FEDERATION 2 - BELLA TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE GAME

*** Logging started - Sun Aug 21 19:50:02 2011
*** Saving to log file ***
Hazed says, "Pugwash is here to record the proceedings, then I will put the log on the website tomorrow"
Pugwash looks up from her camera and winks.
Bella smirks
Dennotairn has just arrived.
Occy says, "hey i am the smart ass"
Bella asks, "are we all sitting comfortably?"
Dennotairn smiles, "hello:)"
Cockeye says, "yep"
Bella says, "hi denn"
Hazed says, "Yes thank you"
Cockeye sit's down on the floor
Dennotairn nods.
Bella smiles, "then I'll begin :)"
Bella drawls, "Ok..."
Bourbon says, "would prefer a lap dance from a hottie 23 year old girl, but yeah, am comfortable"
Bella says, "the reason I've called a meeting is because it's necessary to discuss what to do about this version of fed"
Occy smiles
Dennotairn coughs.
Bella says, "it's nearing (for some definition of near) the end of its natural life"
Bella says, "it's time to write a new version and bring it up to date to accomodate changes in what people out there want to find when they play games"
Bella says, "This version is more or less complete, except for ship fighting, which isn't really central to the way fed works"
Jake has just arrived.
Jake bows deeply to Bella.
Bella says, "unlike the current version, a new version would be web browser based."
Bella says, "hello jake"
Bella says, "with HTML 5, it's finally possible to do that"
Jake exclaims, "Heya, Bella!"
Bella says, "but it would involve changes to the game, and it would take time - possibly up to a year, for me to learn the new stuff needed, and to allow the browsers to catch up"
Cockeye asks, "will we still have the possibility of log in in with a mud clitten like fed2 once the web stuff is in place?"
Bella says, "It would also mean that that the game became more economic and less adventure like"
Bella says, "possibly, that would be an option, but probably not initially"
Bella says, "player would still have their own planets to manage, but the terrain would be abstracted - few players actually customise there planets anymore, in any case"
Bella says, "evn fewer go and look at other people's planets"
Bourbon nods
Bella says, "evn=even"
Cockeye knods
Bella says, "iwthout wishing to appear snob, it's clear that very few people are capable of using a sophisticated event system, like the one for fed, even if they have good ideas"
Bella looks sad
Bella says, "peoples expectations of what they want have changed, and fed needs to change to meet that, or it's not worth continuing."
Bella says, "there is also a technical issue."
Bella says, "we really need to move to the cloud, but the current code base is not capable of being moved to the cloud without a major technical re-write."
Bella drawls, "to explain in laydroids terms..."
Jake has left.
Bella says, "fed works on the assumption it won't crash <smiles> therefore it only saves stuff out to disk at very long intervals to maintain its interectivity."
Bourbon asks, "can this be done with the game as it is now, or will it be more towards the reinvention of Fed2 ?"
Bella says, "hang on"
Jake has just arrived.
Jake coughs and dusts himself off.
Bourbon hands Jake a Bounty towel
Jake exclaims, "thankie, B!"
Bella says, "unfortunately, the cloud is built out of cheap commodity machines, and you have to assume that they will die on you at any instance, so we need to rewrite the code so it saves regularly, and the save are a lot faster than they are now"
Bella says, "the code base would have to be substantially rewritten, which is whe the question of reinventing, as you put it, the game is on the table now"
Bella says, "the time scales we are talking about are anything up to a year, btw"
Bella asks, "intitial comments?"
Bella drawls, "dn't all shout at once..."
Cockeye says, "hmmm"
Bourbon asks, "can this be done or initiated with the present game or will have to shut down and basically start over again ?"
Bella says, "it's be different enough that we will need to restart everyone - however this version will continue to run as long as it can support itself."
Bella says, "similar to what we did with the old version when this version was starting up"
Bourbon says, "ok"
Bella says, "when I finally close this version I will put the code into open source for anyone who wants to run their own server"
Bella smiles, "but before I can do that it need tidying up a bit :)"
Bourbon says, "am a poor boy, don't even have a maid"
Cockeye asks, "is the new one going to have lots of flashing pitchures or will it be playable by the blind and hard of seeing?"
Occy says, "i don't see a need for "cloud" for a game it works simi great with large corps that are trying to lay off staff"
Zand has just arrived.
Hazed says, "Perhaps you can explain the advantages of the cloud, Bella"
Bella says, "no it will have some graphics, but I will make it customisable, it will have more tables, graphs, etcand a removable background graphic"
Bourbon says, "do not look forward to starting over, so would like to be teleported from present life to the new world"
Bella says, "it will be easier to get info about the economics, and game actions will be clickable, rather than typing in commands"
Bella smiles, "you would have to 'fly' a spaceship - you would move from one planet to the next :)"
Cockeye is smiling broadly.
