Topic

Staff Topic

Test notes: 20 September!

This is it! You've been reset, and get to explore the world as new, one last time. If you can view with fresh eyes, we'd love to know what you think. We will be open for just a couple days, through about 3:30 on Thursday. (We'll post the closing time as we approach it- and we tell time by San Francisco and Vancouver clocks- check timeanddate.com for your part of the world.)

What's new in this test?

-New loading screen with helpful tips provided by many of you!

-Occasionally, when a Sparkly, Beryl or Dullite rock is depleted and respawns, it will have more rock to mine. Moar rock!

-Skill learning times have increased a bit, and some have extra pre-requisites.

-XP from donations now has a daily limit.

-We’ve added over 100 new achievements. The values of some existing achievements as well as how you earn them have been adjusted.

-The game is now capped at 60 levels, and there are extra XP and currant “bumps” when you reach levels 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60.

-We’ve implemented a new and more efficient way for the game client to render locations (streets, items on them, and the backgrounds you see) -- and you should see faster loading times.

And as always, many, many bug fixes!  Thanks again for all your awesome feedback throughout the testing.

Play on!

Posted 15 months ago by kevbob Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I think the pickle screams will confuse the newbies.
    Posted 15 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hasn't there always been a daily XP from donations cap?
    Posted 15 months ago by The Crepeist Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like the updates. Some are brilliant and to the point, like the "huuuuuuge" rocks (great for group mining) or the Rube appearing so frequently. Some are very welcome, like the faster street loading.

    I'm having issues connecting with the game servers. I spend quite some time, when there are many people playing the game, looking at "working..." dialogs, or frozen at a street sign, waiting for the servers to react and send the next street my way.

    I think the pickle use will fade out with time, creating less lag and less confusion. (Even loving it so much as I do. Yes, I love my pickle.)
    Posted 15 months ago by Ximenez Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Was there ever confirmation on whether the gem cooldown was implemented? And did they make it gem specific? I ask because me finding an amber, and having found that amber reducing my chance of finding anything else, seems unfair if it is the case.
    Posted 15 months ago by Silver-Streak Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well impressed am I - :D  Noticing the multitude of comments in the forums it was always obvious that not all changes could be implemented but the tweaks that have been made seem only for the greater good.   And for that - we salute you 0.0/

    Can I just be clear about exclusivity though....Is Glitch opening their doors to all (hopefully not the little versions of adults) - I mean...is there any agendas or underlying currents that I need to be aware of.  After all, if I am raving on about this absolutely fun game..(may I call it game - the word does not seem to do it justice)  and then only to find out that people can't get in because there had been a problem with Faunasphere and therefore only 'special' people get to play - well I will stop extolling the fun to be had within Glitch.  I will keep my big glitchy mouth shut, stchoom, zipped - well you get the point.   Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you get the chance, responding to it :D
    Posted 15 months ago by Really Pissed Off Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Staff have said previously that the game may remain invite only after launch. 

    But, everyone who is currently playing can 1) invite friends from Facebook and 2) tell friends about the queue-jumping when it is open. 

    You don't even need to know anyone currently playing if you queue-jump.  That's how I got in.
    Posted 15 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am stuck on the rainbow run ....can not get out 
    Posted 15 months ago by wildworldjojo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Everything running fast and smooth on both my subscriptions, load screen is gorgeous, loved going through tutorials again. Brilliant! Thank you Tiny Speck!
    Posted 15 months ago by Priscilla Parsley Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks for the update.  Love the new loading screen, and could do cartwheels over how fast the streets are loading.  Appreciate you giving us this time to get reacquainted before the doors open. Cheers. 

