Backstory to Zone

[BboyEatsbacon]

Alright, so here's the deal.

As a developer of Zone iPhone, I'm going to try to not stray from Zone PC tradition as I form new updates, so what's the story with Zone?

What was it's fall? What kind of updates did it have? Why is it so bad now compared to say, 04-05, that makes it unplayable to the point where none of the community logs in? What did everyone absolutely love about Zone?

If someone could compile a short story of Zone's history, it's falls, and everything else, it would be great. I know this is a lot to ask for, but I'd like some sort of a "resource" to follow when I'm creating a new update to spill out onto the iPhone server.

Thanks and much appreciated,
BboyEatsbacon

[dude2020]

The fall was the tighter restrictions on trials along with the pay2win cash shop. The restrictions have been removed but it was too late. It had little updates and the updates we did have were bad.

New CTF: Terrible, just way to small and hectic.
New Snowy Deathmatch: Just a terrible level. Way too huge, cluttered like no tomorrow, 4 spawn points.
PlanetPoints: Re colors and just another shop that Zone doesn't need.
Weapons, tons and tons of weapons. There's just way too many weapons and they still need balancing. I'll have to login into Zone and see which ones that need adjusting.
Events, once the items became temporary, they started hosting like crazy. It used to be a rarity and meant something.

What went good however, was the introduction of the squad system. If they would of focused on this other than those bad ideas, Zone could possibly have a small community still. Another thing that made Zone great was it's pure PvP gameplay. Absolutely no PvE what so ever. Everyone has equal footing from the start to the end. The pure competitiveness is what drove players to keep logging in and get whatever their goal was, this was also the main reason why everyone loved Zone

I really wish iZone was more like Zone PC. The changes were just way too drastic for me to accept it's Zone and I refuse to be apart of it but if I can help steer it to more of it's traditional place, I'll help you with anything.

[Crono]

Zone started its very early life as a Classic server but that's not important. What's important is its post-Classic history so I'll just stick to that.

Back then trials would reset everytime they logged onto any Graal server. With that said, they had no restrictions or limitations, so everything was on even grounds. There were no player imbalances in Zone, just weapon meta and player skill. Zone had a good playercount and an active guild community. At some point ET members were hired (I think the first pair were Kevin and Maximus, even tho u guys r noobs olololol <3). Later on we started hosting off weapons, but these were semi-rare and not really overpowered. They were earned through tough conditions aswell, so it was justified.

Then came the trial restrictions. Trials now started at 80hp and couldn't join guilds. This killed off a lot of the guild activity, which took a hit on the guild community. Things weren't too bad though, as there was still a decent playercount and the server was pretty balanced.

Then came Graal v5. When this was released, I pretty much called RIP for Zone. Trials were even more restricted (couldn't play for more than a certain period of time, limited vision through annoying borders) which killed off any trial population Zone had left. v5 meant you had to upgrade regularly to play and introduced stupid **** like the cash shop. It was basically pay to win at this point, buy guns with real money to gain a huge advantage over players. If you weren't upgraded you couldn't play the Commando class, the only useful one on Arctic, so there was really no point to play Zone. The normal shop items (guns etc) were now temporary which was complete bull. People didn't wanna stick around for this, so they quit.

In the past it was great because everybody was on equal ground. The only differing factors were which gun you used (which everyone had access to), what class you used (which everyone had access to), and how good you were at the game. After v5 it became a money game, where none of the above was applicable.

[BboyEatsbacon]

@Glazey

Hmm, then I'm definitely leaving PvP and Squad PvP as a top priority in whatever I am forced to implement.

Seems that both the iOS community and you agree that there doesn't need to be a hectic amount of weapons, so I'll be sure to pass that on to the rest of the team. We've already gotten it established that no further weapons are to be produced, seeing as that we have 100s pre-made that we still must spur over a time period. I kind of like the way guns are right now- they're all pretty balanced and while some may have a slight edge over another, skill can easily conquer it.

Thank you for your summary and feedback of Zone PC. I'll be sure to keep it in mind for iZone.


@Both
Not saying that any of this would happen: But let's say the "buying guns system" was ridded of and classes were reintroduced, how would Stefan and Stephane produce income? I understand that this is much better for the player's end, and I like the idea, but I also have to keep in mind that there has to be profit else it's a useless add-on.
I understand this wasn't the original purpose of the thread, but I'd like to get concerns out of the way and forming a new thread seems just next to useless.

