Appearing Offline In-Game

[(PSN)Jengle-Bell]

TL;DR:

Have you ever been on a diet and you see everyone eating your favourite chocolate cake in front of you? Torturous! Please do not put our friends through such torture when they see us online and yet they cannot play with us because we are feeling antisocial that day.

Please have an Invisibility function or allow us to truly Appear Offline within the game when we choose to appear offline in our PS4 setting.

 

Idea/Feedback Proposal

Allow someone who chooses to “Appear Offline” in PS4 to truly remain invisible/offline in-game.

 

Background

Some people need ‘me’ time. This personal time could be spent within a virtual world, like Warframe. And this personal time can vary from just wanting to blast music and enjoy the game or just wanting to stay off chat because you do not feel very sociable that day. But this sacred ‘me’ time can be disrupted because PS4 friends or Warframe friends can see you online within the game and they will start sending invites.

Now when I choose to “Appear Offline” in PS4, nobody knows I am online and that remains the case when I play certain multiplayer games as well. But not in Warframe. Everyone in your PS4 friend list and Warframe friend list can see that you are online if you are playing Warframe while appearing offline. This results in a number of issues.

I am not alone on this and i don't think this applies for just the PS4 console. The following links are that of postings in Reddit and the Warframe forum requesting for an invisibility/offline function in-game.

https://forums.warframe.com/topic/893001-appear-offline/

https://forums.warframe.com/topic/878964-id-like-an-option-to-hide-online-status/

https://forums.warframe.com/topic/1019587-offline-status/

https://forums.warframe.com/topic/889288-no-actual-appearing-offline-on-xbox/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warframe/comments/7pyjrb/is_there_a_way_to_appear_offline_to_people_on/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warframe/comments/6x83of/dear_de_if_i_choose_appear_offline_in_my_psn/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warframe/comments/4feejs/can_i_set_my_status_to_offline_or_invisible_in_wf/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warframe/comments/3j1eim/is_there_any_way_to_appear_offline_to_other/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warframe/comments/9bbje3/xbox_if_you_appear_offline_on_xbox_live_do_you/

 

Potential Issues faced because there is no invisibility function in-game

1.      Does not feel good to know you are being blocked/ignored

In-game invites can be blocked, but not PS party chat invites. PS party chat invites can be received even if you are offline or appearing offline. And even if PS party chat invites can be blocked, how would you feel if your invites got blocked by a friend? Especially if you are friends in real life? A virtual world as provided by a game is akin to a social space. How does it feel to be blocked by a real-life friend on Facebook?

 

2.      Hassle to reply to every invite received

People don’t expect a response when they send a PS party invite to an offline person. But a response is usually expected when he knows you are actually online because he can see you in-game. It is a hassle to type a reply to every single person that sends you an invite. Be it by PS message or an in-game message, especially if you do not have a keyboard. In the event of receiving multiple invites, the hassle is multiplied.

 

3.      Invites received everyday

Some of us may have the possessive type of friend who requires your undivided attention and wonderful company. Throw loads of free time into the mix and you will have an ultimate combination; A possessive friend who plays Warframe 24/7. Rarely a day goes by without you receiving an invite from him.

 

4.      Mental fatigue

On the seasonal occasion where you prefer to have an extended period of personal time, there will come a time where you will run out of creative juice in providing a reason as to why you want to fly solo for that day, and your replies will eventually just be “I wish to fly solo today” for the next 20 consecutive days that your hardworking friend continues to send invites. And this may not sit well with that persistent friend of yours who really loves your company.

 

5.      Hurt feelings of Inviter

If one chooses not to provide a response, be it by way of PS message, in-game chat message or phone message (for friends in real life), the other party will be hurt. Attached is a sample screenshot of what a conversation with my friend in real life looks like because of my repeated ignoring of his daily invites for about 4 days straight. (yes, just 4 days..) Note: I had to edit the messages a bit to protect his identity. Imagine if you had more than 1 friend that behaved like this, and imposes a requirement on you to respond to every invite?

Sample screenshots:

https://imgur.com/PtI3B1O

 

https://imgur.com/a/kJnJ6aK

 

https://imgur.com/a/IZbQC9Y

 

6.      Strained relationships

Friendships can be broken because of the multiple rejections faced within the game. Aren’t multiplayer games meant to build relationships? Now my hours in Warframe are greatly reduced because I rather stay out to enjoy my ‘me’ time and preserve my real-life friendships than to be inside the game and have to ‘entertain’ friends or to be social.

 

7.      Frustration from having to explain one’s antisocial behaviour

It is easier to appear to be offline than to explain why you prefer to play alone or to do your own stuff within the game, especially when it is going to be for an extended period of days where your mood just doesn’t allow you to be social.

