On the subject of procedural generation as a whole. I'd like a studio like Ubisoft take a crack at a game like No Man's Sky. The procedural generation of NMS itself is pretty good, but limited by the amount of base models the generator pulls from. Ubisoft with their army of modellers/artists could really do something amazing with it.
I get that you can tune the rules with procedural generation to set the boundaries on what can and cannot be made and that what these rules are is up to the developer. As it has been pointed out some games handle this better than others. My main point was that with the inevitable randomness that comes with procedural generation players will get a wider range of experiences that are harder to predict compared to a hand crafted level.
This is especially true of NMS (not necessarily true of all games that use procedural generation) but you don't have to look further than a few stories to see the wide range of experiences had by players from the start of the game. For example, as I mentioned in my first post, Tom Marks of PC Gamer visited 3 planets and found them each to be desolate and boring and as a result it turned him off to the game. On the other hand there is a player (don't remember where the article came from) that has put in 30 hours to the planet they started on because that world happened to be so dense and interesting. Two players, same game, same point in the game, vastly different experiences that go beyond just the personal interpretation of the same environment and on to objectively different experiences.
Some dude was talking about this back in the 'polite discourse' thread I think.
Basically, as far as we know, there's no legal basis for anything. 99% of the "lies" came from unscripted interviews which were probably paid for by somebody else (rather than paid-for marketing) although they may not have been.
And apparently if you bought the game your only legal right is to sell it off again, not sue or anything, because you bought it. Apparently. (Not saying I agree in any way.)
Did Sean lie yet? Haven't seen evidence of lying so far. Is that why this thread is still going? Because we're waiting for this barefooted babe to lie?
I get that you can tune the rules with procedural generation to set the boundaries on what can and cannot be made and that what these rules are is up to the developer. As it has been pointed out some games handle this better than others. My main point was that with the inevitable randomness that comes with procedural generation players will get a wider range of experiences that are harder to predict compared to a hand crafted level.
Since I've pretty much completed my main save file (been through two galaxies, completed Atlas Path, finished almost all milestones, maxed out equipment), I decided to start a new save to test a theory. I wanted to get to my goal quickly, so I turned on some cheats to give myself infinite money and free crafting.
First of all, it's a little jarring how quickly and easily you can complete the Atlas Path when you don't have to worry about resources. In less than 3 hours, I was able to go from a completely fresh save to the "end" of the game. And I wasn't even going as quickly as I could. Honestly, fulfilling the tutorial requirements so I could trigger the Atlas questline took the longest. From there, literally all you have to do is 10 warp jumps and you've completed the main story of the game.
Now, I understand that by using those cheats I removed a significant chunk of what the game is. But I don't know anyone who plays this game and thinks the mining and resource gathering is actually "fun." It's filler to get to the next thing... which is more resource gathering. Obviously some people play this game purely for exploration and seeing the sights, and that's fine, but if you're looking for solid gameplay, it's just not here.
Now, on to my more important point... there are spoilers for the end of the Atlas Path throughout the paragraphs below, but I think it's important. You should read it if you can.
When arriving at the final Atlas station, you turn in 10 Atlas Stones and get a chance to "birth a new star." The game tells you that you've created a new system on the edge of the galaxy that a new explorer will start on. After all the other fishy stuff that's gone on with this game, I found that claim to be suspect. So I tested it by capturing network traffic to see if the game is communicating with servers, which it would presumably have to do in order to literally create a new system and mark it as somewhere a new player starts.
When you get to the station and interact with the red sphere, you get the option to birth a new star or turn back. Regardless of what choice you make here, there is no network activity from the No Man's Sky client. I'm not a trained network engineer, but I have an IT background, so I know a bit of what I'm doing, and I was never able to get the game to trigger any communication at this point. But uploading discoveries to the NMS servers and capturing the traffic from that is easily replicable.
So I'm inclined to believe that the claim you're birthing a new star, which reads completely literal in the game's text, is not actually happening. It's possible that somehow the trigger gets queued and is not actually communicated to the servers until later, but I doubt it. I have a save file backed up right at the point where you decide to birth a new star, so I'm going to do further testing. If anyone else wants to take a look, I can send you the save file as well.
