I want to address three different areas of development in this statement. First I want to take a peek on some new stuff never before seen on Calypso, followed by a status report on old pre-VU10 systems not yet available, and finally share my thought and ideas on what FPC’s grand goal and ambitions are.

First Planet Company has some very exciting stuff going on for 2010. In mid February the next addition comes to the Planet Calypso colonists – the preview of the Quest/Mission system! This preview will contain a limited number of missions both for us to show what can be done but also allowing FPC to gather feedback in a controlled environment. A few weeks later we intend to release a large number of additional missions and will continue doing so for future releases to come. Missions will come in various forms, some ranging from assignments or jobs (typical MMO “grind” quests) while others focus on the experience, background and storyline of Planet Calypso. The mission system is a very advanced tool that MindArk has developed allowing for some quite interesting and unique-feeling experiences. Expect the complexity and depth of the missions supplied to increase with each new mission expansion release.

Another new system MindArk has shown FPC is one of the most anticipated systems ever (I think it was first mentioned back in 2005!) – The Vehicles system. We have had the opportunity to race through the Calypso underbrush at 60 km/h, jumping off cliffs and skidding into lakes. I personally believe the vehicle system is a great addition on many levels, from the actual experience of driving around, using it as tool for day to day activities but also from a business standpoint; who will become the Henry Ford of Calypso? Vehicles are expected to arrive during the spring.

Going back to the missing systems from VU 9.4, there are currently a few left that have not yet been re-implemented into the VU10 generation. The first of the missing systems to make a comeback is the Beauty system which will come in the Entropia Platform VU10.8 coming in February. Soon the avatars can get their hair done and make those nip/tucks needed after the Christmas festivities. The system next in line after that is the Mindforce system, which will come with additional powers and a new revised vision on what it is supposed to be; which part it will play in the bigger scope of things from player activity to the economy as a whole. The old system has been analyzed quite a bit and you can expect a better balance and more purpose in the new one. The MA devs also promise us that the basic system allows for adding additional powers quite easily, which I personally think is ideal as it brings FPC the ability to expand this area as time goes by.

When it comes to Taming, Mentoring, Makeup, and Beacons, MindArk has promised all of these will be back before the end of the year. Once FPC gets progress reports we will share them with you.

On a larger scale of things FPC is working on a Quality Enhancement Programme. We believe that quality is the key to achieving great entertainment and a fulfilling experience. We will not cut any corners when it comes to polish and the finishing touches on FPC content. The term quality is a difficult one to describe. The way we see it is to add beautiful vistas, great looking visuals as a whole, add to the Colonist Experience in terms of sense of purpose and belonging, adding much more lore, mythos, and background into the mix. To take Calypso to the next level and to make it feel energetic; as an entity that lives and breathes. The work of increasing the quality has already begun (you will see an updated server area in the 2010|01 release – we look forward to your feedback) and will continue during 2010 and beyond.

A very interesting reflection was when the Real Estate Development programme was launched late last year. It opened up options for estate owners to customize their lands and real estate. The programme has been a huge success. This has in turn allowed us to put more effort in quickly adding to it and advance it. As it looks right now we will probably add a new section and hire staff that will work full time with only the Real Estate Development requests and expand on it to allow more customization – I would like to see the option for an apartment owner to completely redecorate an apartment if desired and a land owner to be able to add villages and towns to their land.

I wish to close this statement by thanking each and every one of you who partake in Planet Calypso. Without you we wouldn’t be here. The last couple of months have been a bit rough and we really appreciate your patience and perseverance during this time. Together we can take Planet Calypso to the next level in every aspect of the word.

Some weeks ago, scientists observed and started to track a moving object in the outskirts of the Omega 16 Reticuli system. The object was catalogued as Reticuli-217-0509 and given the name Typhon. On further study, they discovered that it is fast, moving through the system, and manufactured.

That prompted the Federal Imperial Navy to launch a probe. Although not coming directly from Akbal-Cimi, the object was identified as a Robot War Titan when the probe was within visual range of the object.

The Federal Imperial Navy detachment in the system is moving to intercept the War Titan. The Navy estimates that the fleet will meet Typhon on or around Tuesday.

As a guest in the studio, we have governor Dumpty. Governor, why is the close-down delayed?

Governor Dumpty: There is a reason for the delay, and I think that it’s the science. They’ve got it wrong, and they’re trying to fix it. The question is whether they can. I don’t think so. I hope they can, but I don’t think so.

AMB: What do you think of the rumours of a stand-off?

GD: No, I don’t think so. Carramone has mandate to run the defence as she sees fit, and it’s a long distance anyway. If she could, she would, and Earth wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

AMB: Thank you, Governor. With us at the CDF headquarters, we have Shelly Nakajima. Shelly, what can you tell us?

Shelly Nakajima: Not much, Axly. CDF is closed-lips as always, and Major Carramone ran out of her office just a few minutes ago heading for Twin Peaks and the inauguration of the Genesis Tower. However, I would put my money on a power struggle with Earth or that there actually are problems with the logistics.

AMB: How is that?

SN: As Major Carramone stormed out, she shouted to an aide to… wait, let me quote her. She shouted “I don’t care what that slimy Earth worm says, get me a (beep) lorry that can (beep) handle the mud!”

AMB: So CDF could be telling the truth?

SN: Basically, yes, but I also think they’re not telling all of the truth. Something is going on here, and it’s almost impossible to dig anything out of anyone. Especially not the Major.

AMB: Thank you, Shelly.

