Letter from the game director - Hi guys!

[Le-Quack]

actually, the whole fwm thing - for me - had become kinda stupid. I really could care less about how the fc folks feel, how they work with each other, how their vacation went, who is sick, what the office looks like, the food.....etc.

If ao employees want to share their personal information, then (again imo) place it somewhere for those players that do care can read and chat. I pay to play a game and really wasn't looking for friends or nice people to make the game - do a good job and the reward is continued subscriptions (and you get to keep your jobs). Everyone at fc can be a total tard for all i care - if they make a good game - i will continue to support it by paying my fees.

And venachar - you trolled the players was the point. Opinions about how means did his job were not attacks on him as a person (which is what you seem to think by your post). For the most part i think the opinion is mixed - some good, some bad. Isn't that just about how everyone's own work goes?

What i want is a thread that gives information about the game - the status of projects, future development, release dates, etc (you know, real information).

if i had his writing skills in my drama threads etc.. i would be invincible! :P
anyways well said

[Chrys]

Actually, the whole FWM thing - for me - had become kinda stupid. I really could care less about how the FC folks feel, how they work with each other, how their vacation went, who is sick, what the office looks like, the food.....etc.

If AO employees want to share their personal information, then (again imo) place it somewhere for those players that do care can read and chat. I pay to play a game and really wasn't looking for friends or nice people to make the game - do a good job and the reward is continued subscriptions (and you get to keep your jobs). Everyone at FC can be a total tard for all I care - if they make a good game - I will continue to support it by paying my fees.

And Venachar - you trolled the players was the point. Opinions about how Means did his job were not attacks on him as a person (which is what you seem to think by your post). For the most part I think the opinion is mixed - some good, some bad. Isn't that just about how everyone's own work goes?

What I want is a thread that gives information about the game - the status of projects, future development, release dates, etc (you know, REAL information).

It became pretty obvious some months back that FWM was just going through the motions... I had suspected it was the impending demise of AO, though it merely turned out to be the impending demise of Means. Weekly GD posts were about right when content came out as frequently as in the Sil era, in this new slowed-down and constantly fighting ancient code days, I think a monthly post with proper news is about right.

[Philty]

I think that basically what players deserve is any kind of communication with developers about game improvement and further development.
Sil was qute active poster on forums, Means went even far with FWM. Both kept players in expectations and thinking about the game development on a frequent basis.
I think that some people are feared that this "being in touch with game" will be interupted by long interval of monthly GD notes update.

But I think that monthly letter of GD is enough if other ways of sharing info with players by other members of dev team are used on some more frequent basis (I mean at least weekly). Just for the feeling "being in touch"
I think that Kintaii would fit well to this role as he is wall of text writer par excellence

[Dors_Venabili]

congrats Lindelu

[skranken]

Warm welcomes to the big chair Lindelu! You can handle this

I got no questions, just a small little tip. Update the www.anarchyonline.com frontpage often. At least with the news that the game has a new game director.

When I once in a while look for games to play in my short AO breaks then I get easily turned of by games where their homepage has not been updated in a while.

Now, lets show CCP and Bioware what game the sci-fi mmo throne belongs to :-D



Guero 220/20 Soldier - RK1
The Roots

[lindelu]

Thank you very much for all the kind words.
Don't panic is really sound advice!
(The officiate website is updated thank you skranken)

[Gunfytr]

Now, lets show CCP and Bioware what game the sci-fi mmo throne belongs to :-D

I can only second that.

This is such an awesome game. This was my first MMO, and I quickly became lost in it. A "Space Opera" fan since a child, it seemed this game had been designed with me in mind. I've kept my acct active thru the good times and bad, and hope to be here till the end, but it "looks" like the end is getting closer day by day. Now it falls on you to convince the players, old, current and new, that AO is not a lost cause. Not that the current game is bad, but the failed potential and...if not "promises", then clearly slanted info given out by FC, has severly hurt the population. Ppl dont want Soon(tm), they want to KNOW that the game is making progress.

