Onlining the offline

[Voodoovaj]

So, with the imminent release of GT League (the offline single player stuff) I thought I would put this out as a proposal. Who would be interested in online versions of the events?

So, the Sunday Cup for instance. As an offline event, I would play it once, get the prize, then never play it again.

However, if it were online, say at the top of every hour, you would race the series (four races, five races, whatever) with other players. This could all count toward the achievements, just like sport mode. No special rules or BoP. It would be exactly the same with the exception that the competition is other players rather than A.I.

Imagine how much better endurance racing could be!!

I can't imagine this would be that much of a challenge to implement. The Infrastructure for it is already there. Maybe if there is enough interest, it might happen.

Thoughts?

 

[ghostrider135]

As a general idea I quite like it but the sunday cup for example would need to be limited somewhat, Max BHP for example just to even the playing field abit, But otherwise I would be down for having these races on and offline.

 

[phl0w]

While great on paper, I have serious doubts.

1. Especially without BoP it would result in everyone using the top 10 cars just like in Sport.
2. I think you overestimate the attention span of your regular gamer nowadays. Only a fraction is willing to sit down, and put in the time for say 4 races, including 4 qualifiers. At best, most would enter the cup, and quit when the first race didn't end to their liking.

 

[Voodoovaj]

While great on paper, I have serious doubts.

1. Especially without BoP it would result in everyone using the top 10 cars just like in Sport.
2. I think you overestimate the attention span of your regular gamer nowadays. Only a fraction is willing to sit down, and put in the time for say 4 races, including 4 qualifiers. At best, most would enter the cup, and quit when the first race didn't end to their liking.

I disagree. People will sit in a lobby all night and race. Sure. Some will drop out, and some may even join in mid series. Using the top cars has been an online issue since GT5 and it won't change. The best cars draw people like a moth to a flame so that's a moot point really. Like, right now, I don't always pick the top car for a sport race.

As a general idea I quite like it but the sunday cup for example would need to be limited somewhat, Max BHP for example just to even the playing field abit, But otherwise I would be down for having these races on and offline.

For the sake of discussion, why would it need BoP like the Sport races? In fact, having it wide open makes for an interesting change of pace. Plus, there's tuning.

 

[FUNanywhere]

No offense to OP but i expect similar reactions after League is launched.

People will realise what Sport Mode truly is.

 

[Voodoovaj]

No offense to OP but i expect similar reactions after League is launched.

People will realise what Sport Mode truly is.

I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[ghostrider135]

For the sake of discussion, why would it need BoP like the Sport races? In fact, having it wide open makes for an interesting change of pace. Plus, there's tuning.

To even the playing field just like in real life racing, Without restrictions 9/10 players would turn up for the Sunday Cup races with an LMP1 car and unless you then decide to join them you have zero chance of finishing any higher than last, So might aswel call it the LMP1 Sunday Cup and restrict it thusly.

 

[05XR8]

Weren't SC races only 2-3 laps? I agree that there would have to be some limits. Just because i would pick an N200 car, for the joy of participating, doesn't mean anyone else would "play fair".

However, I wondered what it would be like to race against other players while I use my custom AE86 versus Evos and Skylines. It works out to more of a track day. Something like the Red Emblem and M Power and Boxer events with say 10 laps, seem more like proper races for stakes.

 

[Gnarlyjin]

I don't see much differences from sport mode.
Sport mode is doing its job pretty nice only except that it doesn't leave 'Records' in which you can track back the race results.
One more thing I am concerned about is If there are too many online events happening simultaneously matchmaking wouldn't work properly.
Matchmaking system is the core of GT sport and I have already got the feelings that FIA Championships and Daily race is competing each others.

 

[Tired Tyres]

To pass the first race of the Sunday Cup you must win against 19 Ninja Aliens online.

I can't see anything at all wrong with that. Can you?

Offline play modes exist specifically to avoid other player's interfering with what you are doing.

 

[pedrocor]

As said, apparently good ideia, would't work in general and there would be hundreds of threads here whining about people bringing a TS050 or a 919 to Sunday Cup.

 

[Voodoovaj]

To even the playing field just like in real life racing, Without restrictions 9/10 players would turn up for the Sunday Cup races with an LMP1 car and unless you then decide to join them you have zero chance of finishing any higher than last, So might aswel call it the LMP1 Sunday Cup and restrict it thusly.

As said, apparently good ideia, would't work in general and there would be hundreds of threads here whining about people bringing a TS050 or a 919 to Sunday Cup.

Yes, there would need to be a restriction on cars. The Sunday cup, in a linear single player, would most likely be contested with the cheapest cars. So the Sunday cup would need to be limited to N100.

To pass the first race of the Sunday Cup you must win against 19 Ninja Aliens online.

I can't see anything at all wrong with that. Can you?

Offline play modes exist specifically to avoid other player's interfering with what you are doing.

That assumes that progress is one or the other, offline or online. There's no reason for that. If you want gold, go offline. If you want to race an N100 car against real people, go online.

Also, match making already sorts out drivers so a new guy with an SR of D or C will never meet an A or S. SR only allows for matching one level above or below.

