I think it was suggested before, but..

1. maybe ask linux distributors to include VO client? And grant 1 month free play for every distribution.

- SUSE Enterprise (+++) or OpenSUSE
- Fedora
- Mandriva
- ASP linux
- Debian
- Ubuntu (99% won't add, it's too small to include any 300 MB games in base distr, but maybe add to repositories).

2. Add not online (PvE) version of engine to these distributions for advertisment. Linux users will look to free game/engine that works and would like to play it online. I know how it's hard to find any high-lvl game for linux.

Not sure if you're trolling or not, but very unlikely distros include it as is.

VO not free, and it's closed source. So wipe out Debian and all Enterprise distros.

If full content will not be available, all distros will refuse to include it with its base packages.

But one limited, offline, PvE single player version of VO, probably also restricted to a single system or a reduced universe would be a great way to drag players to the online version, no doubt. Add some ads to it leading to online version (url) and you have a business model.

Hmmm... Devs, did you ever considered a reduced, single-player version of VO as an effective advertising media? Make it freeware, keep closed source, and you have a major multiplataform propaganda machine...

And that surely could be included on most distros, except enterprise version...

Yes, with single player version they can probably bring some attention to the game, that's because I mentioned it.

* stamp of failure

+1 for the propoganda machine idea
good alternative to these "free to play" idea

I actually kinda like the idea of a scaled down single player version. Maybe not free, but I think the going rate for crappy kiddy type games is somewhere between $10-20.

VO is more than a "crappy kiddy type" of game. Make it $30. : P

wrong direction if this is intended to be a bait...

FREE is a magic powerfull word, and Linux and Mac have very few good modern space games that are easy to install. FS2 is no longer sold, oolite is primitive...

So a standalone, single-player version of VO, sparsely updated, should really drive many players into VO-online... and I see that as more effective that advertising in game magazines/blogs..

I think i might actually not hate this idea. It sounds atleast worth a shot.

I was joking, Alloh.

OK hows this for an idea. I've found myself with a laptop and no connection to teh internet sometimes... so here is what I propose:

A single player, single system (or maybe two systems), standalone version of VO, much scaled down, where the system in question is the nation you chose's capital. First time you play it, you register, then every time you play VO again all the items you gained in it and stored in stations are transfered to stations in the real VO game.. so you could hunt queens/bots, mine non rare ores, etc and still get credit for it in a standalone game.

When you launch VO as a subscriber, it would query the standalone game to see what items/credits you've gained, add them to your real account, and you would continue like normal.. if you withdraw the items/credits you've earned in the standalone, VO tells the standalone it should delete them.

Suggestions are welcome. I'm proposing this as a free scaled down version.

crusader8389 that would allow for so much abuse its not even funny

Crusader, what you are proposing, from game engine perspective, is a magic device that makes me invisible to all players while I want, so I can mine/harvest/PROFIT almost unharmed, then use all that online.

Sorry, bad idea. Offline game must keep entirely offline. Only wise connection is, from inside offline single-player cliente, being able to connect to website to subscribe. And only to website, not to online content. Remember also online client must be up-to-date, offline doesn't...

The "VOff" client should be a trainer, a portable free advertising using an alternate media, but make clear it is a quite reduced portion of "VO".

What better to advertise a game than a free game?

Yes, but if its stripped down to have say only ferric carbonic silicate aquean and the like, no good trade routes, hardly any weapons/mining beams, only oruns and dentek collectors, one queen, one system, etc... it shouldnt be a problem. No one in their right mind is going to be able to profit much off that system compared to some empty system in VO.

Besides, people may complaina about all that work they did on the free client that isnt transfered... I can imagine ppl playing it for years and slowly accumulation say 10m would be quite mad.

Basic Miner 70 billion. 'Nuff said.

EDIT: And if it was clear from the start that nothing would be transferred, then nobody would be mad unless they were being stupid.

"Sorry, bad idea."

No, not sorry. This is probably the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard on VO. Who would play for years on something that limited? 10mil is pocket change, for some of the current trade routes.

Some people could have gotten lots of bot kills with their basic centurion with ion blaster... and btw, that "basic miner 70 billion" wouldn't work because of LIMITED ships/mining equipment... like only the basic mining beam. Oh and btw, people *will* complain, whether it be bot kills, ores mined, or trade xp from doing procs in a revenant.