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Been a few years since I stopped by and was wondering how well the community and game were going these days. Not seeing many posts by folks I used to fly with, or against, save whistler. Mostly wondering about whats changed due to maybe picking it back up for a little while. Apologies if this is in the wrong forum btw.
Some meaningful bullet-point changes in the last few years from my perspective:
-Manufacturing became somewhat more important for all players with the buffing of certain power cells
-Some capitol stations are much larger, allowing both player and NPC capital ships to dock in more places around the galaxy
-A prototype, supply-limited economy has been running in Latos N-2
-Some new storyline missions have been added
-Two new capital ships, the Goliath and the Capella, have been added. The Goliath is player manufacturable and pilotable whereas the Capella is currently NPC only.
-Testing on dynamic ship debris (persistent capital ship wreckage) is being done in Latos F-12, and movable asteroids are being tested in Latos D-12
-Most ships have had their graphics overhauled
-Guilds may now have up to 5 lieutenants
-Capture-the-cargo has been deprecated (removed)
-Vendetta Online launched for Gear VR and Google Daydream headsets while Oculus Rift support is improving
-A new capital ship weapon, the capital railgun, is available to those with 5 Leviathan kills or more
Otherwise there have been a lot of balance and UI tweaks.
-Manufacturing became somewhat more important for all players with the buffing of certain power cells
-Some capitol stations are much larger, allowing both player and NPC capital ships to dock in more places around the galaxy
-A prototype, supply-limited economy has been running in Latos N-2
-Some new storyline missions have been added
-Two new capital ships, the Goliath and the Capella, have been added. The Goliath is player manufacturable and pilotable whereas the Capella is currently NPC only.
-Testing on dynamic ship debris (persistent capital ship wreckage) is being done in Latos F-12, and movable asteroids are being tested in Latos D-12
-Most ships have had their graphics overhauled
-Guilds may now have up to 5 lieutenants
-Capture-the-cargo has been deprecated (removed)
-Vendetta Online launched for Gear VR and Google Daydream headsets while Oculus Rift support is improving
-A new capital ship weapon, the capital railgun, is available to those with 5 Leviathan kills or more
Otherwise there have been a lot of balance and UI tweaks.
Basically "Not Much™". Ships are slower or faster than they used to be (depending on what year you left). Traders are more protected due to pilotable capital ships.
Pirates are dead or almost non-existant due to so many trader buffs. Everyone's bored with combat because mobile newbs lag a metric fuck ton.
Oh yeah, did I mention there's not a lot to do bar grinding license copiously until your eyes start to bleed?
Basically this game has seen very little gameplay updates due to the devs being under-resourced and trying to cater to far too many platforms that they spend most of their time debugging the god-awful mobile platforms and other obscure ones. That wouldn't be an issue if there were more than 3 developers (we all know momerath and a1k0n are no longer working on the game, no need to hide it).
Pirates are dead or almost non-existant due to so many trader buffs. Everyone's bored with combat because mobile newbs lag a metric fuck ton.
Oh yeah, did I mention there's not a lot to do bar grinding license copiously until your eyes start to bleed?
Basically this game has seen very little gameplay updates due to the devs being under-resourced and trying to cater to far too many platforms that they spend most of their time debugging the god-awful mobile platforms and other obscure ones. That wouldn't be an issue if there were more than 3 developers (we all know momerath and a1k0n are no longer working on the game, no need to hide it).
Actually, the changes I listed are pretty important, if not in and of themselves then as harbingers of the game's direction. A player from 2015 may not initially recognize the game given how most ship models have been completely redone. Consider also how items such as the new capital ship docks have affected gameplay.
Regardless of whether you think virtual reality is 'the final computing platform', characterizing Gear VR as "obscure" strikes me as needlessly morose.
Overall, the game's network optimization seems to have improved. I'm also not sure what you mean by "trader buffs" (could you be more specific)? Pilotable cap ships have been a thing since 2010, and an organized group of pirates seem to have no problem taking down a Goliath at least.
