Spiral Knights - This update saved a dying game.

This update saved a dying game.

49 replies [Last post]

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 08:47

Neodasus

THIS UPDATED SAVED SPIRAL KNIGHTS

As an endgame (and by endgame I mean END FREAKING GAME) player with little to no reason to grind for CE, I only had one of two options: play fsc or bum lockdown. Lockdown, in all honesty, has the worst community of any game I have ever played. I actually HATE lockdown for the community alone. Not because of the toxicity but because of the reluctance to form some kind of ruleset and basic form of etiquette. An Elite mode of lockdown would have solved this problem, much like how Elite mode saved PvE.

I find myself playing the ARCADE more than anything! My average playing time is around 1-2 hours per day. I tend to play on a moment-to-moment basis. I play a stage or two before I leave for work. I play a stage or two during lunch break. I play a stage or two before we close up. I get home and call up the guys to do a run for no reason. Spiral Knights has become the perfect casual game now. Every time I play the arcade in Elite mode I get the sense that every run is a rewarding experience. I get excited on every stage, wondering which danger room I'll run into next, or what secret waits for me near the end of the level. I feel like I'm playing the game the way the developers intended. We weren't meant to grind the same mission over and over. It felt so constricting being tied to just one stage for hours on end. Of course, nobody forced us to play FSC, but the difference in payout was so huge that one couldn't help but play FSC due to the elevator cost. Now, I've had several months of elevator pass credit before, but not everyone can afford an epass. As such, the traffic in the arcade was...well, more dead than Diablo III. Now I feel like there's always someone waiting for me, ready for adventure.

If they keep cosmetic items up for sale in the supply depot, they're bound to get some great income over the next few months. Hopefully this will spark some new level development with the newfound arcade activity. Thanks you guys for saving this dying game, I hope you take the time to rebrand your game and take another good swing at the f2p market.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 08:50

Qwao

+1.

This is one of the best patches since SK's history.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 08:57

Mtax

That game wasn't dead. It was just... a little.
Yea, free elevators changed whole opinions of the game and even endgamers have temporarily what to do.

Removing mist was great move from ooo. For confirmation;
Look how it was before update: http://s20.postimg.org/s88lrinst/top.png
How it is now http://store.steampowered.com/stats

We need only refreshed reviews on some popular websites, meh.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:08

Remove-The-Forge

-1. This patch included the

-1.
This patch included the forge.

Nonononono
Anything but the forge :c

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:21

Shidara

@Cirnothebaka

The Forge isn't anywhere as bad as people make it out to be, and frankly should be ignored for making such a big deal about it. If all you ever do is pay the minimum amount of Fire Crystals then you shouldn't be expecting lots of results in the first place, and Fire Crystals in general are fairly common anyway. Common as in you had bad luck if you get less than 20 in a four-depth run.

+1 @Neodasus

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:20

Neodasus

@Cirnothebaka I get one level

@Cirnothebaka

I get one level per stage...item leveling was balanced.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:42

Maeko

I hated the Forge too, but

I hated the Forge too, but after actually playing with it, it's not that bad after all. And this is after starting from scratch. In one week or so I'm edging into 4* gear.

My only gripe is that it's basically impossible to find a party to grind JK and the RT on Elite. GET OFF NORMAL YOU WUSSES!

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:49

Remove-The-Forge

@Shidara The Forge isn't

@Shidara

and Fire Crystals in general are fairly common anyway.

fairly common

ARE. YOU. MAD? NO. NO NO NO NO NO. THEY ARE NOT COMMON. THAT'S THE LAST WORD I WOULD USE, IF AT ALL.

@Neo

Good for you!

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:59

Holy-Crab

+1Have made countless posts

Have made countless posts about how this game needed to make newcomers stick to the game otherwise it would slowly die. Just before the update, I remember I made some experiment, tryed to look fo genuine noobies to give some stuff for free, well after two hours looking for one, 95% of those proto guys or low star gear wandering around and seemingly newbies turned out to be alts of end-game players...The population was obviously decreasing over the months. This update saved the game, it also revived the arcade, could not ask for more. There is very little bad in this update and a lot of good.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 09:57

Orbwanter

My only gripe is that it's basically impossible to find a party to grind JK and the RT on Elite. GET OFF NORMAL YOU WUSSES!