I don't see much differences from sport mode.
Sport mode is doing its job pretty nice only except that it doesn't leave 'Records' in which you can track back the race results.
One more thing I am concerned about is If there are too many online events happening simultaneously matchmaking wouldn't work properly.
Matchmaking system is the core of GT sport and I have already got the feelings that FIA Championships and Daily race is competing each others.

Sport mode is just the daily races from GT6, so I think there is a big difference between Sport/Daily Races and the GT6 single player events/championships.

For one thing, it's a known quantity. You can spend the time to test and tune a car for an event, also, most of them are multi-race events.

Yesterday was a great example. There was two daily races that I had no interest in. I didn't want to do a short 5 lap race at Kyoto and I didn't want to run the oval.

 

[pedrocor]

Yes, there would need to be a restriction on cars. The Sunday cup, in a linear single player, would most likely be contested with the cheapest cars. So the Sunday cup would need to be limited to N100.

Sunday Cup and N100 cars need Autumn Ring Mini!!!
Please, please, please, Polyphony Digital

 

[Voodoovaj]

Sunday Cup and N100 cars need Autumn Ring Mini!!!
Please, please, please, Polyphony Digital

Wouldn't that be great? Autumn ring mini, with slow cars, online as part of a three race championship. Yes please.

 

[pedrocor]

Wouldn't that be great? Autumn ring mini, with slow cars, online as part of a three race championship. Yes please.

Short answer: YES
Like some one make sport mode races people whine being to slow (like with Atenza or Peugeot 208), actually very nice races.

Allow tuning but not upgrades.

 

[Voodoovaj]

Short answer: YES
Like some one make sport mode races people whine being to slow (like with Atenza or Peugeot 208), actually very nice races.

Allow tuning but not upgrades.

Agreed, tuning but no upgrades (in other words, BoP ON).

 

[shardlojik]

Wouldn't that be great? Autumn ring mini, with slow cars, online as part of a three race championship. Yes please.

Make like Alain Prost (I think) and win at the slowest speed possible! Though he did have very thirsty turbos to deal with...

 

[SjefGielen]

In general it's a good idea, but I agree that it probably wouldn't work because of all the reasons stated earlier. I think that what you want is already in the game, it's the lobbies, just create a lobby with the track and type of cars of your liking and invite people who share the same interest in cars and track and go have fun.

 

[HighStakes]

I do wish that they would add Cup races, like a system that lets people register at the beginning, and then 3 consecutive short races with 1 lap qualifying with the same 20 people you registered with.

I think it would be fun to have some point based races. Or at least something like a lobby option to have multiple races with 1 set of people based on points, so we can have some small, quick, instant 30 minute -1 hour championship lobbies.

 

[Griffith500]

This is a great idea. Maybe not for the Sunday Cup as-is, but there are plenty of other events to choose from.

It doesn't have to replace the offline events, either, obviously.

Cycle the events often enough and people won't have time to get any real advantage, making it more of a drop-in thing. That spread of performance (optimisation) combined with the matchmaking will create some interesting racing for those that prefer a bit of variety.

 

[Voodoovaj]

This is a great idea. Maybe not for the Sunday Cup as-is, but there are plenty of other events to choose from.

It doesn't have to replace the offline events, either, obviously.

Cycle the events often enough and people won't have time to get any real advantage, making it more of a drop-in thing. That spread of performance (optimisation) combined with the matchmaking will create some interesting racing for those that prefer a bit of variety.

Yes, maybe Sunday Cup was a bad example to use, but the spirit of the Sunday Cup is still legit. Slow, cheap cars. That's the same with all the traditional single player events. There was the spirit of the event and then the regulation. So, sure, online the regulations would need to be tighter (as in a set category). And yes, I think BoP would be necessary for a fun event and to avoid everyone using the (inevitable) cheater car.

As for "not working" as stated by others. If Sport Mode works, then any race would work and a series is just 3, 5, 8, or whatever number of races in a row. Would I do a 12 race series everyday, probably not, but would there be enough people to do it daily? Absolutely. I would rather have a series with 4-5 real people than 20 AI bots. It would be better than searching for lobbies when your friends are not online or when everyone is running Gr3 cars (which seems to be the thing right now).

The core goal is still valid in any case. Offline, I would never play a single player more than once unless there was a worthwhile goal. Like, right now, I haven't gone back to the single player campaign after getting all gold.

 

[Voodoovaj]

I want to bring this up again because I REALLY don't think the Sport Mode dailies are going to be enough content for the next four years.

Since wins, races, and poles need to be gotten in Sport Mode, you can't earn the PSN trophies in any other mode. That means Sport Mode is the main mode and everything else is secondary. Contrast that to GT5 and GT6 where online lobby wins counted as well.

I haven't seen ANY rally or ANY Gr1 races, making those cars essentially pointless. (How often have YOU used them?) The same goes for the VGTs. There's no place to really use them, so what's the point of including them?

Without more properly curated online content, this game is going to get older sooner.

 

[baldgye]

I want to bring this up again because I REALLY don't think the Sport Mode dailies are going to be enough content for the next four years.

