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Drafell

Hello!

The New Year saw DarkSpace enter the fray with first, with an initial whimper, and then a nice big bang as we hit you with a new map layout for the MetaVerse. It was decided after some long contemplation that the removal of some of the 'excess' (IE. never used) systems would help to streamline the MV, also removing a little unnecessary load from the servers.

In addition we re-arranged the inter-system jumpgates to encourage combat in more centralized locations. So far this has been met with a large degree of support from the community, although there have been one or two concerns that some elements of the map design give certain factions an advantage.
The concept behind the current model is to give each faction seven 'home' systems which are linked to two central combat zones (currently R33 and Tripwik). We have tried, where possible, to keep the system positions consistent with the concept and development work done by |2eason several years back.

We have also renamed a few planets as a surprise bonus for the recent competition winners.

As we review and evaluate the new changes there are likely to be several tweaks and optimizations. Currently under consideration is an alteration to the Tripwik system layout to better facilitate strategic gameplay, along with some further tweaks to the jumpgate mapping.

Please keep in mind that due to the future changes in the server model and architecture, there will be another necessary reconfiguration of the Metaverse map when 1.484 goes live. This is a little inconsistent with the persistent world philosophy we would prefer to pursue, but as ever "gameplay > realism".

As for development work on version 1.484:

Many of you will probably notice that there has not been much apparent progress with getting a working beta running. Unfortunately we cannot proceed with re-balancing ship designs and layouts to conform with the new ship modification restrictions until we have a working test server, so I have no real news to report on this front.

Work, however, is progressing with the Beta Documentation. In particular the Developer Guide (Ship Design) and the Fiction and Lore documents have received some extensive updates and revisions, which also include a variety of submissions from community members. As always, we are happy to accept any assistance our players are willing to provide.

That is all that I have to report for now, but here is to a fruitful year in the future of DarkSpace, and I hope to be able to bring you some more exciting new soon.

-Draf.

Raiyne

Looks like EVE Online-ish... Is there action taking place off the ship? I might try this out... Is it newb friendly and stuff? I'm not really familiar with the Sci-Fi genre..

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Drafell

The ship is your Avatar in the game, so pretty much all player interactions take place from this viewpoint.

DarkSpace is much more combat oriented than EvE, and the only real resemblance between the two is that you get to fly a spaceship, and it is set in space. EvE is much more a universe trading sim mixed with WoW in space. DarkSpace is probably more consistent in design philosophy with a massive scale objective capture type game. The objectives in DarkSpace would be the planets. These can be built upon, fortified, and constructed to aid the defense of the team/faction to choose to fight for. They can also be turned into places to modify/upgrade or repair you ships, as well as becoming player created spawn locations (IE shipyards) that will allow your allies to get to the front line battles more quickly.

All of this is based in a persistent world with over 300 planets and three factions - two human factions and one alien.

I could try to explain it all here, but you would be better off reading the entry we keep on the wikipedia. It does a far better job of explaining the differences than I could ever do.

It is not currently as newbie friendly as we would wish it to be. A lot of the changes and refinements being done in the beta version are to make the introduction into the game world much easier. There are a few things which are currently needlessly complex and counter-intuitive that detract from the fun gameplay. I would recommend that anyone interested in trying the game out reads the Manual. If you do come unstuck, there are nearly always GM's around who are happy and willing to help. They are mostly veteran community members with a lot of experience and knowledge about the various game functions who have volunteered to help out in this capacity.

I do hope you give the game a try. it may be relatively small, but it offers unique gameplay that is definitely not available anywhere else.

Elder_Scribe

Eve may be many things...but a universe trading-sim and WoW in space?!?..i must know how you came to that conclusion considering the differences between Darkspace and Eve are marginal at best.

I have played Darkspace before and it's a very beautiful game and fun once you start understanding the basics.

Unfortunately, the person who wrote the Darkspace Wikipedia spot summed up the player community in one sentence, Quote:

DarkSpace is a massively multiplayer online real-time strategy computer game which is notable for its cult-like community.

The Darkspace community treats new players like Eve does....every new player is an alt (hence a spy) and as such can't be trusted, which may be a partial explanation on why the community doesn't grow very much.

I stopped playing Darkspace for the same reasons i stopped playing Eve....the communities are xenophobic to put it mildly.

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Drafell

I really don't want to get into a flame war or an argument, but I feel I have correct you on certain issues.

First, I am amazed that you have managed to demonstrate your utter lack of knowledge of either game in the first paragraph or your reply...

EvE - you have no direct control of your ship, other than by clicking on the screen where you want to go. When activating/firing weapons, the chances to hit are based on a die roll.you click a button and the weapons continue firing until you tell them not to. Pretty much all combat is automated by AI, with major effects being turned on and off by the player.

DarkSpace - All movement is directly controlled by the player, you turn left, your ship turns left... right the ship turns right. You can manually dodge enemy fire. Hit chances are not based on die rolls. If you want to not be hit, you had better dodge the incoming fire. There is no AI automation in the combat process. The weapons only fire when YOU fire them.

As for me referring to EvE as WoW in space, there are quite a few close similarities in game mechanics, if you look outside of the visual environment. I don't really feel the need to go into these here. Yes, my reference is a gross over generalization, but it's an easily understandable comparison to make for most people who have never played either game.

Back to the point...

DarkSpace does not have the trading elements of EvE. EvE does not have the flag capture and twitch combat elements of DarkSpace.

The differences between the two games are immense, to say the least.

The community may be small - they all tend to know each other quite well. But in my experience, new members are always well received. Active moderation of the community ensures this to a certain degree.

