Don't hide Skirmish in Multiplayer

Multiply this by a lot, and you get an idea of the confusion that hiding skirmish games in multiplayer causes. I'm not sure why you've chosen to fight standard RTS terminology: Campaign, Skirmish, Multiplayer. Used in almost every RTS ever, widely understood, requires only one additional menu button.

I've noticed lots of complaints about 'locked tech', 'connection required for singleplayer', 'no skirmish', etc.
Well, I came from older generation of games, so I had no problem figuring out I can host AI only match. But modern gamers are too used to 'press x to win' style of games, they won't spend a single minute figuring stuff out themselves. Even server browser is too much of a struggle for many, because people are used to click 'find a game' and wait for a sec.

Fixed that for you.

I understand your point, and I agree that stashing it under MP is pointless. But Uber should concentrate on things like client-side release rather than catering to people who are either to stupid or too lazy to actually bother looking for the feature that they want. This is the sort of person that views Early Access games as finished products and is in no way helpful to anyone.

I have to agree with the op. Even though I knew to look into the multiplayer section, I can see how it would be confusing to a lot of other players who just want to play a simple vs AI skirmish. It shouldn't be that hard for the Uber devs to add a skirmish button which is limited to VS AI matches.

Also your post reminds me of the kinds of idiots which are commonly found in the steam forums/review sections. Barely play the game or research how to do something, then proceed to immediately bash the game. This is especially infuriating since their biased/uninformed reviews may affect what others think of the game.

Edit: Actually the Singleplayer button should lead to a skirmish setup/lobby, while another button is created for galactic war on the home screen.

I'm sure they'll get this sorted out. Single player button on the main menu is the first step.

Uber, come on, just fix this. I'm sure it'll only take 5 minutes...

Do it for the sake of the Uberawesome Community!

You guys should be really careful here. The "lazy and stupid idiots" you're calling out are nothing but average users. Those people aren't imbeciles, they just lack the time and/or interest to do a lot of research, and they expect their product to simply work.

Sounds alien to you? Chances are you're average users, too. Not regarding PA, or tech related issues. But how much do you know about your car? Your electric wiring? Whole foods? Health insurance? On at least one of those topics (or some random other example), your knowledge is average at best, and besides basic research, you just expect stuff to work and will get frustrated if it doesn't.

This average user should always be kept in mind when selling a product - because Mr. Average represents the majority of your potential customers unless you're selling some remote niche product (which PA is not). And it's very, very easy to misunderstand how a product is supposed to work - because as a creator, you'll inevitably become blind to certain processes, or outputs, or a myriad of other small and little things.

All that's needed is a "skirmish" button or "create match" button that goes straight to the lobby creator with AI slots already filled.

Not only will that help out new users, it'll also remove another click for players creating a new game.

What's this, the voice of reason and calm on the Internet? The world has gone mad!

No this is unforgivable. I have no sympathy. A few minutes of googling and/or poking around would have got him what he wanted. You try that with electrical wiring and you could die.

Yes, yes, yes! The Skirmish button needs to be in the next build!

I keep getting confused between the single player (galactic war) and the multiplayer (skirmish) buttons.

Ofc you figure it out yourself, it's just counter-intuitive to have ai-skirmishes under multiplayer. I wouldn't have instantly looked there either if i didn't have know the issue from another game. Really not a huge deal, though.

Maybe we'll get that button with offline mode.

Btw, don't even come with 'we didn't had that issue during the gaming stone-age' or 'people nowadays'. Yeah, the issue might not have existed earlier because games developer create conventions over time and people - and you too - learn to have certain expectations. Like drawing a box to select units or double klicking to get all of a type. Imagine the confusion when you suddenly select units with the rmb and move with lmb.
Multiplayer containing the offline-mode is very rare.

There is no offline mode.

The cake is the lie. Also, there isn't even a spoon.

I've been playing since two days into beta, and I fell for "single player" in the newest update. silly me.

"Sir, are you aware that you can do a skirmish against the AI without playing the galactic war?"


#makeanobviousskirmishbutton2014

A skirmish option in the main menu or presenting a sub menu from "single player" which lets you decide between galactic war and skirmish would be a great idea. For a relatively small change in the UI you remove a lot of negativity from more casual or first time players.

As a side effect to benefit more regular players it will also remove the swathes of AI games that you have to wade through when looking to join a public game. There seems to be a fair number of people creating games and then not setting them as private or setting a password. I sometimes get kicked from 2-3 lobbies when looking for a game because it's someone playing against the AI and they don't want company.

Agreed, also get off of my lawn you kids!

Are skirmishes (you vs AI's) only available online? Because an offline skirmish mode really is a must.