Since wins, races, and poles need to be gotten in Sport Mode, you can't earn the PSN trophies in any other mode. That means Sport Mode is the main mode and everything else is secondary. Contrast that to GT5 and GT6 where online lobby wins counted as well.

I haven't seen ANY rally or ANY Gr1 races, making those cars essentially pointless. (How often have YOU used them?) The same goes for the VGTs. There's no place to really use them, so what's the point of including them?

Without more properly curated online content, this game is going to get older sooner.

While I agree with you, before you can have properly curated online content that the vast majority are suppose to use, you need properly working SR and DR rating systems so that people can be matched with equal drivers.

I like your idea, but its essentially a watered down FIA series, the problem with that series is that it's carnage with people desperate to try and get points at all costs. Tying progression over 4 consecutive races would only distil that carnage further.

 

[DGXR]

I voted "probably not" because the online races are still full of drivers who want to win at all costs. So you *could* compete in the same race multiple times and still not win for a myriad of reasons I won't list here. Point being, the truly fast and stilled drivers will probably win after a few attempts, but the average driver would not enjoy this. Speaking for myself, I don't want my progression through the game to depend on the sportsmanship of other drivers, because (sad to say) it's still not there. Until the penalty system is figured out, this idea should remain just an idea.

 

[Voodoovaj]

I voted "probably not" because the online races are still full of drivers who want to win at all costs. So you *could* compete in the same race multiple times and still not win for a myriad of reasons I won't list here. Point being, the truly fast and stilled drivers will probably win after a few attempts, but the average driver would not enjoy this. Speaking for myself, I don't want my progression through the game to depend on the sportsmanship of other drivers, because (sad to say) it's still not there. Until the penalty system is figured out, this idea should remain just an idea.

Your progression through the game already depends on the sportsmanship of others.

Also, what's with all this SR and DR not working? It works fine on my end.

 

[baldgye]

Also, what's with all this SR and DR not working? It works fine on my end.

Not to be rude, but there are a dozen or so threads a week regarding the issues and fairness of the SR system

 

[MatskiMonk]

If they're going to offer GT league, it needs to be a top to bottom offline campaign to appeal to the masses, and it shouldn't be infected by the tedium or foolishness of online play.

Having said that, if they offered an online version alongside it, much like you used to be able to select A-Spec or B-Spec for a championship/race, I wouldn't mind. I'd imagine they might need AI to flesh out the grids anyway after a while though, I can imagine grids dwindling pretty quickly in some championships.

 

[Voodoovaj]

Not to be rude, but there are a dozen or so threads a week regarding the issues and fairness of the SR system

Sure, but what actually doesn't work about it? In a room full of S (SR) drivers, the driving is (mostly) respectful. People get hot headed and stuff happens but it's mostly clean racing.

Drop into and SR -A room and see the difference. Heck, go into an open lobby (heaven forbid, I know)

So, is SR doled out perfectly, all the time? No. Will it ever be perfect to any one person's perspective? Again, no. What's the alternative? Boycotting the game entirely? The daily races aren't enough content, plain and simple. There's a bunch of content sitting in my garage that is completely and utterly pointless and it should have a proper outlet.

GTS is online centric yet there is no preset game space to use the Rally cars, the VGT's, or the Group 1 cars. There's no where to use the street cars either unless they are lucky to get chosen for this week's one make.

It just seems to me that there is a bunch of this game that needs more attention.

 

[baldgye]

Sure, but what actually doesn't work about it? In a room full of S (SR) drivers, the driving is (mostly) respectful. People get hot headed and stuff happens but it's mostly clean racing.

Drop into and SR -A room and see the difference. Heck, go into an open lobby (heaven forbid, I know)

So, is SR doled out perfectly, all the time? No. Will it ever be perfect to any one person's perspective? Again, no. What's the alternative? Boycotting the game entirely? The daily races aren't enough content, plain and simple. There's a bunch of content sitting in my garage that is completely and utterly pointless and it should have a proper outlet.

GTS is online centric yet there is no preset game space to use the Rally cars, the VGT's, or the Group 1 cars. There's no where to use the street cars either unless they are lucky to get chosen for this week's one make.

It just seems to me that there is a bunch of this game that needs more attention.

For the first part of your post; I am SR-S rated and I would say that it is at best occasionally respectful, but most isn't. As someone who got demoted to SR-A thanks to a single driver and then to SR-B thanks to several others the is a difference, but its mostly with ability to control the car rather than intent.

I'm not talking about boycotting anything, just that the Sport mode isn't really ready for what your talking about.


GT Sport is online centric, but instead of that being by sole design, it seems more by accident. This is more clear with the announcement of a proper offline career mode. The game's core direction (online) has been diluted, which is a shame.
That said, I'm glad that there is no more rally stages or events, because they where all terrible and totally joyless

 

[DGXR]

Your progression through the game already depends on the sportsmanship of others.

Also, what's with all this SR and DR not working? It works fine on my end.

What? This thread started with YOUR statement about GT League being "offline single player stuff." So please explain how my progression through offline single player content depends on the sportsmanship of others.