If anything balancing seems to have favored pirates in recent years with additions such as the 1-minute logout persistence.
As far as 'naught to do', may I humbly suggest PEBKAC? There is a lot to do. The core 30 seconds of fun ala Halo haven't changed, but Vendetta Online is a sandbox not a theme park. As far as higher order goals it shares more in common with Dwarf Fortress than World of Warcraft: you have to set your own objectives when it comes to end game. I've been having fun(!) breaking in to the player to player capital ship part market.
Overall, I feel VO is a hugely underappreciated and underrated gem. I'd like to see epic, spontaneous, full-on pitched player vs player battles, but not playing isn't going to help that.
Regardless of whether you think virtual reality is 'the final computing platform', characterizing Gear VR as "obscure" strikes me as needlessly morose.
Overall, the game's network optimization seems to have improved. I'm also not sure what you mean by "trader buffs" (could you be more specific)? Pilotable cap ships have been a thing since 2010, and an organized group of pirates seem to have no problem taking down a Goliath at least.
If anything balancing seems to have favored pirates in recent years with additions such as the 1-minute logout persistence.
As far as 'naught to do', may I humbly suggest PEBKAC? There is a lot to do. The core 30 seconds of fun ala Halo haven't changed, but Vendetta Online is a sandbox not a theme park. As far as higher order goals it shares more in common with Dwarf Fortress than World of Warcraft: you have to set your own objectives when it comes to end game. I've been having fun(!) breaking in to the player to player capital ship part market.
Overall, I feel VO is a hugely underappreciated and underrated gem. I'd like to see epic, spontaneous, full-on pitched player vs player battles, but not playing isn't going to help that.
Phaserlight, there's no point in evangelizing VO to people on VO forums - they're already converted into VO players. Try visiting other gaming forums!
Heh, I know. Buttons... pressed.
Well in my case "few years" is about 9. I played from 2002 till probably about 2007 solid and started getting burned out, just popping in mostly to chat for a couple years and stopped.
The game has changed significantly since 2007. While the core combat and flight mechanics are basically unchanged, the universe as a whole has evolved greatly. There have been MANY incremental changes that, when tallied up, have really served to change the balance of the greater world at large.
There are still tons of pirates, as many of my guild mates would attest to. Gameplay for pirates has never been better. Traders have also gotten sone live with the addition of the goliath. All in all, the pilots that I've been playing with seem excited about the direction things are moving. We'll always get the occasionally pilot that gets upset about a change and how it affects a particular strategy or gameplay, but on the whole, the community is much happier.
Now's a good time to get back into things though. This is the season that things always ramp back up, and we see an increase in new pilots and old pilots returning. I'd even be willing to bet Kierky subs for month or two over the summer, even after his not so complementary words.
There are still tons of pirates, as many of my guild mates would attest to. Gameplay for pirates has never been better. Traders have also gotten sone live with the addition of the goliath. All in all, the pilots that I've been playing with seem excited about the direction things are moving. We'll always get the occasionally pilot that gets upset about a change and how it affects a particular strategy or gameplay, but on the whole, the community is much happier.
Now's a good time to get back into things though. This is the season that things always ramp back up, and we see an increase in new pilots and old pilots returning. I'd even be willing to bet Kierky subs for month or two over the summer, even after his not so complementary words.
(we all know momerath and a1k0n are no longer working on the game, no need to hide it)
Wait, what? I talked extensively about them leaving. Years ago. Kierky seems to be immersed some kind of confused angst-bath.
I don't disagree that we've made a lot of platform additions (mobile and VR), and not as many major gameplay improvements, but there have still been a lot of changes and progress overall.
The game also looks a lot better than it did in 2007, and we're adding more interesting scenery and dynamic content objects.
We've had a lot going on this year, and we haven't even announced some of our bigger projects, so I'm feeling pretty optimistic?
But, the best way to really see what's changed, is just to jump into the game for a bit..
Wait, what? I talked extensively about them leaving. Years ago. Kierky seems to be immersed some kind of confused angst-bath.
