Lynx

Probably more playing Ark single player right now than Atlas total players.

It not really a MMO. The MMO tag is basically meaninglessness. Its a pirate survival sandbox. Servers aren't supported by active GM's and will never be. Unless you pick unofficial servers with good admins.

I said equivalent. That dosen't necessarily mean animals.

They might add the equivalent of these.

Without a single player mode, Atlas will not be as popular as Ark. It's a smaller demographic.

Tracking on the internet is the way of the future.

Its always been allowed on Ark. Thats why there are so many 123 steam names.

The MMO tag on both Ark and Atlas is dev defined, not user defined. Single player is a demographic that could make the devs money. That's 1 reason.

You are not making any sense.

What are you talking about? LAN servers without port forwarding do not work. The server cannot directly talk to the client only within a LAN. Internet and port fowarding are required.

My original statement wasnt all doom and gloom. It was just stating that if an easy to use LAN (no port forwarding) option existed then maybe the population wouldn't have dropped as much. Since players who gave up on servers and griefing are just quitting the game, my suggestion of LAN ability would give players an alternative. And, before unofficial servers get suggested, some people are unwaveringly against them. This is what worked for Ark, there is a significant percentage of people playing either single player mode or LAN server.

I don't see changing the network connections for server and client as recoding the entire thing. It could be simple. We don't know. LAN (no port forwarding) is just an extension of the existing unofficial server software. True single player mode would be part of the client and be a big project. Not what this thread is about. Atlas appeals to the Ark community. So unless the devs make a statement saying they will never development or allow direct internal lan connections then people will still hope for this. Really? "Doom and gloom"? Look at steam charts. The negative almost linear trend, is unlike the other top 40 games. But believe what you want, i was merely stating facts.

There is an increasing number of people getting internet from mobile isp. These will not function for internet servers, port forwarding dosen't work. I would guess that most of the current Atlas owners who now just want to play alone in a single player world or LAN server, have simply quit the game. Population shows this. And the demographic of people who will only buy if single player mode is an option, simply will not buy. The devs chose to offer server software and a devkit. I should be able to get the server to two-way communicate with my client behind a LAN. Ark does this. Also, what about people who want to host and the same machine they play on? Really a server cannot directly talk to the client that's in the same machine? No. There is already a suggestion about adding single player mode. This discussion isn't about a true single player mode, meaning the client would run the server. It's about extending the existing advertised unofficial server functionality, to include no port forwarding LAN server conditions. With the Altas population dropping, implementing LAN (no port forwarding) could help increase the population and bring in new customers.

That person wasn't talking about a true LAN server, but a port forward internet server. True LAN isn't an option.

Ark is also listed as an MMO and it has both single player mode and LAN server connectivity. LAN servers would be beneficial to the game development. Its could be used by the playerbase (beta testers) to help test bugs and especially bug repeatability conditions. Also, players who need a break from official servers, would have a choice other than quitting or unofficial servers. Unless you really like seeing the game drop on the steam charts. Since unofficial servers exist, the 'only one official way to play' argument dosen't hold up.

This is the part that dosen't work with mobile isp. That's why i keep speaking up in the single player or LAN server discussions. I need the server and client to talk to each other inside my LAN, never knowing the internet exists. Except whatever drm is between the client and steam.

I have no problem admitting i have little understanding of networking. I bought the game and tried to setup a server that operates behind a LAN with no port forwarding (my help thread was linked above). I was never able to connect to my own server. I would be interested in buying Atlas again.

I am a potential customer, so my opinion is valid. Or, should no one else buy the game? What i mean by LAN support is LAN only. No port forwarding or NAT loopback needed.

Which is exactly why this thread exist. Discussing the need or want for LAN server support to get added to atlas. This really shouldnt matter for how a client connects or communicates with just 1 server. I just need communication to happen between server and client to happen all behind or within a LAN.

Then why can i run Ark LAN server just fine? It's because Atlas doesn't support 100% LAN only servers. Mobile isp dosen't support the NAT loopback required for Atlas servers. Already a 3rd party program that run only grid at a time for the full map, linked above.

As i said before, i tried all this before. It didn't work for me. Here is the post with me getting help, someone even helped me through discord. It was determined that my mobile isp interferes. I am not going to buy Atlas again, just to have it not work. I need an official statement from the devs saying they support LAN connections.

Afaik Ark had single player mode from early on in development. I don't even really want a SP mode, Ark's is still really buggy. Just the ability to use my LAN IP in the server .bat file and actually be able to connect. Why would anyone buy EA with no oversight of actually getting the advertised product? Sould i stop checking to see if Atlas adds LAN support? Should i stop saying what i want in the game?

Ark has LAN support. I am sure i am not the only one who bought Atlas, but was unable to setup a LAN server. There were several threads at EA launch of people trying to get LAN servers setup with cpjat64's map tutorial and map files. After watching the population decrease and all the gameplay problems, not sure there will be a good reason to buy Atlas. Will have to see what the modding community does to fix the gameplay and if anyone creates a single player rebalancing mod(s). Someone already created a 3rd party program that will auto switch servers and just run 1 grid at a time with the full map.

I am not talking about the Ark remnant menu. But putting the LAN adress in the server .bat file. I spent hours/days working with people trying to get my server working and the ability to actually connect to it. I refunded the game, cause it didnt work. LAN Support is needed. But if the devs don't want money, thats fine too. I will just play Ark.

No, i am not. The storepage promised private or unofficial servers. LAN is a type of unofficial server. I was told that LAN worked for the first couple of days, but was turned off. LAN is a logical extension of being promised private servers.