Hello Planet #5

[TheMagician]

Kidmaciek:

It would be cool one day to see something like "TrackMania Re-United". A definitive TM game that binds the community all together back.

Hylis

Kidmaciek, you are right that United Forever made everybody united, and it was great for this, but you would need to tell me how to add one environment from here. If the solution was to either make all environments for free or never add ones, we still had a solution to find. United was an answer but people got to rebuy Orginal & Sunrise.

I've bought the original environments, I've bought Sunrise, I've bought TMUF and I would be more than happy to throw my money at you for a new Mega-TMUF with all previous environments.

Why would I (re-)re-buy? Two reasons:
1) With each re-buy the environments have been slightly updated (graphics in the original TM and new blocks for Sunrise)
2) I have all the different environments in one place. This is such an important point. To me TM is not just about the flexibility in modding one specific environment but also about jumping from snow to islands to bay to canyon to valley to desert to rally to stadium to coast ... in a matter of seconds.

I really think you should find a solution to that problem. Reduce the price of the old environments, give them a couple new blocks, create servers that can play all the environments and I'm sure people will buy it. It has worked with TMUF and it will work again!

[shaxe]

I just don't understand the logic here. It sounds like you are hedging your bets on people buying TMT, what sounds like an all in 1 polished experience... and then after some time you expect that these people are going to go and buy isolated versions of the very same environments that they have already paid for and have already been playing in TMT? Just because there's a little bit more depth and customization to be had in the maniaplanet versions? I don't think it's going to happen like that, mate, unless you drastically cut the prices of the maniaplanet environments once TMT comes out. I was looking the other day and saw that TM2: Canyon costs the same as what it did when i bought it 3 years ago, I can't tell you another game that has the same price tag from launch right through to 4 years later, I just can't understand why that has been the case.

Personally I think the best way forward for TM is an all in approach on TMT, Maniaplanet has fragmented the community and it has already been given years to succeed and it hasn't, the execution hasn't been good and the idea doesn't work. I think it's time to accept defeat and move on from it.

When TMT was announced I had a positive feeling, I was excited, it seemed that finally the community was going to re-unite in an awesome looking revamped and enhanced version of what trackmania 2 wanted to be, like TMT was going to be TM2 reborn, but now I come and read through this thread and see that you're hanging on to the maniaplanet vision and your success is entirely dependent on TMT advertising Maniaplanet and you expect people to re-buy environment fragments of TMT in Maniaplanet... It isn't going to happen, don't you think that will be massively confusing to players? People who buy TMT will see maniaplanet as something that came out 4 years ago and came before TMT, they aren't going to see maniaplanet as their future of trackmania. This is going to be a confusing mess to anyone who is new to the series.

Don't squander the opportunity TMT will give to reignite the popularity of the franchise, Maniaplanet has had its chance and people don't like it.

[745]

The difficult questions

Trackmania Turbo is standalone on PC. It will create another additional place of community, instead of all in one place.
Lagoon will release only next year on Maniaplanet, to take time to adapt content at best.
We intend to make a commercial move for players who wish all TM envs in Maniaplanet & the TM Turbo game.
A restricted choice of consoles, since it’s the same team working on Trackmania Turbo & Maniaplanet, for reasons of time.

For me, dividing is the only big question, and seems to be a counter part of looking to have best of both worlds: TM Turbo for a finished product & Maniaplanet in a constant evolution by players & us. So, it will be a challenge, we have some things to do to help, including the release of Maniaplanet 4, but it’s also partly in the hands of the community players to transform this division in addition.

Many other questions will have to be answered later, like the question of a beta or the way the online will be done, but we have to wait and come back with more info later!

Let's play the "Nadeo Manager"?

It's all too confusing now, making an all-in-one place is possible and can make everything simplier. To avoid misunderstandings, let's call MP Engine "TM2/SM Engine" instead. Then reduce ManiaPlanet to a steam-like departure spot for all Nadeo PC games, TM2, SM, TMT, TMUF, VSK even. With the same login, currency, manialink, buddy list, chat, etc. Older games would need an update to add support to the MP chat. Load files when you start playing or enter a title, not at MP start.

Merge TMNF into TM2 Stadium, loose some limitations, but keep the universal demo too.

TM2 and TMT: Purchase one, get both, Lagoon needs to go on pre-sale before the release of TMT, so the sum fits. Players tend to stick to the game with most people in, one may be left almost empty after some time, probably ManiaPlanet, it won't make sense for the community to keep creating custom content if there's very few players.

[Florenzius]

I think a year later (when Turbo is into MP) the graphic of the game in MP will be like the graphic in the other games (Valley...); so, bad. Because the new game (without MP) will have new sounds, new graphic, new all

And the "old" games have "other" graphic.

[eyebo]

4. I went to pre-order TM Turbo yesterday and it was listed at $19.99USD -- I decided to hold off because I want a lot of these concerns resolved first (like I said, I probably still will...)
However!!! I just went to the Uplay store to look at the price again, and it's now listed at $39.99!!!

I saw the price change too. I was lucky to get it when it was $19.99.

[nailbomb69]

62.99NZD for TMT and have to have a uplay account. Sorry but this will be the first TM game I wont be buying.