Zand sighs
Occy says, "that's just htlm stuff"
Cockeye asks, "how about movements on the different worlds?"
Bella says, "think of a planet not in the terms of this game but as a central hub were you arrive with the various services arranged around it"
Bella says, "visually thing of the hub as a circle in the middle with the services as spokes coming off it"
Bella says, "if there is demand for something more sophisticated, then I'll deal with that at the time"
Cockeye drawls, "kind of like Core Exiles like then...."
Bella says, "but remember what I said at the start about how few people currently use the options to customeise their word"
Occy says, "i do"
Bella says, "i haven't seen that, cockey"
Zand says, " ditto"
Bella smiles, " suspect though that my economics are considerably more sophisticated that most gomes out there :)"
Occy says, "we know ... we deal with it"
Bella says, "i'm sure I can add sub-prime planetary mortgages for a little bit of excitement"
Cockeye exclaims, "great!!!"
Cockeye says, "how about plannets defaulting too."
Hazed says, "Need government bail-outs, then"
Cockeye drawls, "and of course that could have it share of problems too..."
Bella says, "welllll... I was considering systems each having their own currency so we could have a currency exchange"
Bourbon laughs kinda have those now with joining fees
Cockeye says, "good ideas"
Cockeye asks, "how about having players lose their ships if they don't repay their lones?"
Bella says, "the GA would be replaced with more of a lose federation (ta da!)"
Bourbon says, "again I say, if do not have to start out as a GH and work up, could really not care less how the game is changed"
Zand says, "So, there is going to be a ripple in Fed Space"
Bella says, "I'm still thinking up ideas at the moment - there will definately e a stock exchange for company and planet shares, and possibly also the opportunity to raise cash with bond issues"
Bella says, "there wouldn't really be gh/commander/captain/adventurer separate stages"
Cockeye asks, "oh?"
Zand asks, "What, no more up hill both ways barefoot?"
Occy asks, "war between planet?"
Bourbon laughs
Bourbon says, "dang, what can I do with these two old tennis rackets? lol"
Bella says, "there would be some sort of short starting stage to get your company together -smoe sort of tutotial to get you started"
Zand asks, "On question, will a Founder have to do any work?"
Bella drawls, "bottom line..."
Bella says, "fed as it is is unsustainable. it's down to 40-50 players on line, many of which are alts, so the real number of players is even less"
Bourbon says, "true"
Occy nods
Bella says, "I'd rather close it down, that have it dwindle to just one or two players"
Zand says, "Oh, I should have gotten here sooner"
Bourbon says, "need new people playing, not just players"
Bella says, "pugwasj is going to publish the record"
Bella says, "the game isn't attractive to the current generation, even as a niche - the niche players want 'real' muds - not a hybrid like fed"
Bourbon nods
Cockeye knods
Cockeye asks, "when you redue fed in to html 5 , could we control a fleat of ships?"
Occy asks, "the biggest problem you get the ranks the run out of something to do... what are your biggest selling game at green?"
Bella says, "fed carries its history around. It was originally written to look like a mud because that was what people who played online games were familiar with - that's now a drag on its ability to attract new players"
Bella says, "Deus X"
Occy asks, " what kind of game is it?"
Bella says, "act checks the live sales report"
Bella says, "first person shooter RPG"
Bella says, "we sold near 300 pre-publication copies today so far"
Zand says, "so how much time does Fed two have left"
Bella smiles, "no way do I have the resources to produce a first person shooter :)"
Bourbon says, "Bella, I like the game as is not all about blowing things up, having to maybe think a little to grow hope any changes does not alter that"
Hazed says, "Don't worry Bourbie, Fed will never turn into a first person shoot em up game"
Bella says, "I estimate that it will take me about a year to write a new web-based version"
Bella says, "fed2 will continue after that as long as it can support itself"
Zand says, "I should be able to give away all my slithies by then"
Bella says, "whenit does close I will put the code for the server into the public domain"
Cockeye has bought you a glass of beer
Bella pours herself another glass of excellent wine from Nappa Valley
Bella grins
Bourbon says, "hehe"
Hazed says, "Bella, for those of us who are totally un-techie, could you explain the advantages of moving Fed to the cloud"
Bella says, "it's a lot cheaper to run"
Occy says, "nice cali wine"
Bella smies
Bourbon says, "think Hazed just read my mind and insulted me at the same time lol"
Bella says, "Paras vineyard, 2005 Cab Sauv, Occy"
Bourbon says, "red red wine, goes to my head....... forget the other words of the song"
Hazed grins at Bourbon
Bella says, "at the moment we only use a few percent of the server we run on - with the cloud you only pay for what you use"
Zand says, "I have a sinking feeling I am going to be left behind"
Bourbon says, "right behind you"
Cockeye asks, "will the new fed allow for loans and player run banks?"
