Game World Downtime
Please note that the game will be offline for 30 minutes from 13:00 today. This is to provide a fix for recent lag and preload cancelling issues.
Please note that the game will be offline for 30 minutes from 13:00 today. This is to provide a fix for recent lag and preload cancelling issues.
Please note that the game and website will be offline from 6am to 4pm GMT on November 24th. This is for the deployment of the new patch containing the first wave of the some ongoing changes:
Full patch notes will be posted as soon as they are completed.
Many thanks for your patience while this essential update is deployed.
As you know, we’ve been busy working on the upcoming game patch and I’m happy to say that we’re now in a position where we would like to get your input. As such, the Test World is now open for all players to access and try out some of the new features.
For news on what is involved in this testing please check the test world forum here
Apparently it was Halloween last weekend. You’d think the Cybersports team had been getting into the spirit with ghostly makeup and haggard expressions. Alas, this is not the case. The pale faces, bloodshot eyes and eerie silences are not the result of good make up and well studied zombie impressions, but the effects of crunch time as the entire company has been frantically working away to prepare the next major game update. Sunlight has been forsaken and rest has been scorned while they put in their all to bring you the first update to the game from the in-house Cybersports Development team.
With some trepidation (and the offer of copious amounts of coffee) I’ve managed to drag them from their frenzied work long enough to get the details on what you can expect to see in the months ahead.
More than just the addition of new content and some gameplay tweaks, this is the first phase in a major change to how players will be able to access, play and support the game. Unlike previous patches where a huge amount of content has been deployed in one fell swoop, this will be a staggered deployment. However, for the sake of ease I’ve summarised the details of what you can expect to see over the next couple of months.
Gamepad support & control review
Social football gaming has previously been dominated by the console market and as a result many of the players who come to Football Superstars do so from a console gaming background. To such players the mouse and keyboard control system so familiar to PC gamers can be difficult to adapt to and many would prefer to use a gamepad such as an Xbox controller. As such, the new update will provide integrated support for both Xbox 360 style gamepads. This will include familiar and intuitive controls which the player will be able to use quickly and easily. This allows both console gamers and PC veterans to play on an even level. Of course, those who prefer the mouse and keyboard set up can continue to play as normal. They key here is choice and allowing people to play as they prefer.
Camera Options
To enhance the changes to the controller options, there are also new camera settings available. This will allow the player to play the game in either a top-down mode or in a pitch side view, similar to watching a match from the stands, so a player can play the game the way they like it. Players using the standard control set up will be able to switch between these modes at will, meaning they can use top down mode to get a wide overview of the pitch and then switch to over-the-shoulder view when that extra level of precision is needed. The top down mode is the standard view for gamepad controllers.
Localisation
One of the biggest aspects of the imminent game update is the roll out of our first stage of localisation. This is involves the translation of all game text and essential website content for the non-English speaking market. While Football Superstars already has a strong international player-base, this will open the game up to millions of players who would otherwise be intimidated by the exclusive use of English. It will also make it far easier for existing non-English speaking players to use the various website and game features relating to real world payments. Any online transaction relies on trust between the seller and the customer, and that trust is much easier to gain if the customer is confident in the language being used. To start with, the website will be translated into ten different languages. After that the first languages to be provided in the game itself will be French, Italian, German and Spanish, with Turkish, Russian and Polish then being considered following a strong existing player base in those countries and highly successful promotions.
Needless to say, making the game more accessible is better for everyone. More players means more matches and more business growth, which in turn means we can spend more time making ongoing improvements to the game itself.
Payment and Membership Changes
The game will soon undergo a total change in how subscriptions, membership and the associated benefits will work. Currently, anyone can purchase a monthly recurring subscription to gain access to various game features such as in-game discounts, regular bonds and access to PMC ownership etc. A few months back we offered a lifetime subscription which provided all of these bonuses for a larger one-off payment. Following feedback from the community it quickly became clear that different players want different things out of their investment to the game, and so the new membership system has been designed to offer that.