[xrayjay]

35,99 € at steam and 35,94 € at uplay store, this 19,99 $ discount would be not bad but it´s gone... And to be honest, i don´t want uplay, so i guess i have to pass this and wait for the tm2 lagoon (which will be hopefully without uplay!)

In general it´s maybe a better decision to unite the whole maniaplanet thing into one game, just split shootmania (it´s a different game according to a racing game) and Turbo aswell (cause it´s an own game, primary for console), one price to get all titles (the existing ones). This would end the whole discussion... May for further titles (if there are some planned) sold them as dlc (for a small amount of cash) but let them be together, Maniaplanet United Forever

[novationx]

I just don't understand the logic here. It sounds like you are hedging your bets on people buying TMT, what sounds like an all in 1 polished experience... and then after some time you expect that these people are going to go and buy isolated versions of the very same environments that they have already paid for and have already been playing in TMT? Just because there's a little bit more depth and customization to be had in the maniaplanet versions? I don't think it's going to happen like that, mate, unless you drastically cut the prices of the maniaplanet environments once TMT comes out. I was looking the other day and saw that TM2: Canyon costs the same as what it did when i bought it 3 years ago, I can't tell you another game that has the same price tag from launch right through to 4 years later, I just can't understand why that has been the case.

Personally I think the best way forward for TM is an all in approach on TMT, Maniaplanet has fragmented the community and it has already been given years to succeed and it hasn't, the execution hasn't been good and the idea doesn't work. I think it's time to accept defeat and move on from it.

When TMT was announced I had a positive feeling, I was excited, it seemed that finally the community was going to re-unite in an awesome looking revamped and enhanced version of what trackmania 2 wanted to be, like TMT was going to be TM2 reborn, but now I come and read through this thread and see that you're hanging on to the maniaplanet vision and your success is entirely dependent on TMT advertising Maniaplanet and you expect people to re-buy environment fragments of TMT in Maniaplanet... It isn't going to happen, don't you think that will be massively confusing to players? People who buy TMT will see maniaplanet as something that came out 4 years ago and came before TMT, they aren't going to see maniaplanet as their future of trackmania. This is going to be a confusing mess to anyone who is new to the series.

Don't squander the opportunity TMT will give to reignite the popularity of the franchise, Maniaplanet has had its chance and people don't like it.

I agree. TMT itself is awesome! Everything together, better hud, sounds etc. I really was excited too when I saw the trailer etc. That positivy quickly changed when reading hello planet#5 because of the reasons above. I cant even imagine spending that money 2x etc... They dont even know what they will do... They could have been more prepared and avoided all of this negativity... Maybe an explanatory infographic with timeline, games & prices would be a smart idea?

I also dont understand why their games stay at the same price for years. We didnt have an update in 1year+ ( ShootMania) and after reading all of this it looks like SM will only get an update by the end of next year ( rofl ). I wonder if the game will still have the same price then. Always such weird decision-making @ NADEO.
Just scroll up, the majority of the community (based on the information we got from Hello Planet#5 ) would like to do it differently...

I like TM and played it quite a lot, but I love SM. But having no updates for 1.5/2years is just bullshit. For the 3years that I've been here every update was mediocre at best. It's time for me to start looking for a new game, hopefully I will find one & until then I'll play SM

2015 - The Year of TM(-porting)

[Hylis]

Merge TMNF into TM2 Stadium, loose some limitations, but keep the universal demo too.

This is part of the many questions that are difficult among others, like when we decided to release TMT on PC, it was mainly because I believe players without console would be sad not be able to play with this edition if they wish too. Or if they use their PC as console on their TV (some are doign it to have more power and lower priced games)

At least, the complete number of Trackmania players will increase, and so the number of competitors or contributors online on various subjects. After, there are difficult questions, but I believe it will become more and more obvious with time.

[Toninus]

I'm curious, but what are your plans if most players move to TMT and leave Maniaplanet even more desert than it is ?
Because TMT seems to be more what I except about a Trackmania : different gameplays, instant fun and track editor. I have nothing about mod creators, but... I don't really play them, same for custom blocks and 3d objects, which, to me, make the game become something too random...

I wonder, then, if it would be possible to add a new environment as a dlc to TMT ? Also, what user-created content will we be able to make ? Tracks and replays / movies for sure, but then ? Custom cars ? Skins ? game modes via maniascript ? Or there will be only the classics time trial and platform ?

Do you plan some own store for tracks and skins, or we will have to ask Mania-Exchange for a new section ? A Nadeo marketplace would be better, especially if it allows trades between PC, PS and X1 versions of the game. And then even is cross-platform play is not possible, having multiplatform ladderboards would be awesome.


Speaking about new things for old environments, I'd really like to see new dirt blocks for Canyon. Wider than small roads but not as much as GP blocks, and with sequoias around it (and a giant sequoia with CP inside). Then every TMT environment will have its own dirt part. (beaches for lagoon, forest for Valley...). For Valley, as the name suggest, I hope to see more ramps and transferts, as well as some ramps from forest dirt to air blocks...



So as I said, if everybody moves to TMT, it would be a good thing to have some kind of SM Turbo next year. Maybe just keep the game modes editor, as there is way much more possibilities in a shooter than in a racing game...