Since I've pretty much completed my main save file (been through two galaxies, completed Atlas Path, finished almost all milestones, maxed out equipment), I decided to start a new save to test a theory. I wanted to get to my goal quickly, so I turned on some cheats to give myself infinite money and free crafting.
First of all, it's a little jarring how quickly and easily you can complete the Atlas Path when you don't have to worry about resources. In less than 3 hours, I was able to go from a completely fresh save to the "end" of the game. And I wasn't even going as quickly as I could. Honestly, fulfilling the tutorial requirements so I could trigger the Atlas questline took the longest. From there, literally all you have to do is 10 warp jumps and you've completed the main story of the game.
Now, I understand that by using those cheats I removed a significant chunk of what the game is. But I don't know anyone who plays this game and thinks the mining and resource gathering is actually "fun." It's filler to get to the next thing... which is more resource gathering. Obviously some people play this game purely for exploration and seeing the sights, and that's fine, but if you're looking for solid gameplay, it's just not here.
Now, on to my more important point... there are spoilers for the end of the Atlas Path throughout the paragraphs below, but I think it's important. You should read it if you can.
When arriving at the final Atlas station, you turn in 10 Atlas Stones and get a chance to "birth a new star." The game tells you that you've created a new system on the edge of the galaxy that a new explorer will start on. After all the other fishy stuff that's gone on with this game, I found that claim to be suspect. So I tested it by capturing network traffic to see if the game is communicating with servers, which it would presumably have to do in order to literally create a new system and mark it as somewhere a new player starts.
When you get to the station and interact with the red sphere, you get the option to birth a new star or turn back. Regardless of what choice you make here, there is no network activity from the No Man's Sky client. I'm not a trained network engineer, but I have an IT background, so I know a bit of what I'm doing, and I was never able to get the game to trigger any communication at this point. But uploading discoveries to the NMS servers and capturing the traffic from that is easily replicable.
So I'm inclined to believe that the claim you're birthing a new star, which reads completely literal in the game's text, is not actually happening. It's possible that somehow the trigger gets queued and is not actually communicated to the servers until later, but I doubt it. I have a save file backed up right at the point where you decide to birth a new star, so I'm going to do further testing. If anyone else wants to take a look, I can send you the save file as well.
Since I've pretty much completed my main save file (been through two galaxies, completed Atlas Path, finished almost all milestones, maxed out equipment), I decided to start a new save to test a theory. I wanted to get to my goal quickly, so I turned on some cheats to give myself infinite money and free crafting.
First of all, it's a little jarring how quickly and easily you can complete the Atlas Path when you don't have to worry about resources. In less than 3 hours, I was able to go from a completely fresh save to the "end" of the game. And I wasn't even going as quickly as I could. Honestly, fulfilling the tutorial requirements so I could trigger the Atlas questline took the longest. From there, literally all you have to do is 10 warp jumps and you've completed the main story of the game.
Now, I understand that by using those cheats I removed a significant chunk of what the game is. But I don't know anyone who plays this game and thinks the mining and resource gathering is actually "fun." It's filler to get to the next thing... which is more resource gathering. Obviously some people play this game purely for exploration and seeing the sights, and that's fine, but if you're looking for solid gameplay, it's just not here.
Now, on to my more important point... there are spoilers for the end of the Atlas Path throughout the paragraphs below, but I think it's important. You should read it if you can.
When arriving at the final Atlas station, you turn in 10 Atlas Stones and get a chance to "birth a new star." The game tells you that you've created a new system on the edge of the galaxy that a new explorer will start on. After all the other fishy stuff that's gone on with this game, I found that claim to be suspect. So I tested it by capturing network traffic to see if the game is communicating with servers, which it would presumably have to do in order to literally create a new system and mark it as somewhere a new player starts.
