Jolt closes NationStates 2

[Newmanistan]

I love how the longest paragraph in Jolt's "apology" note was about how we should all try another one of their products. Not surprised that NS2 was a failure, not necessarily from what I saw when I first tried the game, but from the reactions of Jolt/OMAC people on the forums when you tried to offer them suggestions.

Loved the response, Max, and best of luck getting the money that your are justly entitled to from them.

[Brutland and Norden]

I love how the longest paragraph in Jolt's "apology" note was about how we should all try another one of their products.

At least they were kinda overt about it. Unlike putting CyberNations ads on NS1 forums.

[Metania]

Yeah, NS2 lost my vote when I realized they had basically reused the issues from NS1, then made typos, then made a bunch of random nonsensical 'economic goods', then added one thing after another which was of no use to me and would cost me money just to use.

This in addition to the war concept that was heavily advertised and the so-called 'betterness' both seeming to be vaporware. Though the ultimate end was when I saw it was frakkin' impossible to get together in a nice big group like on NS1, thus killing the social aspect.

So it is only fitting it dies in a fire of incompetence. :p

[The P]

I didn't mind NS2 in the beginning. Sure, it did seem less like a sequel with improvements and more like a poor ripoff of NationStates, but I remained optimistic (there was no reason for me to be pessimistic, since I hadn't paid anything, and complaining about free games that have a chance of getting better just seemed kinda silly). However, I did become agitated with the whole thing with Worlds, which I believe is a major fault in most people's opinions. Still, I didn't abandon the game.

However, now that they have begun these repairs or whatever they were, I am beginning to lose my incredible amounts of optimism towards that game. I am even more irritated by them recommending this "Utopia Kingdoms" to me, making it seem like it's a fantasy version of NS (something which I would personally love to play), and then ruining my dreams when I notice that it's exactly like the gazillion other "nation simulators" around the vast vastness of the Internet.

[King Alphaks]

NS2 sucked.

[Klaus Devestatorie]

Jolt is awful. I play another one of their games, Earth:2025. Its been around for well over a decade, but they won't even make any announcements on its developments (if any). Their excuse is that they can't understand the code of the former owner!!!
Incidentally its also the sister game of the Utopia alternative >_>

Wish they'd get off their corporate asses and do something useful.

[HC Eredivisie]

The original is always better.

[Amicus curiae]

Expected and not surprised. I never liked the new game.

[Krulltopia]

I like the "indefinite" part. They're desperately trying to make it sound like they are going to bring it back up, but that word strongly suggests they won't, especially with their track record.

[Gendara]

This makes me feel much better about having completely given up on NS2 about 2 hours after the beta opened. Just thinking about all the time I didn't waste playing it brings a smile to my face.

[Big D Baby]

I have to say, I stopped playing NationStates as of about 2 weeks ago after playing since May 12, 2004 with my original nation Punk Daddy.

A few months ago, I tried NS2 and it sucked wind, sucked. In NS there were always a few communities. The Jolt forum guys, the feeders, the user created-regions, and the defenders/invaders amongst some others. Over the last couple of years the feeder/user-created game life has died quite a bit and you can really see that in the number of nations. For me, NS just wasn't a fun "game" any more. Sure there were cool people but there were other games that were actually more fun and interesting than NS had become. Most in the feeder realm have always felt that the "jolt forum guys" never really listened or addressed our needs and concerns throughout the years and eventually the game became stale enough to motivate many of us to leave and pursue other interests.

I think having the forum in the game is a good move, a very good move. I hope that perhaps warring can become an integral part of the game again as any political game should include this real aspect of real world life - wars do happen. NS2 wasn't the answer by any chance, but will NS take advantage of those who still are interested in playing a game of political intrigue. If so, folks like myself who were part of the gaming community here might return in force and continue the vibrancy of NS.

[Tratvia]

The words "good riddance to bad rubbish" come to mind.

[Xomic]

I think what I'd like for NS3 or what have you, is maybe a /real/ video game, something like the sims or such, not because I don't enjoy NS1's formate, but because I'd really like to build a nation that 'really' existed.

There was a game developer(Stardock I think) trying to do a MMO under the same basic concept(except it would be on feudal Duchydoms rather than full-fledged nations), but it became vaporware now, and besides it was set in the medieval age. As for a The Sims like game, no thanks. I was thinking more like a Civilization-like game set as a Massively Multiplayer Strategy Game with roleplaying elements, maybe with one server for each tech level or something like that and roleplaying servers as well for people who want to use messaging representing their characters without 1337 speak.

But face it: that is never going to happen.

Oh yes, Civilizations is more close to what I'd want.

