I'm of the opinion that the recent trading simulation trading change was a mistake. Not for any "my precious credits" reason, but from a player interaction/experience perspective.
With these recent trading changes, it seems like there may be some similarities between ED and Conway's Game of Life; as trade route profits level out/decrease, people begin seeking other profitable trading routes and gradually spread throughout the universe, with some spreading out seeking higher profits and others sticking with safe, reliable, but relatively unprofitable runs.
Is this really a good system? Should a game with a major multiplayer component spend so much effort pushing players farther and farther from each other, and punishing sharing of in-game data?
http://pmav.eu/stuff/javascript-gam...lay=0&trail=0&grid=1&colors=1&zoom=1&s=random
I'm not saying this is necessarily accurate, but I do think it's a good illustration of what's going on. Try the simulation above; click RUN and ponder how this might reflect the current trading situation. Once your pattern has stabilized, consider a massively multiplayer game that forces players to hide in their little pockets of profit, and why you'd even consider this "multiplayer?"
With these recent trading changes, it seems like there may be some similarities between ED and Conway's Game of Life; as trade route profits level out/decrease, people begin seeking other profitable trading routes and gradually spread throughout the universe, with some spreading out seeking higher profits and others sticking with safe, reliable, but relatively unprofitable runs.
Is this really a good system? Should a game with a major multiplayer component spend so much effort pushing players farther and farther from each other, and punishing sharing of in-game data?
http://pmav.eu/stuff/javascript-gam...lay=0&trail=0&grid=1&colors=1&zoom=1&s=random
I'm not saying this is necessarily accurate, but I do think it's a good illustration of what's going on. Try the simulation above; click RUN and ponder how this might reflect the current trading situation. Once your pattern has stabilized, consider a massively multiplayer game that forces players to hide in their little pockets of profit, and why you'd even consider this "multiplayer?"