So, as many of you know, I took hiatus a little over a year ago after a two year run (after taking a 3 year hiatus following Alpha and Beta).

Life has calmed down from school, work, and divorce and Im considering coming back here in the next month or two and wanted to know what the general status of the universe is, what new things have come out etc?
I read through the release notes and the forums, so a Cliffnotes-style version of things is really all I need.

Black 1

Hey Pyro!

Here's a list from what I recall:

There are now player controlled conquorable stations hidden in several systems

Multi-player ships (Moth, Atlas) where one player pilots and others control turrets

Additional craftable items and weapons

More missions

Player submitted events on the in-game news tab

An Android port is in the works

That's what first comes to mind, however there's a plethora of changes you can read in the changelog. I'm sure some other vets will jump on here and add things I've left out. Hope to see you around the verse.

-Border skirmishes work properly they didn't really a year ago PLUS they now give weapons XP which makes them a viable leveler now just like hive skirmish

-War convoys which are a direct result of the current leader of Deneb each night leave serco or itani space and go park on the WH's of the opposing nation (usually easy to avoid going in but you stand a good chance of being WH killed on the way out)

I think the greyhound was introduced after you left. Not positive on the dates.

Radar occlusion.

Welcome back.

No I'm pretty sure Black 1 knows about the greyhound.

also hi

...long time, no see...

+1 for returning vets!

He may have known about the Greyhound, but not that it now has a built-in scanner :P

Yarrr.

Welcom back Pyro.

/looks around

:o An uppercase!

Hey Pyro, I remember you from back in the day. Good to see you wanna start playing again. (Niut'Likatisin)

Come on back, uc - there's probably some of yer RP family left for me to om nom nom.

Heyas uc, if you come back, I will, too. And we can defeat the evil Mister Lecter together!

Leebs!

I, too, am pondering a return.

What is the most amazing joystick money can buy?

Scuba Steve! It has been a while.

Logitech and Saitek make some good ones, I used to use one of these and one of these in dual configuration, although now I play with just a gamepad. (Dual joysticks are really easy to set up, all you have to do is plug them in and assign the axes and buttons under VO's options)

What is the most amazing joystick money can buy?

Mine. But I don't think you're the right gender to rent time with it.

Steve,

http://www.gamesmen.com.au/catalog/cont-pc-saitek-pro-flight-yoke-system-p-21082.html

But this is my next VO controller...

http://media.photobucket.com/image/steel+battalion+controller/saburonoseigi/steel-battalion.jpg