Sunday, April 6, 2014

Are Metalstom games on the decline?

Below are current Metalstorm rankings on IOS as of 4/6/14. These can also be found here
  • Metalstorm Online was once one of the top games in the App store.  
  • MSO was once #18 for all IOS games for the iPAD and #36 for All Apps back in 2012
  • MSA had a strong start at #10 in All Apps when it launched.
Things have changed quite a bit though in the past year.

Currently MSO is ranked #57 in the Action Game category and MSA is ranked #105 in the Action Game category.   This is a far cry from where it once stood and represents a slow fade in popularity.  Also, as most already know, not only has MSA not overtaken MSO in the rankings, but MSA is much lower in ranking with little hope of overtaking MSO.

So has Z2Lives strategy of putting all of their emphasis on MSA paid off???   I would say no.   Its too bad that MSO has been left to languish even as it remains much higher ranked than MSA.

See data below.  I've also thrown in Sky Gamblers stats at the bottom for reference.






83 comments:

  1. Nice, a sign of life here! ;)

    This just proves that most were right about MSA. It felt sluggish and wasn't an worthy sequel to MSO. Maybe Z2 should think about supporting MSO again?

    And as long as I still find games I don't care too much about stats. =)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I want the GE and Spectre to be re-released!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post, it's nice to see confirmation that a 3+ year old game that's GREAT is kicking MSA. If you love MSO like we do, come visit the smallest, yet most active group on Facebook for it. Cool skin files, a patch to get the yellow square back on iPad Air and more! Just search for "VZ MetalStorm Club" and that's us! Everyone is welcome. In the meantime, enjoy the continuing featured plane list :)

    Up next:

    M-53 Ice Wolf (Weapons)
    Achilles (Defense)
    IronFang (Agility)
    W-113 Rath (Agility)
    FA-87 Tigris (Weapons)
    A-17 Paladin (Weapons)
    J-35 Dynasty (Agility)
    FA-12 Liberty (Weapons)
    Rattler (Agility)
    K15 Mako (Agility)
    WM-10 Striker (Agility)
    F410 Zephyr (Agility)
    RA-M84 Titan (Weapons)
    FA-88 Hurricane (Weapons)
    Stiletto (Agility)
    X-15 Griffin (Weapons)
    T-40 Arrow (Weapons)

    【VZ】Ðark Fact

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome that you have this list! How do you know what will be featured next?
      -Wahoodoo

      Delete
    2. When you see that green bar come across the screen (now and then) that is your plane list arriving and MSO being updated. The file name is ContentIndex.xml and it's found in the RemoteData folder. By hooking my iPhone to my computer and using iFunBox (program) to look at that file, I get the plane list and share it with you. Enjoy! :)

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
    3. By going into the Z2's programs, are you also changing your plane stats?

      Delete
  4. MSO is and always has been a superior game to MSA. I respectfully believe Z2 erred when they shifted their focus and resources on MSA and all but abandoned MSO.

    I think MSO could be refreshed and updated, but they need to stay true to the true MSO franchise and not replace it with some cartoonish wannabe w/poor game play.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. +1

      So true words!

      Delete
    2. I agree with you, bwilliw! It would be great to see some kind of complication with the campaign mode--more missions, more achievements within missions, more development of the story behind the missions...
      -Wahoodoo

      Delete
    3. Yes, there would be much room for an update esp. in the campaign. And ofc it's always nice to see some new planes. ;)

      Delete
  5. C H I N A!!!! must be BANNED!!!!
    F... cheaters spoiled the great game!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With respect, they're not all that way. Most know of their bad connection and apologize for it. Many [SA] pilots hang with us in our page on Facebook. Why not come meet them? I blame z2. They need to make their servers compensate for this. We should all be able to play together and have fun :)

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
    2. Have fun? Hahaha.. After you use ifunbox... Battle of the hackers!

      Delete
  6. So many noobs out there. I've been called a hacker so many times.. I'm not a hacker.
    I've been beaten badly by Chipper, Death has arrived, VZ players..