You know what kind of mess u inherited. Not that I dont think Means was an excellent GD, he was. He prolly added several yrs to AOs life. Without him at the helm AO would have gone the way of the dodo yrs ago. But.....that grace period is running out. I wish u luck and happiness in your new path. But it's getting real close to "put up or shut up" time.

[Izgimmy]

A bit belated maybe, but congratulations to your new position as Game Director Lindelu

[Sunny-D]

I can only second that.

This is such an awesome game. This was my first MMO, and I quickly became lost in it. A "Space Opera" fan since a child, it seemed this game had been designed with me in mind. I've kept my acct active thru the good times and bad, and hope to be here till the end, but it "looks" like the end is getting closer day by day. Now it falls on you to convince the players, old, current and new, that AO is not a lost cause. Not that the current game is bad, but the failed potential and...if not "promises", then clearly slanted info given out by FC, has severly hurt the population. Ppl dont want Soon(tm), they want to KNOW that the game is making progress.

You know what kind of mess u inherited. Not that I dont think Means was an excellent GD, he was. He prolly added several yrs to AOs life. Without him at the helm AO would have gone the way of the dodo yrs ago. But.....that grace period is running out. I wish u luck and happiness in your new path. But it's getting real close to "put up or shut up" time.

^this

i've tried a lot of mmo in the 6 years ive been on ao, and havent ever found anything that has the same feel. i dont exactly know what it is about this game, but something keeps me coming back despite the flaws.

gl with ur new position lindelu

[Gaveup]

So we're coming up on the end of the first week of January, when was that update comin' from the new GD?

[Mastablasta]

At the end of the month, most likely. Since everything always takes twice as long and the people went on holiday ;(

[Eony]

Thank you very much for all the kind words.
Don't panic is really sound advice!
(The officiate website is updated thank you skranken)

Hi,

update this page too

Eony

[Tikra]

Hey Lindelu, any ETA on your very 1st montly news? We all kinda sit on hot stones here (and you better bring good news!! :P )

Cheers!

[Louderer789]

Hey Lindelu, any ETA on your very 1st montly news? We all kinda sit on hot stones here (and you better bring good news!! :P )

Cheers!

Allow me to simulate.

The engine is coming along nicely, should be here any day now. Be sure to renew your subscriptions guys you won't want to miss this!

[Mrowki]

this thread reminds me something. Lindelu u are like Pam ;P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI9Hos5N7TQ

[Divalicious]

Why no update for the the 1st FRIDAY of the year>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Tazalanche]

Thank you very much for all the kind words.
Don't panic is really sound advice!
(The officiate website is updated thank you skranken)

I do not know how updated I would call the official website when it is still showing the land control status on Die Neue Welt.

[Traderjill]

Lindelu- Just wanted to put out 3 early questions that I'm hoping you'll cover off on in your January update:
---------------

Means posted an Answers thread that had some comments regarding the new engine, new player experience and rebalancing:

- Engine on a beta server: Goal was end of 2011 (admitted this was aggressive)
- Release of the new engine/new player experience: Before rebalancing
- Release of Rebalancing: 3 months for a single person to update all nanos and extensive testing needs to be done on a beta server. Not expecting to see it hit live before April 2012.

Means gave some details on what was still left to be done with the new engine that, to be honest, didn't mean much to me as I really don't get into the technical side of that type of a project.

Two months have passed since that Answers thread was posted, are there any updates? Where is the new player experience project at in terms of completion and since its now past the end of 2011 are you guys at the point of setting up a beta server for the engine?

[Xatgunner]

On an addition to Jills last note:
Even an uncompleted version of the engine made available to test for a select amount of people for feedback (and bug-hunting) will take work of your hands. There might not be much to do in this beta, but i know i would love to do some early testing of the engine. Just so i can give feedback to make progress faster.

[Odov]

On an addition to Jills last note:
Even an uncompleted version of the engine made available to test for a select amount of people for feedback (and bug-hunting) will take work of your hands. There might not be much to do in this beta, but i know i would love to do some early testing of the engine. Just so i can give feedback to make progress faster.

I doubt feedback would make it progress faster. Might make it more complete, but it would certainly slow it down