Topic

Question about public spaces

I played this game for a long time, and then I didn't play at all, so I am kind of a noob but also an old player.  I am a noold, and when I started playing again (last Friday, actually), I was struck by how the new housing system seems to have emptied out the public streets.  At first I thought Ur had become filled with hikkomori Glitchen, but now having read a bit about routes, I was then struck by how a shadow Ur seems to have sprung up via neighbor sign posts.  

When last I played the Tree Warz were so intense they were one of the reasons I left the game, plus the endless discussion about what constitutes griefing vs. multi-lateral free play, or whatever the gaming term for "Dilige et quod vis fac" is.  Anyway, the Tree Warz are also no-more, an obvious by-product of the new housing arrangements.   I mean, I guess they are..is that correct?

I love the idea of routes, so this post is not meant to lament the abandonment of public spaces (unless this has in fact been an unforeseen event with drastic consequences to the devs' plans for the game)-- in fact, it seems like it opens up such a huge opportunity to re-think public space in the game. And my question is, is public space being re-thunk, and by who?  Has there been any discussion about this?   Lastly, any links to said discussion would be very welcome

Posted 5 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I have no answers for you, sorry.
    I just wanted to say welcome back :)
    Posted 5 months ago by xombiekitty Subscriber! | Permalink
  • NANOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBIE
    Posted 5 months ago by crackpot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree. The resource routes have possibly presented the biggest change in how Glitch is played since I've joined. Even more interesting is this change was ultimately player-led (home streets were a staff creation, although I don't think they envisioned resource routes as a possible use). When I first joined, after reading a review of the game that gave me the impression that players had a significant hand in world-building, I've gotta admit, I was a little disappointed that it really wasn't the case at the time. One need only look at the old-style street projects (now on their way out) as an example. It was just mindless dumping stuff into the project. There was no way to affect the outcome of the project in any way. The most control a player ever had as to the design of a street was what tree occupied a given patch. I think it's awesome that home streets and resource routes bring the game a lot closer to how I thought it would be right before I signed up - a world built by players, indeed a game of giant imagination.

    A lot of people have complained about routes for the reasons you've mentioned (although it seems, as you've said, your post isn't a complaint - awesome!). I've gotta say I don't understand those complaints much. The introduction of resource routes in no way prevents players from going out into the world as it existed before. As a matter of fact, as useful as I find the routes, I still find numerous reasons to do so (vendors, shrines, AL's, foxes, sloths, quoins, etc...). While yes, it does mean a larger number of online players is not in the "actual" world at any given time (the usual complaints read something along the lines of "Ur is empty now"), it's a result of player choice. Nobody's forcing them to use routes or not. In a game like this, having the ability to make that choice is a good thing.

    tl;dr: Indeed, there is a re-thinking of public space. And it's player-led (to be specific, the original routes were Scarlett Bearsdale's Housing Resource Routes). It's a wonderful illustration of what makes Glitch unique.

    Off-topic: When you said you've played this game for a long time, you weren't kidding. Year 6? When exactly is that in IRL time, if you don't mind my asking? (based on your player TSID, I'd assume you signed up around the same time as clare, who, if I recall correctly, was one of the first non-staff here)
    Posted 5 months ago by Jus​tin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @JD, I've been in touch with her at least sometime in December. 

    Regarding the tree wars: They continue, but not on the forums. 
    Posted 5 months ago by Rook Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Justin How can you tell the sign up time from the player tsid?

    I agree that the new route network could become that new Ur, where we could build the world like we expected the game to be, but for that purpose we would not only need control over the resources on our street, but also a lot more advanced way to choose the look and layout of the graphic elements, so every home street design can be unique, just like the streets of Ur.
    Posted 5 months ago by Lemo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Year 6 would've fallen around summer of last year.
    Posted 5 months ago by Muncey Mango Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The 503 streets badge will keep people from leaving them to I guess.
    Personally I can't wait to get it and as soon as I do I'm back to walking around the Ur again
    Posted 5 months ago by WeavingTheWeb Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My Glitchday was Hairday,10th of Candy, Year 6, which was 19th February 2010
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Eleventy, Year 6 was March 2010.

    startlingfecundity.com/cale...

    We were both alphas. Though I barely got to play at that point as it was open for a few hours every few weeks, in the middle of the night. 
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • the good ole days? being bored out my skull on days when the game was down? stalking devs who were in the game and reporting to my friends like it was a covert op? (ok maybe that was fun). The insane amount of lag from EOTW parties?

    No thank you.
    Posted 5 months ago by bored no more Subscriber! | Permalink
  • One thing to keep in mind is the number of active accounts. Glitch launched, then rolled back. We've been in a private, closed session for the last several (8-ish) months. Even in the earliest days of Beta, we still had 'new' people coming in... but the invitation gating has been turned off for quite some time. The only 'new' people now are those who signed up a loooong time ago.

    Add to it the monster iMG balances when we converted to the new housing. We (established players) were landed on a blank canvass with a massive amount to spend. It won't be like that for new players. We were able to instantly (with some refreshing and patience) fully expand our streets and houses. New players will have to scrape and save to generate the kinds of iMG we had 'banked' at the housing release.

    I think the point I'm trying to make is, we have a warped sense of 'reality' at the moment. The number of active players is declining (has been). It has less to do with housing and more to do with the fact new players can't join. They want to, there's a line at the door. When they are able to I think we'll see a whole new Ur.

    tl;dr - Hang in there, it'll change a whole bunch when the game re-launches. I imagine it will be soooooon-ish... some of the early subscriptions start expiring in August / September.

