Update on Utopia Policy
I’m afraid it’s been much longer than I would have liked, since my last post - so I’d like to apologize for that. I’ve been caught up in general development plans for Utopia, and features for the next round. There is quite a lot of work that needs to go in to the game, so I’ve been incredibly busy!
First of all, I would like to address the recent deletion of a number of traded accounts, and the handling of reports we had received of instances of cheating within the game.
We took over existing tools for the game when we acquired it, and a policy of deleting accounts that were detected as cheating with these tools. However, it seems that we have applied the letter of the law rather than the spirit to which the community was accustomed to.
We are looking into the current reasoning behind all aspects of cheating that we have come across, and are considering putting in place a system more accommodating to players at all levels of the game, over the next couple of months. For now, there will be a moratorium on the deletion of traded accounts. Multiple accounts, x-logging, and coercing a player to give up their account information, are still considered offences, and will be handled as previously.
Players have also been deleted for abusive language recently, perhaps more so now, than in the past. In the future, players will receive a warning via the in-game forum system and via their registered email. Failure to cease this sort of behaviour, or excessive harassment of another player, will result in a deletion.
There have been a number of rumours flying around as to what OMAC’s plans for the game are currently. I’m not going to make vague promises other than to say we’re focusing on elements which are a viable long-term model for the game, that support new players as well as the old ones.
Finally, as I’m working on some of the more major features needed for the games, Genesis will probably run a little late - an exact end date has yet to be determined, but I’ll give you more news on that in a couple of weeks.
For comments and discussion, please use the forums, here.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Im sure you know that after the genesis server … mehul implemented the tournament server that always took place after the genesis age .
What stands out from your post is the lack of information regarding trading , which prolly means that you are thinking of implementing a certain legit trading system .
Imo , a safe way to do this would be through this experimental tournament server where you can invite frineds in .
Warring is all about activity and cooperation , and to some extent that was the downfall for the popularity of this server ( i never found a decent kdom
with decent players ) .
You can also try new tweeks with the relation system which is not the best atm ;)
September 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Many people has spoken about what to do with the other servers, if we need a new one, perhaps two? many of my suggestions would be: a new server called Time Machine of Utopia that make us revive old ages starting from age 1 to wtv. Also, an other suggestion would be to add more attacks, more players in kd perhaps? a conquest system in which you could in a way start an empire(easier said than done) and leave alliances the way they are..which mean..outside the game. But starting different kind of governments with pros and cons. Taxation, economic policies and have trading or aid outside the kingdom. The imperialistic idea will proly be hard to implement but it would be nice to see kds forced to have a tag representing the kd that conquered them. thus growing the kd’s economical strenght,military might depending on the type of gov etc..unless there is a revolt which is something else. lots of it is long term. but if those are there. we are talking!
September 18th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Maybe an implementation of both …
Make the tournament with legit trading , and every war you have has war relations from age 1 till this one …
I am sure that within 1 age you can squeeze at least 20 wars , like a celebration of Utopia , from the infamous Boars to resurecting dead provinces as undeads until the last sci pumping races .
September 19th, 2008 at 1:57 am
well, those comments posted above are idealistic. yes, i have been thinking of the “empire” thingy. but to make this enjoyable, this game should have 100,000+ players playing it. and as a developer myself, i think it would be very hard to implement it. :-P
about the experimental server about inviting friends to KDs, it is really what i wanted ever since. if you land in a KD full of inactives, you would get bored and eventually defect, delete, or just leave your province. OMAC, you would let us enjoy the game if it were like this. im sure it would be hard to monitor x-logging if this is implemented since you might invite a whole 24 people + you into a 25-province KD within THE SAME COUNTRY. so it would be a challenge to you.
but having 25 provinces, what is the point of cheating here if all of you are active anyway? right? so you might minimize having players to think of cheating. but having multiple KDs? thats another story.
regarding the utopia game since age 1? that would be interesting. we need our Avians, Halflings (well, they are gnomes anyway), Faeries and Undead back! :-P
September 19th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I separate email for account making and private email. Simply account making email are full of junks from admin whatsoever for updates of theirs site. There also some other problems toward this, not everyone like of checking emails everyday. just put it on in-game forum and messaging system.
