Letter from the Game Director – June 2008

[agentgimpy]

Agentgimpy.. incorrect on the rendering part.

Sil stated: "...The render engine upgrade is coming along nicely and we are still hoping that we will be able to launch it later this year." in this POST

and again above: "...The development continues to be good..."

Now to ME, that means: "we are on course" unless Sil corrects me, I am looking forward "to launch it later this year."

Well, I'll stick with the info from the newest post. Perhaps there have been some unforeseen problems?

Either way, are you suggesting 17.10 is followed by 17.12, or would it be 17.20, or maybe 17.10.2? My head is getting tired of all these trips to reclaim.

[aleah]

I have questions on the Outzone PFs.

Is this going to be for all level ranges, or mostly TL7?
Will there be solo content?




Thanks

[macattack]

I have questions on the Outzone PFs.

Is this going to be for all level ranges, or mostly TL7?
Will there be solo content?

Thanks

Good Question.. I read it as non title specific (Sil... nice ambiguous notes .. just enough to tease)

And agentgimpy... unsure... Sil didn't mention WHAT package/update the render engine would appear. I would like to think 18.0 as it is a whole update change, not fractional. The render engine (I feel from past programming experience) is a fundamental change to the software package and may be in line with the booster

[Glarawyn]

With it will also come a change to some of the existing playfields to make them into true raid instances that bind to the raid group and allow players to take on these challenges on their own timetable and schedule.\

No more need of Glarawyn's Alien Playfield Spawn Time Guesstimator? Damn you, damn you all!

Seriously though, despite the hours that went into coding, find tuning, and expanding it from something that was just a web page into something it is a staple of in game activity, I have no problem having my work replaced with something far superior. Thanks!

USA isnt the center of the world...

That's a lie and you know it!

what this means basically is once again only the biggest orgs will have enough people and resources to pull off these raids anytime they feel like, the rest of will just have to get in line, and already people face waiting days/weeks/months for a group that's doing their specific quest.

If the current Outzone Playfields were instanced a public raidbot such as Campalot could run multiple raids at once: be it doing all three playfields at the same time or multiple instances of the same play field. This is of course assuming that enough key professions (Enforcers, Doctors) show up and there are enough damage dealers in attendance to split one huge raid force into multiple smaller raid groups. My understanding of what was posted is that each raid group would wind up in their own instance.

[Boltgun]

Instancing the APF and maybe pande is a move toward the awesome. One of the main problems I have with the game is these raids, I find them ridiculously stupid.



Curse that it sounds like the new engine isn't for 18.0, but the booster pack looks decent.

[Krause]

Sounds cool.

Will the new Playfields be like normal Zones, or are they kind of like Dungeons?

[Autohead]

I'm wondering, since APFs are going to be instanced will they still run on a timer or will we be able to do them whenever we want?

[Xaun]

Nice updates Sil, heres to looking forward to a bright future for AO.. keep at it!

[macattack]

...but put into practice and well, we start to face a serious problem. AO's small population that's still here can't exactly fit everyone into such a scenario, what this means basically is once again only the biggest orgs will have enough people and resources to pull off these raids anytime they feel like, the rest of will just have to get in line, and already people face waiting days/weeks/months for a group that's doing their specific quest.

I have to partially agree here. Unless you sit waiting (if you have that time), it will be hard for some to attend. At least with the timer'd raids, you knew when to expect them. I knew when to ask for a kitchen pass from my wife to play (of course the reverse is true if the raid tanks or doens't gain enough toons for participation)

I would like to know if the instanced fields will be "scaled" or similar to APFs where there is a static # of mobs no matter how large the raid force.

[Zeephonz]

I'm wondering, since APFs are going to be instanced will they still run on a timer or will we be able to do them whenever we want?

I would think that you'd probably end up with a hostile nano in NCU that locks you out of the playfield for a period of time, much like Sector 42.

[Autohead]

I would think that you'd probably end up with a hostile nano in NCU that locks you out of the playfield for a period of time, much like Sector 42.

