We don't give up that easily

Discussion in 'General Entropia Universe Discussion' started by Acronoid, Jan 6, 2014.

  1. Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    Wow this thread took off some. I'd like to say "I could contribute" but just getting some, any, creative writing of my own done would be a good thing for me. If I do that, it will be random and disjoint. It will probably fit with the Wistrel "overall story" that is vaguely in my head but yeh... I couldn't see myself writing for MA unless they actually employed me to do so. Fat chance.

    Why did the Calamusoids vanish?

    Actually I've wanted to do something fairly dark/twisted about them for a long time but not happened.

    WHY did a Feffox come out of it, and how did that go, short of a picture of a Feffoid and Atrox mating, I want to know how it was created?

    I don't know about the Feffox... but the Wistrox... honestly you REALLY don't want to know ;) and as previously stated Wistrel isn't commenting on it. That story might be really really dark.
     
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  2. MindStar9

    MindStar9 Floating in Space

    I like your writing Wistrel, so anything you decide to put into print I'll definitely read. We all have so many unanswered questions from the developers (especially MA), so it would be cool to see what kind of our own storylines we can come up with ... for ourselves of course, because I'm with you ... there's no way in Hell or elsewhere I would ever write for MA or PPs again unless they fork up the big bucks, it's just that simple.

    They know what I'm capable of, and even solicited my services before they screwed it up, so they're definitely off my radar for sure, but ... we have quite a few great writers in our community who would do a storyline, or many storylines justice, and I have more respect for that than the half-assed attempts we've been given.

    Arkadia has a great storyline, but they stopped writing episodes like they did prior to launch, which was absolutely awesome ... however, I think they try to include storyline in their missions, and have plans for expanding that, but I learned that right now, there are more important things to focus on other than storyline.

    The most amazing storyline of all of the planets is Cyrene ... it's vast, incredibly cohesive in progression, and side stories that blend immensely well with the host of characters that I believe will become a part of the planet's evolution. As an official on the Cyrene Writing Team for a year, I was privy to the expanse of the immense involvement, and where Ed wanted to take everything, and I can only say that I truly hope that he follows through, because it's absolutely my favorite and would really bring Cyrene to life in so many ways.

    I enjoyed writing the Zekkonian Covert Ops series that revealed a lot of exclusive information and content about Cyrene before launch, but that wasn't part of my paid and official writing which was done behind the scenes. Ed and I worked cohesively and blended very well, having a ball and really enjoying the collaboration on story arc and developing characters and storyline, but his time was extremely limited, and after a year, very little was done with the official writing, but he got plenty of mileage and coverage about Cyrene from the Covert Ops series. It really saddened me that time was so limited, but we didn't close the door after I resigned my position.

    I just know the storyline is the best in our universe, and Ed had many things planned for my writing from character development and graphic novels to other things that can't be mentioned right now, and I was SO ready to go the distance, but I was an official avatar with limited activities for a year and going nowhere because of time constraints.

    I love Ed and Kris, but I also know the road blocks and challenges that make it quite difficult at times for Planet Partners to accomplish their visions and move forward at a pace they're ready to take on, so I don't blame them one bit. I haven't talked with Ed in a long time, but I catch up with Kris now and then, and he's doing his utter best to keep things going and interacting with the Cyrene community at their forum and in the game. They both have my respect, and I wish for them at least a happy medium where their vision isn't completely altered in some way due to development decisions at the top.

    Sorry, I got carried away there, but I love the PE/EU community and all the wonderful raw and fine-tuned talent that we have, and I'm glad that some are given opportunities to contribute to our environment, but there's so much more we could do as writers, graphics artists, tech specialists, and immensely insightful game dynamics specialists with the ability to analyze and render brilliant suggestions, but it more often than not falls upon deaf ears and goes to waste when it comes to contributing to our universe.

    MA (Jan) has an agenda for this universe, and that's the end of that story.

    And Acro ... you're right, what's missing is a poetic soul, a storyteller, a narrator, a something that helps to make it all cohesive instead of fragmented and disjointed, and I would like to see that happen, but we are not MA's free literary staff ... and since they screwed that up with me, it would cost them big bucks for me to even think of writing for and promoting this game again. They desperately need a writing staff for sure, but we know that won't happen.

