The Future Of NationStates

... Is looking pretty good, actually. Now that NationStates is on a new server, and NS2 is properly being looked after by OMAC, we can start developing the game a bit more again. I realise I've already linked to this thread in an earlier post, but things have got even more interesting since then. [violet] herself has chipped in a few words about what changes might be coming to NS so if you've got a suggestion, join the discussion!

Special kudos goes to Unibot for his/her interesting ideas. Regional issues make me go all gooey inside.

Also of note is the NationStates Trainers thread in International Incidents. If you're interested in roleplay but don't know where to begin, that's a damn good place to go to get some advice from our more experienced players! If you're reading this blog, you're probably not new to NS, though. Or your Google search has forsaken you. If this is the case I bid you good luck in your search for HOT LESBIAN PORN. Heh heh heh.

In other news, Jolt's taken the advertising on the forums up a notch to the point where the ads are actually within the posts. Many people have voiced their disapproval. Everyone who's upset by the new ads should realise that we don't have control over the forums, so if you wish to complain to Jolt, do so here: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=584726

NationStates 2 now has war! It's been a long time waiting for this most-coveted feature, and it's now tentatively been introduced to worlds 34, 64 and 119. Here's the official announcement.

Initial feedback for the new feature has been quite scathing, but there's optimism too. Here's a few links to threads about it:

War is a disappointment

Gg OMAC

War

World 64 Laws of War (there's some amazing politics-building in here, I'm impressed)

There's a lot of interesting stuff in the forums, including transcripts of the war issues in the NS2 Got Issues? forum, but you may not want to have that spoiled for you.

Speaking of issues, I've resigned my post as an NS2 issue writer, mostly because I couldn't keep up with the deadlines due to university work - however, since NS2 now has a 'submit your own issues' feature, I'm a bit of a fifth wheel there anyway, so it all works out. And not that many of my submissions have ended up being used so it's not big loss. It does mean, however, that I will be editing issues for NS1 again, not as frequently as I'd like, but there will be new ones I promise.

To conclude this post, I'll finish on some rather promising news straight from the typing fingers of [violet]. I shan't spoil it, go see yourselves: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14551293&postcount=47

Update: Max Barry has posted to the NationStates News page affirming NS1's independence of OMAC Industries.

NationStates 1 Moves On To Pastures New

http://www.nationstates.net/page=news/2009/02/18/index.html#exodus

NationStates 1 is in the processes of being moved to a new server so nation restoration has been disabled temporarily while all the data is moved across. Not much more I can add to this! I'll just settle with paraphrasing.

Here's some an interesting link to keep you occupied until there's something more interesting to say:

NS World Adjustments: Feeders <-- An interesting thread by The Bruce discussing possible changes to the feeder regions to compensate for the dropping player numbers (nation numbers seem to have stabilised around 50000 or so for now).

NationStates 2 YouTube Competition

Yes, I'm still alive. Just suffering the consequences of a wisdom tooth giving up the battle against decay, and getting back on board the University Studies Express. The tooth in question is hidden right at the back of my mouth where no manner of head tilting in front of the mirror will let me look at it, but from feeling it I can tell that I only have half a tooth there, it smells unpleasant no matter how much I brush it (or try to brush it, it's almost inaccessible), and it is SORE. VERY, VERY SORE.

Trying to get an NHS dentist is also excessively difficult.

On with NationStates business:

NationStates 2 has launched a competition to advertise NationStates 2 on American TV. They seem quite fond of the idea, linking to the NS2 Youtube channel three times in one post.

I think it's a really good idea, though I'm yet to see any entries I particularly like. The premise is pretty simple: make a ninety-second video of you addressing your nation about whatever you like. Winner gets to become the focus of OMAC's NationStates 2 advertising campaign. I'm intrigued to see what creativity this will inspire as more entries get listed though I'm a little sceptical as to how people will be drawn in by an ad done this way.

Time will tell.

In other news, New South Hell has written a new essay, this time about how NationStates categorises ideologies: http://cityofulthar.wordpress.com/2009/01/31/deconstructing-the-ideocube/