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.

Exploring the world of dogfighting on your PC

Another interesting looking dogfighting game in case your interested.  This is PC based.  Curious if anyone out there has given it a try.

Youtube trailer below:

Also here is a review of the game from Gamespot  Click Here

New Game from makers of Sky Gamblers to be released January 9th

Check out the trailer video for the new game, Battle Supremacy that is scheduled to be released 1/9/14.  This looks pretty spectacular and a great combination of air/ground/sea battle.


Battle Supremacy Trailer Video - Click Here

Great Training Videos from Brad Willis

I wanted to take a moment to reference some great training videos that are available for viewing on youtube from Brad Willis.  Brad has some fantastic insight on the nuances of playing MSO and I've personally found these videos very educational.  Hope that you do too:

Metalstorm Online Training Video #1:  Introduction

Metalstorm Online Training Video #2:  Weapons Class using Coin Weapons

Metalstorm Online Training Video #3:  Evading Your Opponent

Metalstorm Online Training Video #4:  Missile Evasion

Many other great MSO videos posted by Brad - mostly plane reviews and recorded battles

Thanks

This blog had its one millionth page view last night - thanks for reading!   If you have topics that you would like to see covered or if you would like to provide a guest posting, let me know.

Rumor of the week

Well it has been a week or so now since this posting - source of the rumor was comments and posts from readers of this blog. I was hoping to flush out if it was valid or not (hoping it was not). As of this time, it sounds like just heresay, so lets hope that there is nothing to it and that MSO will be around for a long time. 

Starting to hear some chatter that Metalstorm Online is going to be phased out and REPLACED by Metalstorm Aces.   Rumor is that there is a letter out there from Z2 stating this position.  Has anyone seen this letter?  

It might make sense - Aces is SOOOO friggin similar to MSO that I've often wondered why would Z2 make 2 games that are almost identical (although Aces is not as good in my opinion).  I am guessing that Aces requires less server costs and is easier to maintain & update than MSO.   

Anyway - I am hoping that this is a false rumor as I really do not like Aces enough to play it regularly and I definitely do not like it enough to invest the time to create a blog for it.

Sky Gamblers: Cold War - 4th installment of the Sky Gamblers series

About a month or so ago, Sky Gamblers released its 4th dogfighting game:  Sky Gamblers: Cold War.  See review links below.  From what I can see, this is pretty similar to the other Sky Gambler games but lets here from you - anyone tried this?  How do you like it?

MacLife review

Touch Arcade review

Gamezebo review

How do you like Metalstorm Aces vs Metalstorm Online?

First of all - apologies for the lack of blog entries - its been a busy summer.  I've been intending to do a review of the updated Metalstorm Aces but have not had a chance.  Thought that I would at least open up a post on the topic. 

From what I can see - Metalstorm Aces has been significantly improved from its initial international release back in December 2012.  So do you like it better than Metalstorm Online?   Lets hear your thoughts on the topic. 

Not to taint the discussions, but I still prefer Metalstorm Online and think it is still hands-down the better game.

MV-23 Warlord

Energy:  Upper end of the agility class
Damage:  Tied as best in class for damage
Agility:  2nd in fleet for agility
Lock Speed:  Best in class by far for missile lock speed

This is a very intriguing new agility plane - good boosts - should be a strong contender in the class.

To get this plane you need to complete campaign 4 of Metalstorm Aces.  From what I have seen, this will be a fair investment of time playing Aces to earn this.

Overall I don't really see the strategy from Z2 - pull players away from one of their games to play the other.  Both MSO & Aces are so similar, they may be cannibalizing users from MSO to populate Aces.

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out!

MO-10 Condor

Missile Reload:  Best in class - but still quite a bit below weapons class
Damage:  Best in class - but again still quite a bit below weapons class damage
Missile Tracking:  Best in class
Armor Regeneration:  Whoa - at a total of 6+4=10% this is now 2nd in class - 2nd only to the green turtle.  Also looks like it will be a good missile shooter with good tracking/damage & reload speed.  This will probably be a new favorite for you defense class aficionados!

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out!

UT-37 Vindicator

Critical Strike:  Best in class - although not the most important of boosts in my opinion
Damage:  Middle of the pack
Agility:  Near the top of the pack - very good agility although no speed boost hurts.
Damage Resistance:  Excellent numbers, especially for agility class.  Best in fleet for cannon and best in class for missile resistance. 

A very nice addition to the agility class but 1000 medals is pricey.

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out!