    EDIT:

    When I say writing staff, I don't mean just about Calypso, but the universe as a whole to help support and promote all of EU in a more positive way, but I guess that would depend on where development continues to take us. I don't think all is lost if they'd just be a little wiser about their decisions. Oh, and ... definitely have a more efficient platform technical staff ... that's a must.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2014
  3. jan david 2014 1.jpg
     
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  4. Liu

    Liu

    NExt Island was really folowing an excellent path.....until it got all fucked up and all the dev team got fired, Mr. Post left the Island unattended...

    This planet was to me the one with THE potential to become something great after "PE" died ....
     
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  5. MindStar9

    MindStar9 Floating in Space


    I don't think it's a matter of "being hooked to Calypso" as it is missing the spirit and heart of the game. However, I understand where you're coming from, and why I now spend my time exploring with my guy to see what's out there and what it feels like.

    I've always liked Next Island, and it's a shame that David Post abandoned it, because it too had potential, but so far in the game, there's a lack of cohesiveness, other than perhaps Arkadia and Cyrene in some way. They too need to not minimize storyline and the importance of how it draws players into activities.

    I can SO see a future (continued and exciting) storyline around the beginning and evolved history of Arkadia, but bits and pieces of text in mission dialogue, or announcements of an Oratan event don't deliver the richness that storytelling could present. They could introduce nuances about the Oratan and their often misunderstood intentions, because there are so many unanswered questions. I'm incredibly sad and pissed that they killed off one of THE most annoying yet lovable characters in the entire storyline (my favorite) - Professor Milton Lee, who has a statue in the middle of Celeste Harbor (main).

    I hate that none of the Chronicles of Cyrene have been published yet, or that there isn't a place where an ongoing storyline exists that is so brilliant and exciting to learn about, and that fits so amazingly into what the vision for the planet is, along with future events that I know will change things in its evolution.

    Storyline should not be minimized or discounted as to importance and how it plays a valuable component in bringing everything together. It gives game-play a substance and grit to grab hold of, and brings the players together at times for common causes in the pioneering and development of the planets.

    It seems we've devolved into missions and events after events with the same game-play dynamics that lead to shoot, loot, rinse and repeat, and competing for big prizes that we all know who will basically win in the end. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with missions or events, I believe they are needed, but if all we've turned into is a black hole of grinding without storyline and an evolving history that is connected and cohesive in some way, then what are we really?

    There's SO much that could be done to turn things around to the point that all would benefit (players, PPs, and even MA) ... but then again, wishful thinking and hope are not game plans.
     
  6. Group A.) Keeps discussing about whats missing, what got promised and how great it could be.
    Group B.) Doesnt care about Group A and just surrenders to the game as it is.
    Group C.) Doesnt care about group A & B and cant praise MA enough for what they are doing.
    Group D.) Doesnt care about Group A & B & C and keeps playing casino style, waiting for the ATH.
    Group E.) A healthy mix of A & B & C & D, that constantly bashes the sh!t out of MA.

    Cant you SEE ? Mr. Simmonds finally managed to introduce diversity ! :'D
     
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  7. Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    Winner! I will have to remember that one!! Its what me and my friend do in the pub all the time! Talk about ideas for games and game dynamics and how to tackle problems of gameplay challenges.

    I totally agree. I loved the place. It desperately needed more people but it was so pretty. I wasn't too sure about their view on somehow bringing in unusual casual gamer markets... suspect that was just blurb to spin to MA in the end to imagine up a new target market. There is a lot of BS and BS'ers out there these days.

    I'd love it if somehow NI could be taken over by a group of players. I know it can't happen but yeh.. finishing Greece, getting more timezones... the potential was enormous.

    Such an original idea too. I loved the concept of an MMO where the story jumps through time zones and it was looking like it was going to be a good one too. What I REALLY liked was seeing familiar locations in different ages. For example the cave where you come out in Ancient Greece (actually they were not really playing up to that enough for my liking). Imagine what that would have been like in the Ice age timezone? (probably very hunt the thing and hung the thing was ace) The idea of essentially remaking the map each time but with different content and some changes in appearance really was so cool.

    Ah well....

