Jimmy B's News :: Contest Winning Submission!

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It's a new day......A new VU......A new EU
.................................................. .....for us...........................................are you feeling good?

Late last week, MindArk released a preview of the upcoming VU8.7. It will arguably be the most dramatic VU release this year, with the changes impacting on almost every EU member. The way amplifiers work will be modified such that they can only add up to 50% extra maximum damage onto any gun they are attached to. So, for instance, with an A104 attached, a Sollomate Opalo would now only be able to deliver a maximum damage of 12. MA will also add more amps into the universe, and include them in the manufacturing process. Additionally, a brand new HUD will come with VU8.7 with a new sleek look and chat filters for globals, skill and damage. The full description of the changes can be seen here.

The radical alteration of the way amplifiers work will undoubtably cause significant change for many EU members. MA suggest that it is currently "too easy to take a low-level weapon [ie. Opalo] and add a high-level amp and this just doesn't correspond with the notion of steady advancement and investment in new gear". So the suggestion is that the changes are to be made in order to encourage mid-level skilled players to move away from amped Opalos and onto other weapons. The community is, however, very divided upon the matter:

• A large group in the community are concerned that by removing the Opalo as a serious hunting option, MA are removing the only economical way to hunt. A lot of players hunt almost solely with the amped Opalo, this change brings some concern for them.
  
  
• Those in the community that use BLP weapons are also rather concerned by the changes. One of the attractions of BLP weapons is that there are much larger amps available for BLP weapons than Laser weapons. However, many BLP weapons will no longer be able to effectively use popular amps like the Dante.
  
  
• Many players who have recently made investments in items that may be affected by the changes are concerned too. Prices may drop heavily on amps like the A204, the A106 and A105. The market price of BLP guns and amps may also be affected. On the other side, however, prices of guns like the Mk II have already started rising since the announcement.
  
  
• There are others in the community who believe that the changes will bring about a bit more balance to hunting in EU. They believe Opalo hunting is a serious drain on the so-called 'lootpool' and that the new changes could make hunting with mid-level guns more affordable for mid-level players.
  
  
• Finally, there is the group of players who predominantly hunt with melee. They would like an answer to: "When do we get amps then?".

Well, with the human community of EU so divided on the matter, we decided to head out into countryside and see what the other residents of Calypso think of the matter. First, we ran into a Snablesnot Male Young.

Jimmy: Hi there! What do you think about the new amplifier changes?
Snablesnot Male Young: Hi. Uh well. All them noobs will just come and kill us with Opalo+A101 won't they? Makes no difference to us then.

We headed deeper into the countryside and ran into an Atrox Old:

Jimmy: Hi there! What do you think about the new amplifier changes?
Atrox Old: Ha, ha, ha! I'll miss them Opalo hunters. My Dad's an Atrox Old Alpha so whenever an Opalo hunter comes for me I just call him and watch! They make for a nice supper!

Well, with Atrox Old Alphas supposedly nearby we didn't want to hang around so we headed back towards a tp. On the way there we bumped into a few Cornundacaudas:

Jimmy: Hi there! What do you think about the new amplifier changes?
Cornundacauda Mature: Bird's flying high
Cornundacauda Provider: You know how I feel
Cornundacauda Old: Sun in the sky
All Cornundacaudas: You know how I feel...