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And if any reasons I give seem to be off then feel free to correct me. Oh, and yes, this is my first topic.
Okay, so I subscribed after playing the trial and having read the background story and such. It really felt like a nice game.. and I am not sure what I was expecting when I subscribed, but I guess
it was.. more than what I faced. Or different. I like the stations, the music, the flying about.
To be honest, though, I haven't played that much after subscribing. However, I never got the feeling there is that much more hiding in the distant stars (sectors/systems, if you will). Perhaps that's the first issue.
1) Hidden or inexistent content?
Okay, I do know this is a game in progress. But I did missions, and such and, as an Itani I started in the main system of Itan with four (or was it five?) stations and quite a few goodies and missions to be had. The thing is, though, that I never had the feeling that, when playing the game, there was more beyond this system. Well, in the sense that there were things I'd like to see, places which would be neat to visit. There was/is no incentive to leave, really.. except for missions which require one to leave. I'm not saying there isn't any.. I'm just saying I detected no hint of any.
The only exception may be the news (or whatever it's called) which seem like randomly generated news items placed in a wall of text. It neither was mentioned in the tutorials nor did it give me the idea it pointed at actual content/occurences placed there for players to seek out.
Compare that to WoW (yeah, I know, WoW. But it's the one other MMO I'm playing). I've been playing that for two years, give or take a few months, and I've never really had the idea I was stumped for reasons to travel and explore. To seek out other places.. because I'd know that the surroundings'd be different and quests would be different.. yaddah yaddah. And it has breadcrumb quests (which I suppose are not at all necessary if players are given such information in-game (as opposed to the story info on this website)in another way).
2)Storyline content
One of the reasons I subscribed is because I liked the background story. However, missions which draw from that are.. well, not there. And even IF there are and I haven't found them yet, then that's a different thing which may need improvement.. whether it's to help people find that content or to make such missions available earlier.
3)Repetitive content
Now this is not really a reason I'm quitting, it's more that it's the only content that I've seen.. is either missions which never seem to change (just get more difficult versions of 'em) or you can do things for yourself.. but that's not much and overall isn't any different from doing missions. Mining? There are missions for that. Or prospecting. Or trading. Or shooting bots.
Also, I don't mind the Hive awards for killing a certain amount of bots, but what did bug me is that there's this score of prospecting missions. And it says: x of 120 prospecting missions. And why does that annoy me? Because prospecting is AWFUL, TEDIOUS , BORING to do. Especially since you can have only one quest at a time. And I got to think.. I might, given that I play VO regularly (at least four days a week), I could do, say, one or two of those a week. That is about 3 every two weeks. In 52 that's 75 prospecting missions. For a FULL YEAR of playing and regularly doing these horrendous missions. I'd then need 80 (!) weeks to finish that goal. And what IS that goal? Why was that put there? I don't know. And why not make it like the hive hunting, which starts with small amounts? Anyway, it bugged and still bugs me.
4)Items and upgrades
I've already written about Itan (the starting system) having just about everything. No, I didn't check EVERY other Itani system and station. I didn't have any hint they'd be different. Sure, I;ve visited mining, research, major stations but they never seemed to differ that much. And nothing to be had that I couldn't find in Itan.
So, that's why, I guess. I'll still be in game every once in a while, so feel free to convince me of all that this game has to offer if you want to.. in the game or here.
Regards,
Jaenn Averon -aka- Syenn Esalaan
Okay, so I subscribed after playing the trial and having read the background story and such. It really felt like a nice game.. and I am not sure what I was expecting when I subscribed, but I guess
it was.. more than what I faced. Or different. I like the stations, the music, the flying about.
To be honest, though, I haven't played that much after subscribing. However, I never got the feeling there is that much more hiding in the distant stars (sectors/systems, if you will). Perhaps that's the first issue.
1) Hidden or inexistent content?
Okay, I do know this is a game in progress. But I did missions, and such and, as an Itani I started in the main system of Itan with four (or was it five?) stations and quite a few goodies and missions to be had. The thing is, though, that I never had the feeling that, when playing the game, there was more beyond this system. Well, in the sense that there were things I'd like to see, places which would be neat to visit. There was/is no incentive to leave, really.. except for missions which require one to leave. I'm not saying there isn't any.. I'm just saying I detected no hint of any.
