from the going-offline-is-NOT-the-same-as-going-off-roading dept.
On Tuesday, October 17, the long-awaited Gran Turismo Sport arrives for the Playstation 4. This seventh installment of one of the world's best-selling games franchises introduces a number of updates designed for high-end TVs, virtual reality, and e-sports enthusiasts. Although we've had a copy for a few days now, you'll have to wait a few more days to read a proper review.
In large part, that's because Sony's Gran Turismo Sport servers were down for the past few days. Since being connected to those servers is such an integral part of the game, there's very little left to do if you're offline.
But let's not pretend like we weren't warned. In a blog post last month, Sony revealed that "[i]n order to ensure fair racing for all, GT Sport will require an Internet connection for the majority of functionality. This connectivity requirement is to ensure that progress, car availability, and driver ratings are properly maintained at all times."
In other words, that game you bought is a thin client.
(Score: 2) by nobu_the_bard on Wednesday October 18 2017, @07:55PM (1 child)
Considering the fanbase, I think they'll be fine with that. They're not exactly an offline crowd.
(Score: 4, Touché) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday October 18 2017, @08:58PM
I was part of that fanbase, until online became integral...
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @07:58PM (2 children)
In the meantime, or instead of, you can play EA car racing games [ea.com], if this is the games you like.
They even got in cahoots with FIA for the Formula-E racing [fiaformulae.com]- so maybe it is something with their games.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @09:49PM (1 child)
Nothing else compares to Gran Turismo. The only one close is the "Dirt" series.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @11:04PM
I wouldn't have thought EA is even in the running to buy from. Aren't they still evil?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @07:59PM (3 children)
That's exactly what I do when I'm at the store or browsing online looking at games to buy. I don't say "oh, look at this racing game, it looks pretty cool and the box says I can use it in offline mode", I actually say, "oh look at this racing game, I am going to go dig up some Sony blog and see what some announcement says".
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @08:05PM (2 children)
^ Fuck online mode having different content that is in any way different from offline mode. The only difference should be that there are real players in online mode. I am now actively avoiding DRMd games, I regret pretty much every steam purchase that I can't play without logging in, and I would like to regain control over my own software. No I don't want to be tracked, no no no. But then I pretty much need to stop being a gamer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 19 2017, @03:36AM
Well, you can take up retro gaming and mod old consoles. None of this "online" or "DLC" crap to deal with.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 19 2017, @05:56AM
https://www.gog.com/ [gog.com]
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Wednesday October 18 2017, @08:04PM (5 children)
Modern games have been like this for a while, so if you don't like it, don't buy it.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday October 18 2017, @09:01PM (4 children)
PS3 was the last console to cross our threshold, possibly ever.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Wednesday October 18 2017, @09:36PM (3 children)
There are still a lot more Co-Op Split-Screen games designed for Consoles than for computers. I would say that's one of the biggest reasons why they've done so well. Compared to a LAN Party, it's a lot more convenient to have a game night with a console and a bunch of controls.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday October 19 2017, @02:25AM (2 children)
Don't know about your house, but at mine we've got 3 big screens attached to computers - not full on gaming rigs, but little NUC units that are as powerful as full on gaming rigs from 10 years ago, plus 3 decent laptops. Plenty of multi-player LAN games from 10 years ago that we could setup and play on 6 screens were we so inclined... 4 in one room if that's your thing. Personally, I don't like playing Starcraft with my opponent able to look over at my screen.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday October 19 2017, @03:18PM (1 child)
Might I suggest GOG. The reason why they even exist is, because of old games. The Acronym used to stand for Good Old Games, but I think they've phased that term out. Particularly, since they are adding new games too. DRM free titles, ability to archive your own collection offline, and they have a beta (last I checked) client that is similar to Steam. Except, you don't have to be logged in to use it, and the client is 100% optional. They also have some cross-platform multiplayer with Steam, and have given free access to some games you've purchased on Steam. There's also a few games that you get for free (permanently free games), just for signing up for an account. Sometimes I wonder, if my posts for GOG sound like commercials. I almost don't care, because they're so awesome. FYI, I'm just a very pleased customer. Who doesn't need to buy yet another copy of xyz game, because I lost the disk / it's in a box somewhere. Also, some of the games they have, weren't being sold anymore, and were really hard to get a reasonably priced copy. Oh, and they don't pull your copy from the store, because the publisher stopped selling it.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday October 19 2017, @03:30PM
I've used GOG in the past, but I'm really pretty saturated with titles to play and not enough time to play them already.
