OGames new version 3.0 is imminent. We have been talking with WeTeHa, Community Manager OGame. He answered frankly, which changes are going to be put in and what they will effect.

Gamesdynamite:
The new version 3.0 is present. In your opinion, what are the most important changes ?
WeTeHa:
Although you always have to look at the changes as a whole package, the possible fleet escape in dishonourable combats is the most drastic and the most discussed point in the community, for sure. But exactly there are many criteria to consider.
The escape will only occur, if the combats are dishonourable, e.g. Here the new military highscore will be considered, the honour points, resp. the status of the player has effects on the escape, you have to attack within a certain fleet ratio and the fleet also needs sufficient deut to escape.
Unfortunately at that point it is ignored, that fleets cannot escape just like that. Complex relations have to arise to activate that behaviour and thus there still will be lots of targets, at which it will not occur.
All in all the thereby achieved better protection of new players is nevertheless the most important point, resp. our target. We would like to bound our ( new ) players to OGame longer and hence give them the possibility in order to acquaint themselves better with the game and its tactics - preferably without getting overrun by the tops directly after the start.

Gamesdynamite:
As to the changes, to what extent have you regarded and worked with the players' suggestions ?
WeTeHa:
Already after the first announcement of the new newbie protection at the beginning of May of this year, we have had many discussions about the planned changes at the boards of our international communities and have changed lots of plans, resp. readjusted. In this connection that includes amongst other things: the limit of the permanent 1:10 protection to 500,000 total points, the deactivation of the escape at honourable combats, the balancing of the dens, the adjustment of the formular of the terraformer and the removal of inactive players out of the honour points chart.
After the start of the international test server we have gained again lots of feedback by the international boards, our project board OGame Origin and of course by the integrated feedback system on the test server.
At the moment, we make further modifications of the costs of the fleet escape, the balancing of the dens, the general protection, as well as of the calculation of the highscore, e.g. At this juncture the defense will be included more, up to now a very huge criticism of the players.
We are still open-minded about changes of the complete balancing and surely we will still test diverse options to find a possible consensus between the protection of new players and that part, which is liked most by the old stagers of OGame.

Gamesdynamite:
What's the new newbie protection about ?
WeTeHa:
The idea of the new system is based prior on our own longtime observation, the constantly blazing discussions within the communities and also on breakdowns of the gaming behaviour of new players. Thereby we discovered that the bigger part of the mostly new players turn their back on OGame after having the first real loss in the game. Thus we thought about how it can be prevented and we had the idea to attenuate the loss a bit.
That is the reason why the protection lasts longer now, up to 500,000 points in the planned version, instead of the up to now existent range of 5,000 resp. 25,000 points, and minds the power ratios in the combats more.
The fleet escape results from that idea, by what you have not to start completely again after being attacked by a clearly superior player.
Our new introduced dens strike the same path. Those facilities shall protect a small part of the present resources permanently, prior in the start-up period of the account buildup. Therefore you still have the possibility to expand the account, also after an attack and the loss of diverse resources. So you have the chance to do something in spite of the loss.
Of course, at this we hope for the learning effect of the player, who notices that he can be a target in demand and that he should pay more attention to his account. Thereby he can come to the conclusion without a total loss.

Gamesdynamite:
Do you want to advise more players of you ?
WeTeHa:
Of course, with the introduction of the new protection for newbies we also try deliberately to get new players into OGame. So far they are very fast at the experienced players' mercy. But we improve that with our change explicitly.
With the introduction of the new newbie protection we try targeted to advice new players increasingly of us and to enthuse them for OGame.

Gamesdynamite:
What is the outlaw status ?
WeTeHa:
The outlaw status in the contrary to the newbie protection is a protection system of the stronger players. Now those cannot attack clearly weaker players anymore, or only in a narrow border. If a very weak player attacks a very strong player, he will lose his protection against all strong players of a duration of seven days.
Hence we avoid that the new, resp. weaker players take advantage of the system. Of course, we point to the player, if he wants to start such an attack.