Recurring and lifetime subscriptions are to be replaced with a new scaling membership level whereby your membership is based on the total lifetime expenditure you have made on your account. Furthermore, many features are being separated from membership level. For example, if a player wants to start a PMC then they will be able to buy one regardless of their membership level. If the player spends £5 purchasing this PMC then this will move them up to tier 1 (£0 to £10 spent) and all of the inherent benefits that provides. Membership level never degrades, so even if that player never spends another penny, they will retain their level and the PMC. The membership levels and their appropriate benefits increase according to lifetime expenditure. As such, players who have spent more will gain more such as exclusive items and skills as well as invitations to premium events.
When this change is applied all lifetime expenditure up to this point will be taken into account, so current subscribers will be rewarded for their loyalty and support to the game. It also means that any purchases made on the website will not only give you immediate benefits, but will also go towards your membership level when the change-over is completed. The numbers given are only an example until the final pricing is locked down, but they give you an understanding of how things will be changing.
This means that a player will get out exactly as much as they put in and allows them to retain those benefits if they are unable to buy more for any reason. It also allows players without access to a credit card to gain access to all the features of the game. This results in one of the most flexible membership systems available on any online game.
This is a massive change for Football Superstars and so will be a staggered update. The first stage is to remove recurring subscriptions and the lifetime sub from the shop while the new system is being implemented on the back-end, ensuring a smoother transition. Game time will be purchased on a month by month basis until the second stage comes in. Any existing subscribers will retain their status until the the new system is launched and they are moved into their appropriate membership level.
Bonds into Credits
FS Bonds have been hugely popular since they were introduced but are about to receive an overhaul and will soon be replaced by FS Credits. This is more than simply a name change but is a change to how they are purchased and how you can use them. Where FS Bonds had a conversion rate of 1 FS Bond to 1000 FS Dollars, FS Credits will have a 1 for 1 exchange rate; one FS Credit is worth the same as 1 FS Dollar. This makes it far easier for you to manage your funds. Added to this, you will be able to make purchases in game using FS Credits in place of FS Dollars without having to convert them first. This streamlines the purchasing process dramatically.
One of the biggest benefits is the extra granularity this allows. Whereas previously we could only charge multiples of 1 FS Bond for any website feature or special item, this will allow us to make items and services available for much more scaling prices. Items could now be purchased for 500, 1500 or even 75 FS Credits. This allows for a far more diverse pricing system which will support the expansion of the items and services on offer as well as ensuring that the pricing is much clearer for the player.
Manage your funds from inside the game
To further streamline the purchasing process, the Wallet is being removed. Currently, when you purchase bonds they are added to your wallet, and must then be assigned to a specific character on your account if you wish to use them in game. However, with the launch of Superstar Management this summer there is a greater need for players to have a pool of bonds in their central wallet. This is being resolved in two ways. Firstly, the wallet itself is being removed and now Credits will be shared across all characters on an account. This means that you will never need to assign Credits to a character, but can use them as soon as you receive them.
Furthermore, the actual purchasing process is being streamlined with the implementation of the first phase of the In Game Browser. This will eventually provide all of the website functionality from within the game but will start with opening up the purchasing process, meaning a player can purchase Credits while playing the game without the need to log out and go to the website, providing instant Credits as and when you need them. When combined with the changes to the membership system already mentioned, this will make it far easier for you to get what you want when you want it.
Extras on the side
Added to all of the above additions are a number of small but significant changes to improve the gameplay experience overall such as a change to how Tab is used in matches, meaning players will be far more reliant on their wits if they want to be first on the ball as well as a new tip system will help guide new players through their first few levels as they explore the Football Superstars world.
Bring it on!
The net result of all of the above is that Football Superstars is becoming more accessible to new players of all backgrounds, languages and experience levels as well as providing more options on how you pay for your gaming experience.
Of course, telling you all of this is one thing, but nothing compares to trying it out for yourself. As such, the team are busy ironing out the feature so we can get them up on the test world for you to get a hands on experience. We’re eager for you to see these things first hand and so keep your eyes on the news page for word on when the first test sessions will be taking place and how you can get involved.