Are you just sitting in the mission lobby, or have you tried going through the boss gates in the arcade? Because the latter's been getting me a full party before I even hit the terminal.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:17

#10

Maeko

@ Orbwanter I haven't had

@ Orbwanter

I haven't had time to do full T2 runs lately, so I've been hitting the "Join Party" button from the Mission center. I suppose I should have added that bit of bias, sorry.

@Cirno

They are in fact incredibly common. Did one JK run from THE MISSION no less and clocked in at 42 glowing crystals, on average I'm hitting 15-20 per run.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:24

#11

Zeddy

I am in agreement with this topic.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:42

#12

Gravelord-Caste

The Truths don't provide any Answers

At least the OP has the lucidity to admit he didn't have to do FSC.

Overall I found this to be a fairly decent update. Sure, I didn't like the forge at first, but when you don't need it it's not that much of an issue.

/reply Maeko: I wouldn't use the term "incredibly common", but the crystals seem to drop often enough on Elite for me to not gripe... yet.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 10:57

#13

Lazy-Slacker

With free elevators I can

With free elevators I can farm Snarby for some steady crowns, yay. :)

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:44

#14

Remove-The-Forge

@Maeko You shouldn't say that

@Maeko

You shouldn't say that on the forums, you'll get caught for hacking

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:46

#15

Batabii

It wasn't dying, just...lethargic.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 12:51

#16

Venomousbiohazard

I agree, +1 Neo

This update did save the game, no doubts about it. I had quit, but as soon as i heard of this update I rushed back. No more energy costs! Pets! No endless grinding for CE! Of course it did have a catch, and that is the life sparks/forge. Completely understandable, due to the energy being removed.

@Cirnothebaka If you actually got off your butt and actually PLAYED THE GAME instead of griping about the forge on the forums, then maybe you'd have crystals. Or maybe if you weren't a wuss and actually played on elite in the arcade, you'd see how many you'd get. I have 300+ shining crystals from just a few runs and 150+ radiant crystals (since I leveled up my Nova Driver). I'm having no difficulty obtaining them, either. I played T2 a few times and I have hundreds of them, too. I really don't understand what you are complaining about.

One thing that does annoy me is that all the reviews need to be refreshed on all sites. All the reviews are from 2011 and consist of griping about the energy costs.

EDIT: Wow, the userbase tripled on Steam!

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:02

#17

Remove-The-Forge

@Venomousbiohazard I read

@Venomousbiohazard

I read this and laughed. I read it again and laughed. Now lets go over this:

'If you actually got off your butt and actually PLAYED THE GAME instead of griping about the forge on the forums,'

I came back from two years of inactivity a few days after the patch. I have played for a couple days. ...Just wanted to clear this up.

How exactly do you think I gained this view on the Forge? Do you think I just took one look at it and went 'OH SNAP IT'S THE SPITTING IMAGE OF JUSTIN BIEBER, BURN IT BEFORE IT LAYS EGGS!!!!' cause that's not what happened. I gave it a few chances... then I thought that.

---

' then maybe you'd have crystals.'

I wish I had crystals, too. Unfortunately they're too rare, and the only people that actually have them bought them from the AH from other people that own them, hack the drop rates or buy them with energy.

---

'Or maybe if you weren't a wuss and actually played on elite in the arcade'
...but there's only one difficulty, right? Elite...

I did see these two other options, but I haven't bothered to take a look at them, cause they sound too silly.

---

I have 300+ shining crystals from just a few runs and 150+ radiant crystals

No, you either bought them from the AH, hacked them in, or bought them with energy. You do not get crystals from runs, the drop rate is too low. I am not easily fooled.

---

I'm having no difficulty obtaining them, either.