    Edit: forgot to add a shout-out for the changes to mining. Cheers again!
    Posted 15 months ago by Christine Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Stuck in Hell. Grapes were loading slowly, and I was jumping like mad but nothing happened, so I refreshed the page and now it's just a white screen. No bug in the corner.
    Posted 15 months ago by pop3tart Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm  disappointed in the level cap; I really liked that there wasn't one. It suggests an end date for how long the game will keep me interested, and I hate waiting for higher level content to catch up after I've hit a level cap. I'm not all *that* motivated by levelling, but new content is always less interesting after levelling-out.
    Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll subscribe now; I'm not inclined to sign up for 12 months when I'll hit the cap within weeks. I think I was lvl 40 before reset, and I've only been playing for a couple of tests - I'll hit 60 in no time.
    Posted 15 months ago by Katchen Subscriber! | Permalink
  • What is the level cap though...? Is it anything more than the  level X out of 40  thing there was before? 
    Posted 15 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Katchen: It's significantly harder to get to 60 now. I think getting to 60 will be the equivalent of getting to 80, and only a few people did that in the months that the beta was up.

    I'm level 22 right now and I require 20,863 to reach the next level. Going by http://www.glitch-strategy.com/wiki/Level, the same level up would have taken 15,476 before the reset. To put this in perspective, 20,863 is in-between the level-up requirements of 25 and 26, pre-reset. So for me to hit 23 right now would be like going from 25.5 to 26.5.

    This difference in level up requirements from pre-reset to now has gone up substantially since about level 13. Getting to level 10 wasn't much harder than it was pre-reset, but by about level 13 the amount necessary to level up is what it would have been 2 levels higher before the reset. At about 20 this grew 3 levels higher. Now that I'm on 3.5, I think going from 50-->60 will be an enormous jump.
    Posted 15 months ago by The Crepeist Subscriber! | Permalink
  • just a note to say that i really like the new animation that highlights a street in map search. however, the new animation to highlight your position with the little red star is kinda distracting / confusing!
    Posted 15 months ago by katlazam Subscriber! | Permalink
  • So, does this mean that we've gone through the last reset? or will there be one last reset to going "live" ?
    Posted 15 months ago by Eryx Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Eryx, this was the last reset.

    No more resets before going live.
    Posted 15 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Awesome!
    Posted 15 months ago by Eryx Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 to what katlazam said.  Don't like the star zooming about on the map.  A simple highlight would be fine after the first time.  It just confuses me when I see the star and then it moves somewhere else!
    Posted 15 months ago by Cassandria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • however, the new animation to highlight your position with the little red star is kinda distracting / confusing!

    Agreed,  I think it goes from the centre of the map towards where you are?  I find that movement to be too great and confusing if you're at the edge of a map,  but it's OK if the star doesn't move too much,  just a bit of movement to draw your eye.
    Posted 15 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah. Kind of nitpicky but the star is slowish and distracting. Did people often get confused buy the old no-animation star before? I guess this is one of those dilemmas which will reoccur- you guys saying woo let's make aweseome animations for everything and us like, please dont slow down the currant generation mechanism plz! ^^;
    Posted 15 months ago by FlirtyvonSexenhaven Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I also really dislike the star.  I think just having it pulse and the street highlighted would be sufficient.  OR, have it do what it's doing for the first few levels (so that people new to the game can get used to the map, and then go to a more subtle version.  I find that at this point (I was level 37 before the reset), I have an idea of where I am in the map, but because of the central star catching my attention, I end up taking longer to look at the map that I used to.  This is so minor, though.

    Overall, I really like the new world and starting over is MUCH more fun than I anticipated.  But DANG does it take a long time to walk around!  So glad I have papers and teleportation now! :)
    Posted 15 months ago by noqualia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It could start big, pulse a bit and then get smaller, but stay in the same place perhaps?  

    I don't always have  an idea of where I am in a map.  I have no sense of direction whatsoever. 
    Posted 15 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I liked that star...the first few times.  Now I think the old animation with with that new cheerful red would be ideal.  Red pulsations...such an attention grabber!
    Posted 15 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd like to add that I LOVE the new increased rewards from being helped when mining. This finally actually makes it worth it to mine with other people, especially in large groups, and especially if you're a low level miner. 
    Posted 15 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love the new map animations, although it does go slow and choppy for me. and I especially like the one when you search for a particular street -- this is a HUGE improvement in ease of use for me.

