Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
Issue: 49   Editor: SeanGoesToUni


COLUMN: Bootleggers – Where’s it going? IAmAceAdam
Bootleggers has been running for nearly seven years now, with its birthday coming up this month. There have been dramatic changes from when it was first released in 2003 with the blue and grey background and the existence of Philadelphia to the more recognisable brown and grey theme nowadays. There have been alot of changes for the good and some for the bad but there seems to be a far more complaints about Bootleggers than ever before.I’m writing this topic to see what the players are angry about and how it could be saved.

Now, if you’ve looked in the forum the past week you would’ve more than likely seen HawaiiVxx’s topic entitled “Dear BSF2000!” This topic contains a very thorough complaint about almost every single feature in the game and ways to improve it for the good of the game. It has major support from the players and is being regularly bumped up to the top of the forum in the hope that BSF will give a reply. Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened as of yet. The complaints range from the new killing system to the casinos and even the points pages. It’s well worth a read to see what you agree and may not agree with. Fortunately, I got to ask HawaiiVxx a few questions regarding his topic, if he hates it so much why does he still log in and play? He told me that he just cannot go through the day without logging in and checking the statistics page and forums he hopes the game will go back to the state it was a couple of years ago when there were much more players online. HawaiiVxx also states that it is us, the players, who run the game and it wouldn’t survive without us, so BSF should really listen to what the players have to say and give them what they want to keep them satisfied.
There was also another topic made by MrSirZ who was asking whether he could buy the game. I got in contact with him and asked him was he really serious about buying Bootleggers? He replied yes he was and was willing to pay $100,000 - $150,000 for the website. Whether MrSirZ is actually telling the truth or even has that amount of cash at his disposal, only he will know. If he did become the owner of Bootleggers he told me he’d introduce a brand new state, lower the crew limits to 10 and get rid of Nyxxie as a staff member. I personally highly doubt that’ll change anything about the game, but it’s his opinion and he’s welcome to it.

I spoke to a player who has been around for a very long time on bootleggers as is well known. EverBetty, more commonly known as Betty, told me that the game has changed quite a bit, but not all for the bad. “It’s been made less attractive to dupe with the change of the missions and the addition of strict ‘family account’ rules. That being said, there are a lot of improvements that really need attention. First staff (Admin & Mods). I feel there should be another Admin added, one who BSF can depend on to help him code and fix bugs, as well as be creative enough to help BSF think of ways to improve the game. The Mods who are not bothered to be active should be replaced. Stats crews are almost useless. In the past, players have wanted to be a part of a stats crew, as stats crews stand today; they are little more than a target and extra forum to chat. Being in an UG crew is a safer, more advantageous way to play the game. I believe this should change and stats crews should once again be made something that players strive to be a part of. The way the new kill system and the shootouts are set up is useless, even if you are in a crew. By the time your crew members join, the shooter has already run away so it’s useless to have crew members join. The shootout lasting approximately 3 minutes I see as just plain silly. The only bonus to the new kill system is that you can ‘speed search’”.
I think the best point Betty made was about the players themselves, she says, “There seems to be a lack of respect and loyalty. And if you are a new player, posting in the forums for help, you need to be ready to take a lot of shit from the forum whores. Why would someone want to join a game where they start with $500 and get lambasted when they post a question? I sure in hell wouldn’t want to join. So, there is a lack of new blood in the game which is probably one of the bigger issues. However, it is one that only the players can change and why should the players care when BSF shows very little sign of caring?“

However, there are some faint signs that maybe BSF is going to take more action in the game. Recently we’ve seen a major staff overhaul with three new HDOs and more to come soon, Mika promoted to moderator and Rod being demoted due to not fulfilling his role. Hopefully these changes will continue through the game and can see it change for the better! Until then we’ll all have to just wait and see.

Thanks for reading!
AceAdam