    ETA: Welcome back Nanookie. There are still lots of old faces here, mostly with new names. I'll be happy to Tree War with you any time : )
    Posted 5 months ago by Wandering Confusion Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I remember when it were all pixels round these parts!
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • (bored no more - you may need to adjust your sarcasmometer) :)
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • sorry
    Posted 5 months ago by bored no more Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Bored isn't kidding. Those EOTW parties used to crash her system HARD. If I remember right, she had to go through a full reboot with a few of em. But... they were just.... soooooo fun. Too addictive to avoid, to laggy to enjoy. Ahhhhh, nostalgia.
    Posted 5 months ago by Wandering Confusion Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I never made a single one, except for the last one
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It was March of 2010, sometime in the last half of it, I believe. But bear in mind that for more than the first year, like shhexy says, we just had periodic tests.  It was a matter of living the game via the forums, waiting for a test date, and then completely ignoring RL until the end of test party ended with God shutting the server down.  It actually was very awesome; I wish there was a viable business model built around periodically closing the game. 

    Justin--the idea of players building the world --I think it was originally intended to be realized via social constructs that players would create amongst themselves, the seeds for that having been planted in the dim recesses of a time known as G.N.E. (Glitchen Not Existent).  Street projects were partially created to give Glitchen a reason to stop running past each other on public streets as they collected resources, except I think the game devs and players themselves created a number of other things that accomplished that much better whether intentionally or not.  I might be a tad bitter about never getting much out of street projects though.  

    I am not sure what will draw Glitchen back out into the public spaces in large numbers again..maybe the Rook?  I am not clear on what is happening with the Rook lately either, so maybe someone could fill me in on that.  I heard from a friend that there are still Rook attacks, is that correct?

    ETA: And thanks people for the warm welcome back!  I am really loving every second. It's not just the new content, it's that my whole game play is different and such.  
    Posted 5 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • And my question is, is public space being re-thunk, and by who?

    I think a lot of people have similar concerns to yours but aren't being as constructive about it (at least, I haven't seen too much constructive stuff going on).  Perhaps there is or should be a group devoted to this type of thing?
    Posted 5 months ago by diaveborn ♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Welcome back!  You are totally correct- Glitch has evolved an astonishing amount since even I started playing (mid first Beta).  

    I also wish there was a way to recreate that whole EOTW game play.
    Posted 5 months ago by Feylin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Nanookie: As Wandering Confusion pointed out....there are no new players!

    Not even by invitation because TS is redoing the tutorial.

    The general emptiness of the world is not mainly because so many people are in /home gameplay but because there plain are not enough glitches to go around.
    Posted 5 months ago by M<3tra, obviously Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Glad you are back Nanookie. 

    The tree wars were very strange, but I tended to stick to mining, buying what food I needed, so I ignored most of it.  Not to say I didn't get annoyed at people sometimes.  There were occasions I'd guard a random tree just cause I felt like it that day at that moment, but I could never stick to something like that day in day out like others.

    Now I am glad to let people do what they want to trees in the world.  If it makes them happy, I'm happy for that.  Since they can't mess with people's trees on their streets, it took away a great deal of stress in the game.  And I'm so glad the devs fixed it. :)
    Posted 5 months ago by Tibbi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think there will be plenty more people on public streets once things go live. Additionally, there are soooo many new areas since back then. 

    I personally like public projects, so can only hope that perhaps some very large public works will require our cooperation, because that's just fun. 

    I do like the home street resource projects very much though. I also find the home streets to be a lot of fun to visit and to work on my own. Surprisingly so. 
    Posted 5 months ago by Jaen Padryga Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I get a kick out of the new certainly unintended use of Cebarkul  as THE place to die. Because of  the new tool vendor rates, Cebarkul is a choice spot, and dying where others are gathered increased your chances of being mourned or celebrated giving you that always welcome drink ticket.
    Cebarkul is now a hot spot.  Need to hand out candy? Head to Cebarkul.  Need to do something to or for several Glitches? Head to Cebarkul.

    I would love to see similar locations develop related to other tasks.  I'm wondering if the number of vendors decreases ( as has been hinted at before) if this will happen?  If there are only so many places to get a beer, those places are going to be extra popular. I mention beer because it is one of the things we can't yet make ourselves, not because it is alcoholic *hic* And yes, 2010 was a very good year for waiting, stalking and then playing till your fingers fell off.
    Posted 5 months ago by caley dunn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree that being "closed" is affecting public spaces.
    I also agree that things like rooks or special vendors or even shrines could draw people out.

    Most of my time is spent on my own street/yard. I got a lot of canvass to cover still... ;)
    Posted 5 months ago by Edina Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The world is not THAT much bigger than it was when I used to play, and there were always Glitchen about, although obviously some streets collected more than others.  I know there are no new players, but it would be nice to know at any given time, how many are on home streets and how many in public?  I guess that would answer the question of the hikkomori effect.

    It also seems like traveling outside has been made a bit more palatable, mostly because my energy cost to teleport seems much lower than I remember.  It's really easy to zotz outside for beer or pigbait, and I have the entire world to choose from, whereas before I tended to nip over to the nearest vendor in my area on foot.  Or maybe as I am managing my energy differently now, my perception of teleportation cost has shifted.

    Like I said, I am not anti-route, although I confess I find myself out in public for resource gathering and haven't tried any routes yet.  Yes, I know others benefit from my resource gathering on their streets, but old habits die hard.  Plus I have been gone so long, I am getting a QQ on almost any street I visit...so I am making a tour of the whole world right now.
    Posted 5 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I can name five people off the top of my head who desperately want to play Glitch based on me talking about it, but who didn't get in before the gates closed. I think that once we open back up, we're going to have plenty of new players and a lot of people wandering Ur.
    Posted 5 months ago by Aliera Subscriber! | Permalink