After optimization, can we focus everything on metagame please?

[Rolfski]

Operation Meaningful Game (OMG) or metagame is the single thing that absolutely needs to be fixed first after optimization (Operation Make Faster Game) is finished before anything else imo. It's the core promise of this game that is still not delivered and I'll bet it's the second biggest reason after optimization, people eventually quit this game. I think I saw about 75% of my main outfit come and go over the past year, mainly because of optimization and getting bored issues.

There are tons of things on the roadmap (or requested outside of it) that are eagerly anticipated: From ESF changes, to in-game outfit recruitment options, to better TR carbine/sniper sounds, to server transfers, to infiltrator overhaul, to more weapons/vehicles, to better e-sports spectator mode, etc. As much as these features are really welcome and even long overdue, going back to the regular daily road-map after OMFG is finished would be a huge mistake imo. At least reschedule it to prioritize Operation Meaningful Game.

If Smedley can make the whole dev team stop working on what they're doing and really focus on optimization, he can for sure prioritize this to finally deliver the big promise of PS2: Strategic MMO FPS.

And with metagame I mean making the game actually rewarding by giving it meaningful goals (very narrow definition of metagame, I know). It involves:

1. Additional map content and level design to allow for strategic conquest/continent locking: Hossin, Amerish lattice, 3 battle islands. People are dying for this, make it happen yesterday. Battle islands could be released as a work in progress imo because competition/e-sports will cause balance changes anyway.
2. Secondary goals: Alert, WDS, mission system and other game sytems. Make it so that it leads to balanced fights (no overpop bullshit).
3. Reward system: Resources, XP, stats. It should promote playing the objective, not kill-farming.
4. GUI and comms tools: Little changes in these can go a long way in helping players to go for their objective.

Most of these are on hold atm and right now Malorn apparently has only half a programmer to work with to fix WDS and other meta-game systems. I'd say let's give him half the dev team (the other half working on maps) after OMFG is finished. How cool would it be to have this game finally living up to its legacy?