When you get to the station and interact with the red sphere, you get the option to birth a new star or turn back. Regardless of what choice you make here, there is no network activity from the No Man's Sky client. I'm not a trained network engineer, but I have an IT background, so I know a bit of what I'm doing, and I was never able to get the game to trigger any communication at this point. But uploading discoveries to the NMS servers and capturing the traffic from that is easily replicable.
So I'm inclined to believe that the claim you're birthing a new star, which reads completely literal in the game's text, is not actually happening. It's possible that somehow the trigger gets queued and is not actually communicated to the servers until later, but I doubt it. I have a save file backed up right at the point where you decide to birth a new star, so I'm going to do further testing. If anyone else wants to take a look, I can send you the save file as well.
When the two players (the ones that streamed it) found themselves on the same planet did they try to blast a hole in the ground, right where they where?
Just to check if the other player saw those changes in the terrain?
When the two players (the ones that streamed it) found themselves on the same planet did they try to blast a hole in the ground, right where they where?
Just to check if the other player saw those changes in the terrain?
It's there for you, that change is saved locally on your machine.
I think the only way they'd be able to show terrain deformation to other players is if there was some P2P streaming gadgetry in place that, if the other player was online, they could stream that data to the person who found it later. But that's not in place, as far as I'm aware.
Not sure about that. I was just talking about the way stuff you've mined or destroyed reappears when you move away from it only to disappear again when you get close. It doesn't draw in the changes until you're close enough.
It's there for you, that change is saved locally on your machine.
I think the only way they'd be able to show terrain deformation to other players is if there was some P2P streaming gadgetry in place that, if the other player was online, they could stream that data to the person who found it later. But that's not in place, as far as I'm aware.
Well I really like the game so obviously anything they do next is going to be on my radar. But really I'm hoping they focus mostly on more No Man's Sky.
Thats not even remotely true. Consumers create their own expectations all the time. Just read threads from when this gen was announced. Or, better yet, go to a restaurant and read the menu. Or look at a red apple. We createour own expectations all the time.
Thats not even remotely true. Consumers create their own expectations all the time. Just read threads from when this gen was announced. Or, better yet, go to a restaurant and read the menu. Or look at a red apple. We createour own expectations all the time.
Everyone knows if X was not announced and we create it ourselves then we usually don't bitch at the developer when it doesn't manifest.
When a developer answers "yes" to almost every question, knocks other devs because "herp derp they fake everything and we don't", etc - that's not the consumer creating expectation, that's the developer creating them and people hype it.
> dig a hole on planet X
> back away from said hole, watching it
> at about 100 yards the hole will 'fill up' because the game de-loads your changes to the world
> walk forward again to within about 100 yards and the whole will re-appear because the game re-loads your changes to the world
> fly away to planet Y and come back to the same spot on planet X and the whole will re-appear once you're close
> if you were (hypothetically) playing with another player, standing next to the hole you made, you would see it but they wouldn't (the 'hole code' is only saved to your hard drive)
After a week of waiting, here's what I got (ignore the bad grammar on Sony's part):
Hi xxxxxxxxxx,
Thanks for your e-mail to PlayStation Support.
I'm Sorry to hear your unhappy with No Mans Sky,
As you can understand Games released for play on the PlayStation Network are made owned by other company's, this game is made and published by Hello Games,
Hello Games have released a patch update on Monday the 22nd that advised it will fix 99% of issues with the game, And another patch update to come later this week for the other 1 %
In regards to a refund as the content has been supplied to you downloaded and played it does exempt it from our standard Refunds and cancellation policy,
If the game is faulty then as it is digital content a refund can only be offered if the game cannot be fixed within a reasonable timeframe.
I would advise that we wait for the patch update to be released before we can discuss a refund for the product, if you still experience issues with the game after the upcoming patch update i would need you to contact Hello Games and obtain a reference number from them and acknowledgement that the game is faulty.
I hope this helps, but if you have any other questions please contact PlayStation Support using the contact details below or by replying to this e-mail. Quote xxxxxxx-xxxxxx and one of our team will be happy to help you.
Thank you,
Jxxxxxxx
Player Support Specialist
PlayStation Support
If you are talking to Dark-Cloudz above then yeah, that's what I would do. Keep calling till you get a rep that will help you out. This has worked for me on several issues albeit unrelated sony refunds.
