[ilk]

I am looking forward immensely to Jumpgate Evolution. My greatest fear is that it will be excellent beyond all imagining.

I fear this rather than hoping for it because if Jumpgate Evolution is as excellent as I think it will be, the fact that I will hardly ever get to actually play it will be even more painful for me.

As I'm sure is true for many Jumpgate Classic vets, my life is vastly different now compared to my peak gaming years. For various reasons (work/girl etc) I can no longer put anything like the hours I used to into gaming. By the time Jumpgate Evolution goes beta I might only have 1-2 hours a night and a few more on the weekend - and realisitcally, I probably can't spend all that free time doing something that I can't put down instantly, meaning my window to play Jumpgate Evolution is going to be depressingly small, if not non-existent.

Why should any of you care about this? An excellent question, the answer being that you certainly don't have to. I just want to pose the question - what place does a casual gamer have in an MMO in general and Jumpgate Evolution in particular?

Some thoughts:

Every human in game is a good thing, as at the very least it is another $x per month to keep the game running. As such, to maximize uptake, there should be some catering to casual players.

Now obviously you cannot put casual players on an even footing with people who have ten hours a day to grind money/train their combat skills. I see this causing major difficulty for me since although casual, I would be a PvPer. Now, I'm hoping that on the combat side of things my tactical skills will just need refreshing, and I was never one of the Liet/Cobramac types who could count on 99% accuracy in combat so not being able to train constantly shouldn't limit me too much. However, if it takes an hour of economic work to recuperate funds lost from 1 death, there is no way that I will be able to stick with the game.

Does anyone have thoughts how Jumpgate Evolution can cater to casual gamers without imbalancing the game? Is it even possible or am I dreaming if I think I will be able to play Jumpgate Evolution and PvP with only a few hours per week to invest?

[ELPIRATA]

Ilk... many of us have undergone RL changes dont feel alone.

Coming from the OEC family... I have a hard time figuring out why you would be 'left out' or being forced to dedicate even more time to this and that to make money for PvPing. If the OEC logistics machine is set in movement once again... I dont think you'd have problems with money and being 'ready' for fighting.

But, in the bigger scale of things, I see what you mean too. If you can only play 1 hour tonite, it would be HORRIBLE not find a fight nearby

ELP

[Jump]

It doesn't matter ilk. We are all old vets now. A bunch of kids are going to come into Jumpgate Evolution and kick our asses anyway. lol j/k

Frankly that is what Jumpgate has always needed. Things for the casual player to do when they only have a little time one day. And greater things to do when time is abundant. That is why matter farms were so popular. Someone with only an hour or two could log on and make some runs with friends and chat and have a good time. Too bad it was an exploit that distorted reality in the persistent universe in a way that has never been fixed.

If they can come up with a ton of small "local" things to do that do not distort the environment of the game then that would be a definite plus IMO.

[Jump]

Maybe on top of "Faction" Missions there should be "Station" Missions in Jumpgate Evolution. And each station would have their own local missions to get things done in the local sector or connected sectors for that station. I could think of a zillion things that would need doing if it was a real station.

[ELPIRATA]

Perhaps this time we should have Old Farts back and all us old Jumpgate folks get on it with one of the accounts

[GrimGriz]

Originally Posted by ilk

Does anyone have thoughts how Jumpgate Evolution can cater to casual gamers without imbalancing the game? Is it even possible or am I dreaming if I think I will be able to play Jumpgate Evolution and PvP with only a few hours per week to invest?

Well, I've always thought that they should put Jumpgate in the arcade. Players that play from the arcade choose from couple of different AI carriers mucking about on the borders of space (perhaps even the borders of flux space). They don't really get to pick their ship type, and the ships they get aren't as awesome as paying customer ships, but they can launch and fly and die and have a good ole time enough to want to subscribe and play for real.

I think something similar could be implemented for casual gamers. If not, I suspect they'll be enough sim options for us to have a good time.

[Smegit]

/Agree with all of you.

Of course we vets will be marginalized in the new game. We'll be the people sat on the corner going "Ee by gum, these young whipersnappers, they know nothing, I remember when...etc etc etc".

My current girlfriend is at least understanding of this. So I minimize my game time a bit and she watches Coronation Street* a little less. Almost perfect.

We are Jumpgate Classic vets, doesn't mean we are automatic Jumpgate Evolution vets.

Smeg.
*Coranation Street: Longest running ever British soap opera. Started in the 60's and is still going strong.

[Jump]

Never heard of it. Or I have never seen it listed on BBC America. Doesn't mean it's not there though since I don't watch TV much.

[Smegit]

Originally Posted by Jump

Never heard of it. Or I have never seen it listed on BBC America. Doesn't mean it's not there though since I don't watch TV much.

Wow. Its actually not on the BBC. We also have private channels (ITV, aka Independant TV). Coranation Street was originally by a company called Granada, may well still be. BBC is state funded (by a TV licence), ITV works off advertising.

Errrr, has this thread gone off topic???

Smeg

[ilk]

Originally Posted by GrimGriz

Well, I've always thought that they should put Jumpgate in the arcade. Players that play from the arcade choose from couple of different AI carriers mucking about on the borders of space (perhaps even the borders of flux space). They don't really get to pick their ship type, and the ships they get aren't as awesome as paying customer ships, but they can launch and fly and die and have a good ole time enough to want to subscribe and play for real.

I think something similar could be implemented for casual gamers. If not, I suspect they'll be enough sim options for us to have a good time.

That gives me an idea - Station defense craft that can be launched for free/cheap but are less capable than normal pvp ships and can't jump out of the sector.

That would encourage outnumbered defenders to keep fighting, give a quick combat option for casual players etc. However, it would only work if combat was rigidly controlled by faction which would be limiting.

[GrimGriz]

Not to mention - Oh noes, they've jumped to purian lake, what do we do?!?

[Jump]

Originally Posted by GrimGriz

Not to mention - Oh noes, they've jumped to purian lake, what do we do?!?

You would celebrate since you have successfully defended the station.