    Wistrel
     
  8. Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    A note on stories though... I suspect I am right when I say "a lot of people just don't care"... I've seen example playthroughs where people don't read the NPC dialogue. There was a funny one where a guy did so in silly voices but even then he tended to either stop half way with "yadda yadda yadda ok I go here".

    Now it could be that simply the dialogue isn't engaging enough... maybe if it was written better people would be hooked on just exactly WHAT that NPC was saying... or maybe they'd still click click click. I think maybe HTT was the best example of storyline and use of missions so far.

    Not sure if I am right or wrong about this. I know secret world decided it was so important that they wanted voice actors in their game.

    I think maybe a trick would be to design the dialogue so that people... maybe don't have to pay attention to complete a mission but perhaps design it so that if they do they get some benefit.

    For example "yadda yadda yadda hidden content yadda yadda yadda go get this thing from this place".

    Then you go there

    "yadda yadda yadda heres a thing for you yadda yadda did Mark mention his daugher? ah.. what was her name again?"

    Enter name or select - "ah shit yeh he might have done, I... no sorry, yeh I can't remember"

    if you select the latter
    "ah no matter, Anyway good luck with the thing I just gave you"

    if you remember the name

    "Yeh Mary! man poor kid, they were prospecting up in the mountains just east of here. Damn Umbras set upon them out of nowhere. Mark fought for their lives but to no avail. There were just too many of them. Anyhow, when he came to at the revival Mary was nowhere to be seen. He's been all over looking for her. Even had RDI go through the revival network logs to check she didn't get killed. No luck, she's out there somewhere... somewhere with the Umbranoids... Sorry yeh anyhow good luck with that thing and tell Mark to keep his chin up, I'll see you later Wistrel"

    Well anyhow, SOMETHING like that, Obviously I just pulled that one out of my bum but you get the idea.

    Wistrel
     
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  9. NI felt half-baked. Cyrene feels half-baked as well after the years.. RT feels...strange...but then again, I really enjoyed "The Thing". But "The Thing" wasnt really RT.

    ...now and then I want to try Planet Michael Jackson...Planet Titanic...Planet Van Helsing...knowing, I will leave them right after some free gifts and some "hunting". Just like NI. Claiming the colorator and the noob pistol with 60m range...that I still use.

    And how do I love the Island scanner, that looks like the Calypso scanner but doesnt have these "green color massacre" while scanning...man...I wish the scanner was at least blue or orange....everything is so half ready...bah !
     
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  10. dalewj

    dalewj StoryTeller/Nerd/Gamer

    As the storyteller for afterworld, I always wanted to write the EU story. I always saw all the storys told as have written an d I thought if you spent a good deal of time you could sort them into a storyline. MA just pissed me off to much for me to do that. I left and went to Afterworld where I found devs who wanted exactly that.

    so if you can do it go for it, would love to read it.
    afterworld book(s) - http://www.jconsult.com/afterworld
     
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  11. dalewj

    dalewj StoryTeller/Nerd/Gamer

    is this a pure water planet with lots of iceburgs?
     
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  12. Ask Neverdie :)
     
  13. Jamira

    Jamira Samurai Girl

    AHHHHHRG! I saw that you write that AW story long ago and forgot about it :-(
    Well, time to catch up with it ;-)
     
  14. Tass

    Tass Administrator

    It's really disappointing to see how little MA/PC do when it comes to storytelling. I really had high hopes at the time when Marco was CEO, Andreas was Creative Director, Krister was Lead Writer and Hanne was Community Manager. They were developing Calypso's identity of the "colonist's MMO", they introduced new content with story snippets and more creative events like the Harbinger Event, and with RX units & Co there seemed to be a little bit of a departure from the antiquated black and white scheme of the oh so good humans versus the oh so evil robots. Btw, read the Book of the Machine, it's great. There was vision, direction, story-telling, innovative events, active community management,...

    So yes, unfortunately in respect of setting and story-telling the past of Calypso was better (ah, the negativity).

