If you like to rewatch the Q&A

[-Rachel- 129]

6 minutes ago, NotZombieBiscuit said:

Thanks. You're a big help.

I do my best.

[NotZombieBiscuit 3146]

10 minutes ago, -Rachel- said:

I do my best.

You deserve a pat on the back.

pats you on the back

[MrChan 337]

EDIT: I accidentally skimmed over Rapid99's rough transcript which makes this kinda redundant, but since I've gone and done it, I might as well leave it here.

 

Abridged version of of the Q&A for reference and for those who haven't got the time to watch it yet. I would encourage everyone to put aside 50 minutes for this at some point, it is worth it and Matt comes across very well in it, imo. Plus I might have completely misunderstood something.

Timestamps are from the recording on Kemp's twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/265424620?t=05s

@ 3:36 - Cheat detection
Battleye will be introduced in "the very next patch".
FF will be retained in the background, but will not be automatically banning.
FF not tuned in APB for over a year because G1 couldn't pay for it.
Matt can say from sitting in with support that there "unequivocally" were improper bans.
"A majority" of the playerbase will be unbanned. The bulk of bans for cheating will be undone. This will not happen immediately, it will happen after Battleye is introduced.
Bans will not be broadcast. Matt considers the practice toxic.
Banned players can still post on forums whilst the ban policy is being worked out. Not clear if this is a permanent plan.

@11:23 - Rough Roadmap
First part will be "infrastructure":
- New Support & Forums
- New anti-cheat
- New two-factor authentication

Second part is "unification"
- Bringing PC versions to Unreal 3.5 and unifying the PC & Console codebases.
- Announcement on this in 1-2 weeks.
- Unreal 4 is being worked on. No timescale was given on this.

Third is dealing with critical mechanics.

Fourth is 'minor' content patches. Clothing etc.

Lastly 'major' content including a map.

@16:36 - ARMAS / Microtransactions
Matt does not consider APB pay 2 win, but there is a pay 2 win stigma.
No plan to change the fundemental economic model of the game.
Matt would personally like to bring the ARMAS pricing down. He thinks the excessive prices could contribute to the p2w stigma.
Considering putting some current ARMAS-only items into contact progression.

@ 19:26 - New Code of Conduct (nekkidness!!!)
Greater GM presence. Wants it to be interactive rather than policing per se.
No place for nudity in APB
No hate & racically inappropriate symbols to be allowed either

@22:03 - Dethreating / Threat System
Threat considered part of the 'critical mechanics' to be dealt with.
Needs to be reworked or possibly rebuilt from scratch.
Matt finds the ability to track your matchmaking level / progress over a short time problematic.
Threat changes should take longer or the ability to exploit it should be removed.

@23:50 - Kemp goes for a slash and Matt reads chat.

@24:55 - Devstream / Devblog / Future Q&As.
Matt's enthusiastic about things like this
Wants to do more Open Letters, possibly vLogs, etc.

@26:12 - Login screen & music
Wants to bring it back, but needs to check the legal situation on the old music
Doesn't think we need a 'loading screen to get to a loading screen'

@27:34 - Performance & optomisation on consoles
Wants to work on this, feels its long overdue
Will be worked on during both the 'unification' and 'critical mechanics' stages

@29:20 - Purchasable ignore list extensions
Feels charging for an ignore list expansion is the wrong approach
Ignore list can't be infinite, but will seek to increase it from its current level for free

@31:19 - Prestige / Noteriety system
Falls under 'critical mechanics'
Griefing in-mission players general needs to be tweaked / re-designed to eliminate the 'feel bad' moments

@32:55 - Character server transfers
Technically problematic, especially with APB's level of customisation
Wants to allow it
Han server placement was mis-handled, hoping to give Han players the ability to migrate to Jericho
Nekrova more problematic with unique content, but still wants to find a way to balance it to allow migration to Citadel

@35:57 - Trading system
Wants to add one
Can be a problem in terms of third-parties involving themselves in the APB economy
Also opens up the possibility Credit Card fraud / laundering
Trade System might be locked to above a certain level if implemented to combat this

@39:12 - Competitive Scene
Can't answer directly on the stream
It is being discussed and he does see a place for it in APB

@40:18 - Refer a Friend
Loves the idea of RaF, but it has to be handled correctly
On the table to be looked at in the future to re-grow the playerbase

@41:43 - KttC bans
These will be reversed

@43:32 - Joker Boxes
Rewards will be non-tradable to make the JMBs compliant
May reduce price of JMBs in the future to compensate

@45:16 - Shaders / Advanced Launcher
"Slippery slope"
Crosshair options & low config modes should be made avaialble in game
Recommended players not use the Advanced Launcher until they've tested it against Battleye

@48:45
Acknowledged the Fallen Earth players

@49:15 - Weapon balance
Weapons are fairly well balanced with some exceptions
Wants to avoid a heavy-handed approach
Weapon balance is overdue, however

@51:04 - Daily / Seasonal Events
Will do their best to get to this, but it's a little further down the roadmap

Edited May 25, 2018 by MrChan

[Songbearer 72]

56 minutes ago, Rapid99 said:

Until then, here is a super rushed and paraphrased transcript I typed in notepad while watching the stream live:

[snip]

Thanks for this, massive help. I'm genuinely excited and optimistic for the changes - I'll probably give APB a (wary) look again when the anticheat has changed. Bold move to give the community a second chance but maybe people will clean up their act. Very interested to note they hired some old talent again, looks like they're really going the distance to try and make APB worth a second (third?) look.

[Zolerox 564]

Fallen earth (said this a million times and i will probably say it again) Is my most played G1 Game even after i stopped playing in 2013 and i play apb daily since then.

Glad to hear he (unlike some people) realize apb isn't the only game we play.

 

And old forums deleted in 3 months. (or was it weeks no idea)