The only exception may be the news (or whatever it's called) which seem like randomly generated news items placed in a wall of text. It neither was mentioned in the tutorials nor did it give me the idea it pointed at actual content/occurences placed there for players to seek out.
Compare that to WoW (yeah, I know, WoW. But it's the one other MMO I'm playing). I've been playing that for two years, give or take a few months, and I've never really had the idea I was stumped for reasons to travel and explore. To seek out other places.. because I'd know that the surroundings'd be different and quests would be different.. yaddah yaddah. And it has breadcrumb quests (which I suppose are not at all necessary if players are given such information in-game (as opposed to the story info on this website)in another way).
2)Storyline content
One of the reasons I subscribed is because I liked the background story. However, missions which draw from that are.. well, not there. And even IF there are and I haven't found them yet, then that's a different thing which may need improvement.. whether it's to help people find that content or to make such missions available earlier.
3)Repetitive content
Now this is not really a reason I'm quitting, it's more that it's the only content that I've seen.. is either missions which never seem to change (just get more difficult versions of 'em) or you can do things for yourself.. but that's not much and overall isn't any different from doing missions. Mining? There are missions for that. Or prospecting. Or trading. Or shooting bots.
Also, I don't mind the Hive awards for killing a certain amount of bots, but what did bug me is that there's this score of prospecting missions. And it says: x of 120 prospecting missions. And why does that annoy me? Because prospecting is AWFUL, TEDIOUS , BORING to do. Especially since you can have only one quest at a time. And I got to think.. I might, given that I play VO regularly (at least four days a week), I could do, say, one or two of those a week. That is about 3 every two weeks. In 52 that's 75 prospecting missions. For a FULL YEAR of playing and regularly doing these horrendous missions. I'd then need 80 (!) weeks to finish that goal. And what IS that goal? Why was that put there? I don't know. And why not make it like the hive hunting, which starts with small amounts? Anyway, it bugged and still bugs me.
4)Items and upgrades
I've already written about Itan (the starting system) having just about everything. No, I didn't check EVERY other Itani system and station. I didn't have any hint they'd be different. Sure, I;ve visited mining, research, major stations but they never seemed to differ that much. And nothing to be had that I couldn't find in Itan.
So, that's why, I guess. I'll still be in game every once in a while, so feel free to convince me of all that this game has to offer if you want to.. in the game or here.
Regards,
Jaenn Averon -aka- Syenn Esalaan
I agreee with many of your points. I still enjoy the game for the community, the pvp, and the promise of progress. You should play a little more before you give up.
I really can relate to number 1 on your list. Firstly, I think they should go back to hiding the ships and add-ons in the upgrade menu until you have the levels or standing to acquire them. It stinks being able to see everything before you get it. There is no mystery involved. I like to wonder what cool stuff might be hidden at high levels.
Also, I think the devs are planning to allow players to see all the missions available in the Universe from anywhere and from any level. I think this is a huge mistake. No one will have any motivation to travel or explore. Mystery can add a lot of fun.
To go along with that, the systems should be hidden until you explore them (like in Escape Velocity). This, along with making nation chat (or system chat) the default, will give new players a stronger sense of national identity and will make the Universe seem much bigger and more complex.
I really can relate to number 1 on your list. Firstly, I think they should go back to hiding the ships and add-ons in the upgrade menu until you have the levels or standing to acquire them. It stinks being able to see everything before you get it. There is no mystery involved. I like to wonder what cool stuff might be hidden at high levels.
Also, I think the devs are planning to allow players to see all the missions available in the Universe from anywhere and from any level. I think this is a huge mistake. No one will have any motivation to travel or explore. Mystery can add a lot of fun.
To go along with that, the systems should be hidden until you explore them (like in Escape Velocity). This, along with making nation chat (or system chat) the default, will give new players a stronger sense of national identity and will make the Universe seem much bigger and more complex.
This is what Vendetta Online is all about, to me at least: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7235597838445122577
Like FatStrat said, a lot of your points are valid. And also like he said, I play VO for the community and PvP. It's not always as sustaining as it could be, and for that reason I play other games. But it's always fun to hop in VO for 10-30 minutes a few days a week and shoot things. Again as Strat said, give PvP a chance (although it'll take you a while to be really great). Even with your account canceled, you should still have some time left for the month you bought, so don't leave just yet.