Gamesdynamite:
How is the feedback of the players so far about the new version ?
WeTeHa:
To be honest, the previous feedback is mixed, because lots of the players fear that due to the new system the possibility of attacks will be reduced explicitly.
This is also concerned with the high complexity and the variety of our changes, which influences the balancing of the game and which inevitably will have impact on the current players.
At the moment we try to check and test the factual impact via the public test server. Thus we hope to find a compromise consistent with the community, which can cover the interests of the experienced players, but also our targets, the protection of the new players.
That is why we appreciate every feedback and try to agree to the appropriate suggestions and approaches. As mentioned before, there have already been very much changes, resp. right now we make further modifications.

Gamesdynamite:
Why has the limit of the resources been increased ?
WeTeHa:
So far the limit for moving resources in OGame was program-based somewhat over 4 milliards resources of one type. It was possible to accommodate more on his planet, however not to move them at one go. This value was sufficient for round about nine years, without causing problems.
In the meantime it happens in very old universes, resp. also in faster universes, that single top players transport such many resources or also harvest them in big CR's. Since it was not possible, those resources become lost. That is the reason why that value has been adjusted sustainable. At least sufficient for the next nine years as well.

Gamesdynamite:
The fleet escape has been discussed a little more on the board - won't there be many players, who quit thereby ?
WeTeHa:
We don't think that the fleet escape will have such a big effect on the already active players. As mentioned before, the escape of a fleet can only happen under certain basic conditions of dishonourable combats, whereby you still will be able to attack accordingly worthwhile targets without having any problems.
Though you have to look after the ratio of the fleets, which are arranged in the combat while attacking a weaker adversary. If you don't go beyond the ratio of 5:1 ( resp. 3:1 with admirals ), you can attack a certain amount of targets with a possible win.
Sure, you cannot protect new players completely, without constraining the clearly stronger players in a certain way and arrange the combats according to the ratio more equitable.
In addition we want to use the new newbie protection prior for new universes in that form, in which then all players will grow organically into the new system. For a rollout into older universes the adjustments can be changed variable, not to constrain the players so much, who are already there.

Gamesdynamite:
Are the ratios of the fleet escape fixed, or is it possible that the ratio 1:10 can still be changed ?
WeTeHa:
The ratio refer merely to the newbie protection itself. Regarding to dishonourable combats the currently planned ratio is 5:1. As soon as you go beyond it, the fleet of the adversary can escape. But of course we also look precisely at the ratio of the players on the test server and the combats to make necessary modifications optionally, resp. to verify. Most of the values are not yet carved in stone.

Gamesdynamite:
By now, there is also a board area for the test uni, have there already been found useful suggestions of improvement and bugs ?
WeTeHa:
On the board there is a discussion about the newbie protection in its current form and in our executed modification. Although there are also very much interesting suggestions, we get most of the suggestions of improvement und approaches via the feedback system, which we have installed into our test universe pioneers.ogame.org ( universe "Origin" ).
Furthermore our players have the possibility to discuss on an international level on our project board board.origin.ogame.de. There we also have installed diverse board areas for our test universe.

Gamesdynamite:
In conclusion: What's going on with OGame in the year 2011 ?
WeTeHa:
Although the year is nearly over, we have much in mind with OGame.
Besides the launch of the new newbie protection and the more and more progressing merge of the universes, in whose finally development we are, the proximate bigger update already waits in the wings. There are still also diverse innovations for OGame.
Also the year 2012 is well- planned and will surprise with new options. But at the moment we do not want to reveal too much yet.

/me huggles HT, TRUSTNO1 en Lord voor hun vertaling!

