Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Issue: 20   Editor: Mika


Thirty Divided by Two Mika
As the game no doubt expected a lot of old players to return, the amount of thirty crewspots did not seem like a terrible idea when the round recently started. However, as time progressed the players began to oppose to the amount of crewspots more and more. In fact, the base of players that disagreed with the number of spots seemed to grow rather rapidly at some point, with threads being made and the number of thirty being discussed on more than one occasion.

An argument that seemed quite valid, with more than five crewspots being open and three crews that were suspended in the week prior to the change. Additionally the situation described in the previous sentence was not uncommon, it was in fact, almost the status quo: thirty crewspots were available, but only twenty five to twenty eight were used at the same time. Even if a new crew showed up and if the maximum amount of spots was reached, a wipe would follow and a crew would again disappear from the statistics. Players argued that it had become easy to own a crew, crew prices dropped to very low amounts and crews with only four or five members were not shot off straight away, but seemed to have a chance to survive.

It was probably therefore that the the players met reduction of thirty to fifteen crewspots was with an overall approval. A Game Forum topic made by 5litre quite quickly filled with a lot of thumbs up and other posts in which players voiced their support. The fact that there would now be competition over crewspots, or so the players feel, is one the majority of the players likes as they no doubt hope for the action and shootings of previous rounds to return.

For the crews, however, this change means that they now have to become more careful with their actions, as being wiped means there is no chance of getting back on the statistics anytime soon. Still, crew bosses were not negative towards the changes, as the Buzz found out. DeadHerrings, crew holder of The Departed, was one of the players who felt that thirty crewspots was simply too much. “I definitely agree that a reduction of crew-spots was necessary,” he said. “It could well make being on the statistics much more significant - maybe even something to be proud of of which recently it has not been.” Chaos Soldiers crewholder Twinrova agreed with him, and felt that the reduction was “good for the current crewholders” as well as for the price of a crewspot.

The reduction will mean more competition over a crewspot as there are several spots that need to be dropped before a new crew can be created. This adds an element of tension for crews that are currently on the statistics as the bosses and members may very well wonder if their crew will make it to the final fifteen. “I ... don't think it will affect our crew,” The Clenched Fist crewholder Tweek said. Again, the other bosses seemed to agree as none of them felt their crews would bite the dust before the limit of fifteen was reached. “I can quote you the last line of our crewmotto 'Chaos Soldiers will always come back' in case we won't be one of the lucky 15,” Twinrova said.

Crews that seem to be content on the changes as well as players who are happy to see a reduction of spots, it seems real great. What remains to be seen is whether or not the reduction does what it is expected to do, create more competition over spots, and, hopefully, make it worth it again to wipe a crew. The general feeling of Tweek seems to be that of the general community, and most will no doubt hope that he will be proven right, “I like that there's gonna be 15 crews because they stupid crews will disappear.”