 

8.      Potential exodus of introverted players

According to some studies[1], introverts make up 30-50% of the population. That is quite a substantial number of people to create this function for I would think?

 

9.      The persistent and very curious friend

Believe me, there are persistent, hardworking friends out there who will not have second thoughts about sending you daily invites until the day you accept the invite and then the interrogation begins. A typical list of possible questions can be:

“Why did you not accept my invite the past 10 days?”

“What were you doing?”

“Why would you want to farm solo?”

“Do you not like to play with me anymore?”

“I feel hurt whenever you reject my game invitations”

And after an extended antisocial personal break where you had to repeatedly reject all invites, would you want to come back to face all these?

 

10.   Inability to help other Tennos

Most of the time if not ALL the time, whenever I am grouped up with my friends, I am unable to respond to requests for help in Region/Clan/Alliance chat etc. I am also unable to help out poor unknowing souls in Trade Chat who may be looking to purchase an Ignis Wraith or some basic mods (yes, I give them out for free whenever I spot such trade requests. I’m just trying to do my part to build a sharing community) I hate to explain myself to my friends, not to mention that it is disruptive to them as well if I keep breaking group for that night. And as mentioned in my previous points, I am unable to fly solo because they will take it personally that I hate them or something.

 

11.   Peer pressure results in reduced enjoyment of the game at one’s own pace

Your friends are of a higher level because they have cushy jobs that pay them good and only require them to work 5 hours a day, while you come home from a 12 to 14-hour work day trying to get some good relaxation but you are forced into some high-level grind because of your friends’ incessant invites.

 

12.   New players may feel hurt

You help out a random individual within the game and you add each other to your friends’ list. This individual may decide to appoint you as his next BFF and send you invites every day or every time that he sees you online. Being the nice person that you are, you do not wish to block him because you are considerate of how he would feel if he receives a “User has blocked you” or “User is ignoring you” message whenever he sends an invite.

 

13.   Reduced number of friendships between players

If you have a real-life friend or friends who always want to group up with you whenever they see you online, it does not leave you room to interact with other players such as your clan mates or alliance mates. There will not be a sense of affinity with your clan mates and thus you may not be as inclined to contribute toward Dojo building or to initiate/participate in clan activities. 

 

Whats in it for Warframe to have an Invisibility Function

1.      Increased community activity

More help can be received by new players seeking help, because if people can stay invisible to their friends list and not be obligated to accept invites from their friends every single time that they are online, they are more likely to take up the option of staying invisible so that they can do random stuff like these. In turn, the Warframe community can be an even better one.

 

2.      Increased gameplay time

Players are likely to spend more time within Warframe if they are able to remain invisible. Time that is not spent on responding to PS party chat invites and in-game invites and phone calls asking you to group the hell up, can be spent on fashion framing and browsing through the market store for the latest and most fancy skins/accessories for your favourite character.

 

3.      Attracts more gamers to play Warframe

In an article by Keith Stuart on The Guardian[2], he mentions “There are gamers, then, who play games as a form of pure escapism – not just in terms of escaping to new worlds, but also escaping other people.” And that being stuck at a lower level (he used WoW as an example) is no fun when your friends are of a high level, and one is no longer playing the game as an enjoyment but as a competition.

 

4.      Increased player retention

I believe people would rather just not play the game entirely than to be subject to pressure from their friends’ persistent inviting and requests to play together. So, if one could stay invisible, people are allowed to enjoy the game at their own pace. Moreover, if players are enabled (through the invisibility function) to interact with other players within Warframe such as their clan mates or alliance mates, the likelihood of them continuing to enjoy the game for a prolonged period is higher.

 

5.      Increased appeal to lone gamers

In a survey done by Forbes[3], it was found that two thirds of gamers prefer to play alone. The lone gamer market is still existent. Given that Warframe is already a hugely popular multi-player game, adding an invisibility function can be seen as a simulation to playing alone and would enable it to increase its appeal to the lone gamer market, further expanding the reach of its gamer demographics.

https://imgur.com/a/wTsW3NQ

 

6.      Reduction of invite harassment

There are gamers out there like the writer of this article[4] in Engadget that like to play multiplayer games as a solo player. But I’m not sure if they would continue playing the game if they are constantly ‘harassed’ by invites.

 

7.      Maintain peace and harmony within the Warframe Community

An invisibility function would aid in maintaining a peaceful and harmonious community because people no longer have to receive negative messages like “User has blocked you” or “User is ignoring you” any more.

