Well this week has been quite the roller coaster. I have been dealing with multiple, long term, power outages that have really effected my productivity.

Now, normally this would be discouraging, as I run pretty tight schedules with my deliveries, but I am trying to be positive about the situation. I got some really nice sleep and some amazing family time in!

Overall, I am continuing to make progress on the content for the November update. I am carefully reviewing balance changes and playing lots of test matches. Skynet will be nice and pre-populated with my silly builds when the update releases!

Also looking on the bright side, my power outages are nothing compared to all the negative PR that EA is getting for the choices they made with Battlefront 2. It’s not often that I talk about other games in the State of the Game, but this one hits close to home. These are the exact same issues that drove me to leave the AAA industry and start making MAV. The frustrating progression is what drove me to find a better solution and implement the Research System instead of the role type XP unlocks.

My stance on loot boxes is unchanged. I feel they are predatory, addictive, and close enough to gambling that they have no play in a product developed for minors. I know not everyone agrees with this stance and I can respect that. This is my stance and the products I make will be influenced by it.

Now, I am ALL for limited edition cosmetic parts. I have even sold limited edition camo packages. I think a key difference is that you know, exactly, what you are getting and the cost for that item. I am also very strict with limited edition items, ensuring they will always be an exclusive reward for players. Contest reward parts are account locked, specifically to prevent secondary market repercussions. The rocket parts are designed as a collectible and the only requirement to earning them has always been just playing the game as you already are.

If I EVER step over the line with these rewards, I know I have a community that will inform me immediately. I have set out to create a business that can entertain people, first and for most. The last thing I would want is to ruin the fun.

I would love to hear your thoughts on loot boxes and paid cosmetic items in the comments!