I don't disagree that we've made a lot of platform additions (mobile and VR), and not as many major gameplay improvements, but there have still been a lot of changes and progress overall.
The game also looks a lot better than it did in 2007, and we're adding more interesting scenery and dynamic content objects.
We've had a lot going on this year, and we haven't even announced some of our bigger projects, so I'm feeling pretty optimistic?
But, the best way to really see what's changed, is just to jump into the game for a bit..
Basically "Not Much™". Ships are slower or faster than they used to be (depending on what year you left). Traders are more protected due to pilotable capital ships.
Pirates are dead or almost non-existant due to so many trader buffs. Everyone's bored with combat because mobile newbs lag a metric fuck ton.
Oh yeah, did I mention there's not a lot to do bar grinding license copiously until your eyes start to bleed?
Basically this game has seen very little gameplay updates due to the devs being under-resourced and trying to cater to far too many platforms that they spend most of their time debugging the god-awful mobile platforms and other obscure ones. That wouldn't be an issue if there were more than 3 developers (we all know momerath and a1k0n are no longer working on the game, no need to hide it).
Rarely do I agree with Kierky, but he largely nailed it. This is not to say the focus on/tolerance of mobile players isn't absolutely necessary for VO to keep the lights on, as Inc. has made clear on numerous occasions. However, requirement or not, it has awful effects on gameplay...at least there is gameplay, though.
Pirates are dead or almost non-existant due to so many trader buffs. Everyone's bored with combat because mobile newbs lag a metric fuck ton.
Oh yeah, did I mention there's not a lot to do bar grinding license copiously until your eyes start to bleed?
Basically this game has seen very little gameplay updates due to the devs being under-resourced and trying to cater to far too many platforms that they spend most of their time debugging the god-awful mobile platforms and other obscure ones. That wouldn't be an issue if there were more than 3 developers (we all know momerath and a1k0n are no longer working on the game, no need to hide it).
Rarely do I agree with Kierky, but he largely nailed it. This is not to say the focus on/tolerance of mobile players isn't absolutely necessary for VO to keep the lights on, as Inc. has made clear on numerous occasions. However, requirement or not, it has awful effects on gameplay...at least there is gameplay, though.
..at least there is gameplay, though.
Yes, for all the whining about mobile.. there is at least a game here for you to complain about.
The rest is subjective. We've made a lot of improvements. VR is awesome. We rolled a million new Android players through the game. We substantially updated a lot of graphics. That's all pretty cool.
But, the decisions were not for everyone, or ideal for anyone (including me). But we are here, and still making things better (including PvP latency issues).
So, you can look at things pretty positively like Nihilus and Phaserlight, or you can look at things like Kierky. All things being equal, I'd rather just stay focused on the road ahead.
But, honestly, there has never been a time in the existence of this game when there hasn't been a "spread" of responses to this kind of question. Progress is always subjective, and the only guarantee is that you can never make everyone happy.
Yes, for all the whining about mobile.. there is at least a game here for you to complain about.
The rest is subjective. We've made a lot of improvements. VR is awesome. We rolled a million new Android players through the game. We substantially updated a lot of graphics. That's all pretty cool.
But, the decisions were not for everyone, or ideal for anyone (including me). But we are here, and still making things better (including PvP latency issues).
So, you can look at things pretty positively like Nihilus and Phaserlight, or you can look at things like Kierky. All things being equal, I'd rather just stay focused on the road ahead.
But, honestly, there has never been a time in the existence of this game when there hasn't been a "spread" of responses to this kind of question. Progress is always subjective, and the only guarantee is that you can never make everyone happy.
lulz EP is just butthurt that mobile newbs are better than him at exploitin' latencies. :p
Estrian Pro-savage.
Yea, maybe if he were right about his claims. Most of the them are just not true though. The one thing that he said that is true is that the devs are under-resourced. Literally everything else is false.
There are tons of pirates in game. In fact, there are more pirates than traders at the moment. That's not my opinion or perspective. It is countably true.