EY-22 Isis

Critical Strike:  A minor boost
Energy:  A decent boost
Agility:  Lower end of the pack
Speed:  Upper end of the pack
Low agility boosts make this less attractive in my opinion.  (being that it is agility class).  The speed is not too bad though.  Besides that, just another plane but it is a bargain at 20,000 credits.

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out! 

AT-77 Tundra

Damage:  Middle of the pack
Speed:  Middle of the pack
Agility:  Middle of the pack
Evasion:  Middle of the pack
What can be said - the Tundra has a good set of boosts however they are all in the middle of the pack - perhaps a good balance.  Also note - this plane costs medals, not coins.

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out!

EY-19 Anubis

Damage:  Lower end of class
Missile tracking:  nudged up slightly at 2% boost
Damage resistance:  Boosted up 5% (a rare boost for weapons class)
Evasion:  Another rare boost for weapons class
Overall a discount plane for the bargain price of 20k credits.  Not a major "player" in the fleet but not too bad either.

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out!

NK-99 Quicksilver

Overheat threshold:  Now best in fleet
Damage:  Middle of the pack in class
Agility:  Best in class
Armor:  Top end of class

Having good agility is important for weapons class in my opinion and the Quicksilver is most agile in its class.  The armor is a nice bonus too.   Best in fleet for overheat threshold is good if you use cannons alot but not a huge discriminator.  Overall another decent plane.

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out! 

TK-42 Karma

Damage:  Middle of the pack in class
Critical Strike:  2nd in class
Armor Regen:  Best in class
Agility:  2nd in class
Good agility & damage are important.  Armor regen is nice but 3% doesn't make much of a difference in a typical battle.  I'm not a big fan of the critical strike boost since it occurs randomly, but it is nice when you inflict that extra damage during a battle.  Overall a decent plane and stunning lines - does anyone know if this is a real plane?

This plane has been added to the Comparison Guide  and also to the Fleet at a Glance - check it out!

Real life plane:  the Vulcan Bomber

Version 5.2 - New Missile, New Planes

I was on vacation all last week - will start catching up in the next couple days.  Looks like some exciting new updates!

I've updated the plane comparison table & fleet at a glance.  Will add plane reviews in the next day or two.  Lets also hear how you like the 5.2 upgrade along with the new missile.

...oh yeah, and the worldwide Metalstorm Aces release also!

Upcoming Leaked Planes (Thanks 09Florovicj & [KAF] Tabby CaT)

Upcoming Leaked planes:















NK-99 Quicksilver (Weapon class)
Re-skinned Hawken. It has same pattern a Hawken but its not desert camouflage but arctic camouflage colours.
Cost: 900 Medals
Stats:
+12% Cannon Cooldown
+12% Damage
+15% Agility
+10% Armour



















MO-10 Condor (Defence Class)
Re-skinned Apollo.
Cost: 1125 Medals
Stats:
+14% Missile Reload
+6% Missile Tracking
+10% Damage
+6% Armour Regen




















UT-37 Vindicator (Agility class)
Reskinned Juggenaut.
Cost: 1000 Medals
Stats:
+8% Critical Strike
+10% Damage
+13% Agility
+12% Damage Resistance




















AT-77 Tundra (Agility class)
Reskinned Reaper.
Cost: 400 Medals
Stats:
+6% Damage
+8% Speed
+8% Agility
+5 Evasion





















EY-20 Isis (Agility class)
Reskinned Hawken.
Cost: 20,000 Credits
Stats: (the stats were in a foreign language ill update you with them when I find out)
+2% Critical Strike
+8% Energy
+5% Agility
+8% Speed




















EY-19 Anubis (Weapon class) yes it's another F-15. Cost: 20,000 credits
Stats: (Same here)
+5% Damage Resistance
+2% Missile Tracking
+6% Damage
+6% Evasion

These planes appeared in the hangar (these are the planes that will be added to the hangar to stay. They are not featured planes) Z2 realised and hidden them but a new bug happens. Wraiths became agility class and Nightwing Became weapons class. If you upgrade them its like a hybrid plane. The upgrades are seem to be gone but they are not at least in survival but if you upgrade it then it is invincible in VS.

Blue Coins more Abundanct These Days?

I've noticed that in the past few weeks, you can often get up to 6 or 7 blue coins in a row if you are willing to play the 30 second videos.  (note that I said "play" and not "watch").  Curious if others have experienced this?  Perhaps Z2 is being a little more generous with the blue coins then before?

New Version Release - 5.1.1

I haven't noticed anything different except for no lag in the few games that I've played so far.  See anything new? How is it working for you?