A fresh start for a new year

Written by: Aldrick Walker

​First and Foremost:
               
GREETINGS EVERYONE!
               
 I’m deeply sorry for the lack of updates.  With some serious technical difficulties, many of our computing resources have been severely cut in half, however, within the next three weeks, this issue will be resolved (despite it supposed to being two, we are actually assuming that it may take longer).  There is much to update you all on, as well as some stuff that you guys should know as our reader base and fan base, and our collaborators and friends in the Indie community.
               
First, we’re throwing several shout-outs.  First, we send our major Shout-Out and Best In the Business Achievements to Vicki Rose and her Public Relations Company, and we wish her and her family well; as well as our friends at Insomnia Press, whose owner and Founder is Elizabeth Prybylski.  These achievements are worth 50 Points a piece.  What do they really equate too?  Really, they’re just our way of being geeky and attempting to be awesome by showing our appreciation, but we will actually explain the achievement points, and how they will be working in the future with our company, as we are going to be attempting to implementing them in the future.  So that said, Vicki Rose and her Public Relations Company  and Elizabeth Prybylski  congrats for receiving your achievements.
           
Now, we do have some updates to get to, so let’s shall we?
           
First and foremost, one of our staff has begun their path to streaming through both the PS4 and the XBOX One Live subscription Services, as well as PC.  Their gamertags are as follows:  XBOX Live=CyphonCross89; PS4=CyphonCross89; Steam=CyphonCross89; Blizzard=Cyphoncross#1238. Yes, they are all the same, as his twitch stream is www.twitch.tv/cyphoncross89, .  Others aretwitch.tv/ldydrkjedi1, twitch.tv/meesterincubi,  The reason that we have kept this according to Meztrailov policy, is that it would be more easily recognizable for you all to find one of our streamers and their stream, and enjoy what they’re doing to the best of their ability and demonstrating some truly epic game skills in the process.  Definitively check them out..  Some of our very own authors have their own streaming accounts, as well as our artists and editors.  That said, we will, with their permission of course having been acquired directly before the publishing of this update, be giving you all the links to their twitch streams as well.  Some of our friends also have streams that they would wish for individuals to follows, and as such, we will be providing the links to either their youtube or their twitch streams.
           
With the stream of CyphonCross89, we have yet to come up with a name for it, so we are going to let you, the readership and fan base, be the ones to name Cyphon’s streaming channel and episodes.  Of course, the episodes of the game will be present in the main title, but, Cyphon’s Streaming is actually an experiment for the company and a goal.  Thus far, we have had the fortune of interviewing up and coming indie Podcast Geekdom Queen, Sister Salem, whose twitch account is www.twitch.tv/sister_salem.  She has also gained the Shout Out andOn the Right Path achievements, both worth a total of fifty points a piece, breaking down to the 25 points per achievement unlocked (again, we will be providing a list for you all).  This streaming experiment aims to not only engage in discussion between the chat-goers of stream/youtube in philosophical discussion of the game, as well as humor, but also hopes to bring recognition to up-and-coming artists, authors, editors, movie-makers, gamer clans that are on their way to being entered into championships, as well as game developers and already popular streamers.  The goal is for us to run a stream through our company’s gamer, CyphonCross89, in essence, while also combing the elements of a stream, with the elements of a radio/podcast that’s live.  Of course, all videos will be uploaded to Youtube, for archival and viewing purposes, but the idea is that the live and immersive experience allows you to engage with the gamer.  Furthermore, many aspects and choices of many of the games that will be offered through the streaming experience, will actually be chosen by you all.  You guys will get to influence the choices and outcomes of the gaming session, while also having Cyphon put in his own ideas and influence and choices.  You may be sitting there right now thinking, ‘Nah, this is just some stupid marketing ploy, we don’t really get to say anything, it’s like voting for the president!’  When I first saw this stream, indeed, I thought the exact same thing.
           
 I was completely wrong.
           
People were engaging, after the interview, before the interview, they were immersed, and they were telling which choices for Cyphon to make while they could.  Currently, CyphonCross89 is streaming The Walking Dead Season One, to which he has named, TWD Season One:  Choices and Morals (Despite the game already having episodes and titles).  The next game he will be streaming according to him, is The Walking Dead Season 2, name has yet to be confirmed.  However, we did mention that you as viewers, readers, and the fan base also get a choice in what happens in the game.  You also get a choice in what happens in terms of what games are being streamed.
           