    ReplyDelete
  7. If Z2 is reading any of these blogs, VZ players should be banned! After all, Dark Fact admitted that he is using ifunbox.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Using it doesn't necessarily mean abusing it or manipulating files with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! However, the likelyhood one abousing or manipulating files is greater than one who does not use an ifunbox!

      Delete
    2. Well..."in dubio pro reo" ;)

      And since I mostly play Survival I'm sure not to have met cheaters yet, luckily.

      Delete
  9. Not just Metal storm in general, but this web page is declining as well...No new posts and it used to be so much fun...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I confess - I do not play the game much anymore but will keep the blog open as reference for all of you.

      Delete
    2. Thanks! That's good to hear. It really is a great resource for MSO! Especially the tables that show fully upgraded comparisons between all three classes. It's interesting, for example, to see how extremely effective an evasion boost is in defense class compared to weapons class. Helps make everyone's game better (and cheaper!) with smarter buying & upgrading knowledge.

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
    3. Thx! I agree, this bolg great resource for MSO! Still checking it reguraly. ;)

      Delete
  10. Tbh idc...still I get to play a lot and don't have to wait log to find someone for survival. Most times it's with Game Center buddies I met while playing. =)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Keep responsing here and playing MSO! =)

    And grettings to [VZ] SPEEDY for nice survival rounds. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. When will the queen, green turtle, or battleship be re-release?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Guess this only Z2 knows. Tbh I saved up some blue coins for the green turtle myself. I'd even "invest" 9€ again thb.Been playing this game for like 8 month, it's not really expensive if you break it down to per month cost. And the fun is more than worth it.;)

    Again it's up to the "community" to keep a game alive by playing it and visiting related forums/blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm willing to buy the green turtle for 328 blue coins!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Why? :P
    Except for the armor regen it has nothing spectacular about it. And it's possible to get with other planes to waves 20+.
    With a good wingman (he had a Dragon) I reached wave 48 with a Dragon. And I even reached wave 37 with a Aurora.
    But yeah, I was the green thingy too. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I purchased the dragon because of my 5 yrs old son (he wanted it) and I dont use it that often. However, last night I flew the plane in survival and to my surprise I got to wave 34. The key is to avoid missile in the first few seconds at the start and the second wave of missiles.

    ReplyDelete
  17. How much does/did the green eagle cost? Need to save up some blue coins for sure. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. You dont need to save up your coins as the green turtle has been "discontinued".

    ReplyDelete
  19. Who knows, maybe we will be heard. :P
    And be it just for me...Price? Plz;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Enjoy a fun MSO video and new VZ Squadron channel! Rattler stocks, untouched, taking out a back flipping Liberty with Bisno? Yep! http://youtu.be/Pxk74WaXPC8

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the video.
    One thing that I noticed was that the Liberty was flying slow. Was this on slow motion?
    When I verse against Libertys and other weapon class planes (using agility class planes), they zip and zag across my screen and at times i dont even see them... then i blow up.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thx for the video!

    Need a hint/tip how to deal with back-flippers? What's the best manouver? Is it good to use the cam/view? Or is it "just" to roll left/right when the opponent back-flipps?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speed is the key. You want to do what we call "gliding" which is holding the accelerator as you chase the red arrow and tilt, etc.. but then, letting off the gas rather then use brakes. Acquire you're target, fire, and speed back up to repeat. Even if you miss the shot and need to come back around, it's better than being blown up. Hard to master, feels wrong not to use brakes, but once you've got it, you'll deal with most back-flippers well. Planes like Rath, Mako, Striker, Spectre, etc do this best with their high speed and agility. Pilots in [KAF] are especially good at this technique. Cheers.

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
  23. no cam/view needed..
    when dealing with back-flippers, you need to use your speed. when the plane bull runs, you need to follow and engage in close quarters. thats the trick.. use your red arrow indicator, when close it is big,when far, it is small.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the advice!
      At the moment I mostly use weapons planes.
      (Red Widow, Quicksilver - fully upgraded - Coin weapons: 25mm Valkyrie & AIM-120 RAAM - SR 4500).
      I already keep an eye on the arrow and try to get into close quartes/dogfight fast. But often when I close in and see the emeny he just flipps and I get hit by a missle. Guess I need to be a bit faster then or maybe it's time for agility planes.

