If you read last week’s issue of the Buzz then you will have read BSF2000’s column where he talks about the latest update, and future updates.
The latest update only contained one update, but I think it’s an important feature for many players. If you had a lot of friends on your previous account, it is annoying to have to add them all again after you have died. It’s even more annoying trying to remember them all. I think the new feature of notifying friends of your new account is a very good addition to the game.
I think it is one of those features that will be appreciated by people when the time comes to use it. It is difficult for players to fairly comment on it or phrase BSF for adding it because it isn’t something that most players can use right away. It is something that most players will probably take for granted as they continue to play the game.
BSF also talked about future updates. The revamp of the Blackjack casino being the one mentioned the most, and the one that I think most players are looking forward to seeing. The time is definitely right for a Blackjack update. The current feature as become tired and slightly worthless. No one really gambles on them, the people holding them are simply holding them with no intention of selling them.
Another feature coming soon is an achievement system. Achievements are a great idea because they give added purpose to features that are already in place. Everyone already does crimes, GTAs etc. but achievements would give users an extra reason to do them. It also adds an element of fun to the game.
What I was surprised about in BSF’s column is that he expects the new features to be added before his next article is published (a month’s time). There obviously could be some setbacks and delays, but I think a month is quite soon for these updates. Some players are too impatient about features being released when they are ‘ready’. BSF said in his article that the Blackjack feature is being tested at the moment. GenesisX said in the comments below the article: “Isn't it about time for some actual input? I'd rather have a rough testing phase with a big chance of a rollback than just sit around waiting for, well, nothing.”
There are a few simple reasons why things like this aren’t done: it would be pointless to release a feature when bugs and errors are likely to occur, you can say it’s pointless to have no new feature, but it’s even more pointless to have a broken feature. A rollback should be a last resort. If Blackjack messed up and several users were able to benefit from it, why should every other player have their last few hours of BL reset? Features go through phases of testing, there could be bugs in the new features when they are actually released, but closed testing always removes a majority of bugs. And not only is a rollback a last resort, it’s also added work that could’ve been avoided.
I’m looking forward to the new features, and looking forward to writing about them as well.