[Daistallia 2104]

Well, we now know the answer to my question here: http://forums3.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=573469

8 months and pull the plug.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I was Athens in NationStates 2 and I hated it. Good news in my point of view that NS2 is going offline, for I enjoyed NationStates Classic hundreds of times better than its sequel and yes, it is in need of some TLC.

There's hundreds of reasons why I stood with NS1, but here's a selection to compact it:

I feel that the best things in life should be free and I think donating a few US dollars a month to get all the features of a country-simulation game is totally a nonsense. Okay, advertising to fund this game is okay as, long it is used sensibly, but by reserving so many lucrative features to paying users of NationStates 2 really annoys me because, say if we have a internet user who loves an online simulation game so much but is on a tight budget then why he should have to put up with those reminders until he either quits or submits to donate a few dollars a month to remove the annoying reminders? Even OfferPal isn't an alternative to simple donation, it's like doing a embarrassing stunt for a few jennifers (300-500 by my last count).

Secondly, the lack of international cohesion in NS2. The presence of an pan-regional organization such as the WA and its predecessor, the NSUN is why NationStates is popular because it is getting many regions together. To have no equivalent in NS2 is making a world look like tribes with little idea of what the other tribes were. I tried alliances but that didn't work because it could not span multiple worlds. That's where the problem of a place to call home comes in. I made the Funen region because I wanted a small sizeable community of a few dozen nations instead of a forest of hundreds. In NS2 you had to pick a preset world unless you paid $5 for ambassador status.

[Golugan]

Wait, NS2 wasn't legit?

*feels dirty for having played it, yet relieved that that wasn't the final product*

[Crazy girl]

I was planning a long post here, with many old stories, but I guess all that is needed is a "Thanks, Max".

And do another Max Chat, dammit

[Numero Capitan]

The fact that I played the game for a couple of days, got elected as the sole moderator of my continent and then got bored and left, yet was still the only moderator 7 months later, says it all. Good riddance.

And Max, you're brilliant

[Kryozerkia]

It was an adequate concept very poorly executed; made Left Behind look palatable by comparison.

[Yenke-Bin]

Well, this solidifies my choice to abandon the Jolt forums for these. I hope more NSers will follow suit and throw our full support behind Max, NS1 and the entire team that has built this baby up and kept it running smoothly. If I were Max, I would pull NS1 completely away from Jolt within the next few weeks, and let them lose a big part of their business.

[Flammable Ice]

I can barely remember anything from my brief use of NS2, except that the interface was confusing.

[Hydrosteria]

When I FINALLY managed to register with NS2 after MONTHS of it telling me they were busy I walked in and then logged out five minutes after at what I was confronted with. Awful!

[The Altan Steppes]

We regret having to take such extreme action but unfortunately, the underlying design of the game has several major flaws which must be addressed otherwise it will become irreversibly broken. As soon as we have new information, you'll be informed. In the meantime, perhaps we could interest you in Utopia Kingdoms? It's a game which is heavily based on the management of a kingdom and its associated economy and military. Certainly not a carbon copy of NS2 but hopefully something to get involved with until NS2 returns.

Translation: "We regret our immense levels of suckitude at putting NS2 together, but unfortunately, we were just in it for the money and couldn't be bothered to fix the major flaws we already knew about. As soon as we can come up with more BS, you'll be inflicted with it. In the meantime, can we push you to another crappy game we run and hoover some more money out of your pockets? It's certainly not anywhere near as good as NS, but we hope some of you are still gullible enough to waste your time with us."

Such epic fail. I hope Max sues the heck out of Jolt/OMAC. And I'm so glad I stuck with NS1.

[Angels World]

When you publish a book, normally, you transfer all the rights to the publisher.

Looking at the big Nationstates band at the top of the forums, it has tm there.

I think the explanation was that Max owns the name but Jolt/OMAC owns the actual coding of the game.

As soon as we have new information, you'll be informed. In the meantime, perhaps we could interest you in Utopia Kingdoms?

So, probably no NS2 ever then.

Probably not. I'm so sorry to hear about what they did to Max. That is just awful. But it looks like something great could come out of it in the form of more independence and our own forums which will save him money. Also, who needs an NS2? Just improve NS1. People love NS1; it's proven and the community would probably be much more responsive to improvements there if you are looking for an improved game.

And if a book is self-published some publishers like Infinity Publishing for example, allow their authors to retain all their rights.

Love the forums by the way!

[North Wiedna]

Good. I never had any interest in NS2.

"Give us money to play a game where the free version works better. Also, try our other products, destined to make a hole in your heart.
-Jolt/OMAC