Greetings Knights!
The dust around the Grey Havens basecamp is starting to settle. We wanted to take a moment to update you on our progress and give an idea of where we’re headed.
What we’ve been up to:
As you know, over the past several months we have checked a number of tasks off our list. Many of these things happened behind the scenes, while some were more obviously player-facing.
* Game migration and transfer (servers, wiki, forums, billing, etc)
* Behind the scenes foundation for Grey Havens
* Website rebranding for both Puzzle Pirates (YPP) and Spiral Knights (SK)
* Changes to help improve the installation process for new players
* New email ticket system for support
* Various technical improvements and bug fixes
* Continuation of the regular items we’ve come to know and love (events, seasonal boxes, etc)
* Iron Guild Hall Update and chess minis
* Golden Crown Casino along with a new type of lockbox
* Revamp of past promotions to add the new accessories and give players access to this older content
Q&A From various forum threads:
Q: Wait, who are you knights?
A: As you may have read, we are a small yet very capable crew dedicated to our games. We’re familiar faces who hope to keep the ship sailing for years to come. Our crew does include artists, developers, and GMs. We prefer to speak through our games and thus will not be offering a comprehensive list of our staff members, our company structure, details about our offices, or similar information.
Q: Is everything with the transfer done?
A: For the most part, yes. There are some lingering issues we’re still working on. Some were a result of the move and some existed prior to Grey Havens ownership. These technical issues will take a significant amount of time.
Q: Can we expect any new content?
A: Indeed. You’ve already seen new content (see the list above). While we do want to keep the game alive, we also want to bring Spiral Knights to new players and create fun experiences for existing players. Given the small size of our crew, this will take us some time.
Q: Are you working on something specific?
A: Our first priority is making sure the game is operating correctly. This does take a significant amount of time particularly when there is a technical issue of some kind. We also need to work on some of the longstanding technical problems a game like this has. In terms of major new content changes, we’re still in the very early stages of looking into our various options. We’d like to wait until we are further along in the creative process to discuss it.
Q: Will there be new missions?
A: It’s possible. It depends on what else we are working on. Keep in mind that it's preferable for major content updates to have a lot of replayability for players in order to make the time investment worthwhile.
Q: Will there be promotional boxes?
A: Yes. Having promotions does not mean we won't be working on new content. It’s one of the things that gives us the ability to work on it. We also have a substantial number of players who enjoy the new items they provide.
Q: Are you reading the forum threads?
A: Yes! Your discussions regarding ideas for the future of SK are read and your feedback is appreciated. We also gather information from a number of other sources.
Q: Will Grey Havens advertise the game?
A: Realistically, advertising isn’t as cost-effective as you’d imagine. If/when we are able to launch a substantial update of some kind, we will look into various options. Word of mouth continues to be one of the best forms of advertisement for a small game company. Of course, if you happen to rent a blimp and circle the Super Bowl with a Spiral Knights banner, we wouldn't stop you. Similarly, if you go to Comicon dressed as a Maskeraith, we want pictures!
Q: Will there be Spiral Knights merchandise?
A: It depends on if players would still be interested and what they’re interested in. Merchandise for a small game company isn’t a large revenue stream. However if it’s something folks would enjoy we can certainly look into it.
Q: Can we volunteer to help out Grey Havens?
A: While we appreciate people's interest, we are not currently hiring or looking for volunteers. If/when we do need additional help we will post on the forums letting folks know. With that being said, you're welcome to contact us via email if you'd like to indicate your interest to help with art or development at some point in the future.
Q: Are you changing any of your policies regarding bans or ban pleading?
A: No. Our Terms of Service have not changed and we continue to expect knights to adhere to them. As always, we will consider offering a second chance to knights with reasonable and honest requests if we believe the issue is not likely to happen again. If you have not contacted us regarding your ban or you have been away from the game for quite some time, please feel free to do so.
Q: Are there really GM teams?
A: Yes. One is awesome and the other is Team Purple. *waves to Hera*
You're welcome to ask more questions in the discussion thread here, however we will not be able to answer all of them.