Sunday, September 23rd, 2007
Issue: 41   Editor: MadamNyxxie


Heated cars cooling down? MikaVerLeth
Imagine you've stolen a car and changed plates. Shipped it and watched the heat turn green. Since the car is a Duesenberg you decide to keep it and not to sell it or put it in your garage. You keep looking, making sure the heat stays the way it is: green. When you log back in you have a message saying: Your Duesenberg was found by the police and returned to the owner!

For most players, imagining this won't be such a problem because they've all experienced it themselves. Cars tend to get found without the player being aware of the possibility. Not so long ago BSF2000 implemented the new Auto Burglary feature into Bootleggers and it has already caused a lot of discussion amongst players and, on occasion, staff alike.

As explained: “You'll notice an 'H' column. This is the 'Heat' of the car,” that indicates whether the car is likely to be found. Players naturally assumed that the Heat would rise as the car became more likely to be found. Giving them the opportunity to change plates and/or re-ship the car. However, as mentioned, “All cars will eventually be found unless they are in a garage,” advising players to be weary with their cars.

But when your car disappears without the heat changing into red or even yellow you do start to wonder whether or not they missed something. But these players can rest assured; they haven't missed a thing. Cars do, indeed, get found without the heat changing. Adding something new to the feature but also raising voices amongst the players to remove this feature. What is the fun of stealing a car and finding out it was returned without even a warning? Some might call it fun, others annoying or even unfair. Fact is, Auto Burglary will never be the same again.