Bella says, "also cloud stuff scales properly (assuming you write the code properly, so you can just add machine without having to buy them and set them up youself"
Bella says, "possibly cockeye"
Occy says, "no guys i can see fed being a more clickable game with things to do"
Bella says, "i'm still thinking about what is needed"
Lippin has just arrived.
Bella drawls, "let me give you an example..."
Zand asks, "do we start over from scratch?"
Bella says, "when Green Man Gaming had a promo weekend and gave away ARMA 2, we were absolutely mobbed with people wanting the game. so, on the Friday we ran up 8 more web servers in the cloud, and then on Monday closed them down because they were no longer needed"
Bella says, "all we paid for was the three days we used them"
Bella says, "with a conventional set up we would have had to have already bought the machines and had them sitting around waiting"
Bourbon says, "somewhat understand the economics"
Bella says, "One problem we have always had is startup costs when ever we have moved the server somewhere new"
Bella says, "with the cloud there are no start up costs (well negligable compared with conventional costs)"
Bourbon says, "oh no, next help line will be in India talking to Peggy lol"
Zand startes the digging of a great big hole on Zandzabar to climb in and cover himself up
Bella says, "there are also more obscure technical advantages with using the cloud - but, like I said the code needs completely reworking to take advantage of them"
Occy says, "maybe the server will have the right time"
Bourbon says, "Bella, whatever you decide, will look at the game and then decide if still want to play"
Bella smiles, "well yes, there is that too :)"
Bourbon asks, "what? the 1 hour plus snooze alarm will be gone ?"
Zand says, "so it will be a different game, teh current planets will not move over"
Bella smiles, "also... there is the point that i'm getting on and a new version will probably be the last one I write :)"
Hazed hands Bella a walking frame.
Occy says, "poor old bella"
Bourbon says, "Freya can wear a guy down lol"
Bella exclaims, "in factnow I come to think about it, if I'd stayed working to the UK equivalent of the IRS (my first job), I would have retired seven years ago on a very nice pension, thank you!"
Bella grins
Occy says, "me too"
Bella says, "of course, I still look young, but the picture in my attic is stating to look pretty old now"
Zand says, "really , if you wanted me gone you don't have to go to all this trouble"
Bella smiles, "don't worry Zand you'll like the new version :)"
Bourbon says, "yeah, Zand lives in Armadillo TX lol"
Occy says, " it will save you time typing"
Bella asks, "zand lives in an armadillo?"
Bourbon snickers yeah
Bella smirks
Zand says, "or try too"
Zand says, "I have 2 confirmed kills"
Zand says, "this month"
Bourbon says, "Bella, thanks for the insight of what will come"
Occy says, " iam just not sure of the all over thing again is all"
Bella says, "you haven't squeaked much squeaky"
Zand says, "Sqweeker is hiding"
Bella says, "well I wanted people to understand what's likely to happen"
Cockeye tries to set a mouse trap on the bar
Bourbon says, "Zand's John Deere has pixs of them on the chassie lol"
Bella says, "probably squashed by an armadillo"
Zand asks, "did you knwo armadillos play opossum?"
Cockeye takes some rope from an inside pocket.
Bella asks, "OK - I think we'll wrap this up - anyone got any last comments?"
Zand exclaims, "rope! someone say ROPE!"
Cockeye puts some rope on the bar
Cockeye asks, "can we do inside trading in the new fed?"
Bourbon says, "please keep the game fun Bella"
Zand says, "I will be in my hole"
Bella drawls, "no idea yet..."
Bella exclaims, "of course - what's point of writing a game that's no fun!"
Cockeye fills a hole
Hazed says, "I can't imagine Bella writing anything that didn't have the quirky humor and fun"
Zand asks, "to get rid of Zand?"
Bella rolls her eyes
Zand says, "well, it's my nature"
Cockeye looks for any holes that hasn't been filled.
Zand says, "doom and gloom, it is always brighter after doom adn gloom"
Bella says, "right I'm off to sort out some work stuff - see you all later"
Hazed says, "Thank you Bella."
Cockeye says, "ok. see you."
Zand exclaims, "Bye!"
Bourbon says, "take care, and have fun"
Occy has given Bella a tender hug.
Bella says, "and you all"
Bella has left.
Hazed says, "I need to go get some food. Bye darlings, have a super Sunday."
Hazed waves.
The stunt double that stands in for Hazed has left.
Zand runs to beat teh crowd
Zand has left.
Bourbon says, "you be safe and have fun too Hazed"
Pugwash turns off her cameras.
*** Logging stopped - Sun Aug 21 21:14:51 2011

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