[Newt]

Is it possible to activate the trial on an OLD account? I'm thinking of getting back in the game after years of inactivity. Beyond that, is the US server active enough and has the game improved enough to make it worth starting reactivating my account?

A little intro. I started playing during Beta 6, a little in Stress test and started back a few months after release. I was a member of FTL exclusively through beta and live. I canceled my Jumpgate account in Feb-March 2002. My last major work in Jumpgate was a '100%' artifact search pattern for various radar ranges when artifacts were added.

GM Istvan, I remember when he was guild leader of FTL Most memorable screenshot (still sitting around on my harddrive), Rollio of Vitiosus Legio with a 300k bounty at point blank range.

I had alot of fun in Jumpgate for awhile, but after FTL died out things got boring. I was Sol through level 48, switched to Oct for 40+ levels, but the ship imbalances at the time and the contrived TheMis events didn't do much for me.

[Ambrosius]

Some people had problems with old accounts. Can't hurt to give it a try, though.

[Newt]

"Its only money..." heheh, well I guess, next month I can probably afford to drop a 3month, but I've read comments people are leaving by droves to the EU server. Hows the development going? IS MG co-developing/updating with NetDevil now or is ND still in 'control' of that portion? Is it better to just start over on EU or is the US active population still high?

[Jump]

People that can't chat without cursing are leaving in droves. US server is going through some sort of metamorphosis. It's up to you if you want to be a part of it or follow the crowd. I'm sure US will survive if ND intends it to. If it doesn't then of course they won't support EU after the contract is up either so running there is mute. Just give it a try, bring some friends and see what happens. The worst that can happen is you walk away again. The best is that you help revive the server. If noone plays because noone plays then noone will be playing.

[Newt]

The population is a big thing for me, PvP is fun once in awhile, but if the population is low, the worst of the worst tend to own the game with outright player killing without even a hint of Pay or Die piracy. Of course, that was my experience when I played in live, there weren't enough anti-pirates to counteract the hardcore griefers when active pilots was low.

If EU is picking up old US players, thats where my money will go, though reviving my old medaled character on US would be fun.

I may just stick to single player games til Jump to Lightspeed. I've been playing Starwars Galaxies over a year now, but my real love is joystick required flight sims. I'll probably stick to Riftspace or Shatterstar for a few months and make a decision where my monthly MMO money will go after Jump to Lightspeed goes live.

[Jump]

Originally Posted by Newt

...but my real love is joystick required flight sims.

Then you've come to the right place.

Stick arround and feel free to discuss any games of that genre.

[GrimGriz]

Originally Posted by Newt

The population is a big thing for me, PvP is fun once in awhile, but if the population is low, the worst of the worst tend to own the game with outright player killing without even a hint of Pay or Die piracy.

Player pop on the US server is going back into a Valley. Then again, the bounty penalties are stiffer than they used to be, and bountied pilots can be tracked by beacons now. I haven't seen very many bounty messages as of late, and while a lot of really good people are moving to EU, all of the people that would do the things you suggest are.

Seems to me that the numbers have been low enough, long enough, that the hardcore greifers have gone elsewhere.

[Ambrosius]

My guess is the the novelty of EU will wear off before too long. Then the reality of no money, little equipment and limited fighting options (because of the time zone issues) will set in. IMO, EU is really not ideal for those who enjoy "fly and die" PvP.

The real question is how many our compatriots will come back and how many will just quit Jumpgate.

[Jump]

They all forgot why they hated EU. Temporary insanity eh? LOL