I figure they will most likely keep the "gates opening" stuff the same, rather than add another mechanic in the form of a hostile nano that locks you out. That would just make it more difficult to get a raidforce together if you can't find people without that running in their NCU. If they do add a lockout nano, the timer better sure as hell keep running when you're offline. I'm not sure if that's how Sec. 42's works since I've never been there.

[Nanofox1]

Just convert the money you would of paid for the expansion to buy paid points and buy it...

Not quite a good option if for example I look at my account and discover I was only 10 Paid Points short.

Would require buying a large amount of PP when I only need a tiny amount.


I would prefer I just paid for the booster straight out with cash like other expansions.

[Quilluck]

Not quite a good option if for example I look at my account and discover I was only 10 Paid Points short.

Would require buying a large amount of PP when I only need a tiny amount.


I would prefer I just paid for the booster straight out with cash like other expansions.

This is why I hope they will make Paid Points just an alternative to buying it the "ol' fashioned way". I can see the benefits for those that have stocked up a bit of Paid Points from their subscriptions, also if you have no immediate desire for a Leet pet, jobe luxury pad, etc.. You can keep the 700 Paid Points we get from the birthday and save em for the Booster Pack. All of this of course relies on the fact that you have more Paid Points than it will cost for the booster pack. So either they should make it more customizable when buying Paid Points (100 PP intervals would be handy at the very least) or use it as an alternative way of gaining the booster pack.

Otherwise, it all looks good. Was hoping for a bit more definitive status update on the new engine, but the news concerning the Raid Interface and instancing of some of the older raids does look very promising

[Healyhatman]

Either way, are you suggesting 17.10 is followed by 17.12

I would have thought 11 came after 10, not 12.


Anyways... How far along is the new engine Sil? From the way you were talking it sounds like you've got a long long way to go and we should expect it some time late next year.

[Junttius]

Getting closer to 18.0 is like getting closer to the absolute zero temperature.

jk, good job sil + others

[Lumifly]

New outzone playfields:
I definitely like how this story line is going, although it is rather mysterious. This latest update was neat.

Could you give an indication as to the size of this new area? Are we talking just one or two new zones with a hub (ala the original three APFs) or a much more intricate map, such as SL?

I know I am not the only one aching for a large, new beautiful area to run around in.

Render engine:
Some time ago you (I am pretty sure it was you) indicated you would like to release the new engine with the 18.0 patch, whenever that may be. Your information in regards to the engine is still mysterious and a bit light. Is there any hope of it being co-released with the new booster? Do you still believe it will make it out this year?

And, although you already know the population wants it, can we get some more teasers of the new engine. Screenshots, side by sides, movies? You have to keep the appetite wet about these things

[gergiskoo]

So, basically, if the thing is 1500 PPs then anyone who's been paying for AO for a long time will get it for free, and new subscribers will pay like $20.

Hey, I'm happy. Not so much for the froobs thinking of signing up, though.

[valedilene]

Great job. I cant wait for the next patch. New raid interface, new playfields, great !


PS: And ... someone has to say it: a big, big LOL to those who left the game screaming "AO is dead"

[Falkvinge]

I for one would have liked to see something similar to this
http://forums.anarchy-online.com/sho...26&postcount=1
for this years birthday as well.
That way, even players not living under Bush or in forests might have had a chance to win something :\

[Warhead]

Great job. I cant wait for the next patch. New raid interface, new playfields, great !


PS: And ... someone has to say it: a big, big LOL to those who left the game screaming "AO is dead"

Thats ironic because the players also determine if a game is alive or not. I dont think anyone seriously claimed its dead from a update point of view... its just all the other shortfalls on Funcoms behalf that make people believe that this game is finally in its last twitches. And with them leaving, they are effectively killing the game. Nobody wants to play a massively multiplayer online game without the "massive" or "multiplayer" part.

Personally (and a bit egoistical), I believe that the render engine update is what will ultimately save this game and bring back more life. They should push that out the door faster. Of course Silirrion will say once again, that there are independent teams (I though "team" stands for more than one person ) working on content and the render engine...