[Feature Request] Info tooltip on moon in planet list
[Feature Request] Abandoned planets/Rename of Nickname: adjustment for Facebook users
[Feature Request] Setting: open some overlays as external windows (detailed combat report, notes)
[Feature Request] Galaxy: Show fleet icon while colonizing a planet
[Feature Request] new item order inside the shop
[Feature Request] Further Email change before validation
[Feature Request] Usability - Jumpgate Overlay (possible to click on picture)
[Feature Request] Usability: Adjustment for textfields
[Feature Request] Building queue - Hint for commander
[Feature Request] Cooldown time for Jumpgates in the description text
[Feature Request] Usability - Empire View (last column can be moved)
[Feature Request] Hint for expiration of officer
[Feature Request] (iPad) Wipe effect in the galaxy view
[Feature Request] new Interplanetary missiles attack overlay
[Feature Request] BB Code Editor
[Polishing] (iPad) Galaxy: Usability - Colonization
[Polishing] Usability - Input fields(IE8/9)
[Polishing] Usability - Merchant (res type highlighted)
[Polishing] Adjustment of dropdown menus
[Polishing] Tooltip adjustment - resource settings - Engineer
[Polishing] Title adjustment (universe - ogame)
[Polishing] Icon for moon & debris fields on several pages
[Bugs] (iPad) display problem with Crosspromotion Overlay
[Bugs] (iPad) Galaxy view: Missing information
[Bugs] (iPad) Fleet Movement: Local time shown instead of server time for return time
[Bugs] (iPad) Missing information about why an item cannot be activated
[Bugs] (iPad) Info text about why an item cannot be activated is partially invisible when the text is long
[Bugs] (iPad) Phalanx: planetnames are not shortened properly
[Bugs] Alliance > Manage Alliance > Member can only give rights, that he has on his own -> rights are deleted
[Bugs] Alliance: Directly after saving rights for which you don't have the permission to set them, they are not ticked
[Bugs] Alliance message: formatted text (size) covers the headline
[Bugs] Alliance list - broken activity order
[Bugs] Delete messages - display issue
[Bugs] Messages: Deleting messages from inside the message does not work
[Bugs] Galaxy: Tooltip stays open when using arrow keys to switch galaxy/system
[Bugs] Galaxy: Problem with tooltips
[Bugs] Auctionner: Two items given
[Bugs] Auctionner: Number of items not updated
[Bugs] Import/Export: problem with bidding honour points (turns green without enough HP)
[Bugs] Combat Report: Detailed combat report does not contain information on repaired defense
[Bugs] Combat reports in an extra window: small style problem
[Bugs] Combat report: Display issue
[Bugs] Tactical Retreat: Rounding issue
[Bugs] Tactical Retreat: Missing thousands separators in message about own retreat
[Bugs] Side-Effects when having a detailed combat report opened while clicking through the combat report overviews
[Bugs] Phalanx: If you open your own flight to a planet in phalanx while having the eventlist open, row isn't removed after arrival
[Bugs] Phalanx: Missing source planet names at acs attacks
[Bugs] Phalanx Overlay does not show countdowns
[Bugs] Fixes for OGame API (number of named universes shown)
[Bugs] Player unable to remove vacation mode after a ban
[Bugs] Missing resources when account is copied while being in vacation mode
[Bugs] Empire: empty booster tooltips
[Bugs] Search Overlay: first four columns are right aligned instead of left-aligned
[Bugs] eventList: content shifted if there are long planet names inside
[Bugs] Expedition mission missed on event list when a "delay" event is found
[Bugs] Amount of ships of a type limited while sending them
[Bugs] Incorrect Honour Points calculation for players in vacation mode
[Bugs] Dishonorable battle against buddy, if one held with a small fleet
[Bugs] Missing styles in IE 8 & 9
[Bugs] Error at Research Points calculation
[Bugs] Resources Booster on moons shown as permanent
[Bugs] Happy Hour Banner visible on Fleet 3 and Movement though commander is active and the banner has been hidden
[Bugs] Remaining time of the Commanding Staff defect
[Bugs] Price for non-buyable items is shown
[Bugs] Planet field items not sorted during special offer
[Bugs] Rename Planets: Information about not enough characters is not removed while typing
[Bugs] Settings > User data > Change Email-Address: Info text after changing Email-Adress incorrect
[Bugs] Fleet2: Long moon names are not displayed properly for source / target
[Bugs] Fleet page 3: When clicking in the Back-Button of Firefox, the error message "Document Expired" appeared
[Bugs] Moon destruction mission doesn't work properly
[Bugs] Incorrect Fleet findings in Expeditions
[Bugs] Planetlist: Moon on the bottom is covered by footer
[Bugs] Buddy - Link for invitation misplaced
[Bugs] Jumpgate - several issues
[Bugs] Advertising overlaps planet list
[Bugs] Fixed too long javascript loading on fleet page 3

[Bugs] Energy in tooltip not correct
[Bugs] Buildings: Can't demolish buildings, if pre-requisites are not fulfilled
[Bugs] Merchant: possible to open several submenus simultaneously
[Bugs] Galaxy: missing activity for player in vacation mode
[Bugs] Notes: time problem
[Bugs] RSS-Feed: incorrect sorting of messages
[Bugs] Wrong behavior of shipyard queue with vmode / non-activated accounts