Star Traders RPG Updates Information

[Cory Trese]

I received two e-mails this morning from players concerned about update frequency. Our last update was a little less than two weeks ago which is the longest we have gone without an update since the release of the game.

I want to reassure everyone that the Trese Brothers remain dedicated to ST RPG and improving / refining the game.

In the 308 days since the release of the ST RPG (Free) we have posted 114 updates, 104 of which have been non-critical feature or content releases. The other 10 represent mistakes or releases too flawed to be considered "updates." Those 10 fail releases have only a total of 71 hours on market between the 10 of them.

That shakes out to be around an update every 3 days on average. Early on it was more like daily and as we reached a stable state it has slowed to be more like every 5 days.

Star Traders RPG is a side project for me. I work on it during vacation, nights and weekends. My day job is a taxing affair that involves a lot of programming and math -- just like Star Traders.

After a year of effort I found myself exhausted and demoralized. The current break in ST RPG updates will (hopefully) allow me to recharge and regain some of the positive energy and momentum that defined the early months of ST RPG.

ST has been an adventure. We've met amazing people, created a game we like to play and had a great time. We've also been insulted, threatened and legally terrorized by LodSys. I have received over 15,000 e-mails and posted over 2,000 messages to the forum.

It is the positive, friendly and supportive members of our community that keep us going. Without those of you who fall into that category we would not have lasted as long as we did at the pace we set.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity and for allowing us a short break from the race. We'll be back soon.

[Tenebrous Pirate]

Aug 31, 2011 11:17:00 GMT -5 Cory Trese said:

I received two e-mails this morning from players concerned about update frequency.

...

After a year of effort I found myself exhausted and demoralized. The current break in ST RPG updates will (hopefully) allow me to recharge and regain some of the positive energy and momentum that defined the early months of ST RPG.

...

It is the positive, friendly and supportive members of our community that keep us going. Without those of you who fall into that category we would not have lasted as long as we did at the pace we set.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity and for allowing us a short break from the race. We'll be back soon.

So, I shouldn't have sent that email huh? >.<

What about those of us that just harass and insult you on a daily basis? No mountain fortress is strong enough to stop this pirate...

Get back to work!

Lol, actually no Cory and brothers, thank you.

[Cory Trese]

TB -- your e-mail made so little sense (are those English curse words? I don't recognize them) I wasn't sure I should even count it.

Your insults are usually so cutting that I store them in a file to later unleash on my coworkers when I need to make someone cry.

And yes, I am aware that mountain fortresses are susceptible to torpedoes and boarding. =)

[sgtcookie]

What happened with that LodSys thing anyway?

[Cory Trese]

We are in limbo. They've threatened us enough to be horrifying and then Google filed an ex-parties reexamination with the USPTO and purchased 24,000 Patents from Motorola.

No one knows really for sure what will happen. I appreciate the chess game Google is playing -- at least they didn't come off half-cocked like Apple did.

[celu]

I listened to a piece from NPR about this mafia of a patent troll. I forgot the mother company, but they actually started as a company who suppose to protect smaller companies against litigations from other patent trolls, eventually the business model they are operating under, attracted investors for a potential multi-billion $ venture. Long story short, the very people who's ideals are to protect companies and people like the trese bros. are now needed protection from. All due to mounting pressures from share holders to repeat the enormous return on their investments year after year.
I am all for capitalism...but this is not.
Let's see here: I pay a poweful company to protect me so the same company I pay won't hurt me.
Hmmm, I think I've seen a movie something like that. Ask my Godfather.

[Fenikso]

I would just like to say that I am continually amazed of your dedication and hard work on ST. Something you do not see often.

I would actually like dedicated "Star Traders Donate" button. If I compare the hours of entertainment based on this game and its cost (2$) to the cost of common magazine (~5$) or a cinema movie (~10$), it has the best cost / joy ratio I have ever received on paid entertainment (as I have written in my review). I am not saying I would donate much, but every once in a while...

[Cory Trese]

We have had the occasional request for a Donate button.

One big concern is that we are already selling a game and the general public might see a "Donate" button as a sign of greed. We are afraid of negative reviews or ill will as a result of our desire to fund our operation as a for-profit (LOL) business.

=)

[Raven]

Honnestly, I don't think a "donate" button would be seen as greedy... Or at least I wouldn't see it like that !

As long as you don't start selling ships ans game stuff for real money, nobody is going to mistake you for a crook, Cory !

[Fenikso]

When donate button is an option and does not give you anything in return, as it is just a way to say "thanks!" for a new game update, it is fine with me. I have used various donate buttons in a past and I think this is the best perceived way on the net. Something is free or cheap and if you like it and use it, you can donate.

But it is your call. I was thinking about buying Cyber Knights just to show support, but I have to honestly say I do not like it just yet.

[slayernz]

I wonder if Lodsys have a patent on "donate button within game UI"

Can we have a Lodsys class of ship with:
Hull 28 (big, fat, arrogant)
Armor 14 (law reports, super-glued to the hull)
Engines 20 (Enough to be noisy, not enough to be efficient)
Sails 20 (see engines)
Crew 200 (lawyers - all lawyers. Pilot? Nah, he got sued by the first mate so got stripped of his title)
Cargo 100 (and a minimum of 80 units of records)
Guns 10 (they don't like getting close enough to need guns)
Torps 28 (This is their preferred legal delivery method)

[celu]

I concur! I sometimes feel the need to blow them up in smitherines...like a stress ball.
Cory, put that on your list of future ship installation

[noesis]

Now there is a ship worth shooting down !!! destroying LODSYS should be worth extra XP & rep too I mean that many lawyers in one ship being destroyed with impunity is clearly in the best interest of the galaxy regardless of faction hell not destroying the ship if boarded should cause loss of rep kind of the opposite to all other ships

[absimiliard]

No need for a new ship, or new rules. Lodsys is already covered. The "alien" ships are typically crewed by Lodsys lawyers.

Why do you think Princes offer such high rewards if you trash the ships?

-abs

[slayernz]

Ah ... explains why you can't capture Alien ships ... you can't read the 50,000 page instruction manual because it's all written in legaleze. That means 50,000 pages, and one full stop. The best I've ever written is 5 pages without a full stop.