Thanks for all the feedback on last week's article. It'll be a great help in revising the Quick-Start Guide.

I know what you're all waiting for, so let's just get to it, then. :)

Update 46 Scheduled for Thursday, August 24

We're continuing testing on content and changes for Update 46, with the plan to release it next Thursday. At this time, it looks like the White Hallways will make it into this update. That is, unless QA finds something that needs to be fixed first.

We've created our builds so we can separate out the White Hallway content in case we do find something that must be fixed before release. In that case, we'll release the rest of the Update 46 and Chapter 5.3 content on time and schedule a separate release date for the White Hallways.

I'll have a full write-up on White Hall functionality next week. The current Update 46 patch notes are now available.

The "White Hallway" Patch

There are several other items that require the White Hallway patch to be implemented before they will appear in game. The White Hallway implementation will require a larger patch than normal, due to our need to "rebundle" certain areas. The benefit is, many smaller changes that couldn't be done without a rebundle will piggyback on the White Hallways.

Most of these piggybackers are adjustments to where various world NPCs appear on the map. It also allows us to add one new Collector to the Downtown area: Binary Boy.

What is Binary Boy's purpose? Glad you asked.

Binary Boy and the Zero-One Changes

No, this is not a new band appearing in the Matrix. We have other plans for that.

We've made some changes to the Zero-One Construct that should interest players with high-level characters. All Zero-One NPCs now drop "Parts" tokens and the Zero-One Taskmaster will also drop a "Head" token and has a chance of dropping the new "Taskmaster Beret Zero". A new downtown Collector, Binary Boy, will trade 20 Parts tokens for one "Box of Parts":

• No-trade
• Stackable
• Value: i$250,000

Players can trade a Box of Parts to Binary Boy for i$125,000 plus experience worth 20 Soldier boss kills by a level 46 character. This experience scales down for characters lower than level 46 and up for characters above level 46.

Players can also trade 20 Head tokens for a "Box of Heads":

• No-trade
• Stackable
• Value: i$4,000,000

Players can trade a Box of Heads to Binary Boy for i$2,000,000 plus experience worth 10 Taskmaster kills by a level 50 character. (Scaled as above for lower-level characters.)

As mentioned above, the Zero-One Taskmaster will drop the new Taskmaster Beret Zero, which replaces the old Taskmaster Beret. Old Taskmaster Berets will have a normal decay rate and will become tradable with this update. The new Taskmaster Beret Zero has the same Attributes as the Taskmaster Beret.

As a final reward, players can trade five Boxes of Parts, a Box of Heads, and a Taskmaster Beret Zero for an "Area K Trenchcoat":

• Level 50
• Tradable
• Value: i$9,000,000
• Ballistic Resistance: +36
• Viral Resistance: +36
• Ballistic Defense Bonus: +3%
• Viral Defense Bonus: +3%
• Health Regen Rate: +25%

The Machine Area

Assuming we do get the White Hallways out next week, that only leaves one Image Retrieval to show off the Organization areas. That's simply not enough teasing, so here's your sneak-preview of the Machine area available via the White Hallways.

View Larger Image

In-Game Advertising Contest -- Coming Soon!

Fire up your graphics-editing programs, folks: It's almost time for The Matrix Online in-game advertising contest! We'll be making an official announcement soon about how you can have your own ad displayed on billboards inside the Matrix. However, we wanted to give you a "heads-up" so you can get your synapses firing about what you'd like to do.

We'll be asking for advertisements in the following categories:

The Matrix Online Products
Examples: Slumberil, The Sentinel (Or make up your own!)
The Matrix Online Companies
Examples: Metacortex, Kalt Chemicals
The Matrix Online Clubs/Venues
Examples: Polyvinyl, The Jade Room
The Matrix Online Cothing
Examples: Reactor, Prophet
Organization Recruitment
Examples: The Machines, E Pluribus Neo (Remember, these wouldn't be obvious!)
Control Ads
Examples: Pay Your Taxes, Eat a Taco

Ads will need to be 256x128 in size and delivered in layered-PSD or bitmap format.

Start cooking on your ideas-contest details will be revealed in the next few weeks!

See you on the other side next week.

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