There is nothing that says you can't express an opinion in the game. What this player is referring to is a comment that was made in regards to politics in the real world. We try to keep politics from the real world out of the game because of the diverse amount players from around the world who call our game home. There is no hive mind as this player states and there have been many who've stated their opinions on a wide array of topics over the many years that I've played this game and nothing has happened to them as this player states happened to him. I have conducted many experiments in the past on trying to ruin a player's company/planet and I have never been able to cause this event to happen. Ammut, I hope that you do read this and come back to the game, if you don't that is your choice.

Y'know, I haven't played Fed since my pre-internet days when it existed on a BBS in the UK, but I'm still drawn to comment on this. I know, for a fact, that the game has grown immeasurably since back then and back then we payed £1.50/hour for the privilege. Commenting on the lack of pre-written socials, no sit, no follow, etc serves only to demonstrate the reviewers narrow vision of the M* world. Fed doesn't fit the cookie-cutter mold, Fed isn't for people who lack the imagination to use a pose command and need actions written for them. Fed isn't like '98% of other muds out there'. Fed does indeed have a loyal following, people who want more from a MUD than the 98% of MUDs out there that are cliched clones of everything you've ever played before.

Yes, the database loss was a bad incident in itself. Game staff did restore players to their rightful places. The backups failed unfortunatley and steps were taken to correct the issue. Federation is a game where you don't level jump as fast as you can. You can't 'finish' the game. As for objects. There are several objects you can pick up in the game used for puzzles/quests. I guess you should have played a bit longer :) There are also several things to spend your gaming groats on mainly after you become planet owner. The follow command was disabled not that it was broken. Some players, 'lets call them bad apples' used the follow command to help cheat in the game having multiple players complete puzzles all at once. Some things are necessary in gameplay to be disabled because some people want to fly through the ranks as fast as ever. If you want to do this, Federation II is not for you. Btw, I do pay for a subscription on Federation II, since this is my type of game. Hack/slash I do not enjoy. So if you want a relaxing, space oriented roleplaying environment without fighting other people (currently ship battles aren't enabled), come and enjoy Federation II, its definitely a different world :)

Having played both Federation 1 on AOL in the '90s and the new Federation 2, I can say that there are certainly a number of similarities and differences. Some I like more than others. One similarity is the fact that Fed 1 and Fed 2 are both as stable as rocks. I have never had any problems with the stability of this game. Perhaps crashes happened a couple of years ago when Fed 2 was still young, but I, myself, have not experienced even one since I started playing about a month ago. I was a bit put off by the reviewer’s characterization of the Fed2 Star. This is the weekly newsletter that the staff and players put out. It’s an entertaining read, and I very much appreciate the time and effort they put into writing it. Since Federation 2 is free to play, the designers are naturally eager for donations to defer server/connection costs--hardly an unreasonable position in my opinion. What’s neat is that you can use your donations to buy extras within the game, things that are not necessary to advance but that make your life a bit easier. I disagree with the reviewer's comment about the FOLLOW command undermining socialization in the game. I don't recall there being a FOLLOW command in the original Fed (and if there was one, I didn't use it), and that by no means made it difficult for me to form friendships. I don’t think having the command is even necessary, and I would personally rather the designers spend their time coding new ranks (which I would certainly use) rather than adding a follow command (which I probably wouldn’t use). In any case, I hope you won’t be dissuaded from trying Fed 2 by the anonymous reviewer’s comments. It’s a great community, and I’ve had a lot of fun with the game. If you do stop by, be sure to say hello to me. Sephorin

While I understand the exasperation for having parts of the game not functioning the way /he/ wants them to, its important for anyone to recognize that Fed2 is a game being built around the players that are in it. Player suggestions are constantly being added to the game to make it easier and more fun to play. This kind of flexibility just isn't available in a game that is already coded. Sure the crashes are annoying at times, but as sad as it sounds, each crash actually brings us closer to a finished game that functions well not just in testing but in real play. There was one time when a player picked up an object that was supposed to be immovable! No one had thought of it until he did it by accident. It's things like this that make the game more fun, not less so. BTW taking a taxi is no longer something that you can do. :) As for only one person coding the game, I think that it provides a stability to the game, the progression of additions is logical and not just whatever gets done fastest and of course it always keeps us on our toes wondering what he'll come up with next! Oddities aside, try the game, have some fun with it, get to know the people in it. Its not all about racing to the finish line and 'winning the game' its about enjoying the social aspects of playing a game with friends.

