Offline/Multiplayer support
 

I know this is odd, and probably most people will object to this idea.
The only reason I bring this up is because it's already been done(so I figure it won't take that much effort), and because according to Stefan, he's only recently actually removed the code from the client.
There's probably no direct financial benefit for doing this, but I figure if you enable this again, it'll do a lot more for getting people interested in Graal. That is what first got me interested in Graal, and then I went and started playing online.
I personally like to create offline servers/games. You know, some that you can actually build a story and progress in... but then you can't save. 4-player was pretty fun too, and got me and another friend interested in Graal.
Anyways, I know it was removed to lessen the load on the main client and such... but I figure maybe you could release a special client with no online support and all the old past offline support?

Well... it's an odd request, but I would really love to see Graal do something like this. It might get people more interested because they could basically create their own games. To be honest, I find Graal a hell of a lot more flexible and powerful than engines made just for gamemaking. So... please! The code is apparently there, and I don't think it'd take that much work to just enable it in a client and disable the online bit.

In a basic sense, enable the editor(not the client) with some basic offline stuff like saving, multi-player, maybe some options like editing what the starting level is and such. I don't think you released how appealing this was to players when it was around.

I started with that, as well
Hours with my brother copying baddy spawn scripts from some 1.36 level pack I downloaded.
hack hack hack, farm rupees.
And then I found out about the p2p part and I was like, cool!

I don't think its safe to mention downloading such things.

I think he means the level pack you used to download with the old Graal.
Either way I seriously think this will peak peoples interest in games. One, offline world making isn't as demanding as making a server is, as well as it's a lot easier to actually make a game with a story and dungeons and such. Then, people could make their own 'games' and pass them on to friends, get their friends interested in Graal and so on. Either way, I think something like this would make a lot of people happy.

Could also make the option to save as a reg file, then there could be an option "Make an Online Server wth this content" and that button brings you to the subscription screen, that way people don't buy a server and not know how to do stuff.

Stefan? Could we PLEASE get your opinion on this?

Yes, I'd love to hear his opinion on it.
I'm not asking for ongoing support of it... rather just enable it in the current version of the editor(though I guess it'd be nice for it to be geared a little for actual gameplay, IE a startup screen like the old one).

Well the problem about this is, that it could pull people out of playerworlds.

My idea would be that graalonline envolves to a hosting plattform for offline and online content, and that people can upload their offline playerworlds and people with a classic subscription can download them itunes alike...

This way everyone profits, so that its more realistic for it to come out.

Offline will never replace online gameplay... they are two different things. Offline, 'servers' will actually have a purpose and goal to them, story and all that. Online, things are more dynamic, constantly changing, people to interact with.

I was going to suggest a way for people to upload their offline servers, but that wouldn't make much sense since they can just upload it onto some free uploading service. Either way, Graal doesn't have to directly make money from this, to make money. It's more like viral-marketing.

I'd love to see things like Aylad's offline server brought back and finished

Wasn't one of the big accomplishments for v5 the fact that it reduced file size dramatically by removing the offline part?

Exactly my point. It doesn't need to be part of v5 or anything... just release the editor or something with the old support it used to have. No need to add it to the current client.

BUMP
Stefan, could you please give your opinion on this?

Bump:)
:frown:comon give us one!

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmppp

stefan needs to give opinion

Woah you quoted my quote, wtf :O

Anyway, on topic, I agree, I could play Graal on LAN parties with my friends, harr.

I say were gonna poke up a staff member to give opinion about this by keeping this thread active...


What features could there be in OfflineGraal? GS2 support?

I don't care about GS2 much... hell, we can't even get that for offline development let alone something I doubt he cares to bring back much anyways. All I'd like is the last version of GS1 with it.

Yeah, I really liked it :)

Could systems work in an offline thing?

Anything clientside in a code would work offline, but nothing serverside as there is no npcserver offline :o

I've started to make whole games offline in the Graal editor(so ya, systems and all can be done, there's no need for serverside stuff anyways)... but seeing as it's one player it's pretty boring. Not to mention you can't even save which makes it all pointless, unless you're wanting that old NES feel of gaming.

We currently don't have plans for a new offline multiplayer version. It's not a technical question, it's more a question about the direction and about the possible income that could be made. Computers today are always connected to the internet, without internet access a computer is only a very crippled version of its own. Spending time on making some game working in an offline version doesn't really make a lot of sense, it cannot compete against all those 3d offline games.

Thats actually not right. I still prefer 2D singleplayer games over 3D ones. I'm stuck to pixels, and the good ol' 2D games just have lots of style.

Well I posted my opinion about income it can pull in, and I think it would hold true. Like I said, I'm not sure of the technical aspect, but I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be really hard for you to open access back up to multiplayer in the editor, so really, how much money would you be losing? Having a feeling of being to build your own games is a huge attraction for a lot of people. Not everyone can build 3D games, or can even play 3D games. 2D games have the attraction of being simpler, yet at the same time more available.
This all comes from the assumption it wouldn't be a time consuming process.

So my main question is, would it be? I assumed from past news from you that the offline was always in the source of Graal, but just disabled? Is that true or was it completely removed/would need to be recoded?
Thanks for the response though.

There is no "offline" mode but a combined clientside+serverside mode for possible distribution of games.

And if you test a level? I thought that THAT was still the offline mode... I am quite sure it is, but you just cant save anything and its impossible to choose your look.

Having an offline version can attract new people to come play online and therefore, they'll pay for Graal. If people make some offline "quests" and games that keep players entertained and interested, eventually they'll get bored of this offline stuff, or just want to further their Graal interest, and then they'll want to play the online game.

It's a good marketing scheme to have an offline mode. Just make it possible, and then let the current players make their offline worlds for you to use in marketing your game.

Yeah, just dont include network support and let only 2 players play. No one plays continously with 2 players, and eventually they will log into online mode.

@ lanparty: just play 1.41 in 4 player mode (I think it existed) with 4 gamepads on a beamer :) SPARTIME!

Possibly add some sort of subscription system to work with an offline client?
(To raise income)

Make new offline "servers" distributable only through Graal's website rather being player made like the the current ones. You could make money off them by throwing offline servers in the Gelat shop. Players could submit more, which would be sold at a lower amount than the Graal made ones, or possibly make them free to certain people specified by the creator.

But you'd probably have to package them in a way that is not .nw, etc, so that people couldn't just upload them to sites. Sorta like a DRM system, where you need a license locked on PCID or something.

revival.
we all wants it :)
btw i would love to have this on long trips by car :)

I still think Graal has an amazing potential to make some awesome offline games :(

Sometimes I just get so tired of trying to make an online server because there are so many added complications... and they can never be as detailed and expansive as the ideas I have for offline games. Offline means more controlled circumstances = easier to foresee and plan.

me too dusty, me too..

so, all we need is the program, right?

Hmm?

I guess nothing else happened with this? I thought it was a really good idea.

So was flying technology!

don't forget graal for iphone!

Actively being developed. :)