What I like:
- New 3v3 map, yay! Played few matches on it and I like it so far. Keep it up, we need 3v3/4v4 maps, especially for non-DM modes. (Edit: although 4v4 Firnfield DM would be nice)
- In some cases new, prettier map pictures. GOIO became more pleasant to the eye. Also map UI is kind of nice (although I'd like map to be in center, and perhaps a bit larger, but that's nitpicking).
- New tipbox stuff, some of it pretty fun. Although the longer messages are visible for too little time to actually read them.
- Fixed sound bug. Seriously, as an engineer I rely very much of the component sounds. Glad it's gone.
Mixed feelings:
- Clan leveling. On one hand - you do something with the clans, which is cool! On the other... rewards are usually some dyes, a decal and the last level is some title I guess? It feels not really worth the effort for me, I was expecting more. If you really want to make it count you should make some new content (outfit stuff?) availible only through that way and shop. Also, I know you'll be pretty reluctant to the idea - but how about one level of the reward would be a coupon for like 1-2$ of purchases in shop? Then you could also get people hooked, they could browse the shop thinking "Ohh, this outfit is actually pretty cool, I can give 4 bucks for that". So, summary - basically good idea but you have to take it one or even two steps forward.
- Vet game system. I didn't have an opportunity to check it, but I like the idea. Also, how the level is counted? Is it the highest level? The lowest? The level of class we're currently playing? I'll tell more when I actually test it.
On the subject mentioned above, players feel powerless against the trolls/uncooperative players/morons especially since they can ruin your game so easily. If I have 3 people on my ship and one random you-know-which-clan guy appears* being a 2nd gunner and not responding to ANY form of communication, more often than not blabbering asking for different loadout or other stuff. All I can do is block, report and naively hope that Muse & Friends will sort this thing out...somehow. Half jokingly - half seriously I say: just implement the votekick already and let's be done with it. Being perfectly serious now - this is a problem that will not fade away and my experience shows that currently "we rather encourage than punish" approach is not as effective as community needs. What are we supposed to do? Form a pirate bands and just follow after the trolls to every lobby and crush them or at least go to their ship and troll them back? Fight troll with a bigger troll? Well, I know such cases, especially since GOIO is cheap on sale and it's easy to just buy different account for this purpose. This also encourages flying with clans and effectively stomping (because cooperation and ACTUALLY DOING YOUR JOB is kinda op), which makes people leave the game. Sooner or later you're going to have some kind of system, because with 4000 players best-sale-ever-prime-time (or even 1,5-2k during regular sale) you just will not have enough of manpower to handle this through CA's and mods.
*I would lovely write which one, but then I would be reported for hatred speech and insulting clan/players.