      Delete
    2. Liberty is too fast for your two planes and locks on you. Also, I'm guessing that the Liberty is using blue coin weapons. You are at a disadvantage. The only thing you can probably do with raams is by a no lock hit. raams are too slow and does not track.
      I personaly use agi class and matras.

      Delete
    3. Hmm, will try. Maby eit's really time to switcg to Agi class.

      Another question:
      Are the planes in a class really the same (stats) except for the bonus?

      Delete
    4. And antoher question about missiles:
      What does "tracking" mean? Is it better "following" the target oder does it mean it locks faster on the target?

      Delete
    5. On the right of this site you will see the plane comparison per class.
      tracking and locking are different. Trackign is when the the missiles follows the target and locks means that it finds the target -- from yellow to red lock.
      From the posts in this site, the planes, per classs, have the same stats with the exception of the bonus.
      As an agi class player if find it difficult when versing against weapon class with bisnos. Difficult but I usually win. However, if the player is hacking and i know they are hacking, i can get a kill versun 5 of theirs.
      Hello hackers out there!!!

      Delete
    6. Thanks again! I'm familiar with this site and the stats. These were just some basic questions. ;)
      I can get a win or at least a draw vs weapons class players with a SR up to 20.000, my SR is 4900 now. I just struggle vs agi class, can only hardly keep up with these. Then I usually lose 1:0/2:0.
      And hackers...these dumbasses. Well, I can live with the fact that I know that every time they look into a mirror they know what little pussies they are. :D

      Delete
  24. Nice video! The skins are just local changes, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!! Yes, exactly, only you will see them, but for us, it makes the game more fun! ^_^

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
    2. For me a bit too "flashy" and too much colors, but that's just personal reference and a matter of taste. ;)

      Delete
  25. Here's a short video on Griffin. It also shows the hidden cost of upgrading this "50 Blue coin" plane. Don't forget to subscribe and check out some of our other videos! :)

    【VZ】Ðark Fact

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops! Here you go, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dicjyFVLITo

      Delete
  26. Anyone knows about the next feature planes to be released?

    ReplyDelete
  27. New list will be available after the T-40 Arrow.

    ReplyDelete
  28. anymore feature plane listing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like it will be a week, a month, who knows. This time I organized an email campaign. Over 100 different emails sent to koolRanch who is in charge of Beta Testing, etc. Probably the only one at z2 with an IQ above 80. He just cut and pasted generic responses to everyone. I have no idea what they're doing. The plane list is a simple XML file. Like writing old school HTML, but even simpler. It would take them 5-10 minutes to fix this crap.

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
  29. Maybe you should write the xml fo z2.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Still no new list. C'mon Z2...

    ReplyDelete
  31. What's up with the so-called VZ Elites? They are armed to the teeth. If you're an "elite" please tone it down to the matra and see how good you guys. I don't use my coin missiles when i verse with non-coin weapons. I just use credit cannons.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Still no new plane list... :(

    ReplyDelete
  33. Here you go! Enjoy the worst plane list ever:
    Nova
    Firefly
    Sparrow
    Ares
    Cobalt
    Stiletto
    Ice Wolf
    Achilles
    Iron fang
    Rath
    Tigris
    Paladin
    Dynasty
    Liberty
    Rattler
    Mako
    Striker
    Zephyr
    Titan
    Hurricane
    Red Widow
    Griffin
    Arrow

    【VZ】Ðark Fact

    ReplyDelete
  34. @bettercheck -why disconnect after losing 3 in a row with your bisnos against my credit weapos. ftw! just skills baby!


    raidernation!

    ReplyDelete
  35. @vz-badass--got caught using his lancer loser, instead of his bisno bitch missiles, disconnects.
    bettercheck again-- your no ace!
    bettercheck

    ReplyDelete
  36. This game is done because of the 100000 mtf cheaters (mainly Chinese dog eaters) who cannot win without abnormal Liberty planes... I quit

    ReplyDelete
  37. New fashion... I am a 40k skill player. I use agility planes with coins missiles quite often to beat higher skilled players also with coins missiles. Very often I get smoked 4-2... 5-1 by player with skill rate below 10k and stock missiles... you should see their planes flying... COME ON!!!! f* cheaters!!!! I am so pissed!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Z2 is too blame. Winning with stocks is easy. Just cannon them to death. You're basically invisible. It's unfair. It's a shame people do it, but this is something Z2 could fix with minimum bandwidth requirements, better server sync, etc.

