Deathstar Battle to be Shut down

Hoch is Shutting down DSB

With a heavy heart and a saddened brow, I have made the decision that it is time for DSB to be taken offline--permanently. All of you must realise that this has not been an easy decision. I am sure many of you will appreciate that for several years DSB has not been immune from the general population decline of SS.

I have wrestled with this decision for several months and you must believe me that I have not made it in haste. However, I believe the time is now and what is owed to this great com- munity. I do not know exactly when this will take place; I have set no firm date. Suffice it to write that one year hence the DSB server will be taken offline. More information will be made available as it comes.

Rather than watch the zone slowly die and wither to nothing like so many others, I want that it go out on a high and retaining some of its former glory. In the meantime, let us all make sure that DSB goes out on a high! Look up your old friends and squad mates. E-mail and spam them telling them to get involved in the zone. Even if they have not been online in years, make contact and let them know that they should take part in not only DSB but also SS history. Get involved and get others involved with the time that is remaining.

The Staff and I plan to spend the next couple of weeks and months preparing a grand exit. We will go through old files and revive old events and settings showcasing the best that DSB has had to offer. My promise to you all is that DSB will not go silently into that good night! We will go out with a BANG! So get cracking and send out those e-mails and ?messages.

Thank you all for your support and dedication over the years. Our ragamuffin community has endured longer than most ever thought or dreamt and it is owed to you and the devoted Staff of DSB.

Hoch is like that animal from the Cretaceous Period who would rather lay down and die than evolve. Hoch has constantly made decisions based on his pride that either harmed players or the zone itself. The difference this time is that his decision harms all of Subspace and has already caused damage. DSB is not owned by anyone. It is a community of players, the zone was created by other people, and while Hoch played the game from forums, it was the DSB Dev team and countless volunteers who slaved over the zone. Hoch is like a president whose term is up, not wanting anyone else to run the country, so he blows the country up. Its incredibly selfish and a perfect example of Hoch's inflated ego, and power abuse.

Hochs Reasoning

Hey Magnum. If you have not read what I posted in the 'News' forum please do so. Regardless, I will try to address what you wrote.

The decision to shutdown the zone was not taken lightly. It is based on an overall view that the present situation is unstainable in the long run both in terms of playability and competition. So what does all this mean exactly? Quite simply, I accept the idea or the question that even if there is only a handful of players that the zone should exist for them (in whatever form). After all, this game does exist for the players.

Nonetheless, in my opinion that is asking the wrong question. The question is is it right to allow the zone to fade into oblivion. Do we not owe it to others and the history of the zone by paying homage and due respect by taking the sum of its parts and celebrating what is has brought to us? Is it not better to leave on a highnote rather than wallowing in a pool of faded memories? Personally, I cannot stomach that future and I doubt many can as well (if one is truly honest).

It is a testament to the years of dedication by players and the hard work of Staff that this zone has gone on for so long. But at some point we have to ask ourselves the difficult question, have we gone on too long and allowed ourselves to be blinded by past idealism thus ignoring reality? I can no more predict the future than the next person. But I see the trend, I have seen the trends for years. It is the elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge let alone discuss. I do not want that future. I do not think that future benefits anyone save those lonely few left remain- ing.

Unsurprisingly, this has caused quite a stir. This shows me that people do care or have an inter- est. Whilst there is a vocal group against my decision--their energies would be better spent on creating a productive dialogue--there has been some very positive feedback and support of understanding.

As you mentioned League, I can write that League is not going anywhere. The next League will adapt to the reality. This has been planned for several months now. The format will change. More announcements will be made when they become available.

Now there is no need for me to explain my views on this since Sever has done such a good job of it already. I have always supported Severs views on DSB Forums.

The following is Severs Rebuttal.  

Is it not better to leave on a highnote rather than wallowing in a pool of faded memories?

How people want to leave this game is their decision, not yours. If people want to leave on a high-note they will leave on a high-note in their own time.

The question is is it right to allow the zone to fade into oblivion. Do we not owe it to others and the history of the zone by paying homage and due respect by taking the sum of its parts and celebrating what is has brought to us?

You're not asking us this question. You have answered the question yourself and acted on it without asking any of those people who should be "payed respect". It's more than a little contradictory.

It is based on an overall view that the present situation is unsustainable in the long run both in terms of playability and competition.

Overall view? You mean your view.

After all, this game does exist for the players.

Yes, for the players, not for you personally.

Personally, I cannot stomach that future and I doubt many can as well (if one is truly honest).

Yes, personally for you. If that's something you cannot stomach then simply leave! Just don't pretend you're doing the world a favour by staying and overseeing an "honorable death".