There is no secret mission to infiltrate the Calypsian government. CDF is, according to the contract of colonisation between the Federal Empire and private partners, the military branch of the Calypsian government.

The decision to study the Duchev logs was based on a strategic need to get an understanding of mutant activities, mindset and plans. To this end, the Duchev files have to be analyzed and correlated with several other sources. At no point, it was indicated that the intel gained would be shared to the public; the information we are looking for is of strategic nature, and thus there is every reason for secrecy, as is the matter of all military information of strategic significance. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that CDF would not be willing to share this information, in the same way that we would not share information regarding war plans, troop deployment et cetera.

CDF concedes to the point that the files should be open to the public for research, and not locked away. However, CDF believes that private corporations are even worse custodians of the files, as they only have interest in profit. They want return of investment, not open research. To them, the files would constitute a market opportunity.

CDF decided to buy the files in order to get unlimited access to them. For that, we offered what we considered to be a fair price. I do not agree with the Duchev collectors that the price is not fair, but it is not an impassable obstacle.

To that end, CDF makes this offer to the Duchev collectors:

• CDF gets access to the Duchev files.
• For this, CDF pays the aforementioned price plus one Isis LR53 (L) rifle, i.e. one set of Jaguar Foot Guards (Unlimited), one Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited) and one Isis LR53 rifle (Limited) for files #1 to #19; and one Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited) and one Isis LR53 rifle (Limited) for files #1 to #14.
• When analysis is complete, the files will be returned to their owners.

If these terms are not acceptable, the offer is withdrawn.

Major Jenny Carramone, High Commander CDF

In the light of the recent events, the log owners gathered around and discussed about the Duchev Logs Collection that they have been gathering since months.
We have been analyzing our samples for some time now and so far it seems our combined brainpower unfortunately doesn’t suffice to find the meaning of it all.
That’s why we would like to thank CDF for their offer to help us in our quest to find the meaning of the logs.
However after long and intense discussions we have decided to reject your offer.

Let me explain you our reasoning:

We feel that handing over the Duchev logs to CDF will make CDF too powerful, we noticed in the last Robot Wars that CDF seems on a secret mission to infiltrate in Calypsian Governments and uses dirty tactics to achieve this.

We also find it rather strange that so far all investigations of CDF gave no new intel, we were never told about any results! This makes us wonder, are they even capable of investigating mysterious items like these?

On top of this we got multiple advises from private companies not to hand over our logs, they say the prizes CDF pays are too low. We are currently negotiating with A&P Weapons, Genesis Stars Interstellar, Mechel and Lock and Omegatech inc. to see what can be done. We are highly considering working with the private sector, because we believe this will give us better results and more rewards for our hard labour.
We were also recently contacted by Alexandra deWinter (PGC – Provisional Government of Calypso) and have started negotiations with them.

All these contacts lead us to believe that the Duchev Logs contain far more valuable information than CDF wants to admit.

At the same time we are wondering why CDF refuses to give the logs back to their owners after the research is done. We believe dangerous information like this should be kept open for the public. The citizens of Calypso should have the right to know what happens with the logs and to check up on them.
The logs are part of the history of Calypso, we don’t want to see them locked away in a black box. Therefore we suggest the logs will be given back to their owners after investigations are over!

Every day our belief is growing stronger that CDF only wants to buy these logs because they believe they have the power to undermine their authority.

I hope this letter can be the start of new negotiations and bring us a deal that will be better for everyone, we the log collectors, you CDF and all the people of Calypso.

Best regards,
The Duchev Log Collectors.

After a intense hour of alliances, backstabbing, planning and paranoia I stood as the sole survivor, after Diana Gluepot managed to blow herself up in the attempt of taking me out.

And I did it without killing anyone.

To be fair, I didn’t win it solo. I was in a alliance. With Da, from coat Killers. It seemed we both thought the other one was the natural selection for a alliance, and upon forming that alliance it seems we made a statement to people wanting to take us out. A simple statement: don’t.

The Story

It was a gloomy Sunday night when we arrived to Zychion Citadel. Me and Da headed out to scout for a good place to start and defend, depending on what weapons we got. Unfortunately, I had only been given a lousy kitchen knife, a ClerickDagger 3A… Da, on the other hand had gotten 5 shots with a 250rocketlauncer, and a S30 pistol. The pistol wasn’t much, but at least it was ranged.

So our weapons didnt correspond very well.

However we found that the overpass highway was the best place to stay. Considering people only had one way in, and we had two ways out. It was a great spot for defending. -Not to mention we could launch rockets at anyone incoming.

Ido and Diana Gluepot joined our alliance. We quickly grew very wary on Diana -we knew she was holding some weapon which she didn’t show us. And she had shogun armor -which my blade would be pretty much useless against. Either way we let them stay.

The first attack on us came from Ozi and friends. Ozi, highly skilled with a ML-35 was a huge threat. But Da managed to launch some rockets in their faces -and they fled.

When the speaker reported that only 8 of us was left, we decided to leave the overpass. And went down to battle the rest. Ido fell, but me, Diana and Da were left in final three. So we started chasing Diana, from each our side.
And them it went “BOOM”.

Her secret was out. She had been holding rockets all along. She managed to kill Da and she had under 1 hp left herself. But she wasn’t completely dead. All I’d have to do was touch her with my knife.

But I never got that far. After chasing her for a while, she ran into a building and tried to shoot me through some debris. But she hit the debris, and the rockets blew up in her face.

And I was standing there going HUH!?

So.. I won.  Strangely enough.

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