Roisin, handling utopia can makes your head explode. =)
September 19th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Thank you for the update, hope you’ll get on top of the workload and be able to post more frequently. I agree with Noobs that a tournament server would be a good place to try out KD selection mechanics, although it’s extra work setting that up.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Well sounds interresting about new policies on traded accounts, since I would considder 15-20% of all utopian accounts traded, deleting those wouldnt be a solution to keep players in the game, and instead of now aknowledging proxied accounts (on a certain level) it would now be possible to give players a “fresh start” and furtheron punish proxied accounts harder.. Very interresting indeed
Some other thing that have been bugging me, its not a great deal but.. The genesis charts havent worked now for almost half a month, while mehul was partially handling this game on “part time” you guys should be more than able to fix this little problem.
Kind Regards, Pike
September 19th, 2008 at 11:49 am
you still need servers where these players can get deleted for failing to comply with the rules
i would not play on a server that allows multis
but would concider playing on a server that allows the devlopmnt of kingdoms from outside the game like invites for example
i would still want a server where such is still prohibited
so by all means and time create a new server for the people that want to form kingdoms from outside the game but keep a server where the current rules still apply
September 19th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
awww… the cheaters whined about getting caught and got reinstated. Doesnt that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy all over?
Screw ‘em!! Let ‘em play by the rules or die.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Yeah, i’ll say it …
What about earth!
September 20th, 2008 at 2:41 am
So now you reset a bunch of people that found a couple days later would have been left alone? that is really dumb OMAC. This is why Mehul kept changes to between ages.
September 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Ignore people like Syele, OMAC…. They just whine and whine all the time and are never satisfied.
Thank you for all the hard work you are putting into this game that we all love and enjoy so much.
September 21st, 2008 at 12:47 am
sheesh Jay you don’t even know me. I can think its unfair to punish a bunch of people and then change your mind suddenly without whining.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:56 am
Whine all you want about what happened, I for one is looking foward to see what utopia will look like in the future…
Go OMAC!
September 21st, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I’d like to see Utopia really be about competition. Growing is boring, you can just explore explore explore. Wee, I’m on the top of the world charts because I’m in some huge alliance! Wee, I can explore a lot!
I wish Utopia was about real competition. Get rid of exploring, give everybody 10 or 20 or whatever acres a day, and make them fight if they want to get more than that.
September 21st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
No more deletions for trading, all good etc. but what are u going to do with the kd who actually got punished for trading? Don’t u find it is pretty unfair to delete people for an offence and then excuse 80% of the other kd for the same offence?
U have any clue how it feels to see your kd deleted and 48hours later u announce no more deletions for that offence. So u basicly as we been telling u in the forums constantly just pick out people and delete em, your company always denied this, but now u fail to draw the line and just deleted a few kd of the tons of kd that trade.
If u fail to act the same thowards all your users then you lose a lot of your already falling credibility.
And sorry for my bad english.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:13 am
the invite stuff sounds nice.. dont know if you should give them unlimited until the kd is full though…
how about 10 invites first age and then 3 new ones each age ?
i think this will mix the good players with the new players seeing as each kd starts with 15 new players…its give them a chance to get a spot in the good kingdom and makes sure the old guard teaches the new guard in a way.
i mean they can only “kick” 3 newbies/inactives or none team players a age so this forces them to train there not so good kingdom mates ;)
to make it fair you would need to reset all the kingdoms though, a lot of kingdoms will not agree to that im afraid..so maybe you need to make a deal with them like them getting 15 set places or something… most top kingdoms have group that never leaves around 15 players ? and then 10 that switch with the ages….
i always liked the thought of a big reset only downside would be losing some of you kingdom members that take the game seriously like yourself…in other words everyone would quit first age …..and the game would die…… so the 15 set places would solve that problem in my eyes… if you really have a group of 20 active members then never chance then it not like you will never play together ..just wait a age or 2 and you can invite them.
about the new players im sure many of you have played genesis and seen what kind of “players” land in your kingdom…you know the one that is ok with just slowly growing to 2500 acres and never train anything but def specs…and than gets so upset when the kingdom goes to war and he gets oped on he release everything and quits the game….