Also, nothing to do? That is laughable. It really is. Devs don't build sand castles for us. They just give us the shovels and buckets. Some want to be spoon fed, while others get bored with the shovels and buckets. That's fine, but to say there's nothing to do is seriously a joke.
I won't even directly address the laggy mobile players part. I'll just say that the Capt'n is a wise man, and no one that I've spoken with in game is bored with combat. The space fps combat of VO is unmatched by any other game that I've ever played. Funny enough, I think Kierky would agree with that.
There are tons of pirates in game. In fact, there are more pirates than traders at the moment. That's not my opinion or perspective. It is countably true.
Also, nothing to do? That is laughable. It really is. Devs don't build sand castles for us. They just give us the shovels and buckets. Some want to be spoon fed, while others get bored with the shovels and buckets. That's fine, but to say there's nothing to do is seriously a joke.
I won't even directly address the laggy mobile players part. I'll just say that the Capt'n is a wise man, and no one that I've spoken with in game is bored with combat. The space fps combat of VO is unmatched by any other game that I've ever played. Funny enough, I think Kierky would agree with that.
Hey its funny, I was going through old files today and I found this graph that I'd posted previously about trident usage, this was from 2014. Guess things haven't really changed that much
Heh, i bet even this hasn't changed!
Oh oh!! You fixed this!!!.. look here inc!! This changed!!!! you fixed it!!!!
I don't know if that is sarcasm or not, but Proms can always make Valks run away if flown right? Have been able to since 2006ish. Sure, you cannot catch them and kill them, but a well flown Prom will always make a Valk run away. Just ask Blaqk.
If they run away you win man, this has not changed either :P
If they run away you win man, this has not changed either :P
Yeah i used to say that all the time, and we did used to play objective combat, CtC in particular. I was sad to see it not get revitalised actually. It had potential with a few small tweaks. I told Inc. again and again with threads, but he has his own agenda. 2013 me didn't respect that as much as 2018 me does. But then again, 2018 me works a lot more billable hours than 2013 me did (infinitely more, in fact).
TRS your trident chart is wayyyy off. I think there are more pirates flying capships around than traders. Hell, even YT-1300 is flying a trident around these days. But wait, can a pirate also be a trader? Weird how roles can overlap in a sandbox game huh?
Also, keep in mind how easy it has become to blow up a capship. You'd know this if you still played. But wait! Everyone dumping on VO about how it hasn't changed much since 2007, hasn't been around recently enough to know these things. Actually now that I think about it, without saying any names, I do recall one of the naysayers logging in and getting their trident exploded a few times. Seems like even those things aren't so safe anymore.
In all seriousness though dude, if you'd log in and give some time for your knowledge gap to close, you'd see that I'm not just blowing hot air. The balance of things is vastly different, even comparing to the time that I started playing. Just as a side note, VO is the perfect stress relief to having too much billable work my friend. Not sure that you'd know this either since you were a hungry lawyer when you were playing VO.
Nice to see you get nostalgic enough about VO to post your crazy charts and screenshots. Got anymore old school charts and screenshots for us to geek out on? As I'm sure you do, I look forward to your repsonse ole buddy.
Also, keep in mind how easy it has become to blow up a capship. You'd know this if you still played. But wait! Everyone dumping on VO about how it hasn't changed much since 2007, hasn't been around recently enough to know these things. Actually now that I think about it, without saying any names, I do recall one of the naysayers logging in and getting their trident exploded a few times. Seems like even those things aren't so safe anymore.
In all seriousness though dude, if you'd log in and give some time for your knowledge gap to close, you'd see that I'm not just blowing hot air. The balance of things is vastly different, even comparing to the time that I started playing. Just as a side note, VO is the perfect stress relief to having too much billable work my friend. Not sure that you'd know this either since you were a hungry lawyer when you were playing VO.
Nice to see you get nostalgic enough about VO to post your crazy charts and screenshots. Got anymore old school charts and screenshots for us to geek out on? As I'm sure you do, I look forward to your repsonse ole buddy.