We are at the peak of summer, when, like in other years, they playerbase should increase. This year has been a total downfall of the game. Maybe it's due to our developer leaving, I don't know. The other day I got news that he's not gonna return. But that's not the point.
The point is that when I go in game this afternoon, around the time I'm posting this post, a bit earlier actually, there's only one player ONLINE. And including me that would be two players online.
This is more than proof of the game's downfall.
That player was Tirion, and he said that I was the first other player he saw, ALL DAY.
All I can say is.... Wow.
Re: All I can say is.... Wow.
1. I've no idea what usage patterns are for other games, but consistently, over the last6 or so years, the summer has been the quiet period for TU. Autumn/winter is our busiest time.
2. You didn't get news that "our developer" won't return. You just got news that he's very busy with other things at the moment.
3. While I sympathise with players who wish there were more players around, do you really think it's going to help if you keep posting topics like this?
Yes, it's quiet at the moment. We have over 1,000 active players and average about 80 per day. It's just that, given timezones and usage patterns, and the fact that some people are playing solely on worlds (or solely out in space somewhere) you're less likely to come across them. If we had 5x the active players things would be different.
The best thing anyone can do to change the situation is to support the game by designing and running worlds; making high quality graphics; getting involved in coding stuff (for serious developers only, by getting in touch with the dev team); and, most importantly, not moaning about it. It's a free game, get over it :]
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2. You didn't get news that "our developer" won't return. You just got news that he's very busy with other things at the moment.
3. While I sympathise with players who wish there were more players around, do you really think it's going to help if you keep posting topics like this?
Yes, it's quiet at the moment. We have over 1,000 active players and average about 80 per day. It's just that, given timezones and usage patterns, and the fact that some people are playing solely on worlds (or solely out in space somewhere) you're less likely to come across them. If we had 5x the active players things would be different.
The best thing anyone can do to change the situation is to support the game by designing and running worlds; making high quality graphics; getting involved in coding stuff (for serious developers only, by getting in touch with the dev team); and, most importantly, not moaning about it. It's a free game, get over it :]
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I'm not up to speed on Mit's activities, but if he's not coming back, why not open source the game to a select few, or at least partially? Such peoples could be monitored by, say, Fooli, or such. Of course, my coding does not go beyond basic HTML, so my opinions on this are menial at best...
::edit:: Fooli beat me to posting
::edit:: Fooli beat me to posting
Hmmm, I quiet disagree due to personal experience. :-/1. I've no idea what usage patterns are for other games, but consistently, over the last6 or so years, the summer has been the quiet period for TU. Autumn/winter is our busiest time.
I asked you once in game: "Is Mit ever coming back?"2. You didn't get news that "our developer" won't return. You just got news that he's very busy with other things at the moment.
And you replied: "In the last 18 months he got maried, had a kid and bought is first house, so what do you think?"
Or something very similar.
I dont see the problem with discussing issues of the game. Because there are. And to get people to contribute they must be discussed, so the problems are known.3. While I sympathise with players who wish there were more players around, do you really think it's going to help if you keep posting topics like this?
Yes indeed, but the timezone problem only happens when there's a lack of players. When there is a suitable number of players, when those who are dealing with life, others are playing, then after a few hours it goes viceversa. This player activityexchange keeps the game active, but it is only possible when there is a suitable number of players, and a suitable number of players is when this is possible. I see it happening in many other games.Yes, it's quiet at the moment. We have over 1,000 active players and average about 80 per day. It's just that, given timezones and usage patterns, and the fact that some people are playing solely on worlds (or solely out in space somewhere) you're less likely to come across them. If we had 5x the active players things would be different.
I would, in fact I want to, but I cant bring a world online. Connection issues.The best thing anyone can do to change the situation is to support the game by designing and running worlds
Many don't have this talent.making high quality graphics; getting involved in coding stuff (for serious developers only, by getting in touch with the dev team)
There are many other free games which are in a better situation. But if you don't want your players to moan about the game's issues and problems, then we should just stop reporting bugs all together. And leave the game's problems to persist.and, most importantly, not moaning about it. It's a free game, get over it :]
The game's inactivity issue is due to the game, NOT the players. Many new players don't know what to do when they start, and there's nothing to guide them. Not even anyone around to help. So they get tired, fly the shuttle around a bit and then leave. I've seen this process countless of times already.
Such idea has already been discussed in this same section, and it concluded in a no go.I'm not up to speed on Mit's activities, but if he's not coming back, why not open source the game to a select few, or at least partially? Such peoples could be monitored by, say, Fooli, or such. Of course, my coding does not go beyond basic HTML, so my opinions on this are menial at best...
