01-07 11:05 VeeZ 12371  - ADM
            
| With the new year now here we wanted to give you some information about what we are planning for the upcoming months/year in PI's future. With the testing of our new game core over at OviPets going well above expectations - we're planning on starting the transfer of PI to the new base as soon as we humanely can. It will, however, most likely be done in steps to avoid as many issues as possible. The first step now is to upgrade PI's server setup and operating system to give us access to newer technology and to give us a more flexible server setup where we can easily add new servers during demanding events. We're currently looking into how to do this as smoothly as we can with as little downtime as possible. Unfortunately, some downtime will be unavoidable when we move the database, but we will of course notify you all well in advance and try to cut it as short as possible. After this, the next step will most likely be to change the image drawing system. This will result in better quality images, give us a lot more flexibility when it comes to genes and also give us the possibility to make a tattooing system similar to OviPets - which will make for quicker and easier tattooing. These are the planned first steps and we just wanted to give you all a heads up on what we're working on  Please keep in mind that all of these upgrades will be taking place to make a new default layout that will be based on PONG a better PI environment. Whereas we understand that some users do continue to use PING, we do want you all to be aware that as changes occur, they may be pushing PING in to becoming more and more obsolete. Down the line, some updates may cause parts of PING to stop working. While we encourage everyone to use our default layout, and understand that some prefer PING, we feel it necessary to keep you all in the loop when it comes to these changes. Any suggestions/input on a new layout is much appreciated, and you're most welcome to post them here in this thread they will all be taken into consideration during the development. We're mainly aiming for a bit more compact look (smaller header and easier to use on smaller screens as such devices are very popular today) and we're also looking into getting rid of the dead space in the left hand column somehow. We are also aiming to make the interface a bit more visual when it comes to representing ponies and genes.   |
01-07 11:12 ShatteredPixie 4229  - USR
   | Hi. Will PI be changed to look and run like Ovipets? I personally am confused how Ovipets work, so although I signed up a long time ago, I never really played it. The FB posting style also confuses me a lot so I never really participated in the posts. |
01-07 11:12 licclefreak 4277  - USR
  
| These sound like exciting developments. My only concern is will the new game core be a facebook based thing like ovipets? I really dislike their 'credit' purchasing system. I am guessing I am proabably wrong here and that the main design of the game will stay the same. |
01-07 11:15 Esor 1904  - USR
  
| Quote licclefreak:These sound like exciting developments. My only concern is will the new game core be a facebook based thing like ovipets? I really dislike their 'credit' purchasing system. I am guessing I am proabably wrong here and that the main design if the game will stay the same.
My thoughts and questions are very similar. |
01-07 11:17 VeeZ 12372 - ADM | No, PI will never have anything to do with Facebook and Ovipets is a standalone game and they will not be merged in any way. There are however some features to make PI more user friendly (such as the tattooing system) that we will be bringing in from OviPets. |
01-07 11:18 Takaeji 9279 - USR   | All I immediately think to ask or say right now is this: How would the new system effect current tattoos? Will we be forced to redo them, or will there be a grandfathering type thing in place where it won't effect them? Also, could this possibly mean more and/or larger tattooing areas, or will they stay the same..? |
01-07 11:20 Star * Princess 2940 - USR   | Quote VeeZ:No, PI will never have anything to do with Facebook and Ovipets is a standalone game and they will not be merged in any way. There are however some features to make PI more user friendly (such as the tattooing system) that we will be bringing in from OviPets. =)
Awesome!! |
01-07 11:20 MadMooCow 4127  - USR
 | I can't tell you how much I appreciate a news post like this! I'm sure it was probably boring to write and to read for some, but I really appreciate it. Glad to hear that the new core's testing went well, and that we'll be seeing the effects of that in the coming year. I'm really looking forward to what you guys have in store for us! Better quality of graphics will always be a draw card with me, not to mention better flexibility for new genes! Bonus if it makes it easier for the staff to run it.  Also, do you think we could have a red (not just pink!) theme for the new layout? Its something I've been sorely wanting since I joined 6 years ago. |
01-07 11:21 Spiderlegs 297 - USR  | Quote :After this, the next step will most likely be to change the image drawing system. This will result in better quality images, give us a lot more flexibility when it comes to genes and also give us the possibility to make a tattooing system similar to OviPets - which will make for quicker and easier tattooing.