Scratch that, they could still heavily gain income from the small items that don't affect PvP, the customs, and the appearance shops. Would this generate a big enough exchange in players so that it would be a profitable add-in?

[dude2020]

I suggested this in place of the current shop system; The addition of experience gain, bounty gain and others to the shop along with the removal of all the PvP changing things on it.

Appearances seems to be a big thing with the iOS community, so if you keep the prices low, you should be able to make a nice amount of profit from it.

[Crono]

iClassic has a ton of non-gameplay changing micro-transactions and they seem to be working just fine. I don't think Stefan will agree to removing unbalanced pay2win garbage though, because he's had like 6 years to do that on Zone and refuses to. I haven't played iZone but if they have strong cash guns then a step in the right direction would be to nerf them.

[xXziroXx]

Higherups on Graal seem to think cash shops are only successful when they bring pay2win elements, which is incorrect. Several other online games sell 0 items that affects gameplay, and are just cool skins of already existing stuff. Vanity items is the way to go. Outfits, hats, weapon skins etc.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

Higherups on Graal seem to think cash shops are only successful when they bring pay2win elements, which is incorrect. Several other online games sell 0 items that affects gameplay, and are just cool skins of already existing stuff. Vanity items is the way to go. Outfits, hats, weapon skins etc.

See Team Fortress 2, by far the most successful free to play game right now, or so I'd say at least.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Crow

See Team Fortress 2, by far the most successful free to play game right now, or so I'd say at least.

Dota 2 imo.

Some will say LoL but that game is pay2win so gtfo.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by Crono

Dota 2 imo.

Some will say LoL but that game is pay2win so gtfo.

Well, can't say anything about it. Didn't like the original DotA, so I haven't played DotA 2 yet.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Crow

Didn't like the original DotA, so I haven't played DotA 2 yet.

[xXziroXx]

DotA 2, HoN, MapleStory (at least when I played maaaaaany years ago, dunno about now), Team Fortress 2... list can easily be expanded.

[NicoX]

Originally Posted by Crono

Dota 2 imo.

Some will say LoL but that game is pay2win so gtfo.

Cant you just buy skins and champions with money? Stuff effecting the gameplay are only purchaseable with EP which you can only gain from games you win/lose. Not possible to gain them with money.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by NicoX

Cant you just buy skins and champions with money? Stuff effecting the gameplay are only purchaseable with EP which you can only gain from games you win/lose. Not possible to gain them with money.

Buying champions is pretty ****ing game breaking when they're not available to everyone. You can also buy items that increase how fast you level up, so you can reach that holy level 12 and have flash, while those in the same game and lower can't use it.

[dude2020]

I thought that the champions that you could buy were able to be bought with whatever their in-game currency was?

[Crow]

I haven't played LoL myself, but I've heard that it takes ages to buy the champions with ingame currency. To me, it is also a pay to win concept if it just takes way too long to buy things with ingame currency instead of cash. Or, in free to play shooters, if you're required to play at least 4 to 6 hours a day in order to have enough ingame currency for your equipment.

[dude2020]

Ah. I don't play LoL, not my type of game.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by dude2020

I thought that the champions that you could buy were able to be bought with whatever their in-game currency was?

Yeah but you can instantly buy a champion with cash, whereas a non-cash player has to wait ages to buy one. This is broken because you can just buy whatever hero is retard-OP at the time.

[ff7chocoboknight]

There are plenty of things you can buy other than guns. Increased max ammo, holiday stuff, outfit crap, the shouts ("Stay and protect", "Base 1", "Cover me", ect.), squads, bombs, consumables, jet pack.

[dude2020]

holiday stuff isn't in the shop, outfits are not in the shop, squads are not in the shop, consumables are not in the shop,

[ff7chocoboknight]

I'm saying that those COULD be purchased. They aren't going to keep the shop the same. Shouldn't even act like they will.

[BboyEatsbacon]

Originally Posted by ff7chocoboknight

I'm saying that those COULD be purchased. They aren't going to keep the shop the same. Shouldn't even act like they will.

Well, they're planning on closing Zone PC so yes, the store will remain the same.

[dude2020]

Which is a damn shame, greed blinds them.

[RoyalKnight]

Im a 6 year veteran on maplestory played since beta. By far the most successful 2d side scroller and its still free to play with abunch of vanity items. The company is making millions since it attracts alot of players for free to play reasons .

[ff7chocoboknight]

Originally Posted by RoyalKnight

Im a 6 year veteran on maplestory played since beta. By far the most successful 2d side scroller and its still free to play with abunch of vanity items. The company is making millions since it attracts alot of players for free to play reasons .