::edit:: Fooli beat me to posting
1. Your personal experience of usage is irrelevant when I've got the galaxy stats :)Ark3000 wrote:[all the stuff you said]
2. We're not having a discussion, cos there's nothing to discuss. It is the way it is, and until we have more development time it's not really going to change. This relates to:
And this is kind of the problem. I said above, if there are serious (ie talented, committed, experienced) coders who could help, that would, well, help. But the fact is, really, that anyone capable of coding at this kind of level is already working on something of their own. As Flametard points out, somewhat tongue in cheek but pretty much on the money, it's one programmer's vision. There are many other programmers who all have their own visions, and the road to wherever it is you think TU should be going is littered with the unfinished corpses of other people's pet projects. Most of them don't get anywhere near this level of sophistication or completeness.Flametard wrote:the great MIT's work of art
And when you get a project of this size, with a few hundred thousand lines of code only one person really understands... it usually makes more sense (and is much more interesting) for a coder to start again on their own terms, instead of spending months just trying to work out whatever the feck mit was thinking about when he wrote such-and-such a piece of code after most of a bottle of whiskey. I think it's also the main reason why open sourcing it won't work. That and the fact that we'd lose what little security there is.. it's not like an FPS or something; we need to control the source to have any chance of the economy aspects of the game, in space and on worlds, staying secure.
I defy anyone to produce an example of a game with this sort of scope that is "in a better situation", without funding. (Well, "defy"... I'd love to see it if there is one :] )
3. Point 2 also relates to the original vision for this game and how it's not really borne out by the reality of the gaming community. The original vision was to provide a way for non-programmers to design and run their own games.
Take 1,000 gamers. Maybe 50 have an interest in actually getting involved in the nuts and bolts of game design. Of those 50, maybe 10 are actually capable and have the time and patience, because it's a tricky thing to do well and not everything works as it should. Of those 10, maybe 3 have the necessary art and scripting skills to make it look polished as well. The remaining 950 just sit around complaining how it doesn't look like Quake 9. They're consumers.
And this is another reason why I think this topic isn't really a discussion. Yes we know things need improving, whether it's graphics or the playerbase or whatever. We know lots of people turn up, get confused and leave (or more likely, get shot by feckwits using cheating software..) That's always been the case. But unless you actually have a solution to bring to the table all you're doing is complaining. Fixing this stuff takes time we just don't have at the moment; and the nature of this project is that the community is supposed to have a role in this stuff, whether it be graphics, bug testing, writing help texts or just generally flying about helping people, which does amazingly happen.
For the most part though people are content just to complain, and when that happens on the forum, well it just becomes part of the problem I think. If you were paying for it you'd be entitled to moan, but then we'd have the resources to address the issues properly.
My life would be easier if I just switched off the gal server and went and did something more exciting instead. I've been running the galaxy for several years now, and along with a helpful few, policing the game, the forums etc. I wish I had time to learn how to code and do that stuff as well as everything else, but I don't. So excuse me if I take it (slightly) personally :]
Btw by even attempting to improve space graphics you largely sidestep this complaint Ark. But your original post smacks of a few moany posts we've had recently; I understand why, but in the end, help us do stuff, or put up with it, or go play one of these mythical other games in a better situation.
It's a service, it's free, so meh :]
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I'm just........bah what the heck.
I'm not asking for Quake whatever number graphics, or Crysis graphical effects. I'm just "demanding" (if that's how you want me to state it) a way to get players to KEEP PLAYING, coz many leave, and to actually get new players to STAY. This game does not need better graphics, it needs better GAMEPLAY.
But I'm not paying, right? I'm also sorry I can't code, or model, or do any shinola. So yeah, if I have to be quiet because of it, I will. It seems you think I am moaning for the heck of it. Well, want to hear something?.... I AM.
It's a service, it's free, so meh :]
A free service which is failing, and who has a last resort of players who don't want it to fail. But I guess that's part of the problem?
We can't even register our worlds.
Indeed, dear dev, I'll go play the "mythical" game/s.Btw by even attempting to improve space graphics you largely sidestep this complaint Ark. But your original post smacks of a few moany posts we've had recently; I understand why, but in the end, help us do stuff, or put up with it, or go play one of these mythical other games in a better situation.
Last edited by Ark3000 on Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
i think the best way to help would be to use the scripting feature to bring new things to the game. i'm partially into a world of my own, i need somebody to host it for me though.
i have some stuff scripted that hasnt been
if anybody is interested in helping in any way (models/textures/hosting etc.)
i would appreciate it.
i have some stuff scripted that hasnt been
new stuff= better gameplayThis game does not need better graphics, it needs better GAMEPLAY.
done before, nowhere near completed yet.
if anybody is interested in helping in any way (models/textures/hosting etc.)
i would appreciate it.
