MLChris (1:53:52 PM): Anytime newsie.

NewsieML (1:54:01 PM): To get right to the point.  Are you happy with the state of ML City today as a whole?

MLChris (1:54:38 PM): I have OCD, I am never happy with an imperfect world, lol

MLChris (1:54:57 PM): But I am happy with the progress.

MLChris (1:56:31 PM): I am happy with the direction of the game as a whole, and I am happy with the accomplishments this year.

NewsieML (1:56:47 PM): What changes could the citizens of ML City look forward too in the coming seasons? Anything brewing in that meth lab you call a mind?

MLChris (2:00:14 PM): I am still working on researching some exploited features and putting the mechanisms in place to end those exploits, for the most part. And I’ll be working on the business plan for the new mass aggress features.

MLChris (2:01:44 PM): Although whenever I set goals to build new things for the game, something always comes up with higher importance mid-creation, that holds me back from that 1 cool idea.

MLChris (2:02:33 PM): a bug or a glitch fix would take precedence over a fun feature. I think we are ready for the fun stuff in 08 hopefully. The mass aggression features will be awesome.

NewsieML (2:03:41 PM): Mass aggression? I must not be doing enough insiders reporting. Can you elaborate on that for me?

MLChris (2:10:45 PM): What I mean with mass aggression is for many crew members, or mobsters being able to set up a big job that can successfully result in a mass beating of another mobster or crew.

MLChris (2:11:45 PM): or shooting, bribing, extorting ...whatever

MLChris (2:12:15 PM): using the big job engine, and incorporating the aggressive actions that are all over the game, is what I'm talking about.

NewsieML (2:12:25 PM): When Marion Barry was robbed in D.C. he was outraged. He said, “There is a sort of an unwritten code in Washington, among the underworld and the hustlers and these other guys that I am their friend.”  On the other hand the illustrious mayor Richard J. Daley once said “Power is dangerous unless you have humility.”  Now no one has ever accused you of being humble but do you think you have the humility to connect with the citizens of ML City? Do you consider many of them friends?

 I understand the http://www.thefakemafia.com/index.php is helping to breach that gap somewhat, is there more the citizens could be doing to help the city?

MLChris (2:14:23 PM): I like to consider the relationship I have with the players as an "open channel".

MLChris (2:14:54 PM): I don’t have many "friends", but I do relate with them on a professional and personal level at times.

MLChris (2:17:24 PM): Through the hangouts we promote, and the constant availability I give to them online, many of the players enjoy the occasional convoy.

MLChris (2:18:39 PM): I have a great sense of attachment to all of them, because of the care they give the game, and there ability to help out when their peers are in need. The board and the players help this game grow into something fun for all.

MLChris (2:20:08 PM): I feel very awkward asking people for help..... I appreciate any level of help that a person is willing to donate.

MLChris (2:20:31 PM): sometimes its energy their putting into posting a well thought out response to a topic on the board that teaches us something.

MLChris (2:20:45 PM): sometimes it’s a 200.00 pay pal transfer that helps pay the bills.

MLChris (2:21:01 PM): sometimes it’s nothing but a prayer. Or just enjoying the game.

MLChris (2:21:16 PM): sometimes it’s providing constructive crit...Which helps.

MLChris (2:22:06 PM): Posting more on the unofficial fan site about their concerns and creating topics that ppl would chime in on, and responding to threads that have meaning is always appreciated alot by me.

MLChris (2:22:16 PM): I check into that board daily to see what ppl have to say.

MLChris (2:22:50 PM): I’m going to be doing a pod cast on that board soon. It’ll be all about the fans and the relationship I have with everything about mafialife.com

MLChris (2:23:11 PM): were calling it "The Sitdown" w/ mafialife Chris

MLChris (2:23:23 PM): And you can find it coming soon, on the fake mafia dot com.

MLChris (2:24:18 PM): I'll be discussing topics like these, and topical news in and out of the game that I have opinions about. And I’m not necessarily gonna be nice about it.

MLChris (2:25:00 PM): it will be interesting listen. I may have something to say about YOU, I would suggest checking in daily and listening to it regularly.

NewsieML (2:25:48 PM): Quite honestly Marion Barry could go down as one of our greatest mayors in history. He was once quoted as saying, “Outside of the killings, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.” Now that’s obviously not true for ML City.  It seems these days that the gangsters and street thugs rule the town. It is one of the most unsafe cities in the world. Giuliani was once quoted as saying, “It's about time law enforcement got as organized as organized crime.”  With that thought in mind is there any chance that law enforcement in ML City will ever play a more prominent role?

MLChris (2:28:40 PM): I cannot imagine us being able to switch development goals in that direction anytime soon, due to financial restrictions. Nothing is impossible, but there is so many ideas that need to take place first.

MLChris (2:29:13 PM): its not a bad idea, but other games have done it already, so id have to put some thought into it, and just create it different and better, and it’ll cost alot of money that is being allocated elsewhere.

MLChris (2:30:29 PM): in a way cops do play a role, when they land themselves in jail on a regular basis. Id much rather them play the role of the mobster then a cop. ill make another game for that.

MLChris (2:31:03 PM): coplife.com coming soon to an internet near you.

NewsieML (2:31:19 PM): Sir, we thank you for your time. We would love to come back for another interview later in the season. Maybe after the Sitdown starts rolling and revisit with you again then.

NewsieML (2:31:35 PM): Anything you would like to add to the citizens before we let you get back to work?

MLChris (2:31:44 PM): You know, now that I’m here, id like to take the time to address 1 thing, sure....

MLChris (2:33:50 PM): We have set up a section on the homepage of mafialife where we point out any new changes and updates to the game. A few mobsters have issues with the fact that bullet proof vests now absorb 10-300 damage, and not 20-100. One actually claimed that it was unrealistic..... And I dispute that.

MLChris (2:34:32 PM): In reality, the fact that there is a "potential" for the vests to do 10, or 300, is more realistic then making SURE big guns shoot right through them, is more realistic.

MLChris (2:34:32 PM): In reality, the fact that there is a "potential" for the vests to do 10, or 300, is more realistic then making SURE big guns shoot right through them, is more realistic.

MLChris (2:35:25 PM): I want to make it VERY clear... that this administration is not stupid. Mobsters are gonna whine about anything that makes it more difficult to kill someone, regardless if it is realistic or not.

MLChris (2:37:09 PM): And unfortunately for those few elite mobsters who stay online all day, we must market this game to the "casual player" or the game wont be alive long enough for them to play it.

MLChris (2:39:43 PM): the statistics show that it is not impossible to kill, in fact there’s obits everyday..... They just need to rely on contract approvals and retaliation contracts like the real mob. Unsanctioned hits are frowned upon in the mob... real life mob, and this fake internet one too. If they want kills, let them go to war and fight with approvals. During wars in the real mob a family doesn’t get wiped out off the face of the earth... a few ppl die, and someone concedes and loses.

MLChris (2:40:18 PM): the changes made actually gave more challenge to the game, and much more realism....

MLChris (2:40:46 PM): and you never know when the guns may do more maximum damage. There is plenty of room for improvement. Nothing is ever set in stone.

NewsieML (2:42:00 PM): Sounds good anything else?

MLChris (2:43:46 PM): Yes..... Stop posting out of character threads in the wrong category in the game boards.... that’s what www.thefakemafia.com is for.

 Jake the Newsie Reporting live from Big Saul’s Men’s Only Sauna and Steam baths.

As always questions and comments can be addressed  at 

http://www.thefakemafia.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20