Newsletter #6

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Hello to everyone! You are receiving this newsletter because you are currently a member of the online game Space Merchant Realms (http://www.smrealms.de). As the current round comes to an end the SMR Admin team has some important announcements to make (and some not so important ones too!).

Congrats to....

SMR is entering its 3rd year as an online game.
Anxiety for Winning the Login screen contest.
MrSpock for winning the Current Sector screen contest.
Joni for taking 2nd place in both the CS and Login screen contest.


Librium Ends
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The current round of SMR (Librium) is coming to an end on Sunday October 17th at midnight server time. At this time a new "Special" Game will be opening.


"Special" Game
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On Sunday at midnight server time (when Monday is about to start) a Semi Wars game will be opened until Wednesday. On Wednesday a Race Wars game will be opened until Friday when a final Semi Wars game will be opened. These games will run while the newest normal round of SMR is built. Read on for info about Semi Wars.


Semi Wars
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Semi Wars is a special game built into SMR where every player in the game starts with a Galactic Semi for their ship and a Newbie Pulse laser for their weapon. The point of this game is nothing except to blow up the guy next to you. There is no trading, no planets, no money (needed), no nothing except fighting. The only ship you can get is the Galactic Semi, and the only weapon is the Newbie Pulse Laser.


Race Wars
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When you join the game you are put into a random race. You and your race mates must try to destroy the other teams bases (VERY high level planets). If you lose your planet your out of the game. Last race alive wins.


SMR Admin Activity
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As you will possibly notice (and possibly have already noticed) the bulk of the SMR Admin team is stopping production on SMR1 (the current SMR Version). The reason for this is so that the Admin team can concentrate on making SMR2 (See below for details) the best that it possibly can be! Some SMR Admins will still stick around to regulate SMR1 but our main efforts are focused elsewhere.


SMR2
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SMR2 is the newest version of SMR (Formerly referred to as SMR Alpha).
We aren't releasing a lot of details about SMR2 just yet, but here is what we have currently released at different times.
* New Interface. SMR2 will feature a brand new interface (check out the webboard (http://smrcnn.smrealms.de) for the current plans)
* Customizable Interface. This has not yet been fully determined but so far we plan on allowing players to choose from a variety of SMR interfaces (these interfaces will be setup by the admins).
* New Base Code. This new base code will allow SMR2 to run with script runtime much faster than the current SMR1 base code.
* New features. Currently the SMR2 team is talking about MANY new features. Rest assured we will work as hard as we can to maintain balance in the game.
* Deeper Role-playing
* More ways to enjoy SMR
* More will be released as we decide what we are going to go.

SMR2 will enter closed Alpha testing and major coding starting next week.
Currently we plan on releasing SMR2 into beta testing (we have not decided if this will be open or closed beta) around Christmas.
SMR2 will remain in beta until we can confirm that everything is balanced.

Currently Alpha testing is closed and testers are selected by invitation ONLY. Please do not send us applications for Alpha testing... sorry you'll have to wait until around Christmas and try to get on the beta team. I hope to see lots of good testers there.

Q: It sounds like SMR2 is a big change...when SMR2 comes out will SMR1 stick around?
A: Currently we plan on only leaving SMR2 running after it is released. Therefore SMR1 will not remain running.


SMR Staff

Disclaimer: You get this E-mail because you registered an account with
Space Merchant Realms under http://www.smrealms.de/. If you prefer not
to receive any further E-mails please send a note to support@smrealms.de and your account will be deactivated.

[JettJackson]

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