    Also, I agree with Shepardmoon about mining, I like that the new format encourages cooperation, which to me seems to harmonize with the rest of the game.
    Posted 15 months ago by Niqster Subscriber! | Permalink
  • it has been a blast!!! oh dear!!! it worth the waiting. Thank ((You))!!
    Posted 15 months ago by mira gaia maia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Overall, I'm loving the changes - although it's a little difficult to separate them from starting the game over. I'm not wild about the star animation on the map. The moving around throws me every time. I'm also experiencing very long loading times between streets - this is definitely a negative to what I saw before the reset when they were much quicker.

    Finally, add my name to the list who doesn't understand the point of capping the levels at 60. Why? Will we then have an option of starting over at 1? Does this mean the game will be "finished" at 60? For something that is supposed to go on in perpetuity, this seems counterintuitive.

    ETA: I'm not convinced that the new mining format really helps lower level miners, considering that now the lower level miners often only get around 5 chunks per mining action before the additional chunk(s) from the helpers.
    Posted 15 months ago by Audaria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have much better street loading now. everytime i clean cache, it tends to take more time, and now it's running faster :)
    all new for the second time for me! i'm taking it slowly, or my heart wont take the ghosts!! roflol
    Posted 15 months ago by mira gaia maia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Any estimate when we will open again?? :)
    Posted 15 months ago by Fstra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • does the map tell you where you've been? If so, I'm not seeing it.  If not, be a nice thing to add if possible.  Maybe even how many times you've been to a location.  Or what's there so you can plan where to got next with clicked all throughout the encyclopedia.

    And totally loving the little gnome that delivers auction packages.  Wonderful addition. :)
    Posted 15 months ago by Tibbi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My two currants:
     - the level cap doesn't make sense to me, especially since we had someone reach level 101 before the great reset (and shouldn't the XP and currant bumps be at primes?)
     - the screens are loading much faster, thank you

     - took me a couple of times to realize that there IS a "progress bar" for the opening screen, for those who haven't noticed:  each item on the world "pulses" until it's fully loaded, when all the trees/flowers/etc. have stopped "pulsing" there may be a little load circle in the middle of the screen for a short bit (just like when you go into wardrobe and it's loading your current outfit)

     - overall I'm liking the changes and updates
    Posted 15 months ago by kastlin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Instant sadness when Glitch is down.
    Posted 15 months ago by Eye Wonder Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That was fun.  Thanks!
    Posted 15 months ago by John Galt Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've had horrible lag that I didn't have before. Maybe it's on my end, but it sure was frustrating to be 18 points away from another level before shutdown and unable to make it because movement was so slow. This was not a problem until today, the final day of this test.
    Posted 15 months ago by Mollie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you for the experience, I've had great fun.
    I've enjoyed the new changes & will now spend my life in a permanent state of childlike Christmas Eve style excitement until we're up & running again :-) x
    Posted 15 months ago by Rubyrox Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks for the fun of reset, and giving us a headstart prior to launch.  I already posted a number of the things I liked (see post above)...wanted to point out a few things that I wasn't a huge fan of.

    The big star on the map that moved to your location was more annoying and distracting to me.  Is there a way to toggle that off?  I understand the desire to draw the eye to where you are on the map, but it really didn't work for me.

    The change location sound was also a bit annoying.  As someone else said...cute at first, but annoying after a while.

    The door closing on our houses could be toned down a bit, and made to sound less hollow.  I know I live in a bit empty house now, but it sounded like I really needed some carpet and furniture to get rid of the empty, hollow echo.

    I think I'm actually liking some of the additional challenges of game play...having to think more about keeping mood up, staying up on energy; which I pretty much ignored mood prior to this, additional leveling challenges, skills changes.  It's keeping me on my toes.

    Overall a good test though...look forward to the next one and/or launch.
    Posted 15 months ago by b3achy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LOVED EVERYTHING SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISHHHHHHH
    Posted 15 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That was fun. I wish I'd jumped on the beta bandwagon a lot sooner. Thanks for the pickle. :)
    Posted 15 months ago by Grizelda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like the new helpful hints when the game loads. I join the chorus of questions "why" about the Level 60 cap - surely a disincentive? There was more lag this time than I've had for many tests (in Chrome, on Mac fwiw). Don't like the limits on xp for donation in a game day. Why are you trying to stop us levelling up? That's not what the game's about, but in early stages we need the money! Especially when it seems to be harder and harder to earn money via mining or gardening.

