Okay... I am new... I was just wondering how many people actually still play this. Dunno if I want to get into it and there just the same 10 guys around.

Also, how does it compare with EVE in the long term?

There are around 30-50 people online at most times of the day. We're actually seeing an increase in activity - probably due to the many new updates and features that keep being added on. You'll see a lot of regulars, for sure, but there are actually quite a few subscribers. But since the whole gameplay doesn't depend on grinding, people aren't spending 6 hours a day online increasing their stats.

This game is going to be around for a while - the devs have said multiple times that its constantly a work in progress. There's always going to be a lot of new stuff added on to it. In VO, you can reach the 'top' quite quickly, actually - whereas in EVE (or so I've heard), it takes a long while to hit the top. Ship loss is a fairly trivial thing in VO. You lose one, then buy 10 back.

Combat is the most fun here (in my opinion), but other players will tell you there's plenty else to keep you occupied.

Note on Eve:

If you started playing now, played for the next 2 years straight, you still wouldn't be on top. Eve's skill system is based on length of time subscribed. Those who started at beta will always be on top, and there is no way to catch up.

Length of time to become "competative" in Eve is about 3-6 months. In VO, 3-6 days.

Zyl, that isn't true.

Let me tell you the story of shape..

He joined in the beta, and currently is the best energy pilot since Eldrad (the grandmaster)

And look at me, I spend more time talking then attacking, sure I'm fairly compentent (though I dont do much pvp anymore) but there are several who where good when I joined, and still outclass me in most areas (Niki, Uncle Dave, Asp, the people who where already respected back in alpha)

Well BG... I wonder why.....

What Zyl said is generally true. I havent played since the start of beta, and now people can beat me. And most Alpha's havent been on a while or constantly. I'm saying, if you practice enough, you can be as good as most people, which is enough to make this game fun.

Plus, unlike EVE, this game has a twitched-based combat system. You can have the best ships, but you will not always win. It may take skill to use that ship, especially the nation specials.

Also, if you join now, you'll experience major changes in VO like the 8 new ships in development and new UI skins that people design.

I like VO for that reason, zamzx. New players can come in and play a LOT and get good quickly, because your levels have nothing to do with your real-world reflexes and stuff.

Shape is good because he plays every frikkin DAY. I bet if he went away for 6 months and then came back, I'd totally kick his ass. (Well, maybe not, but hey I can dream.)

I would estimate that there are about 500 actual paying accounts of which perhaps 300 to 400 are active and play VO, to answer the question.

i am not a beta and alpha player

but i am the best!

yeah!

you cry!

Astaroth: I'm an Alpha :p

/me giggles at ayn.

Anyways, welcome to VO I hope, always nice to see fresh meat ingame. And yeah, generally, the more you play the better you get here, rather than the longer you have played, like EvE.

IE : I knew a guy once (sigh, i miss racer :/) played about 2 weeks, flew to b8 after a few pvp excersises with another VO pal i miss (sigh, come back alamar, even if its just to make a damn skin! heh) and tore me a new asshole. (pardon my french :P) As i'm pretty sure he did to some other so called vets too :P

At the time, I though he was an alt* but it turned out not to be true, he just had a real fast hand to eye, or rapid learning curve, or was taught by someone really bloody well, or something, well anyways, long story short, VO is teh bomb, and yeah, it does need more players, so you would be welcome aboard matey!

Lemmie hear you yarrr!

*seasoned player playing with an unknown alternate character.

Yarrr!

Found it. Read thhis CyberShelk:
http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/1/13324#167854

Thanks... I promise I'll give the game a chance. I was just a bit bummed out that space is so "empty"? *grin*

Ayn & Spacehunter are more or less the reason I don't play (at least regularly) anymore. The constant arrogance, boring long fights, and predictable bragging, as well as plaguing the places where people meet just took all the fun out of the game.

There are gameplay issues I don't like either, but that's really what originally drove me off.

¬_¬

Corollary: It's not 'cos I lost, or won, because both happened. It was more along the line of the lots and lots and lots and lots of running on the parts of Ayn and SH. The gameplay is flawed in how easy it is to backroll, turbo away, etc. It just got stupid really quick.

So basically don't go anywhere near Ayn or Space hunter, and you'll be good. Not 'cos they're good, but because they're just a pain in the arse.

Damn it's a shame Racer didn't keep playing. That guy had some scary potential.

Personally I think it's the player's aptitude for combat and the time they're prepared to spend fighting that determines whether or not they'll rise to the top.

Zyl, quite a few of the top fighters aren't alpha or beta, or are beta only.

There's almost 800 paying subscribers.
Not 500.

Zyl was just talking about EVE's beta, not VO.

Oh man y'all are taken me back, Racer was great and his little british accent was fun too.

I can think of allot of people that just come in start playing and pick up combat really fast, and then others that have been playing for years but still have a hard time with Collectors.

But yeah the real selling point to this game is that if your good levels don't really mean that much (Though being able to get say a prom does help... Allot...) as most of the game is based on player skill and not level grinding or how much time you have spent in-game or as a paying member.

And I happen to think Shape is better then Eldy but that's just me. I know fights with the two of them was something to see. Plus I bet after all this time Eldy is rusty.

shape's more versatile, but in an energy matchup, eldrad wins.

Yeah but when was the last time you where in game UD? :P

as soon as the new ships debut, ill be there :)