Maniaplanet after 5 Years - What does the community say?

[Lorisa]

@appor

No not see. I assure you that they plan only one shooter. Because "ShootMania that's young project should be developed more than anything else."

That's right it's good that you see these little letters on my avatar. You know why? The story begin only after the free Nations until that time, no one knew, and would not know the TrackMania.

No. I do not get bored I like to play in TM. However, I do not see progress. We were promised a "year of TrackMania" Where is it? If you have already passed half a year. (the summer call soon). ツ

Hmm... Maybe Need for Speed can? Although after the Most Wanted they have something unpleasant -_-
(I did not mean "Hot pursuit, 2010 and Rivals" - I love both of these games ♥)

I sincerely want to believe what you say. But I can't do that for the above reasons. Give a new game that has finally fresh! How much can you torment TM seasoned player?

I appreciate your opinion - you have a lot of interesting ideas. (Sadly but "Nadeo" don't care).
For a sample write your wishes here. I bet no one will do it because that not cool ツ

[Lorisa]

2.
It's not NADEO's fault that the playerbase is small?
I would like to believe that, but then who's fault is it? Nobody's fault?

They had millions of players... and now hundreds? So what happened?
Please explain to me how you think it's not NADEO's fault? ( just an honest question ) I'm trying to understand.

Excellent choice! To write off all the failures of developers on the players. Who is to blame? We are to blame! Right?

Listen:

At the beginning of 2009 there was information on the possible development of two projects: Shootmania and Questmania (FPS and RPG with the concept of "create and play" as in TM). In the autumn of 2009 it was reported the development of a full-fledged part of the second game in the series TM - Trackmania 2. planned three environment, advanced editor with support for custom scripts and blocks, improved graphics, with split-screen mode and a number of other innovations. Based on this announcement, and showed video can be assumed that the output can turn reinterpretation of classic pieces series (except for the Nations) with new features. Thereafter Ubisoft's buying the Nadeo and subsequent announcement ManiaPlanet dispelled such speculation in smoke. From the announcement ManiaPlanet we hear be some unpleasant and strange things:

ManiaPlanet - is a client-service under online. The interaction between the players and content sharing comes first.

As you can see, there are the same ambition that was until the release of United Forever. The result is known to all: TM remains popular largely thanks to the free client Nations: it started from the stadium.

ManiaPlanet - it's not just racing. ManiaPlanet will be a system of interaction between players Trackmania, Shootmania and Questmania.

Roughly speaking, in a single game can be at once, in turn, a ride on the road, shoot a shotgun and perform quests. As I understand it, everyone is free to choose its own set of modules, ie ManiaPlanet necessarily have all three games - just one.

Frankly, the idea is very controversial - it is better to do some customers for all three games. Too large scale for such a small development studio - I believe that we need to focus on any one game, rather than three at once - the quality of the output would be definitely higher.

Dispersal of forces in the development led to the obvious consequences: it is impossible to grasp the immensity, the first sign of such a policy inexpedient served the fact that the release date for Trackmania 2 moved from the end of 2010 to 2011, with the launch planned for only a third of the promised - just one area for arrivals. In the end it turned out that this third was very, very imperfect. Despite the obvious advantages of the new TM certainly lose and lose badly. Such a strong decline in TM was not yet ever - this is the first such case.

Here I am, at last, and went directly to the most recent date of the TM. What it represents a new part? Most likely, iceberg dashed hopes flavored whole bunch of new, previously unknown flaws. Given the fact that the Canyon is the same as United Forever (where the content at times more than in the new crafts, and minuses in this case is much smaller), and the content is about the same as in the free Nations Forever, a gamble with ManiaPlanet Now It seems (to me personally) as a clear, cynical and cruel suicide.

Anyway, Nadeo, the time is up! I think you're very well see it today.

[Dommy]

Lorisa, you know what?

I started with ManiaPlanet about summer 2012 when second launch for ShootMania beta started. I instantly loved the concept of fast & smooth FPS game. Was completely different from Counter Strike, Bettlefield, Call of Duty, Team Fortress 2. And I like that because upper games have the same mechanics (ok, similar themselves) - use your gun and do objective. Only thing you can do in them is play. No creation other than skins and poor modeled custom maps.