When you say better quality images, does this mean actually redrawing them? Will you rehire Dena to redraw the ponies, or another artist? Or are you simply meaning coloring and the line art? |
01-07 11:21 Miss Pink 3730 - USR  
| I am very confused. Like most of the time. Lol So, we won't have to have OviPets or Facebook or anything to use PI, right? So, it will just be the same logging in ect with no other account you need to log in? Sorry, I just don't quite understand. |
01-07 11:22 Akamuna 6983 - USR  | I'ma ctually quite supportive of bringing in the tattoo system from ovi...Ovi's is set up to allow you to do a full body tattoo in just one slot while here on PI it takes 3 slots to get it done, it would be quite a bit easier on those people who do tattoo's i think  |
01-07 11:22 VeeZ 12373 - ADM | Quote Takaeji:All I immediately think to ask or say right now is this:
How would the new system effect current tattoos? Will we be forced to redo them, or will there be a grandfathering type thing in place where it won't effect them?
Also, could this possibly mean more and/or larger tattooing areas, or will they stay the same..? :)
No need for worries, old tattoos will remain as they where The tattooing system is a couple of steps down the line so it's not 100% decided how it will work yet so I dare not anyway any such questions yet apart from letting you know they'll for sure not be made smaller |
01-07 11:23 Avalerion 2000 - USR  | I can't wait to see how PI runs when it's finally on the new game core. I'm glad work is being done to keep the site running smoothly. The tattooing news is unexpected, but welcome. Though I am also curious how it will affect current tattoos. Edit: I see there's an answer (one I like, too!). |
01-07 11:24 mara56 1141 - USR  | Quote Takaeji:All I immediately think to ask or say right now is this:
How would the new system effect current tattoos? Will we be forced to redo them, or will there be a grandfathering type thing in place where it won't effect them?
Also, could this possibly mean more and/or larger tattooing areas, or will they stay the same..? :)
My thoughts too |
01-07 11:31 Takaeji 9280 - USR | Quote VeeZ:No need for worries, old tattoos will remain as they where
The tattooing system is a couple of steps down the line so it's not 100% decided how it will work yet so I dare not anyway any such questions yet apart from letting you know they'll for sure not be made smaller =)
Awesome, thanks! Can't wait to hear more. I'll be sure to post if I can think of anything else that I might want clarification on. |
01-07 11:31 hijikata 337  - USR
| i like the manga style ping layout ,will there one like it in the pong default? |
01-07 11:34 MadMooCow 4128 - USR | Quote Spiderlegs:When you say better quality images, does this mean actually redrawing them? Will you rehire Dena to redraw the ponies, or another artist? Or are you simply meaning coloring and the line art?
My thought was that it would be more like smoother lines, less pixilated and such, with perhaps a little more detail wiggled in, rather than entirely new images. They'd just be a bit smoother and a bit cleaner. I wouldn't think that it would be a huge change like a complete redraw. The poor artists would have to re-do all the items and genes if the pony bases were changing. |
01-07 11:36 VeeZ 12374 - ADM | Quote MadMooCow:Quote Spiderlegs:When you say better quality images, does this mean actually redrawing them? Will you rehire Dena to redraw the ponies, or another artist? Or are you simply meaning coloring and the line art?
My thought was that it would be more like smoother lines, less pixilated and such, with perhaps a little more detail wiggled in, rather than entirely new images. They'd just be a bit smoother and a bit cleaner. I wouldn't think that it would be a huge change like a complete redraw. The poor artists would have to re-do all the items and genes if the pony bases were changing.
Right on the spot MadMooCow! |
01-07 11:36 yruvian 12621  - USR
  | My first concern about reading that, was that PI would turn into a Facebook game... but since that has been addressed, I'm actually looking forward to the changes.
As long as they don't trade in the very clear look and feel of the forums with the odd posting and communications of Ovipets. Even though I'm starting to find my way there now, I still feel much more at home on PI. And I really dislike the messy forums of Ovipets <.<.
(Plus... I really prefer annually paid accounts over Facebook-credits ;).) |
01-07 11:38 VeeZ 12375 - ADM | Quote yruvian:My first concern about reading that, was that PI would turn into a Facebook game... but since that has been addressed, I'm actually looking forward to the changes.
As long as they don't trade in the very clear look and feel of the forums with the odd posting and communications of Ovipets. Even though I'm starting to find my way there now, I still feel much more at home on PI. And I really dislike the messy forums of Ovipets <.<.
(Plus... I really prefer annually paid accounts over Facebook-credits ;).)