WHAT IS THIS MAGIC THAT CREATES TWENTY THOUSAND CRYSTALS, I MUST FIND OUT WHAT THIS IS, I'VE HAD EIGHT PEOPLE TELL ME THIS ALREADY!!!

---

'I played T2 a few times and I have hundreds of them, too. I really don't understand what you are complaining about.'

If you actually got off your butt and actually PLAYED THE GAME instead of cheating, you'd understand.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:05

#18

Ailment

2 cents

In regards to this update, I personally have been enjoying it thus far.

The freedom of choice in terms of what levels you want to do, what sprites you want to use, the increased playerbase, and the change in energy is all very welcome additions.

Forge, while I do find myself short on Radiants (my own fault, for leveling so many 5*s at the same time), I feel is quite balanced considering how you can play the game now.

Now, my only gripe is actually... the increased playerbase. My guild has noticed this too, where there are now so many players running around, the server is having trouble working around the increased number. This results in lag, even wonkier connections in LD, and general annoyances.

I hope with this promo that has been going on that OOO plans on getting ready to provide a new server, or an additional one, to help accommodate the new increase in players.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:18

#19

Spinex

Love Advanced.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:35

#20

Gravelord-Caste

/reply Cirnothebaka

I laughed at the "OH SNAP" comment.

On a decent run, you should get about 15-20 crystals on Elite, more if you're lucky. Try the Copper Titan (if it's still there) or the Crimson Serpent Arcade Gates: they've been pretty good to me so far, plus the latter has no Compounds at Stratum 5. There's also a Decon Zone at the first depth after Emberlight there, which you should be able to hit, theoretically. I don't think there's any Treasure Vaults (or there's none that I remember), but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

/r Everyone: Google "baka".

EDIT: fixed stratum depth info

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:30

#21

Remove-The-Forge

@Gravelord-Caste How do you

@Gravelord-Caste

How do you think I got my name? :P

Anyways, I have done several stratum five runs (a couple ones recently, while waiting for new posts (and yes, on Elite ffs, I've never played any other difficulty)) and I get 4-13 crystals on average.
Add that to the problem the game has with choosing the minimum amount you can put in for the lowest chance multiplies such an issue.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:30

#22

Spinex

@Gravelord-Caste

She is a foolish old woman then?

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:39

#23

Krakob

I'm in agreement with Zeddy.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:43

#24

Remove-The-Forge

@Spinex Baka means idiot .-.

@Spinex

Baka means idiot .-.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:46

#25

Gravelord-Caste

/reply

Cirnothebaka: *coughcough*

You don't have to choose the lowest percentage chance (I don't, there's no reason to), as 100% has a chance of skipping a level, increasing heat gain (which is useless anyway) and giving you a Forge box.

Never had the last, to be honest.

Spinex: Heck if I know. Though... that comment has reminded me of someone else...

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 13:51

#26

Remove-The-Forge

'You don't have to choose the

'You don't have to choose the lowest percentage chance'

No, not even if they don't have enough crystals cause they play the game legitimately. I totally agree with you.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 14:24

#27

Sonofgunz

That's why we're having terrible lag

Yup I noticed the sharp increase of players too
At least some of my friend are back

Perhaps OOO need that money to upgrade the server

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 14:28

#28

Heavy-Dragon

@Cimo

By the time I gain any heat level on any weapon, I usually have the crystals needed to 100% chance level it or enough crowns to buy the crystals from the Depot.

play on elite mode.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 15:26

#29

Remove-The-Forge

@Heavy I DO. I DON'T GET

@Heavy

I DO.

I DON'T GET IT.

WHY DO YOU AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THIS.

STAHP.

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 15:50

#30

Shamanalah

my 2 cents

New MMO server advertising SK with new promo

New Sprite feature/free elevator

New accessories promo to make people buy

This is just marketing... Open your eyes

SK never dies, it just put up more promo...