I played the very original FED on Compunet prior to its reincarnation on AOL, and after many years was delighted to find FED II in August 2006. After all those years much has changed, but I can assure you of one thing, I have been playing FED II everyday for the last 8 months without exception. Yes, there have been crashes during that time, to my recollection 3 of them, and yes on one occasion it caused a roll back to a previous save, but it was hardly the end of the world!!! So has any of those 3 occasions put me off playing FED II, not at all. I am still logged in 24/7's and am still loving every minute of it. Its not just the games itself that challenges you in different ways for different ranks, its the community of people that live within FED II. Every new player is made to feel welcome and is never shunned. And yes, one big difference from when I first played FED, is that the game is totally free. You can purchase Slithies via the website, and this allows benefits and aids, but the game is totally playable without these. All the staff ask is that you make contributions towards the upkeep of the game, and I stress ASK. I was always taught that if you dont ask, you dont get. Its a game, but to keep it running for us to enjoy, I understand that it takes cold hard cash. So for this reason, I donate in the form of purchasing Slithies, apart from a thankyou email for doing so, I receive no other benefit or recognition than anyone who does not, nor do i know who does or does not. I hope FED II stays free, it will attract more players and be even more enjoyable, but I for one will say now, if i had to pay to play (just like I did in the old days), I would have no hesitation in doing so.

I completely agree with the author's opinions. Players lose much with the frequent game crashes, which can't seem to be stopped. Other games I have been in are much more prepared for the loss of personal money and other such things. It has been one headache after another to deal with the internal problems of the game. The social aspect of the game seems to have stagnated over the last year, or more. New players seem to have fun, but once in the game for any long length of time, they grow bored with the lack of things to do, since really it's all about hauling, hauling, hauling. I think the senior staff really need to stop and re-evaluate where they want the game to go. Another thing that might help is if the senior staff actually played the game they created, from beginning to end, and perhaps they would be more aware of the problems lurking under the surface. Also, it would be nice if for a change, the senior staff and game developer actually listened to playerbases wants and needs, instead of deciding what the player will want and dismissing player/customer input out of hand.

Wow, talk about being negative. Some truth to what was said but let's be fair. Fed II is a work in progress and not finished. The original was a terrific game, but give this version a chance. Why? I'll tell you why. First of all it's free and secondly, despite any shortcomings, it's fun. Remember its a game and as a game I have enjoyed playing it for a long time now and for me it's #1.

First, Fed2 is a good game, but it could be a great game. I played it for a long time. It is marred by the fact that staffers play the game and form alliances with other staffers, and even 'marry' them in the game. This leads to the formation of cliques. Differ with any of the staff, however slightly, and you find yourself locked out of the game. I was locked out because I objected to a civilian contractor (Zardoz and other alts) playing the game big time on government time. As a veteran, that galled me. There was no verbal abuse or language involved. Zardoz complained to his 'wife' (A staffer) and I was locked out for 'Harassment'.

I too started in Classic Fed during the AOL days and stayed with it through the web. It is one of those games that you can leave for a while, but you keep coming back. I first started Fed II in beta (or was that Alpha) and left for a while, then returned. I miss part of the old Fed, but I am curious and excited about some of the features of the new Fed. True, adventurer and (I think) Trader, can be monotonous, but you forget their purpose: with adventurer, getting you to explore, and with Trader, introducing the new concept of futures. We did the exploring in Classic with the GM, but not nearly as thoroughly as now. So, monotonous? Yes, I cursed every time I had to find something in the South Dome on Sumatra. But fun? Yea, I enjoy it. As for the slithies, the game can be played without them. The perks you get with slithies can enhance gameplay, especially at the Indy and Manu ranks, but there are games and contests where slithies are given away, and I have found also that many players are willing to give you the occasional slithy if you aren't a beggar whining for one. I intend to test the challenge of playing the game without them with a character and will report back on how it goes. As for the general manager and her friends, some things are as they are. It's not going to change. She's a nice person if you take the time to get to know her and don't irritate her, which is the same of most people. All in all, I can attest that gameplay in Fed II is unique, challenging, and fun, at least for me. But then, I've been an addict for years.