It's too bad enjoyment of this game is so elusive for you. The game is a bit threadbare at the moment but the community does a fairly good job of orchestrating events to compensate for this. And in a way it is nice to have a virtual universe that encourages interaction rather than siphoning individuals into their own plots.
Your opinions are your own but I would encourage you to extend your trial of VO a bit.
Your opinions are your own but I would encourage you to extend your trial of VO a bit.
Ah, well. I know the pvp. I was in a NW my second day. :)
Still, as much as I like pvp, for me it will not suffice, I think. The community is okay, and that's good.. but while a bad community might make me leave, a good one will only make me stay if I like to do stuff with people in a game, which, if it's mostly pvp means the pvp should be pretty good. Then again, I have a few months to play Vendetta, so, who knows?
Still, as much as I like pvp, for me it will not suffice, I think. The community is okay, and that's good.. but while a bad community might make me leave, a good one will only make me stay if I like to do stuff with people in a game, which, if it's mostly pvp means the pvp should be pretty good. Then again, I have a few months to play Vendetta, so, who knows?
It's very boring across the board atm. Community attempts (Deneb Run, Nation War) are pretty narrow and/or lame.
But the single dumbest thing I've ever seen on these boards, and that's including Ayn:
And in a way it is nice to have a virtual universe that encourages interaction rather than siphoning individuals into their own plots.
Seriously? Stop and think: one, VO has huge amounts of space, little of interest in it, and very few players. Even if the number of players on at any given moment increased by a factor of ten, you'd still have issues with finding enough people. People need stuff to do solo.
Two, if there's content that draws people towards a specific goal and keeps them interested... isn't that the best way to assure interaction? If one player wants to complete quest X, aren't another five, ten, fifty players going to also want to do it? Stuff to do in this big universe that doesn't necessarily require other players is the biggest hole in VO's content shortage (and that's saying something).
ANY plot would work at this point. It will siphon in individuals, and once it has more than one, you'll have your interaction. But plot is a prerequisite to interaction aside from space quake for space quake's own sake.
But the single dumbest thing I've ever seen on these boards, and that's including Ayn:
And in a way it is nice to have a virtual universe that encourages interaction rather than siphoning individuals into their own plots.
Seriously? Stop and think: one, VO has huge amounts of space, little of interest in it, and very few players. Even if the number of players on at any given moment increased by a factor of ten, you'd still have issues with finding enough people. People need stuff to do solo.
Two, if there's content that draws people towards a specific goal and keeps them interested... isn't that the best way to assure interaction? If one player wants to complete quest X, aren't another five, ten, fifty players going to also want to do it? Stuff to do in this big universe that doesn't necessarily require other players is the biggest hole in VO's content shortage (and that's saying something).
ANY plot would work at this point. It will siphon in individuals, and once it has more than one, you'll have your interaction. But plot is a prerequisite to interaction aside from space quake for space quake's own sake.
I think your point about the prospecting missions is kinda silly, though I agree with some of the points you make.
There are a lot of prospecting missions, sure, but here are two things you seem to have not thought about:
First, they're meant for people who are serious about prospecting and mining. Sure, it'll take you ages if you do it as a casual thing once or twice a week, but if you actually *wanted* the HD beams and the advanced mineral scanner you would work a little faster and harder, instead of doing it casually. I did the first 40 missions over the course of six or seven months, and then one weekend during the summer of 2005 I just blitzed through the 80 remaining prospecting missions over the course of 40 hours. I wanted them bad enough to do that. You don't seem to want them, so why are you complaining about this, much less taking the missions in the first place?
Second, there's nothing stopping you from buying those two items from people who already have completed the missions. Several people (including myself, Jestatis Bess, some members of PA and the SCAR Bank) sell these items to other players.
As for a lack of reason to leave the starting system, how about the fact that most PVP in the game takes place in either Deneb B-12/C-10 or the Latos/Sedina area? There are also missions that are exclusive to those areas--there are two Xang Xi-only missions that I know of, there's the Hive Skirmish missions in Latos, Sedina and Odia (which will soon be available in Serco and Itani space once the Hive is fully ready), and there's the TPG Test Pilot missions at TPG stations.