omac can make a voting thingy.. not to kill or delete those players but to give them a defect without losses kinda thing…
this is easier said then done and would need rules aswell…cant have explorers using this little trick and make there noob kingdom vote him out to the next full explore pool offcourse…
anyway think it over im going on and on here so better stop here.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 am
a new server is diffinatly needed. when the WoL and BF merged utopia lost lots of players of all skill levels. the new players need a serevr of their own where they can grow to learn and like the game just like WoL used to be.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I agree with the defferent servers for more experienced playes. It would be way fun to actually know your teamates actually know what they are doing. The tournament was way fun but would have been better withought noobs. Battle fields was awsome but became a server for cheeters and so ruined. The idea is to give all players the same chance at the start of every age. Some type of rating system needs to be implimented to determin individual playing levels.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Disagree strongly with splitting the main game again, it failed last time. No selection on Genesis, limited selection on Legends and full selection on a tournament server should work out well.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:12 am
My account has been deleted for reason i dont know coz i never do anything in violation of the rules set by the admin of this game.. I never cheated, i never have multiple accounts, i never traded account, i never x-login, or whatsoever but still my account was deleted.
Can the administrator of this game tell me why delete a province who follows your rules??
September 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
The idea about invites is great.
It would make it better less inactives because you can choice your mates which makes you know,
Its just the fact it makes it easier for others to cheat and multi handle provinces in a kingdom isnt really making it a fun idea.
I know you check ip but its still possiable.
// sry about my bad english
September 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Until now, the admin of this game is not responding to my query why my account was deleted.. i wish not to speak bad words here.. but then with the deletion of my account inspite of my being fair in the game.. one thing i can say is that.. THIS GAME SUCKS.. DELETING HONEST PLAYERS AND NOT DELETING THOSE WHO CHEAT…
THE ADMIN SHOULD SEE CLEARLY WHO ARE CHEATING AND WHO ARE NOT AND NOT RANDOMLY SELECT PLAYERS TO DELETE REGARDLES OF WHAT THEY DO IN THE GAME.. WHETHER THEY CHEAT OR NOT..
THIS GAME SUCKS.. SUCKS.. AND THE ADMIN OF THIS GAME SHOULD GO TO HELL..
September 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I DARE THE ADMIN OR MODERATOR OF THIS GAME TO EXPLAIN TO ME THE REASON WHY MY ACCOUNT IS DELETED.. I NEVER USE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN THE GAME..
WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A WAR AND I WAS THE STRONGER T/M IN MY PROVINCE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ACCOUNT WAS DELETED..
YOUR GAME SUCKS!!!!! YOU DONT KNOW WHO TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN HONEST PLAYER AND NOT HONEST PLAYERS.
IF I KNOW IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT MY ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED, I SHOULD HAVE VIOLATED A LOT OF RULES SO THAT I WILL NOT FEEL PITY FOR MY PROVINCE..
GRRRRRR….. I DONT KNOW ON WHAT RULES HAVE I VIOLATED IN THE GAME FOR ME TO BE DELETED..
YOU ARE UNFAIR.. VERY UNFAIR.. I WILL NOT SIGN UP FOR YOUR GAME <Edited Profanity>..
September 30th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
We thought you needed to find a real life falcon.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Falcon, the blog is not the correct place to address any concerns you may have over in-game support issues. Please email the support address, if you want a response.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
reason why people post here about it. is that when they call swirve directly(as i have done) Admin dont even give a reply or a reason. just silence.
its frustrating and directly ruining for the game as a hole.
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 am
Hey when is the age gonna end???
October 7th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Falcon, there must be a reason you got OMAC’ed. No matter how clean you said you are, deletions prove that you must have done something wrong. Did you log in from cafe, public place or university network ? i don’t think admin had the time to explain why your account got deleted. Instead, you should find the reasons why it got deleted and explain to the admin. If your reasons are accepted, you will be alive in the next couple of hours.
Regarding inviting players, the invite must be to people from different countries. Obviously, we do not want a whole kingdom that has players from USA alone. That will destroy the fun.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:52 am
Falcon, I do not know what got you deleted but I can see why they did not reply to you. I know of 4 players that were deleted during a war and got reinstated by communicating with OMAC.
