After weeks of silence, NetDevil offers "at least some form of update" about its upcoming JumpGate Evolution MMO

It's been awhile since we've heard anything from NetDevil about JumpGate Evolution, the upcoming sequel to the original JumpGate sci-fi MMO. Last October, ZAM underscored the community's anticipation for news about the sequel in our Jumpgate Evolution: What Are We Waiting For? editorial, but the news continued few and far between. Yesterday, "Scorch" of NetDevil finally posted an update in the official JumpGate Evolution forums, albeit a succinct one.

Scorch offers a few development details in the update, noting the return of "Battlespace" to its simulator roots in the original MMO. "I know this will make some of you happy in that advancing will only happen in 'real' space not instant action type playing," he said in the post. "I still hope to have some achievements/leader board materials form here but not likely to have any equipment or pilot advancing type effects."

The update also features details about the ongoing work on gameplay missions, factions, PvP and AI functionality. Check out the full posting after the jump, and visit ZAM's JumpGate Evolution portal site for more news and information.

From the "At least some form of an update" post in the official JumpGate Evolution forums:

OK, in the spirit of some form of information here is at least a few of the things we are working on/thinking about now. All subject to change, insert standard disclaimer here.

-"Battlespace" returning to more of its simulator roots from Classic, really a place to practice not advance. I know this will make some of you happy in that advancing will only happen in "real" space not instant action type playing. I still hope to have some achievements/leader board materials form here but not likely to have any equipment or pilot advancing type effects.

-Lots of work on missions. With the new design team map layouts, mission stories, the types of things you do in missions, etc is all MUCH more interesting and varied than ever before. The kinds of things we can now do is very advanced.

-Better faction definition. The stories in the game really tell all about your faction and why you are at war with the others. The story is also darker than before with many of the missions you fly feeling more gray than the typical black and white always doing the good thing type story.

-PvP. Lots and lots of work on systems for PvP, new maps, new game play, new forms of advancement, player built battle stations, capturing sectors, etc. The scope and feel of the massive space battles you will be taking part in against other players will be, IMHO, what really sets us apart.

-AI functionality. Tons of work on making the AI both the right difficulty (it was way to easy before) and also varied in behavior.

Once we have more solid information we'll share it.