Shareplay Newsletter
No. 11, April 22, 1999, Thursday
Dear SharePlay Newsletter readers,
In this issue you can read about:
1. Panumbra update:
- Panumbra has a new client
- Update with new skills, templates and a new insect race
- Third Panumbra quest completed
- New, faster data server
- The Paladins are recruiting
2. Space Merchant update
3. Monarchy update
4. MACE update
1. Panumbra update
A new Panumbra client version has been released early April. This new client is essentially the same as the old one, but uses browser windows instead of Java windows, and smoothes out some of the glitches of the old version. The new client uses a newer version of Java, JDK 1.1. This version is only supported in 4.0 browser versions natively, if you are using an older browser, you need to download a plug-in that is available at the Sun site (http://www.java.sun.com). The old client is still available, but we will be taking it off-line by the end of April, so please make sure to upgrade and change your links by then. To get the new client, go to http://www.shareplay.com/playdemo.htm.
A new Panumbra update has been released on April 21st, containing 25 new skills, three new templates, and a completely new race: the Thri-kreen, an insect race with four arms. Many skill requirements have been changed and many templates have been modified to include new skills. Brian has been working on this release for months. You can find more information what has changed on the webboard, and the web site reference has been updated to include the changes. The Player's Corner has also grown.
The third Panumbra quest was completed in the middle of March. This time the quest was designed to be easier, allowing less experienced players to participate. All ten prizes were won and awarded. More details on the webboard, and as always, it is a good idea to watch out for new quest announcements and up-to-date news as well on the webboard.
Panumbra also received a new, faster data server at the beginning of April. As a result, loading, saving and leveling characters became a lot faster, as well as server restarts. The server also stays up for longer periods of time.
The Paladins of Panumbra are looking for new PALs. Since the changes, activity in Panumbra has grown, and the Paladins have found all their hands full of helping people in the game. If you are an experienced Panumbra player, like to help people, have an even temper, and would like to join the Paladins, please fill out the Paladin application form.
2. Space Merchant update
A new game has started at the end of March. It's called Hybrid, because it is has large galaxy sizes like Race Wars but scarce links and ports like Famine. Both Famine and Arms Race are closed to new players now, Arms Race will end at the end of May, Famine at the end of June.
Speef is working on cleaning up the combat code. This is a relatively big project, and the first part under revision is planetary combat. Changes will be introduced to address the one drone and one shield problems, and to remove some loopholes. More details can be found on the webboard.
Due to excessive cheating using free mail accounts, hotmail, yahoo, excite and go.com e-mail accounts will not be allowed to create new logins in Space Merchant any more. Old accounts with these e-mails are not affected. We will be expanding this list to include other free mail domains if they become abused. We are aware that many legitimate players are using these domains for their e-mail and will be penalized by this decision, and we regret we had to make this decision.
More and more people are playing Space Merchant, and the server is getting overloaded at peak times. We suggest you try to play in the mornings (server time). We are trying to work out ways of getting a bigger server soon.
3. Monarchy update
Monarchy is getting very popular, the server is having trouble handling the load. We are trying to get a bigger server for Monarchy as well, but again, try playing outside of peak hours, that means the mornings server time.
We have shut down the evernight server, so if you have links that still point to evernight.net, please make sure to change them to http://monarchy.shareplay.com. Due to the server shutdown, the evernight.com e-mail addresses were down for about a week, but now all e-mail addresses are back up again. If your previous e-mails have bounced, give it another try now.
4. M.A.C.E update
Well, the development of M.A.C.E. is under way, but quite a bit delayed, mostly due to the evernight server shutdown. We will keep you updated when we know more.
This was the SharePlay Newsletter for today. Thank you for reading!
Regards,
Marta Gabnai
and the SharePlay development team
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