Edit: @cimo I get 40-60 fire crystal per EFSC run, you said you get 10-20... you play on normal/advanced, numbers don't lie

Edit 2: I have upped a jelly shield from 3* to 5* and I still has 200+ 4-5* crystal (had over 500), I have less than 100 for the 3* one though >.< and I have like 38 eternal orb of alchemy, they drop a lot on EFSC in those treasure boxes... ofc if you don't die and don't rez yourself to take them then I can't help you

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:59

#31

Remove-The-Forge

Shama I play on elite, damn

Shama

I play on elite, damn you! Why can't you understand the premise of bad luck?

And why can't you damn speak, man? you 'threatened' to invite me to a measly EFSC run. I said yes, and yet nothing. Stfu and do it already, would you?

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 17:45

#32

Venomousbiohazard

@Cirno

And why can't you spell Oxford when you say that you are 22 years old and enroll there? And why can't you even string simple sentences together? Also, why do you have such extraordinarily bad luck? Here is why... Because you are either kissing the dirt so much of the time that you don't get loot, or you are just wasting all your time spamming that the forge sucks. Probably a combination of both. ^-^

Also, here is the definition of "Baka": http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=baka

Go back to your parents waiting arms, you baka!

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 20:38

#33

Hexzyle

@⑨

It's perfectly possible you currently have a low luck level. I've been getting a decent amount of Fire Crystals, not enough to level my gear up as soon as it hits top heat, but enough that I'm making progression on my equipment every couple levels.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 01:27

#34

Gravelord-Caste

/reply

HexZyle: That post you linked to makes sense, from where I sit.

Cirnothebaka(#26): I'm not entirely sure if you're being sarcastic there.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 02:49

#35

Remove-The-Forge

@Venomous It's not a

@Venomous

It's not a mispelling. It's an actual place. h ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxbridge
Try Google before you assume.

---

'And why can't you even string simple sentences together?'

Oh right, so now this thread is all about how you don't understand me, what I am and what I do, so you pick on that instead of reasons why you don't like my argument?

I'm autistic, btw. Just putting that out there.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 03:18

#36

The-Mighty-Potato

I agree

Only update I wasn't too keen on but I honestly don't mind, the UI. I got no problem with it but I just preferred the other one.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 10:33

#37

Clown-Nine

I just got back into the game

I just got back into the game 2 days before the update and it was pretty empty. But i feel SK has been revived. (and i'm BACK :PP)

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 11:42

#38

Spinex

@Cirnothebaka

Shut up your big mouth idiot. (Just kidding.)

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 11:50

#39

Remove-The-Forge

Aww that's so cute! Are you

Aww that's so cute! Are you going all over my posts, attempting to get yourself banned?

You just carry on doing that.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 14:59

#40

Azuricus

At one point I thought I was going insane from the lack of natural light in the fiery depths of Firestorm Citadel.

>implying I was not previously crazy

I always feel excited over the mysteries that I will encounter when doing Arcade runs.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 17:48

#41

Aiden-Curry-Puff

I agree. The game is so much better in this form. This patch addressed an impressive number of gripes players have had over the years...and it really is far more fun having no elevator costs. The freedom that comes with that is then given direction by this very nice new loot based crafting system. Plus the game feels populated!

Also pets are adorable.

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 18:24

#42

Venomousbiohazard

@Cirno

Oxbridge ain't a place, silly. Google search yourself before using something as BS to support your "arguments". Oxbridge is a portmanteau for "Oxford" and "Cambridge" combined into one, and refers to them collectively. You can't go to school at Oxbridge, simply because Oxbridge doesn't exist. Oxford and Cambridge do, but you cannot go to both at once. 9__9

As for why I said that you can't string a sentence together... I can barely understand what you are trying to say! How can I oppose your arguments when I can barely even read them?

Sun, 08/11/2013 - 18:34

#43

Maeko

@Venomous I... I can't

@Venomous

I... I can't believe I'm doing this, but techinically... couldn't one be enrolled at both colleges and take classes at once, thus being enrolled at Oxbridge?

Given, that would be a bone-dead stupid way to go about it, but still, that would make him cor-cor-corRECT.

