VU 9.1 - Bring on the foot guards!

[sir odd]

VU 9.1 - Bring on the foot guards!

About a month after the controversial VU 9.0 release (which added clothing decay, new avatar appearances, and more), VU 9.1 arrived today, after a longer than expected downtime of 14 hours. While some people are skeptical at best, the new login screen is a start. Your login information is no longer done by client, but server side (in most cases a more secure login.) Best of all, we get our X-mas gifts!

While many participants have not been afforded enough time to collect the foot guards of their favorite armor, 9.1 is upon us nonetheless. While some settle for good old pixie, others are cashing in on the price tag of getting ghost or uber foot guards. New Limited armors will be found, and even existing (L) armors will have a '10000 durability' increase to make them 'more competitve', in addition to the no equipping fee for (L) armors.

Also with the release of 9.1, the last bank makes its debut, stationed at Atlas Haven. Also, a Chinese CRD (Cyber Recreational Development Corp.) building has been introduced to New Oxford.

Among the changes in the VU, the option to change which parts of your avatar name are displayed is gone; now full avatar names are displayed at all times. While it may have been put into place to thwart scammers, this change has proven to be unpopular among many participants.

Another change is extending the display to 100 HoFs for each category. Perhaps a bit of overkill from the usual 25, as there will be nothing but HOF after HOF for the first day (but newbies with a 50 PED snable will get a nice suprise). Needless to say, when I logged in for the first time, Dub was already ten miles down the track! During that time I also heard that Feffiods were given the latest makeover.

Perhaps the biggest (and best) change is the release of over 40 different hairstyles and facial cosmetic changes. Avatars can now go and begin the process of finding a 'unique' look and start getting rid of the cookie cutter look alikes.

One thing to take note is afterwords saying "This new system is not connected to avatar skills and is a trial in basing a system on participant's real world skills. " What does it mean exactly?



Happy Holidays!

For discussion about VU 9.1:
Content List VU 9.1

[Lavawalker]

Nice post update,

Maffoids also receieved a similar make-over as feffoids,
Much better looking for the mutants they are

~ Sparkz

[Kaiser]

I haven't read the whole article but the new login does not make it anymore secure. You are still completely vulnerable to key loggers and spyware. The only thing that will make the login more secure is a gold card or an on screen keypad (this is not even secure just more secure).

[DRDoom]

Originally Posted by Kaiser

I haven't read the whole article but the new login does not make it anymore secure. You are still completely vulnerable to key loggers and spyware. The only thing that will make the login more secure is a gold card or an on screen keypad (this is not even secure just more secure).

The new login is definitely more secure, since the username / password are not stored in memory space anymore like before the VU when it could be read by any program. (But the GC is still the only solution against keyloggers)

[Kaiser]

Actually in order for them to be sent to the server they have to be loaded into a variable that has an allocated memory space before they can be sent to the server or else the keystrokes could never make it to the server or to the operating system for that matter or even out of the keyboard buffer which is also memory and readable.

Sooooo as I mentioned before, it adds no security at all. Now sure it may not stay resident in memory but that adds no security all because again with the right coding ability you could easily read the password from the keyboard buffer or the variable used as a password sending queue. Not to mention the fact that the password you entered is also stored in memory by the protocol stack for a split second before it is forwarded out of your machine.

I have to admit though, this VU does not seem as bad as some I have seen.

[Snowwolf]

dont forget to mention the no mobs in cp ....

and a return to rubberbanding

cool new music..

the loot lag on the servers seems .. last 3 weeks on an increase .. for thr rest great article wish i could set myself to write so eloquently

[dRiFF]

Originally Posted by sir odd

One thing to take note is afterwords saying "This new system is not connected to avatar skills and is a trial in basing a system on participant's real world skills. " What does it mean exactly?

I guess its about make-up.
I think it means you dont gain any skills if you do make-up, you just need your real life make-up skills :P
Or am I wrong?

[JackFree]

Originally Posted by dRiFF

I guess its about make-up.
I think it means you dont gain any skills if you do make-up, you just need your real life make-up skills :P
Or am I wrong?

Thats what I understood. The results of the make-up depends on how well you apply it regardless of how much skill your avatar has.

Nice report Sir Odd

Cheers

[AJack10600]

So wher are these bloody foot guards ???

[JackFree]

Originally Posted by AJack10600

So wher are these bloody foot guards ???

I actually looted a pair of vigi feet last night. Too bad I already bought a pair before the VU...