point on? Sources too.

[Harbinger]

Publicado originalmente por Hobbes:

So far you've only put your word on this, I've sourced everything I've put forth. So, if you're going to spout that it's misinformation, from this point on? Sources too.

How about the post directly above yours from an actual developer of this game?