...

Now if you all would excuse me, I need to was my mouth with soap.

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 05:22

#44

Hexzyle

@Venomousbiohazard

You can't go to school at Oxbridge, simply because Oxbridge doesn't exist. Oxford and Cambridge do, but you cannot go to both at once. ⑨__⑨

Fixed that for you.

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 06:50

#45

Remove-The-Forge

@venomous As for why I said

@venomous

As for why I said that you can't string a sentence together... I can barely understand what you are trying to say! How can I oppose your arguments when I can barely even read them?

Just because _you_ can't read my arguments, does not make me bad at stringing sentences together. That's like talking to someone who is speaking in Arabic and saying they're bad at putting a sentence together purely because you cannot understand it.

@Venomous @Maeko

Oxbridge ain't a place, silly. Google search yourself before using something as BS to support your "arguments". Oxbridge is a portmanteau for "Oxford" and "Cambridge" combined into one, and refers to them collectively. You can't go to school at Oxbridge, simply because Oxbridge doesn't exist. Oxford and Cambridge do, but you cannot go to both at once. 9__9

I... I can't believe I'm doing this, but techinically... couldn't one be enrolled at both colleges and take classes at once, thus being enrolled at Oxbridge?

Given, that would be a bone-dead stupid way to go about it, but still, that would make him cor-cor-corRECT.

You misunderstand. I'm not enrolled there.

I'll give you a couple minutes to think about that.

P.S. her*

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 08:50

#46

Zenpai

So Cirno was taken on a run

So Cirno was taken on a run and shown that you get more than 10-20 on an average run and get up to 60, even, she's still deciding to say "OH NOES THEY AREN'T COMMON." I can get 18 in 3 depths, 27 or more if I'm really lucky. Maybe the game hates you. I understand why it would.

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 09:23

#47

Venomousbiohazard

@Cirno

You are not speaking in a different language. You are speaking to me in English, although such massacred English that I have to read through it a few times to make sense of what you are saying.

Firstly, there is absolutely no reason to flaunt your supposed age or which institution you will supposedly be enrolled in, because nobody can know if you are lying or not. This is the internet, Cirno. Besides, why say that? Simply because of your age or where you are going to study does not mean you are right. You said you were going to be enrolled in "Oxbridge or Eaton or something, dunno how you say it .-.)". Yes, you did say basically that, but you edited it out later. Don't know why. Perhaps it is because Oxbridge doesn't exist! And if you were going to Oxford/Cambridge/Eaton, you would at least know how to pronounce "eaton" properly, or know that Oxbridge is only the collective term for Oxbridge and Campbridge, not an institution by itself. Or how to write proper paragraphs, using proper grammar. You'd think that if you were twenty-something like you claimed, you would be able to write properly.

Even if you were both enrolled in Oxford and Cambridge (even though that is basically impossible), you still would not be enrolling in "Oxbridge". Oxbridge is only the collective term for the two institutions, but definitely is not an institution. Ergo, it is impossible to enroll in "Oxbridge".

Why does your having autism (if you even have autism) have to do with anything? Does it mean that you are supposed to be considered "brighter" than the average shmoe, or that we should be a lot more patient with you when you spam your unsupported viewpoints all over the forums?

Either way, it is due to those, ahem, reasons that makes me believe that you are certainly not 22 and certainly aren't going to an institution that doesn't exist.

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 10:23

#48

Omzyma

Back to the original topic...

I personally like this new update! I feel Battle Sprites have changed this game so much, it's so easy taking care of a group of enemies with my Mask's Hex! I'll have to say the Forge is a bit tedious (especially leveling 5* gear from 9 to 10...) but considering how great everything else is within this update it can be overlooked.

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 12:07

#49

Klipik-Forum

@Cirnotheidiotinjapanese

You sound like you have bad luck.

@OP: Copper Titan is gone now and that makes me sad. 2 treasure vaults and 2 arenas in T3! So much fun :C

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This update saved a dying game.