I have thought most of the day about the comment just posted. The previous player's first paragraph is partly true and clearly stated at the Fed2 homepages. The highest ranks (above Manufacturer) have not yet been added to this game. There are several starter planets, with under 40 locations that have been approved and added that were entirely written by current players as a preview of what their final planets will be like once the appropriate rank is added to the game. As for the 2nd paragraph. Well, obviously if the higher ranks are not yet finished to the programmers satisfaction then the players have to stay at the top rank that is there. My own personal opinion, i have a feeling that the player actually meant, unlike Classic Fed, where it was possible to zoom through all the lower ranks in just a couple of days, and bingo! you're a planet owner. Fed2 has made each rank a challenge, something to thoroughly enjoy, giving players a chance to get to know the game, and what exactly they need to do for each rank. There was nothing sadder than a new Planet Owner asking everyone in sight, how do i haul? An unfamiliarity with the main planets and locations, and who other players are. Fed2 is not a race, it's something to be enjoyed. There have been several times, where requirements in a couple of the lower ranks have been shortened, which would not have happened if the programmers object was to delay promotions. Now, to the last comment. Yes, Fed2 is absolutely, positively free!! A slithy is not a requirement for promotion to any rank, and we have been reassured several times, it will never be required. True, there are some enhanced abilities that make life a tad easier to do your job with that Slithy, but in no way does the enjoyment or the experiencing of the game require them. I am only a player in Fed2. I've enjoyed playing Fed for almost 10 years now. I come, i go, i've paid, i've played for free, i enjoy this game, i enjoy interacting with the other players. Heck, i even enjoy hauling!! Currently, i have not paid anything to the programmer and i am at the highest rank currently available. Guess what, the programmer herself even comes in and asks everyone how they are doing, takes suggestions, listens to feedback, and tweaks the game to make it easier to play, not necessarily easier to promote. Bella and her staff actually seem to listen; unless i'm being silly, then they tease me right back. I agree with Bella (the programer) that it's better to have a fully tested, fleshed out rank, ready for promotion, than to throw something together just so players can promote! Believe it or not. But promoting is not the object of the game (to me anyway). It's the atmosphere and enjoyment of the game, that keeps me here. Thanks for letting me ramble on (Can you just imagine how long my location descriptions will be, once the player owned planets ranks come in AND when i choose to promote to that rank!) :)

Just wanted to update this comment. Player planets have now been installed and have multiple ranks with player planets (including multiple player planets). As for slithies (donations), they are not required for gameplay. They don't allow you to experience anything different than if you had donated. Not sure where the new experience having Slithies would really come from? Slithies (cute little creatures that are worth alot in game) definitely make gameplay easier. The game is slow at first with learning game commands etc, it was designed that way. Typically alot of newer players have problems with the amount of typing. Well guess what, this is a text-based game, you will be typing no matter what you do :) Everyone have fun :) JD

As exciting as the previous review might lead you to believe this game is, it is not for the casual gamer. If you have only a couple hours a night to play don't bother. This is a pay to play mud, conversion is about 13-15 dollars a month US, and the game is not even finished. Currently they have about 1/3 of the ranks available that are supposed to be in the final release of the game. The rank requirements for the lower levels will lead you to a lot of typing...A LOT. I spent about 5 hours a night for 3 nights in a row constantly typing, and got past one rank. They are very macro unfriendly. Want to simplify all that typing? Got a few zmud triggers? Forget it. Coding is in place to make you wait if you deliver something to fast, or randomly drop you somewhere in the game. If the game was fully finished, if there was not at least a solid week of typing for the serious gamer, or a month or more of typing for the casual gamer, then a positive review would be possible. As I see it now, this game is a stay away game. As in spend your money on a text based MMOG that is fully finished. Games should be fun. When I get off work I don't want to go home and work again just to have a good time...

Both comments no longer apply to the game because of recent changes.

The negative reply to this has one major factual error, and a couple things that don't seem to match up to the actual game. First off, the core game is free. No required monthly fee. You do have to pay for extra bells and whistles, but if you're short on cash they're luxuries and optional. Second, I don't know why he'd think you have to put that much time into it. It's not Everquest. In fact the very protection he complains about - the mechanisms to stop macros and triggers - keeps that from being true. The game's designed to stop power-leveling, so that amount of time isn't really necessary. Finally, regarding the typing, it's a textbased game. There's typing involved. It's not excessive, but if you mind typing I'm not entirely sure why you'd be on a MUD site. Aside from claiming a free game charges a monthly fee which is entirely wrong, the author of the comment deserves his opinion, but the specific complaints struck me as strange enough to warrant a reply. Aside from not allowing triggers, I'm not sure he was playing the same game as I was...

Fed II is free so let's be truthful about that although there are extras offered for a price. The game can and is played without the extras, but it is nice to have a choice. One truth that the reviewer did make was about typing. There is a fair amount of typing involved. Not dissimilar to replying to this review as a matter of fact. If you do not like typing then you will probably not like Fed II. Fed II is also not the place for macros. If you cannot enjoy a game without macros then Fed II is not the place for you but take it from me, Fed II is a place to have fun and experience a space fantasy at the same time.

I commented for one reason only. Some people are confused about a previous post regarding Federation 2 as a pay-to-play MUD. The post after it notified that the review is now incorrect due to recent changes on Federation 2. I remember coming across this game in 2005, and indeed it was not free at that time; it was monthly P2P. However, I recently returned to this game, and found that it is free again. At the time of these postings, the game was not free. Therefore there was nothing untrue about that post, and I was not willing to pay for the game either, although now I do enjoy it. Brings back a lot of memories. Note that this is a neutral review, clarifying what seems to be a misunderstanding about why the previous reviewer said the game was not free. Read the other reviews to see if this is a game you'd enjoy or not.