Changelog: 12/10/09

Changelog: 12/10/09

• Added ability for scanner to detect information on stations
  
• Removed the jump drive because even though it is convenient it is also very non-Firefly
  

It appears that something is messed up with the equipment dealer. Armor and Shield purchases just aren't working right. Added to the top of the to do list.

Changelog 11/29/09

Changelog: 11/29/09

• Restarted Development after about a year of inactivity
• Fixed some graphic errors on various web browsers
• Removed experimental Salvage Jobs until I can complete them more
• Added Level Requirements for purchasing ships
• Added Level Requirements for equipment upgrades
• Added Level Requirements for weapons upgrades
• Removed the Vote Block for Top Web Games
• Changed name of in game news paper from Galaxy Times to CNN (Cortex News Network)
• Minor updates to the tutorial

Meet Lottie

I'd like you to meet... well get a sneak peek of "Lottie Davina". She is the agent of sector 1246. Think of her like Badger or the twins from BDM.

There will be multiple agents all around the verse, but she is the first. I kinda based her on Constance. Her are some screenshots to let you know I am not being totally idle here. :)

Mechanics Updated

I fixed the mechanics up a bit. They now send you intra-ship email telling you what they did. Just made it a bit cleaner and working a little bit better. Before they were quietly repairing it so unless you were paying attention you couldn't see what they were doing it.

Rich.

Bug fixes...

I changed the coloration to brown tones to help make it fit better with the Firefly universe, more earthy. :)

I went through the attack systems, both PVP and attacking a station. It went through for me, though I want to test it more before I proclaim it working. I could attack another player, kill them. They were reduced to a shuttle and newbie status. I also attacked a station and was able to claim it as my own.

Looking at the station there are a lot of things there that were never completed. Good storage, weapon storage, production and research all are there but not doing anything. Once I get the bugs worked out I will move on to those, but first my current "todo" list.

Todo:

1. NPC's (Reavers, Alliance, general pirates)
2. Black Market (wobbly headed doll's anyone)
   I am thinking you will be able to buy goods and be given a buyer to deliver them to
   kind of a Badger type guy. More expensive the cargo, the more chances of Alliance
   pursuit and pirates. Also the more profit.
3. Finish salvage. I set up the beginings of salvage.
4. Update online manual, explain functions of crew.
5. Make sure said crew all have jobs, right now only the Mechanic's serve a real purpose
6. Add repair facilities at most planets. Make them a little expensive so that players will be
   more likely to use their own mechanic's.

Ok, that's it for now, but even that short list is kind of overwhelming. :) When I get that stuff done I will do an open call for beta testers maybe. Not sure, I want to make sure the game is fun even if people are playing it entirely alone.

Rich.

Drone Removal

I went ahead and removed the drones because quite frankly it was more of a pain than it was worth. They tended to make users more powerful than was fun. I want a newbie to be able to come on and if they are careful they can gain in power and wealth. Hire a good crew, etc... but when you stumble into 1000 drones then it becomes no fun at all.

Unfortunately because Reavers were just drones in disguise (shhh) I need to go ahead and code true NPC's. Luckily if I do it right (and I intend to) then I can use the code for both Reavers and Alliance vessels. Sector 1 would be alliance heavy and Sector 4 would be heavy Reavers.

I want Alliance vessels to be random so they might attack you outright, might just scan you lightly and let you go. Or they might scan you and find out you are wanted, etc...

Looking through the code...

Actually I am a lot close than I thought to having this thing at least fully featured. Reavers work, but I don't like how they are. They need to be more random. They need to appear and sometimes not even attack.

The crew... so far I believe the mechanics work, but the mercs need to increase the fighting ability. There are a lot of things that need to be done, but there are also a lot of things that have already been done.

I started with "The Merchant" code base. It was no where near complete. It had a scanner designed, but no actual code to make it work. The scanner works. I also redid all the ships to be more Firefly-like. I added auto pilot, and updated the combat drones (before they didn't do anything at all). I created a "forgot password" feature.

Still to do is have battle affect the crew's health and have the doctor (when available) fix the crew. Alternately I need to have hospitals on the bigger planets so that if you can't afford a full time doc then you can get patched up.

I also need to figure out if the "Jump" drive is something I want to keep. It is a nice thing for the game, but it also let's you bypass areas of space you might have to go through normally. I don't think I heard anything about a jump drive in Firefly so I might just remove this entirely. Not sure yet.

Ahhh well. I will start plugging away at this and see if my enthusiasm returns.

Oh and if you were a player last time, when I restart the game I will give you an upgraded ship to start with just message me. :)