Next Release

FPC’s next release is going to be in the end of June.

First of all, you know we’ve wanted to change the whole newcomer situation for the better. So we’re going to take our first steps in doing exactly that. We are launching a whole new colonist arrival area with missions designed to let the newcomer learn about life on Calypso and what it involves.

Redesigning Mobs:

Because the newcomer area is going to be the first taste of Calypso, a couple of the creatures have gotten a nice overhaul, 4 of them in total. The Caudatergus, Tripudion and Berycled. We’ve also done one more which we prefer to keep secret for now (Hint: It is not a newcomer mob.)

It is not just the shape and skin of the mobs that have gotten a sturdy redesign, but also the sounds and animations have been changed. Of course, the creatures still look and feel like their old selves, just updated and cooler versions. Like this guy:

Oil Rig:

The problems where users are using a graphic glitch to get underground is going to be fixed for next FPC release.

FPC does not condone using these glitches as a means to “cleanse the oil rig of people”, this is called exploiting and is against the EULA.

If you come across any other ways to get underground then please send a support-case about the means and whereabouts so we can fix it. Thanks!

The energy in the air, created by the sudden returning of MindForce-powers in the colonists, have made the Molisk population anxious and wary. As a result, the Molisks has been spotted gathering up in groups to fight for their kin against this perceived invisible enemy.

It is expected that when the Molisk once again get used to MindForce users, everything will go back to normal, most likely within 72 hours.

Don’t worry, its not Armageddon (again). We here at First Planet Company are just celebrating! Guess what day it is?

The first pay-out of teleportation fees will be made this summer.

As I have been made aware that there are some hangar owners who’s deeds are in other players hands (pilots), arrangements have been made so that you will now be able to trade the deed back via support.

How to do it:

You write a support case requesting the trade. Give the person you are trading with your support case ID, and have that person use it as a reference in their support case with a consent to the trade request.

Missions!

FPC released the awaited Mission Content Release yesterday and the players are as busy as ever before. If you haven’t already, read the Content Release notes here.

Missions FAQ

Of course, players still have many questions regarding the Mission system. Here’s some of the frequent ones

Will mobs killed in team be counted if I have a mission for that mob active?

It will be counted -but only for one of you. That is, the one of you that does the killing shot. Team missions might be implemented later on, we’ll have to look into it.

Will there be any missions for other professions then hunting in the future?

We are still working on our Mission system, which in the future will allow us to make more complex missions and more variety. We want to be able to create missions to appeal to everyone.

Does everyone gain one full attribute point (from certain missions)? Doesn’t that make it better for already high skilled individuals?

Yes, everyone gains a full attribute point from certain challenges (which I am sure some dedicated players are mapping as we speak). This does indeed mean that players with high attribute points will have more use of it as the attributes progression slows down on higher levels.

If you want to hold out and do the missions at a later stage when you feel it’s more worth it to you, you can. Missions on Planet Calypso is not a necessity for progress in the game, and thus you aren’t forced to do them. It’s up to you!

But some missions will only be available for a set amount of time?

Right now there’s no missions implemented that is set at a limited amount of time. If they are intended to only stay a certain amount of time, we will make sure to make that information reach the community (for example in the cases of event missions.)

If we however decide to remove a permanent mission figure, we will also inform of this, giving you enough time to finish the missions.

There are of course the possibility that we have to remove a mission quickly if there’s a critical issue with it, but under normal circumstances you should have enough time to complete the missions after being informed.

Is the skill value also the same for everyone?

The volume of the skill gains are the same, but it won’t show as the exact amount of points for everyone. So yes, this means it won’t make a difference if you do the skill-reward missions now or later.

Why are there no missions for newcomers in this batch?

Our last Content Release had a batch of newcomer missions located at the Port Atlantis Swamp Camp. This round the missions are directed towards lower midlevel to uber players. More newcomer missions will arrive in our next Content Release, which will focus largely on the newcomer experience.

Will there be different types of rewards in the future?

Yes, there will. The plan is to have special mission-items as rewards, we just need the tools to do it. It is a tricky balancing act giving out items with TT values due to the Real Cash Economy, but we are expecting MindArk to open up for this in the near future.

Will the rewards for the current missions change?

No, even when new mission-items are implemented the rewards for the already implemented missions will stay as they are.

Do I need to be in a certain area to kill creatures I am asked to kill?

There are no missions with such restraints. Kill them wherever you want!

If a future mission has such rules, then the quest log will let you know.

Is it possible to have several missions running at the same time?

Yes, it is possible.

Turps

Turps had problems with their texture and are now taken out of Planet Calypso’s wildlife while they are getting stitched back together.

Meet Marvin, the very reason the wheels keep on turning.

- Well, it is actually mostly the trainees that look after the wheel. Last week one of them got their leg stuck, ending up with a rather horrifying amputation. He now works at support instead, Marvin says. From his soft cotton bed he manages the work force that makes sure that Entropians are able to stay online.

- But it’s mostly fine. I rarely have to step up and do the dirty-work myself these days. They seem to learn quickly. I think our carrots help to the encouragement of doing a good job, Marvin says.

He pulls out a vanilla treat from his cheek and casually offers it to me, which I politely decline. Some classic Miles Davis-tunes  are playing off the iPod/table. This is his kingdom, and if his office space won’t convince you to that fact, his demeanor will. Marvin solemnly chews on it until the whole treat is gone. Another few moments pass where he just sits there and twitches his nose, soundlessly, while thinking.