The feed system on OviPets is very different from actual forums (which the groups on OviPets have) and it's nothing we'll be adding to PI. PI is a global community game and it would therefor not be usable here Payment wise, nothing will change so no worries there |
01-07 11:42 Elven Nyx 6014  - USR
 
| My only concern, like the others, was the forums, communication and just overall navigation of OviPets. I played for a bit but stopped because I didn't much care for it at all. But as long as we're keeping the general style of PI as we know it now, I'm good with whatever changes you guys bring on. Thanks for all your hard work! |
01-07 11:45 Cat 26716 - USR  | My only concern is that Ovipets is lagging badly for me, at least on the homepage where your friends are listed and in your 'stable' if you happen to have a lot of pets. Otherwise, I don't really mind it or the layout. Yeah, I understood that PI will never be Ovipets and vice-versa, I just hope that my page won't start lagging in the future if I am to visit my stables for example. Otherwise, I'm really ok with most ideas. Thank you very much for posting this V, it's always wonderful to hear a word from the admin about PI's development |
01-07 12:11 Aleu 3139 - USR  | Thanks for the Information V. I am a bit worried about the change because I tried ovipets and didn't much care for it... The layout was too confusing. I have 2 main queries - will the Generator change to Ovi style? And will mass feeding/vetting be removed because last time I was on Ovipets there was no mass button... Also, I am curious if you have a list of the details you are definately trying to incorporate, I understand if you cannot share this information but I thought if you could it would help clear some confusion (maybe only mine, maybe others) Thanks V |
01-07 12:31 WildCard 8046 - USR  | Awesome! Looking forward to all the newness! Change is good in my book! Thanks for the update! Quote :And will mass feeding/vetting be removed
God forbid!  |
01-07 12:56 Emislove 5935 - USR   | Awesome news! Thank you for giving everyone a little heads up and letting us know what is going to start taking place with the new gamecore. I did enjoy Ovipets and some of the pieces of it.
I agree with MadMooCow anything that will upgrade the visuals of the game gets two thumbs up from me. |
01-07 13:03 VeeZ 12376 - ADM | Quote Aleu:Thanks for the Information V.
I am a bit worried about the change because I tried ovipets and didn't much care for it... The layout was too confusing. I have 2 main queries - will the Generator change to Ovi style? And will mass feeding/vetting be removed because last time I was on Ovipets there was no mass button...
Also, I am curious if you have a list of the details you are definately trying to incorporate, I understand if you cannot share this information but I thought if you could it would help clear some confusion (maybe only mine, maybe others)
Thanks V :)
We have no intentions of removing any features from PI, these updates will be mostly visual to improve user interface and gameplay experience. The reason we don't have mass feed on OviPets is because we have no limit on the amount of pets per account and feeding doesn't cost anything. This is not an issue on PI. |
01-07 13:09 Aleu 3140 - USR | Ok Great thanks so much Veez, I really appreciate the update |
01-07 13:14 Lady Lemon 3 5 - USR  | This sounds awesome, even more if it's possible add a "Mass-breed"-button and fuction with all the new changes later! ^^ I really hope for one anyway.  - This is Lady Lemon from a sub! - |
01-07 13:20 Mintaka 4010 - USR  | The main difference (re: mass vet/feed) is in both the payment systems and in the 'stable' systems. PI is a yearly fee, and finite space anyway as defined by enclosures. Therefore a mass system is not bad; the site is paid for and sustained by 6 mo./yearly increments, and storage is limited by how many accounts there are, making sure there's no glut of extras being 'maintained' with the mass functions. Ovi lacks these limiters, plus works on a different payment system, different sustainability, etc.
Mostly it's a core image-related system, not the generator, etc. I believe that is being put in, as well as making the site more friendly towards smaller screens/portable devices. (Honestly, a mobile site and a regular would not go amiss, honestly, and let us choose between/have default if a certain browser type was being used. Then the site for regular use wouldn't need overhauled. But that's me, and I know nothing of such things in detail so I'm only thinking aloud. I don't mind browsing PI on my phone as it is.)
I, for one, welcome this. Anything to make things easier on implementation is always nice, as well as making the site flow better. I love the PONG layout myself, although I prefer the left-hand as it is, especially for the widgets/gadgets. (I'm in love with Account Overview, so helpful! Thread Spy, Bookmarks, and Test breeding too, and Pony Overview on the questing accounts.)  To The Light - going for Third Max! |
01-07 13:38 SilverDragon 3586 - USR   | I'm quite looking forward to these new updates. ;D Thanks for the heads up!  |
