A quick catchup - Neocron, Eve, SWG & SWG Dev tries to make good....

Right not got long so heres the short & sweet.

Neocron just had their latest major update (can't really call it a patch because its much more than that, but neither is it an expansion) called Evolution 2.2. For those with short memories back in December 2005 they released Evolution 2.1 and I covered it here http://ash-ridley.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_archive.html

Well 2.2 is 'the great rebalance', first of all you have to wonder how/why a game thats been around since 2002 either suddenly needs or finally gets a rebalance, sorry can't answer that one.... but having said that the result (at least from my point of view) aren't pretty.

The devs have stomped on lots of play elements that I found appealing, namely the ability to do multiple things with the same character. While I previously accepted the limitations that came with this latest patch has not only made those limitations more of a problem but its also limited the ability to multi-class even further - to the point that you really need multiple characters/accounts to cover all the bases (I knew they wanted more customers but that didn't really seem the right way to go about it).

Yes I'm still playing Eve and while we're all still in the 0.0 alliance I we had just moved to in my earlier post the appeal is wearing thin (I don't think this is a reflection on the alliance but more the fact that we are burning out on Eve generally) some of my group are as a result gravitating more towards a small alt mercenary/pirate corp we've had in the background for a whine now but the logistics of PvPing either solo or with two of you against anything other than undefended miners is a little tricky when you're light on skillpoints (because they are all on your main)

Finally SWG, I still watch the trainwreck that is SWG with interest (although I dont read the official forums anymore) if for no other reason than its amusing to watch SOE try and bring back the old game (pre-NGE) without actually bringing back the old game. They do this by patching back in stuff that got removed as 'new content' but under the framework of the new game. Unfortunately for them this isnt enough for me (or lots of other refugees) to return to the game because we dislike/disagree with the fundamental skill/level system the game is now built on.

You may remember my opening posts regarding Jeff Freeman/Dundee one of the SWG devs who blogged about the SWG changes with enthusiasm. Well Jeff is no longer with SOE and either his NDA or his patients has expired and hes recently been 'fighting back' at those who blame him for the whole NGE situation.

I won't get involved with the specifics (99% of the to and fro can be found in here http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/forum/802) but I will say this.

Jeff, its true people wanted someone to blame, but no one forced you to stick your neck out in public and say what you did. You claim you weren't the designer or whatever, that doesn't matter, what matters is you did (at least publically) appear to champion the NGE and thats enough to make you 'a' bad guy if not 'the' bad guy. While your recent posts may have scored you brownie points for trying to set the record straight etc some people will still hold you responsible for being in a position to at least oppose the NGE even if it wouldn't have ultimately made any difference, at least then you wouldn't have been anywhere near the firing line!

A cynical person could suggest that you are simply trying to repair any PR damage your presence might bring to another company/product - I mean just look at how people are reacting to the news that Julio is working on Force Unleased!