After a week of waiting, here's what I got (ignore the bad grammar on Sony's part):
Hi xxxxxxxxxx,
Thanks for your e-mail to PlayStation Support.
I'm Sorry to hear your unhappy with No Mans Sky,
As you can understand Games released for play on the PlayStation Network are made owned by other company's, this game is made and published by Hello Games,
Hello Games have released a patch update on Monday the 22nd that advised it will fix 99% of issues with the game, And another patch update to come later this week for the other 1 %
In regards to a refund as the content has been supplied to you downloaded and played it does exempt it from our standard Refunds and cancellation policy,
If the game is faulty then as it is digital content a refund can only be offered if the game cannot be fixed within a reasonable timeframe.
I would advise that we wait for the patch update to be released before we can discuss a refund for the product, if you still experience issues with the game after the upcoming patch update i would need you to contact Hello Games and obtain a reference number from them and acknowledgement that the game is faulty.
I hope this helps, but if you have any other questions please contact PlayStation Support using the contact details below or by replying to this e-mail. Quote xxxxxxx-xxxxxx and one of our team will be happy to help you.
Thank you,
Jxxxxxxx
Player Support Specialist
PlayStation Support
"- Oh, Hi Hello Games, look, I want to get my money back, could you please confirm that you have delivered a product that does not reflect what was advertised?
- Hi there, yes, that's right, sorry we did that, ops! "
That probably wouldn't be enough. Next email they might ask if im sure that Sean Davis it is actually a human, not a Lizard. Lizards are our new overlords and are above the law.
Yep, here is part of the email sent by Playstation Australia:
If you would like us to look in to your request under the grounds of false advertising, please provide us with the following information:
-On the PlayStation Store product description for No Man's Sky, what part of the description do you feel is misleading, or not included in the game?
-In relation to the above question, please provide detailed examples from within the game itself, including screenshots if this is possible
-A transcript of your contact with the publisher of the game, confirming that they have not provided what is advertised.
Once this is provided, we will escalate your case for further consideration.
They are putting the onus on customers to try and pry and record a response from HG to give proof needed for a refund.
This is why Sony can fuck right off, I am done with them. I tried cancelling my preorder before it even released (was able to get the LE physical) but the fucking assholes wouldn't budge, I explained very clearly that I was still buying their precious game....
Fuck them, arrogant Sony is back in full force.
I should have never went digital with my ps4s because you get nothing but hassles from support anytime there are problems. I'm also never doing pre-orders again unless it's something like a GOTY edition since the game will have been fixed and properly assessed by then (hopefully).
Yeah this is bullshit. If digital distribution is to become the main form of games delivery then we need customer protection laws that will force these companies into action.
After a week of waiting, here's what I got (ignore the bad grammar on Sony's part):
Hi xxxxxxxxxx,
Thanks for your e-mail to PlayStation Support.
I'm Sorry to hear your unhappy with No Mans Sky,
As you can understand Games released for play on the PlayStation Network are made owned by other company's, this game is made and published by Hello Games,
Hello Games have released a patch update on Monday the 22nd that advised it will fix 99% of issues with the game, And another patch update to come later this week for the other 1 %
In regards to a refund as the content has been supplied to you downloaded and played it does exempt it from our standard Refunds and cancellation policy,
If the game is faulty then as it is digital content a refund can only be offered if the game cannot be fixed within a reasonable timeframe.
I would advise that we wait for the patch update to be released before we can discuss a refund for the product, if you still experience issues with the game after the upcoming patch update i would need you to contact Hello Games and obtain a reference number from them and acknowledgement that the game is faulty.
I hope this helps, but if you have any other questions please contact PlayStation Support using the contact details below or by replying to this e-mail. Quote xxxxxxx-xxxxxx and one of our team will be happy to help you.
Thank you,
Jxxxxxxx
Player Support Specialist
PlayStation Support
This is pretty damn amazing.. I don't know what's worst; saying that two patches will fix 100% of all issues in the game (first in history?), or telling a customer to get back to them with a confirmation from Hello Games saying that their own game is crap..
