Development Plan of Action

[swimdude]

Originally Posted by Programmer

Formal Plan of Action:

• Improve the efficiency of Zone by removing redundant features and optimizing system code. Many systems operating today do not run as optimally as they should. A prime example is the Hitpoint handler: It has been seen running at over 2% on the /stats readout with only 7 people online. This can cause latency issues in other systems, most notibly the movement system. In spar scenarios, this is unacceptable. Another significant issue is the fact that Zone still has GS1 artifacts in its code, which may also contribute to latency throughout the server. This code must be removed or replaced with GS2.
  
• Remove unnessecary additions by previous management. Certain features today have no use in Zone, and actually serve as a detriment. An example is rolling. Players feel that the player doing the rolling has a significant advantage as he can avoid incoming fire very effectively. This leads to long, drawn-out stalemates on any theatre.
  
• Balance weapon statistics. A large number of Zone's arsenal is overpowered, overused, and abused. A prime example was the Carrot. Before I nerfed it, the carrot did a massive 40 damage per hit. That's right, from a carrot. I pose the question: How can a carrot do more damage than a Magnum!? Yet another problem is the Twinblade. It is far too fast while using very little energy. The damage is fine on it, just the energy needs to be increased per swing.
  
• Implement new features for both gold and trial alike. Zone has become stale in the past couple of years, as the old planets and weapons have gotten boring. New features will entice more players into Zone. A large feature that many players inquire about is a zombie survival map, akin to Left 4 Dead 2. Many other features have been proposed, such as allowing all players (trial and gold alike) to use hotkeys, implementing more ranks and awards, class-specific buffs and debuffs, etc.

Approved ideas:
- Passive Events
- Bounty Cap Increase
- New UI
- Class Buffs / Debuffs
- New Class: Medic
- City + Zombie Maps
- Gelat Shop Removal
- Arctic Minimap

Any criticisms or comments are welcome, but keep it civil please. Be welcome to change, because change is coming

Some of these. I disagree on... hm

First arent we so much in the future that we cant even have zombies . Why would we have zombies ,city sounds cool.

Heres another . In most shooters there is always some way someone has the edge on you either its cash shop , better wep , higher lvl ... ETC ETC
I think cash shop is good actually , Doesn't effect much gameplay

[Shadow5596321]

Originally Posted by swimdude

I think cash shop is good actually , Doesn't effect much gameplay

.... Seriously? Overpowered weapons are flooded onto that garbage and greatly effect game play.

Also, please just revert the UI to that sexy green one we had awhile back.

[DuBsTeRmAn]

Originally Posted by Shadow5596321

please just revert the UI to that sexy green one we had awhile back.

I so agree with this.

[Programmer]

Originally Posted by swimdude

Some of these. I disagree on... hm

First arent we so much in the future that we cant even have zombies . Why would we have zombies ,city sounds cool.

Heres another . In most shooters there is always some way someone has the edge on you either its cash shop , better wep , higher lvl ... ETC ETC
I think cash shop is good actually , Doesn't effect much gameplay

1.) No matter how far into the future you are, there can still be zombies .

2.) Are you serious? No, really -- Seriously? The cash shop gives players an unfair advantage over each other by paying out of their pockets. The players who can't pay are left high and dry, and start leaving the server. Then the players who pay leave the server because their prey has left. So yes, it does affect gameplay, in a very strong way. That is precisely why we're removing and/or altering it to remove overpowered BFGs from the shop.

If we do remove weapons from the shop, then perhaps smaller, more mundane upgrades will be added -- For example, perhaps an ammunition upgrade that does more damage, but is slower than the default. Something that has a benefit and a cost, to even things out.

Comments and concerns?

Originally Posted by Shadow5596321

...

Also, please just revert the UI to that sexy green one we had awhile back.

I couldn't agree more; This will be UI upgrade #1.

[WillaWonka]

Would be nice to see a more intuitive ranking system, more unlocks, would work perfectly if the gelat shop is gone. Also in my own opinion... removal of the diagonal shooting, but thats just because i play era.

[Elk]

Ian, I was serious about that statement o.O

[Programmer]

Originally Posted by Elk

Ian, I was serious about that statement o.O

Player opinions are critical for the development of any game. I don't have any reason to ignore their concerns. Zone is too far in the hole for me to do that.

[destructo104]

Originally Posted by swimdude

Some of these. I disagree on... hm

First arent we so much in the future that we cant even have zombies . Why would we have zombies ,city sounds cool.

Heres another . In most shooters there is always some way someone has the edge on you either its cash shop , better wep , higher lvl ... ETC ETC
I think cash shop is good actually , Doesn't effect much gameplay

My dear friend this is a VIDEO game. Anything can be added into it such as zombies as long as it fits in with the server theme. Like he said expect a change not the same old zone. :P

[Emera]

Zombehs are cool.

[Shadow5596321]

Originally Posted by destructo104

My dear friend this is a VIDEO game. Anything can be added into it such as zombies as long as it fits in with the server theme. Like he said expect a change not the same old zone. :P

Uhhh, unless those Zombies are player controlled, kinda beats the servers game play bub.

[Admins]

"Gelat Shop Removal" is not approved
There will be a new Zone though (iPhone project), haven't got a lot of time to work on it yet though.

[DuBsTeRmAn]

Well aprove it Mr Knorr.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Stefan

"Gelat Shop Removal" is not approved
There will be a new Zone though (iPhone project), haven't got a lot of time to work on it yet though.

If there are p2p guns that give players advantages then no one will play Zone on Graal (of course the iZone would still be popular, kids will buy anything these days).

[Shadow5596321]

Originally Posted by Stefan

"Gelat Shop Removal" is not approved
There will be a new Zone though (iPhone project), haven't got a lot of time to work on it yet though.

How about you remove those overpowered weapons on that terrible system you have then because all you've done for Zone so far has turned it into complete garbage.

The only person that ACTUALLY WANTS TOO AND CAN HELP Zone, and you're going to deny him that? He doesn't even want to remove the system, he wants to remove the weapons/ammo on it.

You introduced this "renting" system, which ultimately lead to the loss of rarity of the three event items (Blue/Red pistols, Reapers), not to mention the amount of spamming ETs did trying to keep a playercount.

You introduced observation mode, which is possibly the biggest reason to why we don't have a playercount anymore, and you decided to keep it on Zone until the damage had been done.

You introduced the Gelat shop, filled it items that originally were able to be bought for permanent use and added overpowered weapons to it.

You allowed Zone to be ran by corrupt, abusive, unqualified *******s who added to your destruction of the server, and I've pleaded to you several times when PowerProNL and Pez307 were running Zone.

So when you say you haven't had time, you really mean you don't want to clean up the mess you made, right?

[Admins]

Actually Zone still works fine, but there is no persistency, nothing for people to just hang around. It's all based around events. A server needs both, short-term fun and reasons to come back and build.