There are a lot of prospecting missions, sure, but here are two things you seem to have not thought about:
First, they're meant for people who are serious about prospecting and mining. Sure, it'll take you ages if you do it as a casual thing once or twice a week, but if you actually *wanted* the HD beams and the advanced mineral scanner you would work a little faster and harder, instead of doing it casually. I did the first 40 missions over the course of six or seven months, and then one weekend during the summer of 2005 I just blitzed through the 80 remaining prospecting missions over the course of 40 hours. I wanted them bad enough to do that. You don't seem to want them, so why are you complaining about this, much less taking the missions in the first place?
Second, there's nothing stopping you from buying those two items from people who already have completed the missions. Several people (including myself, Jestatis Bess, some members of PA and the SCAR Bank) sell these items to other players.
As for a lack of reason to leave the starting system, how about the fact that most PVP in the game takes place in either Deneb B-12/C-10 or the Latos/Sedina area? There are also missions that are exclusive to those areas--there are two Xang Xi-only missions that I know of, there's the Hive Skirmish missions in Latos, Sedina and Odia (which will soon be available in Serco and Itani space once the Hive is fully ready), and there's the TPG Test Pilot missions at TPG stations.
[quote]I think your point about the prospecting missions is kinda silly, though I agree with some of the points you make.[/quote]
It's silly, yes. But then again, it's not.
Why?
It only shows a number. A big number. In fact, before you get your first Hive Hunter badge, you don't know there's a Hive Hunter badge to get. Why not make it a smaller number, followed by a second, larger number, etc.. like is done with the Hive Hunter badges? Similarly, getting your trading, weapons permits (etc.) is also incremental in this way.
I never meant to say I want huge rewards for little effort. In fact, i didn't even know there was anything to be had (because it doesn't say so anywhere, as far as I can tell)!
It's silly, yes. But then again, it's not.
Why?
It only shows a number. A big number. In fact, before you get your first Hive Hunter badge, you don't know there's a Hive Hunter badge to get. Why not make it a smaller number, followed by a second, larger number, etc.. like is done with the Hive Hunter badges? Similarly, getting your trading, weapons permits (etc.) is also incremental in this way.
I never meant to say I want huge rewards for little effort. In fact, i didn't even know there was anything to be had (because it doesn't say so anywhere, as far as I can tell)!
Jaenn said: 2)Storyline content
One of the reasons I subscribed is because I liked the background story. However, missions which draw from that are.. well, not there. And even IF there are and I haven't found them yet, then that's a different thing which may need improvement.. whether it's to help people find that content or to make such missions available earlier.
Well, that's true. There's no specific content based on the storyline background. Oh, sure there are "war"-type things like Border Patrol and Border Skirmish, but the end results of that don't affect the larger game at ALL.
It would be fun to allow stations and systems to fall into enemy hands, if such-and-such a mission was completed. I think the devs are planning something like that for Deneb, but I can't be sure. There DOES need to be a storyline/plot sequence that affects the game in some form.
Anyway, I'm sorry you canceled your subscription.
One of the reasons I subscribed is because I liked the background story. However, missions which draw from that are.. well, not there. And even IF there are and I haven't found them yet, then that's a different thing which may need improvement.. whether it's to help people find that content or to make such missions available earlier.
Well, that's true. There's no specific content based on the storyline background. Oh, sure there are "war"-type things like Border Patrol and Border Skirmish, but the end results of that don't affect the larger game at ALL.
It would be fun to allow stations and systems to fall into enemy hands, if such-and-such a mission was completed. I think the devs are planning something like that for Deneb, but I can't be sure. There DOES need to be a storyline/plot sequence that affects the game in some form.
Anyway, I'm sorry you canceled your subscription.
I think it's best for all of us if we don't drag this breakup out and just go our own separate ways. We've both made mistakes during our relationship, and I don't think anyone is interested in having fingers pointed at them. Perhaps one day, we can be friends, but first let's let the wounds of this betrayal heal.
*sniffle*
*sniffle*
LOL
"No, no, it's not you, it's me."
or, perhaps better for genka's sensibilities:
"I wish I knew how ta quit you!"
"No, no, it's not you, it's me."
or, perhaps better for genka's sensibilities:
"I wish I knew how ta quit you!"
tl;dr
I don't care about missions... never have. I only use them when I need them to get something. VO is about PvP and killing stuff. I can only assume you don't care about that, so go back to WoW or something where hands-on skill-based PvP is nonexistant and you have all the grind content you could ever want.
