My reluctance to buy is only augmented by the recent Sony BS. I like the look of the gameplay loop and don’t doubt I’d get some enjoyment out of playing it with friends but it’s an online-only game and I refuse to buy a game that, without explicit promises, will vanish into the void one day. That’s not a purchase in my eyes and never will be, it’s an undisclosed rental.
What I’m trying to say is IMO an offline version wouldn’t be worth playing. The shared victories and failures can’t be simulated and that’s the nature of this kind of video game. There’s been a lot of similar games so I understand the reluctance to join in but the comradery they’ve built through PvE is really something.
And what I’m saying I’m not necessarily advocating for an offline mode. Self-hosting a server is a perfectly valid option in my eyes. That way one can play essentially offline but also for friends to play privately or people to simply host for randos if they wanted. This is sold as a product and not a service, it’s not one and done and I think it’s inexcusable to be giving a corporation an excuse to take away something someone has bought simply because of the framing.
Again I think you’re missing the point. I would argue it is a product and a service. They are hosting us on their servers but they’re also playing dungeon master. If you just want a shooter where you shoot bugs they have them but Helldiver’s is more than that. You couldn’t come close to emulating what the game accomplishes on a self hosted server with you and your friends. The point is you’re playing with randos that you have to rely on to do their part so that you don’t die and to complete the major orders.
My reluctance to buy is only augmented by the recent Sony BS. I like the look of the gameplay loop and don’t doubt I’d get some enjoyment out of playing it with friends but it’s an online-only game and I refuse to buy a game that, without explicit promises, will vanish into the void one day. That’s not a purchase in my eyes and never will be, it’s an undisclosed rental.
What I’m trying to say is IMO an offline version wouldn’t be worth playing. The shared victories and failures can’t be simulated and that’s the nature of this kind of video game. There’s been a lot of similar games so I understand the reluctance to join in but the comradery they’ve built through PvE is really something.
And what I’m saying I’m not necessarily advocating for an offline mode. Self-hosting a server is a perfectly valid option in my eyes. That way one can play essentially offline but also for friends to play privately or people to simply host for randos if they wanted. This is sold as a product and not a service, it’s not one and done and I think it’s inexcusable to be giving a corporation an excuse to take away something someone has bought simply because of the framing.
Again I think you’re missing the point. I would argue it is a product and a service. They are hosting us on their servers but they’re also playing dungeon master. If you just want a shooter where you shoot bugs they have them but Helldiver’s is more than that. You couldn’t come close to emulating what the game accomplishes on a self hosted server with you and your friends. The point is you’re playing with randos that you have to rely on to do their part so that you don’t die and to complete the major orders.