As for the spying: Players are free to jump between factions at will. We do not put restrictions on this. This is so you don't need to make a new character and progress through the ranks again to fly equivalent ships to those which you have already spent a few months gaining access. This does leave certain aspects of the game open to spying and sabotage, but again, the game staff keep a very close watch on such activity, and serious offenders are dealt with accordingly by the game Administration.

My apologies if you, personally, have had a bad experience with DarkSpace. Regardless of my personal opinions, I will bring your criticisms up at the next GM and Developer meetings to see what we can do to avoid such potential issues in future.

TheJESTERJ

You sir, singlehandedly make me want to play this game.

EDIT: Also the link in the first paragraph of the first post is broken, its spelled www.darksapce.com instead of www.darkspace.com .

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Drafell

Thankyou. Unfortunately the more time I spend online, the more my typing skills seem to deteriorate. It should also teach me to link test my post's in future... not that I ever remember to do that either. :-P

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Elder_Scribe

So your entire argument on Eve Vs. Darkspace being completely different is the way one controls the ship, dice rolls, and a lack of a capture the flag on EvE?

....you must be joking.

When i am in a Manticore under stealth i'll be on a ship before they know i'm there, with a lock-on with full weapons ..no strafing in the world will stop me from punching a extremely large and devastating hole into a opposing ship,strafing is unnecessary in EvE,intelligence and ship design keeps you alive in EvE...not how fast you may be able to strafe.



Darkspace is a sci-fi space MMO with emphasis on ship to ship combat, different races at war.

EvE Online is a sc-fi space MMO with emphasis on ship to ship combat,different Corps. at war.

Your character in Darkspace is a ship...your character in Eve is a ship....yes you have a character in Eve that is restricted to a POD...but at least you can customize your character into anything you want them to be....besides that it's completely restricted to in-ship, the same for both games.

Bases in both games basically look the same, except for the Amarr, there are more than one type of ship that has a direct resemblance or a least a passing one in both games.

The differences are marginal, and you've shown that you actually get more options in EvE which, out of respect, i kept out.


You wish to make flippant comments about other games to boost the one your promoting? i suppose that's no surprise considering that EvE has been your major competitor and has also managed to take Darkspace to the mats time and time again, all anybody has to do is check.

One thing Darkspace has going for it...it's cheaper to play, which should go without saying considering you get less of a game.

EvE has a better in-game economy,better graphics, has won numerous accolades while Darkspace struggles to maintain itself, has brought expansion after expansion and works on a single server,

EvE Online supports "Child's Play" a Seattle-based charity that supplies children's hospitals with toys, games and books and money to sick children around the world.


Hey, your right..there is a difference after all!

I stand by everything i said in my previous post, you want to argue semantics then that's your choice.

I have no problems with Darkspace, all in all i think it's a fun game, the community is a bunch of paranoid and xenophobic twits who focus too much on new gamer alts, camping jump gates(which by the way you laughably have in a screenshot not to mention the wonderful way the vets treat new players in the other screenshot chat logs) and so on, but that's the moderators problem not mine, well that and the new players you get into your community.

Is that enough 'knowledge' for you?

...The thing is...if you would have said something like "We believe that EvE is a fine game, but we think ours is better" there would have been nothing from me, but when you make comments that go so far into right field like yours did, that you even admit is "a gross over generalization" with WoW..i'm sorry but i have to speak up.

I'll not say anymore on the subject, I've said my peace...I'll just leave with this:


http://ccp.vo.llnwd.net/o2/video/2/E...FadesLarge.wmv

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Drafell

Both games feature very different looks in terms of ship styles and designs. If you were to compare every single ship in both games you may find one or two that have a passing resemblance, but that is about it.

We are not trying to compete with EvE, to a large extent that would be futile. For one, we don't have the backing or resources to do so on that kind of scale. Instead we are continually developing a game with unique features and design concepts that is unlike anything else available.
We might be small, but we are still around after 5 years, whereas other games of a similar genre (EnB anyone?) have shut down. If this is down to the cult like community, then thank god. I would say that's an asset. It certainly shows that people believe there is a future in the game. If the fact that we have an entire star system dedicated in memory of a dearly missed member of the community who sadly passed away a couple of years ago is another example of our apparently xenophobic community, then I say "Damned good". It is something you will rarely find elsewhere. Maybe that's actually a reason for why we are still around.

It is true DarkSpace is cheaper to play. In fact, you don't have to pay at all, and you can still be effective in the game universe, albeit with a restricted choice of available craft. You can also subscribe, support the game, and gain access to the full array of game features.

EvE's ingame economy is unsurpassed by any other MMO. There are many features which they have implemented and done well. And in all fairness they deserve the various accolades they have received.

It good to see that EvE supports charities so keenly. Unfortunately DarkSpace is not in the same position. We are content, for now, to cover the running costs of the game and any funds left over go into the development cycle. No, our development team isn't payed. We do it out of love for the game and the community who play it.

I've never once said EvE is a bad game, or that the "WoW in space" analogy was a bad thing. Each game has it's pro's and con's and it is really down to individual gamers as to what they will like and enjoy. For some people that is precisely the type of gameplay that they are looking for.

What I am trying to do is give an accurate representation of a game that I personally have been playing for well over three years, and am now assisting in the development cycle of to a large degree.

Naturally, if am am talking about a particular product and trying to solicit interest, I am going to try and accentuate the pro's where possible.

I'm not here to make money, I'm not here to slam other games into the ground. I am here to say "Look we are still going - we must be getting something right. Why don't you come and see for yourselves?"

Why? Because I want to see the community grow, flourish and prosper. And because I also think there is a great game out here that very few people are aware of because we lack the publicity machine that other major MMO's and game developers do have.

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