 

8.      Increased platinum spending

If you are not being dragged off by your friends to some alert or endless kuva survival, you would be able to spend time in trade chat or browsing through the latest access packs. How many gamers group up over PS party chat/in-game and then spend hours camping in trade chat together as a group or browsing through the market as a group? People’s tastes differ and I’m not sure if your friend would appreciate you gawking over that latest Mesa skin or Operator face mask while he is just staring out into space in his orbiter.

instead of being dragged off to yet another relic farming session or 10 hour Mot survival, especially in the season of Warframe giving; Tennobaum, players can take time out to look at their clan mate list or friends list and send gifts instead of ending up being frustrated by the constant stream of invites or repeated invites (PS Party Chat invites and phone messages) and just exiting the game altogether.

 

Conclusion

Therefore, can I humbly request that we be more considerate toward all these poor, persevering, persistent and hardworking fragile souls out there and have an Invisibility function in-game so that we need not hurt their feelings any further?

 

 

 

---

[1] https://introvertdear.com/news/there-might-not-be-as-many-extroverts-in-the-world-as-we-think-science-says/

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/14/single-player-gamers-destiny-solo-activision-grand-theft-forza

[3] https://www.forbes.com/sites/abigailtracy/2016/03/13/survey-video-games-gamers-gaming-preferences-ps4-xbox-one/#459f19921928

[4] https://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/the-soapbox-why-solo-players-dont-just-play-a-single-player-ga/

Edited December 20, 2018 by (PS4)Jengle-Bell
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[Dabnician]

I would just make a second account at this point to be honest. Xbox does the same thing in warframe, im offline if im out of warframe but i appear online when im in it. same goes for several other games that have built in friends lists.

I usually leave my self offline on xbox because ill get party invites when playing other games all the time.

[MagPrime]

I just tell people in feeling antisocial and hit me up in an hour or two. 

[(PSN)Mono-Pop]

As a person who is an officer in a clan, I’ve had to learn how to take some ground for myself.

Sometimes I’ll spend a day or two, committing all of my game time to helping new players, kitting them out and showing them how to do stuff.

Been doing it so long I have a reputation for being the help guy.

I’ve had to learn to just say “No, I’m working on my own stuff today.” Normally that’s enough to discourage any follow up questions.

One guy in particular I taught how to hunt Eidolons, so every day, 4-5 times a day he messages me asking if I want to do Tridolon. It got me seriously burnt out for a while.

Another instance where I just had to learn to say no.

 

The way I see it, people would rather be told no then to be ignored. No one likes to feel like a problem.

Sure, they shouldn’t be harassing you in the first place, but Warframe isn’t a day care, you’re allowed to say no and do your own thing.

 

❤️

Edited January 18, 2019 by (PS4)Mono-Pop

[(PSN)x_TigerRabbit_x]

Really surprised this post didn't get more attention - so many great points raised. Nothing to add. Seems obvious it's why Sony developed an appear offline status mode for their consoles - shame DE doesn't recognize this as important enough to implement.

[Tennyshoe]

This has been suggested so many times but is always ignored. Obviously DE is not interested in improvement of the social mechanics of the game such as this, kicking party members, host being able to cancel missions and block people from starting countdowns without votes, leaving a relay or dojo without leaving a party, etc.

If it's not changing stats or gear, adding new content, or driving sales then we will not see additions of basic mechanics to the game.

[GrandShlong]

Why the #*!% isn't this in the game? How old is this game again? Yet still not even basic functions like this.

[NuclearCommunist]

So because you cant tell your friends you want to play alone devs have to add that feature into the game? Not gonna happen. Remove that friends if you dont feel like playing with them. Your personal problems =/= everyone's problems.

[(PSN)Hollow_Ronin]

Not what OP said at all. You completely missed the point. It's not that one doesn't want to play with a friend, it is at times you want to do your own thing. It's not that one can't tell them they want to fly solo, it is that it is more intrusive to solo time when multiple friends keep hitting you up. As a solo player, you prefer to do your own thing. That doesn't mean that you don't enjoy playing with friends at times. Why remove friends you enjoy playing with just because sometimes you want to go solo. So no, ones issue is not everyones issue, but an addition such as this doesn't hurt everyone, it would just help. If you don't need it cause you're so hard, don't turn it on when you want to be solo. I for one would like this feature added. Not because I can't tell people no, but because I don't want to be constantly interrupted.

[ValRoars]

Chances are if it hasn’t been added yet, it never will be sadly. Progress is very gradual.

[Angel141]

expected a simple post, got a lot of interesting facts out of it, 10/10

should be in game btw 😡

[Deminisis]

I'd like this small feature myself. I had a possessive friend that would private message me daily to play random missions. I made the decision to remove all my friends and reject all new requests which just looks bad on me.

[War-.]

This option should be as a base for all people like us that wants their OWN moment..

Please... very please..
 

Add this @[DE]Rebecca