Walrus' Large Patch Summary

[Tbone]

I'm still pounding away on the patch notes, but I promised you an update on what you'd be seeing in the patch today. So, I decided to take a quick break and let you in on my impressions of what I've come across so far.

UI, UI, UI
No, that's not the sound I'm making after spending hours reviewing the notes on this patch. What I'm talking about is the amount of time our team has spent tweaking and adjusting the UI of the game. General, Chat, Combat...you name it, the UI has been worked on. So far, the UI list has been the longest in the patch.

Well, except for maybe...

On a Mission
The Mission team has been smashing bugs like a gas-powered flyswatter. Along with overall improvements, they've been working diligently to crush all the bugs found both internally and by all of you. Even if they put in half the fixes and tweaks on the list, you're going to see a substantial improvement.

Economy Balancing
As we all know, there's a lot of balancing that needs to be done before The Matrix Online launches. One of the items that was addressed substantially in the large patch is the overall economy.

When changes like these come down, folks tend to focus on the negative. Well, they may seem like nerfing to some, but when put into the entire picture there's definitely strategy to the changes.

There are many tweaks to the overall Information economy in the game, but these are some of the more obvious:

-Many Vendor items will have a cost increase
-Ability codes available from Vendors will be rarer the higher up the Discipline tree you go
-Mission Information rewards will be reduced by about 30%

This may seem a bit rough at first, but given the amount of Information current high-level characters often have there's reason behind the changes.

As I mentioned in my column this week, Coders are going to be increasingly important once this patch hits. Operatives may have the mental muscle and Hackers may have the long-range ammo, but Coders are going to have a serious role in the live game.

Marketplace Concerns
The most obvious way to distribute Coded items is via the Marketplace, which has had some problems. It looks like some of these issues are addressed, but I'm still confirming them. Rest assured, though, that bugs like not being able to see more than 10 items per category are on the team's radar, if not fixed already.

Constructive Testing
It also seems the Constructs will be open for business. In total, there will be six available to explore: two Asian-themed, two Exile/horror-themed, and two Machine constructs.

Yes, you read correctly: Two Machine constructs.

As I mentioned before, these are going to be level restricted. Here's the breakdown:

-Yuki: 15-25
-Ashencourte: 20-30
-Zero Two: 26-35
-Sakura: 30-40
-Widow’s Moor: 36-45
-Zero One: 40-50

Key vendors for the various Constructs will be Organization specific, so make sure you locate the ones for your affiliation. Given the 333% XP boost on Exile gangs for the first 24 hours after the patch, I expect a good number of folks in Yuki by the weekend (if not banging around Ashencourte).

Oh, and if the bosses added to Yuki and Sakura are anywhere as cool as the concept drawings I saw, you're going to be stunned. I'll see if I can get some screenies for y'all.

Other Cool Stuff
Overall, the team's been pounding on balance issues. I imagine we still have a way to go, but that's what we're relying on you for--to tell us what is and isn't working.

Coders are going to be able to make tons of things they couldn't before, like enhanced weapons and over 21-complexity items.

The Animation team has been cleaning lots of things up and giving the bluepills a bit of personality. (Evidently, given the option of adding an Indian chief, sailor, and biker to the interior NPCs or to just add some different models, they decided to stay out of the YMCA.)

The folks working on interiors have revamped the club scene for the entire Metro City. At first, I thought it was only a few specific locations. Now I see they've been pretty dang busy. Again, more on that from Aether on Friday.

Beta Testing Blues
I know many of you will be upset at seeing your long-worked-on characters go away. However, given the low- to mid-level testing we want, we'll be glad to have all the community's eyes on it.

I apologize again for the late change of plans for the character wipe. After seeing what I have from the patch notes so far, however, I think you're all in for quite an enjoyable ride with the upcoming patch.

Your reports have been incredibly helpful and your input is always considered--even if we don't seem to be acting on it. We're so close to release you can almost taste it, so your feedback is even more critical at this stage.

Back to Work
I have to be out of the office tomorrow, so I need to complete the patch notes tonight. If you're anxious to see what's going on, head on over to the QA Test server and get a preview.

Cheers,
}8

[Anonymous]

Seems like internationals are at a disadvantage, what with being asleep and all while this massive XP boost is going on. Hell, I might empty my house of caffine in the next 72 hours.

[Anonymous]

I'll be pulling an all nighter tonight.  As soon as that patch goes up I'm in!  

Don't be taking any slumberil pills..

[Anonymous]

i guess this is your chance to change your mind and return to the Matrix ....  blue pill anyone?


**p.s. the answer should be HELL NO!!!! haha**

[Anonymous]

/takes red pill
/Swallows with glass of water

/passes the black red pill case to Grim

Hold on to your seatbelt Dorithy cuase Kansas....  ..  is going bye bye

[Anonymous]

*Waves goodbye to Kansas*

[Broin]

Okay no sleep for me tonight... And it is official I am taking off work on Friday.

[Anonymous]

Dang !

Red eyes again

[Broin]

God I hate to say this.... But I'm simply giddy with excitement.  Can't wait to see everyone back in and going at it like it was Christmas.  Can the  T.S. server handle it?  

[Fuse]

I too am very excited. Thier huge patches have helped the game by leaps and bounds each time-this one may be the biggest though.
The Evigilos has a plan for the next 12 or so hours. This will be fun.

[Tbone]

Place your bets now! Patch delay? Server instability? Problems downloading? What will it be!

[Anonymous]

All three?
a patch delay would be sweet. more time for me to enjoy the XP boost

[Anonymous]

Looks like a patch delay so far. Dammit there is no point doing anything with my char until the patch!

[Kosila]

Naw, I don't think there'll be a patch today.

[Anonymous]

damn, I'm just want this patch up and running already!!!!