    Frankly, what was and still is happening with Calypso after the folding of SEE Digital Studios looks like hobbyist developers at work, throwing in what comes to their mind or what they think is cool or what they ever wanted to try or what they would enjoy if they were uber. Calypso seems to suffers from the complete abundance of any direction, any elaborated vision, any major story line. This cannot be the work of a Creative Director (I herewith apply for the job) and if the CEO of Planet Calypso AB has a vision he's really good at keeping it a secret. I really wonder whether there is any direction at all? Silly military Sci-Fi templates (ah, the Calypso Defense Forces) that could have arisen from the mind of a 14 year old (ah, the male power fantasies), mutants, magic, vampires and Mr Pumpkin - slowly but surely drifting from a colonist's MMO towards the set of a B-movie.


    And other planets?

    Next Island actually did quite good, but that's obviously past too... They even published official guides written from the perspective of NI inhabitants Arthur and Helen Venture. (http://www.entropiaplanets.com/wiki/Category:Next_Island_Official_Guides)

    Arkadia started great with quite an elaborated storyline but where is it now? (http://www.entropiaplanets.com/wiki/Planet_Arkadia_Storyline)

    Cyrene started quite good too, although most of it were rather teasers and semi-official material. But in respect of story-driven missions Cyrene is probably a prime example.


    However, there's much more to story-telling than just quest text... If new creature/items/instances/events get released are they ever really accompanied by elaborated story-telling?

    Just referring to one example of how new items could be introduced:




    The idea of the community partially taking over storytelling on the one hand is off-putting, it's a actually a part of what we pay for, but on the other hand it's also appealing. Unfortunately creating something that could represent an official story line is for sure more than a full time job, so maybe smaller snippets for a start. What I could imagine is creating some fictional organizations, for example a "Planets Exploration Squad" that's exploring new content and presents reviews as kind of intelligence reports with a mix of facts and fiction, and we could put them on the EP frontpage and we also could...
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2014
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  15. The road is long and 10 years is a long time to not have stuff rolling but still...
    Please take one minute to check out this video...
     
  16. Well as Wistrel kept pointing me to links here on Entropia Planets, I'd thought I might actually participate rather than lurk :-)

    I've been part of the EU story and its journey since around 2002, which means I've seen it evolved over a decade. I'm not entire sure if evolving is the right word, I sometimes joke that you could leave EU for a couple of years and find it has either stayed roughly the same or gone backwards in some feature or functions.

    Having said that, I've had some good times with EU. Met great people, been part of some great societies and also dare I say had my small moments of fame through EU. In the early days I was an enthusiastic proponent of EU and even worked on the only edition of The Entropian magazine, writing short stories and articles for that magazine. Plus I did the odd interview for newspapers and journalists talking about my investment empire etc... And also sending tons of ideas to Marco and Mindark on improvements and so forth.

    Eventually though I started to drift away from EU. Partly its because there are new games out there that are advancing new ideas and gameplay. Partly its a change in circumstances. Also in 2008 I cash out much of my investment in EU to put down as a deposit on a real life house I was buying, which meant I had less incentive or need to play EU.

    Therein perhaps lies one of the challenges I think EU has. Its essentially an investment game, that's kind of how I see it. I'm probably not the only one. Which tends to mean Mindark focusses on that element rather than storylines. And whilst Mindark focusses on that aspect, then I don't think story or depth is going to happen. Some of the PP have tried to focus on story, but I do feel its an uphill battle because the "network effect" of Planet Calypso is far too powerful to make many of the PP sustainable.

    EU could be something more, that's perhaps my biggest disappointment over the last decade. Last year I started playing The Secret World and it's the first MMO that I've come across where the missions/quests are not typical grindfests. Everything seems well put together to advance the overall story. Its worth playing to get ideas of what could be possible in the world of story driven gameplay.

    Still EU does have an advantage that it's good for casual gaming. There's no cost to have an account and use it when you want to. In some sense it's like mobile gaming where you buy credits in game. That's EU for you. I played for a bit with the first couple of Merry Mayhems, before coming back as a CLD investor for a couple of years. I cashed out again last Christmas as I've had some concerns about MA financial stability, especially given how quiet its gone.

    Anyhow, first post and its a long one :-) But hopefully its insightful from a vagabond old timer who occasionally pops his head into this Universe ;-)

    *Edits - Typos and grammar*
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2014
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  17. MindStar9

    MindStar9 Floating in Space

    Welcome to EP Az, it's nice to see you here, and thank you for your perspective, It's always enlightening to see how others view this universe and what their experiences have been.

    Wish you the best.
     
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