After spending some time I discovered how to create advanced content. It allowed me to create my first manialink TitlePack Center, that for today is 2 years outdated and poorly coded, comprasing with my current skills (FindMe, KB Studio). The project I made with completely basic expirence was a success and over 30 creators collaborated with me, including Nadeo.

2013 - Bots were released for ShootMania. To zip folder very ugly script with rules for Horde mode was attached. I managed to modify it with a little help from Steeffeen into a full separate title pack Invasion. Success. 1000 installs in one week. And only because I tried a bit of ManiaScript.

Early 2014 - after experimenting some more I released my original debut title - Hunger Games. Another success. Most unbalanced mode was constantly upgraded with suggestions and requests from other players. Mode with Items, Bots, Switchable Wepons, Minimap had also some haters, but it couldn't stop my ManiaScript discovering furry. This mode allowed me to fully learn how to code in ShootMania.

Stopped TitlePack Center, because Store was announced. I was accepted to ManiaPlanet 3 Closed Beta, among with best people I know at all - buddies. Tested such features as enviro mix for TrackMania and animation editor for ShootMania. In beta, I made experimental title Keyboard Studio, where you are able to try piano skills or create simple beat to play later while enjoying piano.

Late 2014 - sitting on ass and making constant updates for my titles - Dev Builds for Hunger Games, Invasion Betas. Tried to make MOBA-like mode, but gave up (=/= that it's not possible). Tried to make Music Player manialink. Kill confirmed mode throwback.

Early 2015 - made simple FindMe manialink to index all known manialinks and have instant search results, cooperated with many manialink creators to create huge database. First attempts to code scripts for TM. Tested and coded my first TrackMania mode and first custom scripted mode played by almost 100 players, known as glorious Pursuit. Constantly updated including suggestions and translations sent by users I didn't knew before. My first real attempt to join TrackMania community. Pure fun mode - tornado hunt for ShootMania.

Spring 2015 - today. Created music player available at Stadium Pursuit server with over 16 tracks from Monstercat. Creating completely new Hunger Games, with new MiniMap, Classes system and intelligent Animals AI. Creating first in TrackMania history, dynamic catch detection Hitbox for Pursuit and maybe more incoming modes. Started idea competition for TrackMania modes.

Maybe my story with this Community is boring. If you did read this all, thank you. But I would like to summarize what this may teach you.

I joined ManiaPlanet ONLY BECAUSE SHOOTMANIA BETA. Never thought I'll find that fun here creating stuff. I WAS NEVER GOING TO BUY TRACKMANIA 2 until Nadeo released Stadium and all stuff I made here would be lost. PURSUIT WOULD BE NEVER DONE, IF SHOOTMANIA MANIASCRIPT ADVENTURE WON'T BEGIN AND TEACH ME ALL THE STUFF. I can stop and permanently delete stuff I made in TrackMania whenever I want.

Attacking ShootMania is attacking ME and attacking people who made it is also attacking ME. And if you attack me, I can peacefully contrattack disallowing you to play/use all of my stuff (and it's a bad decission).

Also, before "requesting" things from Nadeo, check if they exists.
Yes, spawning, picking up and moving pickups is possible in SM.
Yes, custom weapons, movements and animations are possible in SM.
Yes, controlling bot via script and giving him own instructions based on ongoing events is possible in SM.
Yes, there are gates that are closeable doors in SM.
Yes, minimaps with custom markers and information is possible for SM and TM.
Yes, whatever would you ask me, I'd find a way to make this in SM (Zeraxex proved).

Just my ~2,15 Polish ZÅ‚oty (~50 euro cents).
Thanks for reading, have a nice day hating people and stuff around you.

Smileys in this post weren't neded.
(C) 2015 domino54, quoting allowed.

EDIT: <= learn to use this function too.

[novationx]

if you put it like that it sound really good domino!! And yeah, you did a great job. I even helped ( just a little bit ) here & there. I'm also following your work on FB.

But, what for a gamer like me? I cant code... I dont enjoy coding or learning to code. Then suddenly the list gets way way shorter, no?
And what if you play Elite - Joust - Instagib? Then you dont really have the things you mentioned ( f.e. that radar you made )... So for -true gamers- it feels way way less.