If I can find the time to keep up with my Hearthstone quests, I'm doing good - and that's got to be the lowest attention demand real-time two player game ever.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @08:10PM
That's too bad to hear.
I recently bought Project CARS [wikipedia.org] on Steam when it was on sale with all add-ons for like $20, and I think if it can grow the way Gran Turismo did looking back on GT1 (still remember being amazed when I unlocked 480i mode), it may be a more promising series. Project CARS has Nürburgring, Laguna Seca, Suzuka, Silverstone, and a few other tracks that have also been featured in Gran Turismo. However, I found that Project CARS is pretty much unplayable with a controller, so I'll need to get pedals, steering wheel, and shifter accessories before giving a final verdict.
At the very least, moving away from Sony is something I'm interested in. I can see myself having VR goggles for the PC in 5 years, especially if Star Citizen is out by then (lol, maybe 3.1 will be out by then!). I can't even see myself buying a PS4. My PC I can upgrade and upgrade since usually it's just graphics card, RAM, processor every now and then. I can do it incrementally too, as opposed to plunking down a stack of cash on a game system I'm only going to use for maybe two games tops.
I really only got a PS3 to play Gran Turismo 5, Armored Core V, and my PS1 collection. GT6 was ok but I wish they would have kept in the used car gimmick!
I've no interest in buying separate VR equipment for Sony's platform (because you know it won't support anything that works on PC and vice-versa) if I end up going that way for PC gaming.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Freeman on Wednesday October 18 2017, @09:07PM (10 children)
GOG is the platform you are looking for. Permanent* access to all games you purchase on their platform. With GOG you get the game executable and usually a bunch of extras. Extras such as, game manual, wallpapers, sound tracks, maps, and art. All of which are provided DRM free with the ability for you to create a personal offline archive of games.
*So long as they exist / don't change their policy.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by shortscreen on Wednesday October 18 2017, @09:20PM
Personal, offline archive is the key part here, and pretty much makes the next part irrelevant.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @09:57PM (1 child)
I wonder why my CC company won't let me purchase through their site. It always comes as a fraud alert with no way to whitelist them. Are we paranoid enough???
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 18 2017, @11:06PM
i just email my cc company and say I am going to make this purchase, please approve it.
and usually it goes through without a problem
(Score: 2) by Kell on Wednesday October 18 2017, @10:56PM (6 children)
I stopped using GOG when it started making GOG Galaxy required for some titles. It was sad how an otherwise smart and switched on company reneged on its principles.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 19 2017, @02:48AM (3 children)
Wait, what? Name me two titles that REQUIRE "GOG Galaxy".
I don't like GOG Galaxy either. However, I believe part of what Galaxy was being used for was a replacement for ancient and abandoned multiplayer connectivity components, as demonstrated by their initial release and testing of the old Aliens vs Predator game. In that specific case, Galaxy is REQUIRED in the same sense that an automobile REQUIRES an engine, and therefore the situation is reasonable.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 19 2017, @02:44PM (2 children)
However, you can put whatever engine you want in a car, providing it will fit/connect.
