We are an odd group, us players who enjoy Text PBBGs (Persistent Browser-Based Games). It's hard to attract players to games like this which use text, timers, and a lack of the usual candy (animation, sound, stunning graphics, etc). Not only that, but in today's gaming climate where the console and the app are kings, games played in the web browser, even one like BL which is mobile friendly, are a struggling breed. Raising funds as an owner of these games is extremely difficult, so the ability to fund massive advertising and staffing, keeps the game evolution slow. So why play BL? I can't speak for everyone, but this is why I find myself returning again and again under various usernames.
As a mature, long-time gamer who enjoys games anywhere from on my console, to my phone... I discovered these types of games almost by accident. A couple years ago, a painful family situation, drove me to search for something to keep me distracted. I searched for mobile friendly games and came to Bootleggers.
Every game out there makes certain demands on you: Cost. Time spent playing. Where you have to be while you play (chained to your couch or desk? mobile?). Etc. BL fit right into my life. I don't want to chunk hours into it at a time. I need to jump on here and there when I have a chance, and I need to be able to drop it at a moment's notice to take care of my kids- without having to find a 'save spot'. Also, one of the biggest benefits of BL: a fully mobile version that doesn't look horrible.
I've stopped playing every now and then when I had a baby or life got extra busy. I even went though about a month long search for another, similar game to play. There's another similar game out there that is HUGE. Thousands of online players, large staff, awesome graphic design... but I just can't stick with it. It's a bit slow and clunky, and it punishes players with extensive stretches of lock-down where you can't do a thing as your character travels, stays for hours in jail or hospital, etc. It has no mission system at this time. Not fun at all. If I could get all those players over to BL I would. Other than that one, I searched and searched... joining and playing a few. Unfortunately needing them to be mobile friendly rules out about 98% of Text PBBGs and the rest were just not cutting it.
BL is doing several things very right. The timers are pretty short compared to other similar games. While the best thing you can do - OC - has a long timer, the rest are so short you can keep playing continuously as you chat on the forums or browse online in the background. Perfect timer balance without making it so fast that players with no real-life commitments and cheaters would have a huge advantage. Great community and social aspects from the forum, to the Crew system, to busting, BL encourages players to make friends. Being a PK (player killing) game where your character can suddenly be wiped completely out, also creates a lack of attachment to your specific progress on this character, instead encouraging players to focus more on their overall reputation within BL and the friends they make or Crews they join.
As a pay-what-you-want game, BL avoids the worst of the pay-to-win problems of many popular games out there. It's possible to earn your way up without paying, but the donation amounts are reasonable enough that players who appreciate the game, can make a donation and get a valuable reward. There are no advertisements, which also makes BL a rare treat.
Finally, while many players complain to the contrary, BL is making good progress on new features, updates and bug fixes. As a game without a full-time salaried staff, I'm impressed to see fun new featurs like the new Assignments, that keep popping up. As a long-time PHP web developer and owner of a development company, I know how hard it is to find people to work on a project like this as volunteers or for a minor stipend. Even that other large game I played which has a staff, is slower to release fun new features. A game this old, likely has a code-base which is convoluted and difficult to update. So the BL developer(s) should be commended.
BL isn't perfect of course. It could use some more players, and some usability improvements. A visual face-lift would be nice, and a few more activities you could do regularly other than crime-stealcars-negotiate-gym. Maybe some non-lethal PVP actions like mugging. And some more missions. I'm sure that long-time crew members have suggestions for the crew features too. If BL was my baby, or even if I had a weekend in the code, I have my own list of tweaks I'd make. However, no game is perfect of course... and from its humble origins, BL has come a long, long way. Seeing the new updates makes me hopeful for what is to come.
Why did I write this article? As someone who has received many dozens of hours of fun from BL for the minimal cost of a few small donations, I feel I owe BSF and the BL community some small thanks and compliments for being the game I always come back to. For not smothering BL with ads or completely abandoning it. For the hours put in by the volunteers and mods.
So this is my kudos to BL, and my summons to potential players to give BL a shot. I've searched high and low... and this is one of the good ones.