And that is also the reason why I'm asking for more, no matter how many tools are out there. I'm not using the tools, you see ^^

[Dommy]

What for a gamer like me? I cant code... I dont enjoy coding or learning to code. Then suddenly the list gets way way shorter, no?

You know the person "novationx aka. Dreammy" that spams forums with billions of his SM ideas, interface designs and suggestions? I appreciate all of his words and want be same creative as him

[Rots]

Lorisa, you know what?

funnyanimationdeleted.gif

Great words domino, we all appreciate your dedication and also appreciate dreammy's suggestions... I wish people like you were at paris nolifing new stuff, communicating and pushing updates (not blaming nadeo, just saying they have a good attitude)

[Lorisa]

@domino54

I read everything completely, and now I know all. I'm really sorry what I stand against the such a wonderful person like you. However, I can no longer remain silent and to believe in air castles in the sky.

Mmm and what you are talking about? I do not use any of your things. Yes, I played a couple of times in the "Hunger Games" and was impressed "Obstacle Solo Storm". And I taste regimens Stadium "Chase mode" and actually this all.

I'm not attacking. I'm talking about the fact that the game is not popular!
I suggest, I'll NOT command, just propose to freeze SM, turning all their attention on TM and their riders community.

Do the math and see how many people now come to the MP and SM and how much The Nadeo lost! Just make up the figures that were at the Nations and those that are presented current game now. ↓
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14,190,509 registered drivers tmnf/tmuf VS 10,657 ManiaPlanet players in the last 24h
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Is this enough?

Excellent. How about to do the following modes:

Adventure:

Imagine we have a player. This meaning a walk around the arena simultaneously collecting crystals (like platform ^^) and in the end we are fight the (guardian goal) Boss. This guy will be there in any case, even if you do not collect anything at will. So in the end you will find the boss he will have several indicators of life. You'll see it if you shooting him. Target - to beat him and come to the goal!

Note: The goal does not work until you will kill the boss. If you will lose the life you start a checkpoint (in the worst case from the beginning "spawn").

So we beating the boss and get a reward - the crystal power, or is there a key - open the door (quite good way to use the gates in the game). To open the goal.

(Allowed to use any of the platform titles).
 
You boast that you can do and steeper. I dare you!

I do not hate. I call to action. Do you see it? If you leave game, the all of a tons is collapse. That just bad.

You are going to allow me that I use and what is not? You undertake too much. I am a free man, and I do not particularly care about your rights. Only without the insults. ツ

Please give us an exclusive example where you asked Nadeo or the community for help and didn't get it. Please.

...and no, asking for Trackmania Lagoon or new titles doesn't count. We all are waiting for it.

Please wait. I stash info..

I'll tell you tomorrow. As soon as I wake up. (Now my eyes needs a rest from the translator)) >_<'

Bye.

[Guerro323]

ShootMania and TrackMania needs to have its own advertising ( Because I never see a ad of Trackmania ( or Shootmania ) on TV ) , like all games, which will have more chances to got more players in Trackmania/Shootmania

[TMarc]

ShootMania and TrackMania needs to have its own advertising ( Because I never see a ad of Trackmania ( or Shootmania ) on TV ) , like all games, which will have more chances to got more players in Trackmania/Shootmania

Side note: Nadeo explains this with a "long term strategy" and "budget issues". Please search for Hylis' posts about that.

Guys, you can blame me, because I invited Lorisa to write here. But please stop beating him
We needed this topic already longer time ago, because then Lorisa would have posted less times here and there more or less the same.

Isn't the topic "ManiaPlanet after 5 Years - What does the community say?"?
So discussion about TrackMania² and what is missing (for some like Lorisa) to make it a real valid successor of TrackMania Nations and United Forever is certainly valid.
As well as a dicussion about ShootMania, and possibly QuestMania, despite the development freeze there.

I think Lorisa and domino54 have both made their points clear enough now.
The one is a fan of TrackMania and not (yet) arrived in ManiaPlanet, the other lives only for ShootMania.
Both opinions are strong, it is great to see the passion, and now there is no need for further explanations or fights here, ok? Thanks

Now please let's go back to the topic.