But to Stefan and Unixmad letting trials play for free without limitations is worse than cancer.

[RoyalKnight]

Originally Posted by ff7chocoboknight

But to Stefan and Unixmad letting trials play for free without limitations is worse than cancer.

My apologize how could i forget funny story, I actually thought there was a shred of hope in changing stefans mind for a second there.

[dude2020]

Hahahahahahaha

you thought there was hope

[Admins]

You know that Zone is actually free to play? There is no observer mode or anything like that. It was a first try of free-to-play, and the player number didn't really decrease because of items, it was just not attracting the player base. Zodiac and Era have more persistency and content for players who don't want to play events all the time.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Stefan

You know that Zone is actually free to play? There is no observer mode or anything like that. It was a first try of free-to-play, and the player number didn't really decrease because of items, it was just not attracting the player base. Zodiac and Era have more persistency and content for players who don't want to play events all the time.

You made it free-to-play after you killed it with P2P restrictions that we all told you not to do. Even now you have to deal with some restrictions (squadleader) and cash still buys good guns. Non-P2P players still can't even wear guild tags or mass message (because they're considered trials).

Zone could try to go off the playerlist for a while and comeback as a Classic server to get some players, but I don't know if that's likely to do anything at this point.

Zone was never about events, it was about constant action. Can't have that without players, and now that they're gone...well...you're better off replacing Zone with iZone.

[dude2020]

Originally Posted by Stefan

You know that Zone is actually free to play? There is no observer mode or anything like that. It was a first try of free-to-play, and the player number didn't really decrease because of items, it was just not attracting the player base. Zodiac and Era have more persistency and content for players who don't want to play events all the time.

Zone went F2P after you already destroyed it. The reason why it couldn't keep a playerbase was because the direction you pushed Zone in was stupid.

[cptmetal]

Originally Posted by Crono

Yeah but you can instantly buy a champion with cash, whereas a non-cash player has to wait ages to buy one. This is broken because you can just buy whatever hero is retard-OP at the time.

false, the only thing ive spent money on is skins and ive had no issues saving up for champs i wanted.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by cptmetal

false, the only thing ive spent money on is skins and ive had no issues saving up for champs i wanted.

Irrelevant, the fact that you can buy an OP hero when others don't have access to it is unbalanced. All heroes should be available to all players.

[StormYs]

Originally Posted by Crow

I haven't played LoL myself, but I've heard that it takes ages to buy the champions with ingame currency. To me, it is also a pay to win concept if it just takes way too long to buy things with ingame currency instead of cash. Or, in free to play shooters, if you're required to play at least 4 to 6 hours a day in order to have enough ingame currency for your equipment.

Hyouka!

Anyways, I don't see LoL as a pay to win concept. Everyone can earn points to buy the champ they want. This can be done by cash or by ingame currency.
Gathering these points doesn't take that long to buy a champ, but if u want to buy all the champs with ingame currency it will take a hell a lot of time with ingame currency.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by StormYs

Hyouka!

Indeed.

[dbug]

technically era, zodiac and gk are all pay to win also.. everyone on there sells there items outside of graal.. and they cross server trade.. and all that stuff.. the only difference is Graal is not getting any of those profits.

[dude2020]

Except you can't compare any of those to Zone. The server is just way too different from them.

[mewtoo18]

Originally Posted by dude2020

Except you can't compare any of those to Zone. The server is just way too different from them.

sure but i think he means that the idea is still the same.. u can pay money.. and not work for stuff in the game.. and it will become easier.. and graal is not getting paid anything.. lol so true, at least when i used to play gk.. and heard people xserver trading zodiac and era for gk items

[dude2020]

The idea is different. While those items maybe overpowered, they don't give a advantage to point of being able to close your eyes and win. To even suggest that "oh well this is the only way they can make money" is dumb.

[bloodpet]

Originally Posted by Stefan

You know that Zone is actually free to play? There is no observer mode or anything like that. It was a first try of free-to-play, and the player number didn't really decrease because of items, it was just not attracting the player base. Zodiac and Era have more persistency and content for players who don't want to play events all the time.

Free, but limited? According to website your limited at least by HP.. I haven't checked recently but I believe it says other things like events too..are these still limited?

[cptmetal]

Originally Posted by Crono

Irrelevant, the fact that you can buy an OP hero when others don't have access to it is unbalanced. All heroes should be available to all players.

false again. the moment a hero is released youre capable of buying it with ingame currency.