A question now for OMAC. We have a player leaving my kingdom. My daughter also plays Utopia from my computer. Since you have placed a moratorium on deletion for trading etc., will I get deleted or her if she takes over this account so she can belong to my kingdom?
October 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
TAlentless,
How do you have two accounts from the same computer?
I’m worried one of my kids will create an account and we will both get deleted as a multiple account as we are both using the same ISP and therefore the same IP address.
October 11th, 2008 at 3:00 am
When will genesis end o_O
October 19th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I too would like to have my child play the game with me. so it would be nice to get an e-mail to request this sort of thing.
BUT
As far as trading,inviting and sitting…I SAY NO!!!!
Cheating and alliances have already ruined the game.
A gen like star for both servers are what is needed. RANDOM kingdoms is the only fair way to go.
That is what was the best in the tournament. you got thrown in with people that wanted to play the game and every one had a chance. It was the only true fair age I have had. And we took second!
thanks for the hard work you all are doing.
October 19th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
>>That is what was the best in the tournament. you got thrown in with people that wanted to play the game and every one had a chance. It was the only true fair age I have had.<<
I disagree. The absolute *worst games I have ever had were in Gen and the Tourney.
In Gen nobody cares about the Kd because they’ll never see those ppl again, so its just every man for himself. And there’s a *ton of inactives!
In the Tourney we got a mix of respectable players and total “how do I calculate an attack” n00bs which just made the whole thing pointless.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:02 am
how about an invite only (on whatever criteria) server… with the invitations being rewards for tournaments or something…
October 20th, 2008 at 4:03 am
either way i do believe there needs to be a server of purely randoms with no legal way to play together to keep the playing field even…
October 21st, 2008 at 12:54 am
If you are considering allowing the trading of accounts into and out of a kingdom, then that will be a real shame.
A lot of the fun in this game is the politics involved in building a kingdom from scratch with random players. It’s tremendously harder to do that way, and trading in and out accounts within a kingdom is just a crutch for those who cannot use diplomacy, tact, and skill to better a kingdom any other way.
If you allow the trading of accounts, then you are going to have the bullying, and mass execution of provinces who do not wish to be traded away, and this is going to take away from the fun of the game as well to a lot of people. You will have legal superkingdoms and leave the majority of your players without the ability to have a chance at putting together a great run through teamwork and hard work and making it to the top of the charts.
I really cannot believe that this would even be considered. Disgusting, and after 14 months of not playing, I’m beginning to wonder why I came back. I had hoped a lot of the problems would have gotten better, but it seems they are ready to get much worse.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:58 am
I agree with uma. You guys are looking at this the wrong way if you are trying to allow trading. Make every Age random is the better way to go. Don’t allow trading, bullying, or anything else like that and this game will be much fairer, and more fun to play. It will also help eliminate a lot of the alliance problems that have affected the game almost since its inception.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
To tell you all, i have always been clean in playing utopia.. but then without any reason got deleted.. Well, i just said to myself.. Perhaps I should have cheated if i will just be deleted even if i am very honest in the game and has been very active in the game..
Explaining to the admin about my deletion?? Why should I when i dont know what is the reason behind. I email the admin of the game but to tell you honestly, until now, there is not even a single reply from them..
So that means, no proper support of this game!!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
And one more thing, whats the purpose of putting up a blog like this if the admin will not read it?
I have blogs that links to the site im making but i always make sure that i visit them from time to time inspite my very hectic schedule.
But the people behind this game dont even care to read them or to review their decisions on deleting accounts..
I have played this game for a long time and was very active in it. And have always maintained only single account as a way of abiding the rules set by the admin coz i fair that my account might get deleted if i violate just a single rule.
But now, i dont care about the game.. and will never join this game..
October 30th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Come on, we all know there is alot of account trading going on now, the SK’s wouldn’t be SK’s without doing it, and they know how to do it without getting caught.
So my opinion is the ones crying about the new trading and defecting rules are probably the ones trading now, they are afraid of losing their edge and not being the only SK on the block anymore due to a more level playing field.