I'm also big fan of TrackMania, otherwise I would be here that long.
When Canyon and Valley came out, I was amazed by the graphics. Sure, Valley is more difficult to handle, and less accessible for newbies, but it has its own beauteousness.
Stadium is rather "don't care much" for me, because it did not change much compared to TMUF/TMNF. But I also play it from time to time on servers.

ShootMania I always considered with mixed feelings. Okay... a shooter with the editing features of TrackMania, how will that be? After all it is a great idea, and apparently still a big challenge for Nadeo (especially regarding network issues like ping or accuracy of hits).
Now, unfortunately for ShootMania fans, Nadeo is working harder on TrackMania.
But the shooter community has to accept that TrackMania is both the cash cow and the most important game for Nadeo, therefore it is absolutely necessary to provide new stuff also here.
As soon as we see that, Nadeo will work full speed on ShootMania again (2016 will be SM year, with perhaps also a new title there?).

During long time, players asked for customization features. Nadeo chose to make it possible with title packs, allowing to have something like an "own" ManiaPlanet game with either TrackMania² or ShootMania as base.
But it is still not completely "free", there are many restrictions or things which can't be changed.

That every new official title, and every new community made title, finds own fans, and thus keeps them away from all the other titles, is rather normal. Basically it was already like this with TrackMania, when some preferred Bay, others preferred Rallye, and some litteraly hated Coast, only that it was inside one game.

At the moment, we don't know what Nadeo plans.
Let's speculate for a short moment.
What if they were converting all existing TrackMania United environments into ManiaPlanet titles, with more or less visual improvements?
This alone would not really bring the millions of United players to ManiaPlanet, because they would all have to start at zero: zero Planets, zero LP.
if there was a conversion Coppers into Planets, and the LP would be kept...
Would this justify and allow closing of United and Nations?
Would new players really pay 9,99€ for each "new" title?

Or would you still prefer a completely new designed title for TrackMania?
There were some rumors about "Lagoon", which could be a mix of Bay and Snow or Bay and Island...

To summarize, we have the following key points:
- possible transition of TMxF-users to ManiaPlanet
- future titles for TrackMania
- stabilisation of ShootMania
- future titles for ShootMania
- bugfixes and general improvements of ManiaPlanet
- much more advanced customizability, perhaps up to the possibility to create a completely own game (including personalized setup) based on a ManiaPlanet engine.

At the end, we are those who decide what is good: by playing what we like.
And if we want improvements, we have to tell what is not good, and what we would prefer.
Always remember: it is not only one players voice like Lorisa or domino54or novationx alone which will make Nadeo decide.

[djhubertus]

To be honest, making 'advanced' stuff without audience is something that ruins MP. People are sharing stuff, no one is interested.

I'm in Maniaplanet since SM beta 1, after 1 year, I bought Canyon and nothing more. I always thinked that Maniaplanet ruins their games with hundreds of bugs/limitations. It was promoted as "Best PC Gaming platform", oh god, we didn't have proper messenger at the beginning, no user-friendly UI xD Now we have a big mess with stuff that no one is interested because of lack of players. We-players can't do more to make community bigger without real devs/publisher support. Steam is also far from perfection but it had huge community and useless stuff that kids loves(achievements, trading cards). If games will have full steamworks, then more people will join to gain these s***ty achievements and stuff.

Another reason is simplicity. We have new generation of players, they want level up system, they want rewards for playing, they want variety in characters/cars, they want MLG Quickscopes, and cinematics. We can't do anything with this, that's why I think, TM and SM should focus only on adult players, on competitive elements, not casual. SM from competitive game, has been forced to more and more casual stuff. That's why 'popular' teams/sponsors leave. Take a look at Reflex, or Toxikk, they are calling old people to play, not kids, who remember old good times where graphics didn't care.

New World Interactive is smaller than Nadeo and they are pushing patches every 2 months to Insurgency because they don't need to care about making own platform, they have steamworks and everything works correctly.

Ubisoft are not spending money to advertise MP as it were before releases. They pushed big tournaments when nobody had access, GG.

If You want to stay with 1000 peak, play as long as you can, but remember that last years show, these numbers will not grow. I lost patience and i'm not playing anymore(mp is crashing quite often, I can't play modes I like etc.), there are just better indie games to play without strange 'manialinks' etc.

Because there is a community in Tm + sm. bigger than most of the games.

I'm not sure, which games you are comparing with TM+SM.