I don't care about missions... never have. I only use them when I need them to get something. VO is about PvP and killing stuff. I can only assume you don't care about that, so go back to WoW or something where hands-on skill-based PvP is nonexistant and you have all the grind content you could ever want.
I give your trolling attempt a C-, Cunjo.
Try harder next time.
Try harder next time.
Lecter -- I personally think it's easier to build content out of action rather than action out of content. But perhaps you prefer a more contrived style of play. Of course, VO lacks both content and action at the moment, but those who remain must have some optimism...
So, yes, this game needs things to do (solo and otherwise.) However, mining, in its current state, (and anything like it) does not make VO a more interesting universe. It discourages interaction. That the community bothers (and is able) to organize events does. Please read the sentence you derided as 'it could be worse.'
Any aspect of the game that draws people into something that eventually leads to significant interaction isn't really siphoning them into their own plots now is it.
Yours was the most lazy personal attack I've ever received in VO and this includes Mynt's.
So, yes, this game needs things to do (solo and otherwise.) However, mining, in its current state, (and anything like it) does not make VO a more interesting universe. It discourages interaction. That the community bothers (and is able) to organize events does. Please read the sentence you derided as 'it could be worse.'
Any aspect of the game that draws people into something that eventually leads to significant interaction isn't really siphoning them into their own plots now is it.
Yours was the most lazy personal attack I've ever received in VO and this includes Mynt's.
I completely agree with just about all of the points you make. The things you bring up are a good portion of what is missing from this game at the moment. But, like many others, I'm hooked by the dynamic of PvP. I think it's a testament to the mechanics that this game is based off of that it can hold subscriptions (albeit few) without ANY real content. My only hope is that once things get rolling, the devs can afford to hire a larger team and get that content streaming in. Until then, I keep coming back for Space Quake.
Off topic: Hmm, that trailer on google video is pretty poor quality. I'll see what I can do about getting a better quality video up in the next few days.
Off topic: Hmm, that trailer on google video is pretty poor quality. I'll see what I can do about getting a better quality video up in the next few days.
Ghost: Looks pretty cool, some quotes from StarWars - "I can't shake 'em!"
Everyone else: Does this mean the devs are going to hire the PCC? *gasps in shock*
Everyone else: Does this mean the devs are going to hire the PCC? *gasps in shock*
I think in principle we all agree with you Jaenn Averon. At times the game is boring. There isn't really much content or player interaction.
I guess i should tell you the main reason why I play. I guess it all comes down to the community. Even though I hate 1/3 (Sercos) of the community and will continue to do so with my dying breath, i do keep coming back to the game because the players are what make the game a joy to play. (I do personally like a lot of the serco, but my character still hates them :) I will admit like some others i do get bored and take a couple of months off. I always come back though because the game is constantly changing and the community keeps drawing me in.
Think of Vendetta as an empty canvas. I reinvent myself and my character every three months or so. A year ago i was a respected council member, later commander (briefly), of one of the best/newest/most popular Itani guilds. I've been a trader, a miner and a real trouble maker. Now I'm an arms dealer.
Finally I'll say if you are looking for a game to shape your experience this isn't the game. And I'm not sure it will ever be. But if you want a game where anything, and i mean anything, is possible this is the game for you.
I guess i should tell you the main reason why I play. I guess it all comes down to the community. Even though I hate 1/3 (Sercos) of the community and will continue to do so with my dying breath, i do keep coming back to the game because the players are what make the game a joy to play. (I do personally like a lot of the serco, but my character still hates them :) I will admit like some others i do get bored and take a couple of months off. I always come back though because the game is constantly changing and the community keeps drawing me in.
Think of Vendetta as an empty canvas. I reinvent myself and my character every three months or so. A year ago i was a respected council member, later commander (briefly), of one of the best/newest/most popular Itani guilds. I've been a trader, a miner and a real trouble maker. Now I'm an arms dealer.
Finally I'll say if you are looking for a game to shape your experience this isn't the game. And I'm not sure it will ever be. But if you want a game where anything, and i mean anything, is possible this is the game for you.
Sorry to see you go. Maybe you'll think it over. Me, I'll stick to this game until it either hits big or crashes and burns beyond recognition.
Join a guild which suits you, and you will find things to do