    I've never been convinced about the new mining format, and I don't think it's really improved now. If the extra reward is more predictable, then yes. But you can have one rock descended upon by a mob, disappear completely in one mining go, and end up with "yay you got 2 extra rocks for all the help" when if you mined one rock yourself you'd be assured of fifty. Also when the rocks all disappear that quickly, it's a waste of the thunder drink.

    PS - sorry if I sound grumpy - long day at work, missed most of the test. However I LOVE the game and being an alpha and then beta tester has been a blast, so thanks.
    Posted 15 months ago by Tradescantia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Love the new loading screen!  and the mining changes.  The cap? not so much.  clare got to level 104 before reset.  I viewed that as how open-ended Glitch was intended to be.  Even if it's harder to get to level 60 I'd rather not see the level cap.

    The SWF thingy you did does seem to make the game load more quickly and street changes go faster.  

    I had horrible problems with my cupboard either not appearing or not opening in Beta.  So far (keeping fingers crossed) I've had 2 houses and the cupboard works in both of them.  
    Posted 15 months ago by Marla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It was fun but very laggy in places.  I hadn't experienced much of any lag before this.  Juju got my moonstone!  I couldn't move fast enough :(   I always thought the juju just stole stuff that' you'd "won" in the ancestral lands but I guess it grabs the last thing added to your bags?

    I looked all over for a player at or below level 5 this morning - nearly impossible to find.  Everyone seemed to be at level 9 and most above level 6.   I should have done that gifting quest yesterday.  
    Posted 15 months ago by Treesa Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The reason for the level cap (I'm guessing) is that once you reach level 60 the game stops scaling very well. For example, you have a crap-ton of energy and you'd have to eat an awesome stew every time your idle penalty kicks in. And the cost of teleporting anywhere *shudder*. Can't imagine spending 400+ energy just to teleport across the map. I think the cap is more of a blessing than a disincentive.
    Posted 15 months ago by Skwid Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I *loved* all the Rube sightings. It made starting over (and I assume starting from scratch) so much easier! I was able to sell a mega grinder and some other expensive piece of equipment to have enough money to buy my house.
    Posted 15 months ago by emdot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The Rube appeared for me quite often. Five or Six times at least this test. There was definite lag though after I first clicked to speak with him.
    Posted 15 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Loved all the Rube sightings.

    HATED all the lag.  I had experienced area load lag in previous tests (a terrible thing in the ancestral lands), but this time in addition to area lag I got menu lag all over the place.  A really bad thing when group mining in Ajaya bliss, or trying to coordinate shoveling. :(
    Posted 15 months ago by Jacaranda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, the Rube was a great help. I had him six (!) times the first day.

    Ps. it looks like he's about to take a dump, when he is disappearing. Which I love.
    Posted 15 months ago by Waffle Subscriber! | Permalink
  • agree with many other players on the following:

    -star zooming around on the map- way distracting. star pulsing on the street is cool, and enough.

    -i'm ok with the xp cap for donating, but the it got very old VERY quickly when i was trying to donate at shrines and had to click on a pop-up with each grain i popped in. very. very. very old. (side note: a few of us seemed to have more difficulty than usual opting to "donate" rather than "give" when someone else was near the shrine)

    -new rendering thing did seem to be faster, i guess, except that lag was quite bad, quite often, so things on the street seemed to take forever to load when the lag was bad and i'm not computer-y enough to know which was which. 

    -thank you thank you for new achievements- SO FUN!
    Posted 15 months ago by greenkozi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I actually like the star zooming. I prefer it to just pulsing, I find it easier to see.
    Posted 15 months ago by Theremina Lute Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I also want to chime in on the opening screen -- L-O-V-E it!! And the tips are brill. That would have helped me so much when I was first starting out. (Tri-curious was my favorite.)
    Posted 15 months ago by emdot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just wanted to add my voice that I didn't experience any lag like others are talking about.
    Posted 15 months ago by La_La Subscriber! | Permalink