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.

Yes, you've heard that before. However, we've never been as close to finishing the update as we are now and other tasks await our attention. It's time for CR2.0 to get off our plates and into the Live game.

Normally, we release updates in the second week of the month. However, we're gathering some additional QA resources to help finish up and are going to take an extra week on Update 42. Update 42 is scheduled to release during the week beginning Monday, March 20. We'll keep you up-to-date on our progress as that week approaches.

The other main item in Update 42 is the Anniversary Event. Given the extra week we're spending before release, we are also going to push the Anniversary Event back by one week. I know many of you have already marked the event on your calandars and I'm sorry to make this change now. However, we never like running events on the weekend after a new update has been published. Beginning the event on Friday, March 31 gives us an extra week to resolve any issues that may occur after Update 42 goes live.

So, The Matrix Online First Anniversary Event will run from Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2, 2006. No, the irony of having our event over the April Fools Day weekend is not lost on us.

Mo' Beta
Also in Update 42, we'll finally make the beta clothes tradable. This is something that got lost during those first hectic months after launch and we simply never got back to it. Yes, the Zen Master refunds are also still pending. Giving back something that is fair for the accidental release of Zen Master is a bit more complicated, though. It's still on the radar, we just need to figure out how best to do it.

When we started looking at the beta clothes again, we realized something was missing.

Let's see...boots, pants, shirt, jacket, gloves, shades...

Ah, yes. We need a hat! Or maybe...a baseball cap?

And how might you get this hat to add to your collection? Simple. Log on to the External Playtest server and spend a few hours trying out the new system before March 21. We'll be granting these hats in the Live game to everyone who spends some time on the EP server when Update 42 goes live. Here at The Matrix Online, we're not above bribing our players to test Combat Revision 2.0!

But seriously, we are almost ready to release Combat Revision 2.0 and your input is what has made our changes work so far. This seemed the most appropriate gift for all the feedback you've given us from the EP server. Keep the reports coming in and we'll keep hammering away on Update 42.

Where's Walrus?
I haven't been around the forums as much as usual this past month or so. Fortunately, the rest of the team picks up my slack and are generally more interesting to talk to, anyway.

As you may have noticed, our friend TSR-Joel has returned in a new capacity. He's helping out on The Matrix Online forums these days and you'll be seeing a lot more of him. (Well, at least until we get his forum handle changed.) Between the devs taking time to visit, TSR-Joel, and the moderation team, things are in pretty good hands.

In the meantime, I've been helping the team out on the organizational side of getting things done. With everyone so slammed working on Combat Revision 2.0 and the Anniversary Event, they needed some help keeping track of what's going on. If there's anything I feel as dedicated to as the community, it's my team. So, when they need help, I do whatever I can.

You may all now breathe a sigh of relief to learn that I'm not doing any coding.

Dates Recap
Update 42 Scheduled Release Date: Week beginning Monday, March 20.
Anniversary Event: Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2.

As always, this depends on testing and avoiding acts of fate over the next few weeks. Stay tuned to Data Node One for more information.

Thanks and see you on the other side next week, when we learn what balancing NPCs and the Care Bear Stare have to do with each other.

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