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
  38. be pissed at yourself!! learn the game with no hack and you can beat these guys. tip-search bwilliw in youtube and see how he beat a flipper (Liberty with bisnovats).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeh... the Chinese f* is only a 17k skilled (bwilliw is what? over 100k) and he struggles to beat him 5-4 ... I am not sure that he can do this twice against this fucking cheaters. Look! There is something wrong. Unless the chineses have a magic tallet for the game, the discrepancy between them and any other player is abnormal. Msut be some cheat... I have seen posting of people like me. I refuse to play anyone with Chinese symbols.

      Delete
    2. False, if Z2 outsourced the game to us you'd know it immediately. The game world work like it did in 2011. Planes like Karma, Hades, Spectre, Warlock, Wasp, and Saratoga would be back in rotation, etc. We have nothing to do with Z2. They are SH!T.

      【VZ】Ðark Fact

      Delete
    3. @dark fact, what's stopping your from releasing these...
      after all, you did say you are able to hack into their server.

      raidernation!

      Delete
  39. noobs with coin mssiles crying. stop buying bisno and start buying zeus. you can damage weapon class faster with cannons. tip - read right side of this side and learn.

    vz-badasssmelling, ace

    ReplyDelete
  40. Could anyone tell me if the "automach" finds players only around the area or it is really a worldwide match

    ReplyDelete
  41. i'm a cheater by disconnecting while ahead.
    nanoboyd

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nanoboyd,

      By the way, do you fly a REAPER?

      Delete
    2. Oh ! and your rate is over 40k?

      Delete
    3. I am trying to verify if th automatch is getting players only around the area... Do you live next to Everett?

      Delete
    4. depends on your gamecenter setup

      Delete
  42. 【VZ】Ðark Fact ist right
    Watch your languague and manner people and stop the rasicsm!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Loved MSO online for a couple of years. MSA (sucks). My frustration
    Has been with the hacking but most of all is Z2 refusal to deal with the problem.
    Not to mention the same old same old campaigns. Nothing new!! Then about two months ago
    I discovered World Of TANKS Blitz!!! Goodbye MSA!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I have reaches my goal of 100,000 SR points this weekend.
    In my opinion, this game is one of the best. The concept of rock, paper, scissor was brilliant, but the best class is the AGILITY CLASS. Defense class is too slow and Weapon class is only good with blue coin weapons. Credit vs credit weapons... A skilled agility class pilot will come on top. Sorry weapon class pilots the best you can only do is do a bullrun and fire with your blue coin weapons. For those that have called me a hacker, sorry to say that I loaded the app in applestore and my ipad is not jail-broken. Just kills Baby! For those players that call themselves E (elite)... try playing with credit weapons and see your sorry ass get blown away by skills. for those with slow slow slow internet.. get yourself a faster one. Don't blame it to lag. FTW! - 0ngpin

    PS. that's just GC name and not my real name. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  45. Should this blog go offline, is there any possibility to get your plane data or DB?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Pilots accusing me of hacking the system when I beat them with credit/medal weapon. While they are using blue coin weapons... FTW, Z2 needs to sell these pilots some SKILLS and not the lancers and bisnos you use. LOL

    yes.. saying this to all VZ, SV, FT or Which clan you represent.
    0npin

    ReplyDelete
  47. Taking the opportunity that the game is over... let me tell all the backflipper to FUCK OFF!!!! U fucked up the game into a boring missile shooting no sense. You have one chance to guess what country they come from... All cheaters, screwed up totally... game over. Z2 is shutting down the servers :-(

    ReplyDelete
  48. Honestly there are not really many so called "cheater" in this game. I observed for many years. Millions of LOSERs just did not realise how weak they play this game. Never find excuses, sort of wasting your life.....go get to find out your weakness and to improve men !

    ReplyDelete
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