The Matrix online is about to be updated and a very detailed change log has been released titled  Combat Revision 2.0 in an Oyster Shell giving us an idea of what to expect from the update.

Melee Free-Attacks
The old multi-on-one Interlock system has been replaced with the addition of Melee Free-Attacks. Players can now choose either ranged weapons or a melee-combat Style to attack with from outside of Interlock.

Because of the addition of Melee Free-Attacks and tactics being available from the hotbar, the WASD keys no longer map to tactics during Interlock. (You wouldn't be able to move and use Melee Free-Attacks if tactics mapped to the WASD keys.) By default, new characters get tactics mapped to 1 through 5 on the first hotbar. You can move tactic hotkeys to whatever slots work best for you.

 

The full document can be found HERE

 

Matrix Online celebrates the one year anniversary today. On Friday the 31st, the developers have promised that the celebrations will begin:

One year ago today, we first opened The Matrix Online to all players. In that time, we've seen everything from the death of Morpheus to a move to Sony Online Entertainment. If there's one truth to working on The Matrix Online, it's that there never seems to be a dull moment.

If you missed it, HCFrog went on a bit of a rampage on the External Playtest server yesterday; dropping Jack-O-Lanterns around the Slums and even a Complete Corrupted in the middle of Debir Court. It certainly got us thinking about where we've been since launch and where we're going in the future.

In one week, we begin a new era in The Matrix Online, as Combat Revision 2.0 becomes a reality. As with everything else in the game, it wouldn't be as good as it is without lots of help from the community. This may be a bit of professional pride on my part, but I believe we have the greatest community of players in any MMO. Thanks to all our players for being supportive and keeping us honest. You all rock!

I'd also like to take a moment to thank the dev team for being an outstanding group to work with. The Matrix Online runs on their blood, sweat, and tears--along with a good dose of laughter. And, as you can see on the forums, they genuinely like hanging out with and listening to our players. What more could a Community Relations Manager ask for?

On Friday, March 31, 2006, our First Year Anniversary Event begins. Our gift to you: A little Piece of Blue Sky. Be there to find out what it's all about.

The crew over at The Matrix Online has given us another great designer journal. This time around , the designer journal focuses on HCFrog, who gives a quick overview of what it is like to balance PvE in an MMO. If you have never read up about class balancing and what it takes to balance and MMO, this is a definite must read.

Step right up, ladies and gents, and see the mystifying process of balancing PvE for combat revision 2.0! See death-defying feats of aerial acrobatics, without a safety net! Watch as two green-conned weaklings demolish a hapless play tester! Shiver with fright as you confront the nightmarish reality of level-based damage mitigation!

One of the unique challenges with CR 2.0 came about because our engineers kick a little too much ass. In this case, they got the NPCs operating at a level they have never reached before. We all know that the one of the best parts of The Matrix Online is blasting your way through a pack of NPCs and leaving a trail of bodies in your wake.

The Matrix Onlines "Through the Looking Glass feature has gotten a new issue. The latest version talks about the impending released of Combat Revisioin v2.0 which is scheduled as part of update 42. Another item that will be affected by update 42 will be the Anniversary Event. The dev team has stated that they do not want to have an event scheduled so close to to a release being published, so they will be pushing the Anniversary Event back by 1 week to allow time to adjust to the new update. Read the full article at the link below.

 

A Change in Plans

Originally, we were going to post an article by HCFrog talking about balancing the NPCs in Combat Revision 2.0 today. However, due to some important announcements, we'll post that article next week.

We are planning to release Combat Revision 2.0 as part of Update 42. As I said before, features have been locked down and the team is working on polishing the system and fixing bugs in order to release. While there are a number of issues to be completed, we're preparing to ship CR2.0 in Update 42.