- Its hard, you know, to find good workers. Most young people these days just want to become ninja super-spies after watching that “G-Force” movie. Of course, I can understand it’s probably nobody’s big dream to just be another part of the machine, but they really need to wake up and make the coffee. The recruits right now seem promising though, he says thoughtfully and muses to the hectic work area. Managing such a work force isn’t always the easiest task but Marvin assures that he’s got everything under control.

When he started, it was only him and a sugar stash to make sure that everything went smoothly. While still experiencing troubles, MindArk got impressed by Marvin’s performance and put him in the lead managing position when expanding the team.

- I joined the team back in ‘07. Before that, I worked for a medical company. I believe that experience have made me stronger. At least I know I’ve lasted longer than anyone have before me. I’ve heard some tragic stories about my predecessors becoming burned out or just simply burned. That’s why I shave you know, Marvin explains.

- I hate having to shave, though. It itches all over. Cleaning the office as well, when doing all these things we lose valuable time maintaining the servers. Sometimes we’ll have to take them down, and people tend to dislike that. Either it’s because it’s at the time of day they usually play, or they expect something more to happen then just getting a shave.

Despite the silent quarrels with the player base, Marvin claims he enjoys his work. His pension age isn’t far off though, and he dreams of long white beaches, juicy strawberries and growing out his hair again.

- Don’t get me wrong, I love my work and I like my coworkers. Most of the time its fine doing what I do, but it can get a little much at times. Sometimes it feels like I carry the world on my shoulders.

You might already have had a taste of the newcomer missions, and hopefully you liked them. The First Planet Calypso Content Release scheduled for mid-April contains just over 80 new action packed missions, tailored to suit players from lower mid-level and all the way up to the meanest of you.

The missions will be spread out all over good ol’ Eudoria, but storyline will be heavily centered around the newly redesigned Cyclops area. What business does Genesis Star have here? Who’s living in the camp in the forest? And who are those other shady characters?

At First Planet Company we’re currently working hard. We are not in any way slowing down our progression, and improvements to the quest system will also come after our next release.  During the spring, we’ll make some small but useful changes to the Mission GUI, and we might also introduce temporary missions that will disappear after a set amount of time.

We aim for having new missions available to colonists at every FPC Content Release, and we hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them!

Explanation about planetary systems

With new planet partners soon joining the Entropia Universe, MindArk will begin using a terminology that differs from First Planet Company’s terminology. This message is to inform you, the Calypso player, about this in advance, in order to avoid confusion.

Entropia Universe platform developer MindArk explains a “Planet” as an area with, among other factors, its own storage server, meaning you as a player cannot access that storage from outside the area it belongs to. Today, Planet Calypso has three areas like this: Calypso planetside, Club Neverdie and Crystal Palace Space Station, whose storage facilities do not link together. This means that Planet Calypso is, using MindArk’s terminology, a “Planetary System” consisting of three “Planets”.

This use of terminology does not have any effect on us at FPC or our community, everything is business as usual. From a story-line point of view we still have one planet with space stations.

Easter spawns

Oh would you look at that, hatchlings! How cute!

Oh and would you look at …that. Yikes!

WoF Spawn warning

Stage 3 in World of Firepower will take a while to complete, so the WoF spawn with Igni, Pupugi and Diripi around Fort Fury and Fort Ithaca will continue to spawn in-game until the end of the stage. It will be taken away again after the 19th of April.

Combat messages in chat

Players are experiencing seeing other players combat messages in chat. MindArk will release a fix for this in 10.9.2.

Interplanetary transportation

Planets are soon to arrive and one of the great big questions is “How do we get there?”. Well, for starters you’re going to have to teleport there, with a fee. The money from this will, just as teleporting to CND and CP now, be divided between Hangar Owners.

New release date

We have received word from MindArk that due to their planned release of the major update of the Entropia platform to version 11.0, the next FPC release (which contains numerous new quests, among other things) will be pushed app. two weeks, to mid April.

New QA Manager at FPC!

Our new Quality Assurance manager started at FPC on Monday! He’s earlier worked as QA on Terminator: Salvation and is a trained level designer and gamer with many interesting ideas. Welcome to Planet Calypso, Jonas!

Auction

Auction have gotten some overhaul lately as I am sure you have noticed. I have been informed that you’re missing the “Last Calls” page. The first page in Auction is now sorted by “Last Created” instead of “Time Left”. This is an issue MindArk is aware of and it will be changed back to the old “Time Left” default in 10.9.2.

Until then: to see the Last Calls, click the “Time Left” tab twice.

Ad System

The Ads are still backwards. The fix for this will come in the next FPC release Mid-April.

This is a message to all colonists and citizens of Calypso from Brigadier Carramone.

This morning, the bank in Port Atlantis was robbed. Soon thereafter Twin Peaks bank followed, and this evening also New Oxford bank was attacked. It is indeed the Wastelanders, led by Reverend Lewis, that seem to be at a bankheist-spree.

These individuals are a pimple on the backside of society and I ask that all civilians armed and able take their stand against these wretched individuals. I assure you they are not unstoppable.

Bounty contracts are issued on the Reverend and his followers.

These rules apply:

• There is one contract per colonist.
• Bounty-hunters can collect their confirmed contract rewards from me personally when all five perpetrators are eliminated, at the city closest to the action.
• The reward consists of one pair of Jaguar Footguards.
• Each bounty-hunter can only claim his or her reward once.

Thank you for your attention.

Brigadier Jenny Carramone