Hello everyone, I'm Pasquel (IG) and i used to play VO quite excessively until late '09. I stoped playing for various reasons, but now i decided to check out all the progress that was made since I last played.

Have there been any important changes that I should be aware of, or can i just drop back in game and expect to find everything similar enough to quickly get my bearings?

It'll still feel similar... but there have been a lot of changes. Most notably, player owned cappies.

Welcome back. It will be similar enough.

players not to be returned nor refunded : )

Blast, and here i thought I might be able to buy a better one. Ah well, this will have to to i guess =P

I thought we ground them up and made them into shiny new players. Oops.

Well, you're right that the creation of new players does involve chewing up, digesting, and crapping out.

Good to see that many veterans are still around. That warm and fuzzy and slightly sticky feel of undigested troll in the air =)

Well, stating the obvious, but player-manufactured cap ships are now in play. I've ridden along in one a couple times, and as of right now they basically function as mobile repair and rearming stations. The turret ports can be equipped with specialized turret weapons, also manufactured, and the selection is currently very limited. Building one of these cap ships is a major undertaking, as even just the individual components represent hours and hours of gameplay. I've only seen a cap ship component once, although this is partially due to the fact that I've been filling my VO time with other endeavors. The components themselves are of course manufactured at conquerable stations, which have bred numerous shifting alliances and late night sneak attacks.

Vendetta Online is now out for Android devices, which has enabled me to dive in at any point, anywhere, so long as I am carrying my Xperia PLAY. The user interface has been improved, as have the controls. It's a lifesaver when stranded in a waiting room: I log in and trade up a few hundred thousand credits, or catch up with buddies and guild mates. I've been able to survive for a minute or two in PvP by using the accelerometer to do a barrel roll, I've even managed to make one PK, although the circumstances were highly uneven. It's difficult to describe the feeling of carrying VO around with you to someone who has yet to experience it, but I imagine it's similar to a particle physicist discovering that there are hidden dimensions and superstrings.

Since late '09 Incarnate has released twenty-five of my missions, written and playtested through the PCC, including Medium Risk Mining Escort, Intermediate Combat Practice, and others. CrazySpence has also had missions released into production. Currently I am working on a project which needs support if you have the inclination to be a Vendetta Online storyteller. As a result of the PCC, since 2009, there has been an experimental powercell added, a weapon that delivers concussive force together with considerable damage, and a new breed of pet robot.

Welcome back to VO!

Edit: I would be amiss not to mention the Avalon Torpedo. A weapon that has made a comeback since alpha, currently found among the remains of Arklan Guardians. It deals both massive damage and splash. You can see its signature "blue halo" detonation in a few frames of Pizzasgood's coverage of this cap ship battle.

Wow, thanks for this summary, Phaserlight. I've had a few days to get my bearings again, and I must say, I'm very excited about the direction the game is going. With more generated content, but even more possibilities for player-added content (did i just allways miss it, or is the Event submission system new aswell?), there are more possibilities to enjoy VO both for new players and for veterans (which one of those two I represent I'm not sure...).

Am I mistaken, or did the graphics also get quite a big bump? The backdrops seem to be at a much higher resolutions, and some ship textures also look like they've been bumped up to a higher res.

Last but not least: Corvus Vulturius Anniversary Edition! That is one heck of a sexy ship =) The beutiful texture is well worth the additional cost ;)

Yes, texture quality has been increased during the last several months, at least.