Oh, regarding the base building and people wondering about if they'd actually implement it.
Modders found outIt's actually almost completely implemented in the game code and ready to go. Placing blocks, the UI etc.
Of course, the UI, implementation of it can still change. But a huge chunk of it is already implemented.
Yeah this is bullshit. If digital distribution is to become the main form of games delivery then we need customer protection laws that will force these companies into action.
After a week of waiting, here's what I got (ignore the bad grammar on Sony's part):
Hi xxxxxxxxxx,
Thanks for your e-mail to PlayStation Support.
I'm Sorry to hear your unhappy with No Mans Sky,
As you can understand Games released for play on the PlayStation Network are made owned by other company's, this game is made and published by Hello Games,
Hello Games have released a patch update on Monday the 22nd that advised it will fix 99% of issues with the game, And another patch update to come later this week for the other 1 %
In regards to a refund as the content has been supplied to you downloaded and played it does exempt it from our standard Refunds and cancellation policy,
If the game is faulty then as it is digital content a refund can only be offered if the game cannot be fixed within a reasonable timeframe.
I would advise that we wait for the patch update to be released before we can discuss a refund for the product, if you still experience issues with the game after the upcoming patch update i would need you to contact Hello Games and obtain a reference number from them and acknowledgement that the game is faulty.
I hope this helps, but if you have any other questions please contact PlayStation Support using the contact details below or by replying to this e-mail. Quote xxxxxxx-xxxxxx and one of our team will be happy to help you.
Thank you,
Jxxxxxxx
Player Support Specialist
PlayStation Support
Yeah this is bullshit. If digital distribution is to become the main form of games delivery then we need customer protection laws that will force these companies into action.
Sony doesn't even let you cancel online pre-orders months before a game releases. They aren't doing shit for customers until they're forced, either by market conditions or law.
It is really sad to see that there was no official (or unofficial) statement or anything released at this point by anyone involved. Dude has no shame. I wonder if it will ever release on other hardware now? With it proven Sean lied about so many things, I wonder what their plans are for future titles? And who is held responsible for the marketing?
Yeah, it's been weeks and this is beyond defending now. Seeing people get their refunds in some ways makes me happy because this whole situation has been handled so absolutely disgusting. At one point I really did think people were exaggerating a ton of stuff. The whole "Lying" angle is something I still disagree with but this silence is just all around disrespectful. Had this been any other company, with such an outrage like this, their PR teams would have prepped for a response long before today and it's sad to see Hello Games just like... Ignore it. I don't if it's shock, stress, depression... Whatever the situation is, Sean should of came out, said what he has to say and then put himself in isolation if he wants.
This has to be the most terrible launch of current gen, no doubt about it.
Give me another example of a major release where so many features were outright lied about. One example besides Fable, which, despite the hype/lies, turned out to be a decent game so people were more able to forgive.
It isn't like the guy was just briefly throwing ideas out there once or twice. Literally, for years, he talked about features that are not present. He lied about really important features as well and how they worked such as the central star, day/night, etc, etc.
There is one thing to be naive and another to be straight up lied to in dozens of interviews over a period of years.
True ; but it's odd other things made it in while these things didn't.
Tbh I think it might be more down to a substantial reduction in scope and scale earlier this year due to performance issues. I reckon when they had a late-dev build rolling they might have found out that the game just didn't fit in the ps4 and had to drastically down scale.
By mentioning the recent and upcoming patches fixing the game, they are admitting it was not functioning correctly when it was purchased. I would have thought that would be grounds for a refund.
By mentioning the recent and upcoming patches fixing the game, they are admitting it was not functioning correctly when it was purchased. I would have thought that would be grounds for a refund.
Also, the packaging doesn't state that you need an internet connection to play it, so their chance of "fixing" it would basically have to be them sending you a new patched disc.
So ridiculous how they're acting like it's a nice gesture to give out refunds when Hello Games basically committed fraud in a grand scale.