2 Fooli
Well, lets try to add some constructive thoughts to this topic
First of all I strongly doubt about the fight balance.
We have non classical vision of the matter. I mean that the shields couldn't be destroyed by lasers/phasers, while missile damage is extremely high. And this makes almost impossible for a cobra or unifighter to beat a cruiser. Moreover its almost impossible for a new player to beat smb, except unexperienced newbs without countermeasures. We have a paradox: there is a dozen different ships in the game while only one type is real prey-cargo transport! May be this is one of the reasons of ousting newbs on cargo ships? May be also this is the reason of having only too types of players in game: top players on cruisers and newbs on space shuttles?
I 've read that this fight balance must push players to form factions. May be its true. However its easier for experienced players to form a faction. Non affiliated players have nothing to do, they have no real gameplay, especially in space. And newbs are defenseless again, because they need some time to choose a faction. May be faction system prevent new players start with the game? You have all stats, you can analyse the matter.
I'll appreciate you'll find time to answer this post because I spend two hours typing it
Well, lets try to add some constructive thoughts to this topic
First of all I strongly doubt about the fight balance.
We have non classical vision of the matter. I mean that the shields couldn't be destroyed by lasers/phasers, while missile damage is extremely high. And this makes almost impossible for a cobra or unifighter to beat a cruiser. Moreover its almost impossible for a new player to beat smb, except unexperienced newbs without countermeasures. We have a paradox: there is a dozen different ships in the game while only one type is real prey-cargo transport! May be this is one of the reasons of ousting newbs on cargo ships? May be also this is the reason of having only too types of players in game: top players on cruisers and newbs on space shuttles?
I 've read that this fight balance must push players to form factions. May be its true. However its easier for experienced players to form a faction. Non affiliated players have nothing to do, they have no real gameplay, especially in space. And newbs are defenseless again, because they need some time to choose a faction. May be faction system prevent new players start with the game? You have all stats, you can analyse the matter.
I'll appreciate you'll find time to answer this post because I spend two hours typing it
Firstly, if you search the forum you'll find many discussions about space gameplay.
Secondly, I find the idea of a "non classical vision" of lasers, shields and phasers to be highly amusing :)
If you read through some other posts about this, you'll see that lots of different people have had lots of different ideas. I have my own views about gameplay in space, and in general I agree that it needs more work. It's designed to be very simple at the moment: the idea was to encourage people to work together to defeat stronger enemies. But you're right, it's pretty unlikely that even several smaller ships working together can defeat the tougher ships. It's something I'd like to change. But, as above... changing it needs development resource. I've spent time talking to mit in person about how I'd change the space stuff, and while he agrees in principle, it's all just noise unless he has the time to implement what will be quite significant changes.
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Secondly, I find the idea of a "non classical vision" of lasers, shields and phasers to be highly amusing :)
If you read through some other posts about this, you'll see that lots of different people have had lots of different ideas. I have my own views about gameplay in space, and in general I agree that it needs more work. It's designed to be very simple at the moment: the idea was to encourage people to work together to defeat stronger enemies. But you're right, it's pretty unlikely that even several smaller ships working together can defeat the tougher ships. It's something I'd like to change. But, as above... changing it needs development resource. I've spent time talking to mit in person about how I'd change the space stuff, and while he agrees in principle, it's all just noise unless he has the time to implement what will be quite significant changes.
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First of all thank you for your answer.
Ive read several topics about space gameplay and new ideas as well. I didnt like the ideas frankly speaking. However the question is rather complex, may be some new ideas will help to improve the gameplay.Fooli wrote:Firstly, if you search the forum you'll find many discussions about space gameplay.
I mean that lasers CAN destroy the shields-that was the classic attack/defence balance.Fooli wrote:Secondly, I find the idea of a "non classical vision" of lasers, shields and phasers to be highly amusing
I understand, this is a big problem. However we hope everything will be allright.Fooli wrote:But, as above... changing it needs development resource. I've spent time talking to mit in person about how I'd change the space stuff, and while he agrees in principle, it's all just noise unless he has the time to implement what will be quite significant changes.
No, actually, I've been playing this game for 2 years, you joined in 07 aparently, I joined in 06, this is just a new forum account, so if you mind not being so rude and childish. Thank you.Alfred wrote:Blahblahblah,another post about "the game is dieing " from someone who joined the forum only this month.
And if there many posts on this subject its how serious the problem is. But of course Alfred, you prefer just critisizing who care while you just play 420 and go afk all day.
