The new version of the game will use existing data, no work or money or credits or experience will be lost.

There will be a brief period (a few weeks) where both versions of the game will run side by side on a shared database, so you can choose which version you want to play on (and it updates the same exact character) - this will allow you to bypass any bugs that may creep up during the testing phase. For example, lets say you cant mug someone on the new version if they flew and you followed because of some random bug issue - switch over to the old page and mug the shit out of them. 

There are some things that may not carryover exactly, for example, the new version has a much more in-depth version of OC's - you can assign roles and splits, deal with people outside of the normal OC pool, backfill with BGs if enough time has passed and so on.  This version is incompatible with the old version, so if there is a bug stopping you from doing it, then switch to the old version and run the already-created OC as a normal style on the old code and it will bypass the new aspects.

But for the most part, everything will be a 1 to 1 ratio, where the old game will act as a 'Plan B' if you encounter something funky. 

Once everything has been given a good shakedown by staff and a few volunteers over the next few weeks, some of you will start to see some alternate versions of features available that you can click on and perform them on the new version.  Once a feature has been used enough to pass its rough shakedown test, then it will be added to the new game's menu. Once the new game has enough things primed so that you are not constantly switching between the two for average gameplay, the URL will be provided and you will be able to freely use it.

Once the game is fully battle tested and I feel comfortable enough to make it the full time front facing version, then we will do a V-Day type event where I can basically have a day where 'nothing counts, so if something fails in the db during the switch, its no big deal if we lose 4 hours of petties', after such only the new version will be available.

Once the switchover has happened, we will start the feature release cycle - which goes as follows:

Minor updates: Weekly

Major Updates: Monthly

Absolute Game Changing Updates: Quarterly

This allows us plenty of time to ease into some new things without having to learn 3781 new things at once.

But Izzy, I heard it has color! and it may look different!

True, but you have complete control over all CSS on the game, all colors on the game, even the menu wording and placement, make it however you want.

Change is inevitable, I have to keep an eye forward to what new players would want and expect in a game, not everything will a feature that you feel suits you best, and that's OK.  There will be a heavily watched forum where users can provide constructive feedback backed with their well thought out alternative ideas.  I encourage users to participate, for silent users will never be fairly represented if they choose to not be involved.

Anyway, I saw there was an uptick from user who had some questions/concerns about the transition and if they would lose anything and wanted to address that in an informal setting.  Thanks for being patient during all of this, the technology has shifted multiple times and has required shifting the stack and processes multiple times during this long ass venture lol. But I've learned a lot and hope this will be as exciting for you as it has been for me.

Cheers!

Izzy

Once I deem it safe for some to play with it, I'll make an announcement and let people opt-in.  (First run though is going to be only staff since the last thing we need is an undiscovered bug doing damage that really cant be rolled back and leave a bunch of people affected).

does this mean we will be getting rounds? so everyone restarts quarterly? or is this more of like the addition or removal of potential features type deal?

Nah, it's more of a 'I don't want to overwhelm people, so if I do huge game changes every quarter, that gives them time to learn and adapt' on a predictable time table.

Adding in the much more granular control and options on OCs is easy for you guys to adapt to, you don't need 3 months of observing to get a feel for it, but if we added in a completely new dynamic, like something that greatly altered war strategy, and at the same time introduced sweeping changes on defense, wack, bodyguards, fast travel, locals, wackback, and rabid attack hamsters with herpes and poor fashion sense... all at the same time... it would be a mofo to plan around.

(Although I have dabbled a bit with the idea of seasonal leaderboards based on master accounts that you can opt-out on.  I am not a fan of resets, but I have a hard time coming up with reasons against seasonal leaderboards that are optional, and are tracked on the master account level so it doesnt care about death or shit like that, just raw work put in during set time frames with probably IRL and in game prizes (MR Yeti anyone?))

Theres times where a user asks for help with their account, so I hop on their account and....

ARARHHHHHHHHH

the online list flash bangs me!

I will take no part in such shenanigans - users can do it to themselves!

Nah, honestly, everyone is different, I prefer a darker theme for those 4am sessions - and after a billion years doing this, I sort of like muted colors.  Its also probably why I hate emojis... and kids on my lawn.