You have to use GOG Galaxy, you can't swap it out for another connectivity program.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday October 19 2017, @03:31PM (1 child)
Requiring their solution to a game that must have online connection to be a peer to peer system without the GOG Galaxy client, is a bit much. Assuming, a game is only playable online, you either have to have server hosting baked into the game, or you need some third party system to provide support. I'd rather trust GOG to be that third party, than something like Game Spy. You know the same Game Spy, that killed multiplayer in a bunch of games, because they're no longer in business. Awesome fact, GOG fixed that on at least one game. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/10/03/star-wars-battlefront-2-multiplayer-returns/ [rockpapershotgun.com]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 20 2017, @12:01PM
Yes, and when GOG go out of business, Galaxy stops working and so does your multiplayer game (including Battlefront 2). How is that any different or better?
They could have their client (Galaxy) *separate* from the multiplayer infrastructure and release the tools (and preferably, the source code) for the multiplayer components, so anyone could run them or implement their own.
This isn't only very technically feasible, it's the only way to avoid the "swapping from one master to another" flaw that ensures this functionality will eventually break again.
(Score: 2) by NCommander on Thursday October 19 2017, @06:40AM (1 child)
I haven't needed Galaxy for anything. As another poster put, I think Galaxy is only required in places where GOG replaced the original multiplayer though none of the games I have MP it so I can't say for sure.
Still always moving
(Score: 2) by Kell on Monday October 23 2017, @09:10AM
My specific beef was with the new Master of Orion (not to be confused with the original title). No multiplayer without GOG Galaxy; no deal.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 2) by crafoo on Thursday October 19 2017, @12:41AM
At this point in the social contract between vendor and purchaser, I consider hacking and cracking perfectly moral and legit. It's open season.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 19 2017, @07:17AM (1 child)
If I had an internet connection in the living room, I would be downloading games from the pirate bay, instead of buying Playstation games.
It used to be that game manufacturers preferred console games, because PC people would just download the games from the pirate bay. And many people preferred consoles because when you bought a game you knew it would work, you didn't need to worry about internet connectivity or having the newest graphics card.
Now, it seems that console manufacturers are more interested in competing with the pirate bay than they are in selling things that just work.
Are there any consoles left on the market that aren't trying to compete with the pirate bay?
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday October 19 2017, @03:41PM
Screw not having Internet in the living room. Go to GOG, buy some cool games. Use the old sneaker net with a USB drive, and play some awesome games in your living room.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by VLM on Thursday October 19 2017, @12:57PM (2 children)
What are the pay to play options? Generally that's the purpose of forcing everything centralized online. Prepare to pay $50 to skip driving school or pay $50 for a new car or track.
That aspect repels me. Its not that I can't afford to spend $500 on a game, its that its not advertised upfront, it'll "only" be $70 at release or whatever but to actually play it'll cost another $430 of online purchases. The unfair marketing is what repels me,
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday October 19 2017, @03:37PM (1 child)
Then, stop buying those kinds of games. Usually there's tell tale signs, so you can avoid them. You know, like Loot Crates, sure some are somewhat reasonable regarding it, but lets just call it what it is. A Cash Grab. There's always GOG, which is a centralized online repository of games, that have reasonable prices, and are DRM free. Sure, there's GWENT, but you kind of know what you're getting into with that kind of game.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by VLM on Thursday October 19 2017, @07:35PM
Ugh that's kinda my point, the marketing is a bit unfair. So how much does it REALLY cost to play Gran Turismo with all the required unlocking and extra payments? If its only $100 ... maybe worth it? $400? I am so not playing that game.
Pay to play is just a form of confuse-opoly to screw the customer so some customers, even those who might be happy with the price, won't play.
For many years I didn't have cable because I was a poor student just starting out in life and no one would tell me the price. Well it depends on franchise fees and taxes vs municipalities so its useless to ask my girlfriend or her family and useless to ask my coworkers each of whom have a different bill and all marketing wants to scream about is first month free so the cost is $0 or its $30 but only for the first year then the price goes up to a number we won't tell you. In the end by the time I had enough money not to care how much it costs, I had no interest anymore in TV...
I've found the hard way over a couple decades starting with Atari 2600 and TRS-80 computers that cost has little correlation with how much I like the game and how many hours of fun I'll have.