Each week through our company facebook page, you will be able to vote on five games.  The game that gets the most votes will be the game that is played, and the people that vote for the game the most, also will receive an achievement as well (there are those achivements again!)  So your vote will matter.  We  should tell you that this juncture, we cannot guarantee a new guest every week, or new guests every week.  We will be trying for it in terms of interviews, but as noted, we Meztrailov Fantasy Games, at this time, cannot guarantee an interview every week.
           
A quick, but sad, note is that we have not been able to renew our contract with author Raz T. Slasher, however, our relationship has not ended on bad terms.  It was simply that negotiations could not be reached, and Meztrailov Fantasy Games, and their Founder especially, has noted that we wish him all the best of luck in his endeavors as he is attempting the self-publishing route.  Again, from MFG to Raz T. Slasher, we truly appreciate the time we had with you as an author, and we wish you all the success in the world, and that you become one of the best known indie authors to date.  You do have the talent for it!  Go with all the luck in the world, and know that you have earned an achievement with us, Signed Your First Publishing Deal, a total worth 100 gamer points in achievement points (Them’s there achievement points again guys!)
           
Now, we at Mez Fantasy Games have assumed you’ve taken notice of the lack of episodes of The End of the Line.  The Collaboration between MFG and Abyssal Books has not ended.  In fact, that collaboration remains strong even today, and it has simply been a matter of technical issues on MFG’s part that has kept the  series from progressing, however, that has been changed.  Additionally, the number of writers for the show has been reduced, not because of incompetence, but due to simplicity and some of the other writers having lives that they needed to tend to before they could get involved with such a long-term project.  MFG is still in the process of ascertaining the Music so that our Composer, the very Talented Kelly Fuscia, a brilliant-minded composer and mixer and original musical composer, can put together the official songs for each episode, and blend them so that the readers (you guys) can actually get the full immersive experience.  That said, additionally, achievements will be given to those that had read each episode, and we will be keeping track of that, as we explain it further into this update.  That said, the following writers for The End of the Line is Bryan Holland of Abyssal Books, M.A. Feldman of Meztrailov Fantasy Games, and Virginia (Insert Last Name), an independent author whose graciously dedicated her time and wonderful skill to helping this collaboration come even further to life. 
            Now, this entire update, we’ve been speaking about Achievement Points.  Something that’s a common thing among the Twitch Streamers (Whose List we will be providing at the Bottom of this update), is the use of a bot machine that gives out, ‘Deras’.  Anyone familiar with Meztrailov Online, the Online-AOL-RPG Based Game that is also played on Facebook as well and our forums, and produced by Meztrailov Fantasy Games, rewards viewers with Deras for every minute they spend throughout the stream.  That said, we at MFG had decided to award achievement points like the ones mentioned at the top of this update and throughout, to those who have truly stuck with MFG, and those who are new and very interested in the things that MFG is doing.  Now, these Achievement points do show a customer’s loyalty, and we will have a scoreboard, to which each month we will tally the scores.  Now, the following are the methods in which we will do so are as follows:

• Reviews of our books:  Any review that you post on Amazon, Scribd and the various distributors such as Apple and Kindle, or even the hard copies that you leave on our the Author’s Webpage (that will be updated this week as well), you will receive an achievement.  Please note that only one achievement can be unlocked per review of each book. 
• Purchase of our Books:  Purchase of our books is another way to gain an achievement as well.  Purchase of the books will unlock an achievement, and will also add to your overall Achievement Score.  Again, please note that only one achievement may be unlocked per book.
• Follows and Subscribers of Streamers:  Following our streamers will also unlock achievements and add to your Achievement Score.  Now, while you may be thinking you can use different emails to create different logins, and gain more Achievement Points that way, you would most assuredly be wrong as we do have the ability to check into that particular matter.  If you follow and subscribe to the listed Streamers, you will also earn an achievement.  Subscribing also does the same, and as noted, you may only subscribe once per streamer. 
• Time Viewed per Streamer:  The longer you view the streamer, the longer you will have earned time towards unlocking a very rare and secret Achievement.  Nonetheless, we also understand at Meztrailov Fantasy Games that you do have a life and cannot sit there endlessly watching a streamer or spend days at a time trying to schedule that it in.  Hence, per company’s new policy, Meztrailov Fantasy Games will keep track via the Dera system.  Now currently under the Dera System, you can already redeem the Deras for free things, however, by keeping an honest track and record of your time viewed in the stream, and time spent viewing each streamer (time is cumulative amongst all streamers, mind you), that you will unlock a special achievement.  We cannot tell you how many minutes it does require to unlock this rare achievement, but we can tell you that like Final Fantasy’s ancient grinding system, there’s a certain amount of time required at a minimum to unlock the achievement.  Deras cannot be used to redeem time towards the achievement, unfortunately, we have tried and checked into this.  Nonetheless, you can unlock time towards by submitting an email or comment to us, through the page that will be set up, that includes the standard time frame; all we ask is that you do not use Military time.  You simply use regular time, unless of course, you are overseas, and not in the United States, and Military Time is something you are more familiar with, you can use either the American Standard, or you can use Military Standard time. 
• End of the Line Collaboration Posts:  The posts for the End of the Line collaboration project between Meztrailov Fantasy Games and Abyssal Books and Virginia (Get Last name inserted here) by sending us what you think of the episodes, a review of the episodes, ratings of the episodes (to which we will begin including), as well as overall statements about the collaborative project via the communication box that we will be providing on the page for you will also earn you an Achievement.  Statements like ‘you suck’ will not get you an achievement.  You will need to elaborate on why you feel that way, what it is that we can do to make sure the reading experience is more enjoyable, and things of that nature.  Essentially, the only way to unlock the achievement that exists per episode is to use constructive criticism. 
• Working with our Affiliates:  We will be checking with our affiliates, and again, like the rest of the achievement points, we will be tallying this into it.  If our affiliates provide us proof that you have worked with them in some way, than you will be recognized as unlocking the achievement.
• Following the Author on Facebook:  As is self-explaatory, you follow the author we publish under the MFG banner, you get an achievement for doing so.  Not a difficult thing to do with social media.  You may only get one achievement per author, unfortunately, and please do not try going to create more accounts.  However, if you refer someone to the author and they choose to follow, you will gain another achievement, however, they must provide proof that they referred you, and you must be able to have the individual provide proof that they did in fact like the author’s works, not that they were simply thrown at the author (we want honesty after all, our company’s integrity is very much important to us). 
• Following the Author on Kindle:  Same as Facebook, the same rules apply, and so do the restrictions on ascertaining the number of achievements, one per author follow.
• Following the Author on Twitter:  Same as Facebook, this is basically social media following but because there are so many different social media accounts out there, that our authors do have, there’s achievements for different ones.  We will be updating the list, but right now, Facebook and Twitter are the largest social media sites.  Again, one follow per author, no duplicate accounts or attempts at other accounts, and the same rules follow for referrals of friends or word of mouth referrals for the authors and streamers, you will gain the achievements for these things.
• Commenting Constructively on Social Media Sites:  Constructive comments show that you have been following the author or streamers, and as such have been following their updates and what not through their social media pages.  That said, any constructive comments be they positive or negative are welcome (this is America, and freedom of expression is still something that MFG believes in), as long as it is constructive and you are not simply being rude or inconsiderate of the author and your comments are constructive, polite, and professional and helpful, than you will unlock an achievement for commenting on social media sites.  Each comment is limited to one comment per day, however, there may be secretly rare achievements for numbers of comments, however, they must be about different things, and they cannot overly flood the author’s social media pages.  There are different achievements for different social media sites. 
• Commenting Constructively on Author Page:  Same as their social media pages, the same rules apply for their author page, however, there is only one type of achievement for the constructive posts on their author page.  Again, please be polite, professional, and courteous when constructively commenting on the author page.  The achievements will unlock, of that, we assure you that you will get the achievements.
• Donations on Streamers Pages:  MFG is not exactly broke, but nor is it overflowing with money nor is it too proud to ask for help.  All funds donated do go towards making MFG stronger, more successful, and make it possible for many of projects to become more attainable and more manageable.  Achievements are earned this way, but in no way, should you feel obligated to donate money.  AGAIN MEZTRAILOV FANTASY GAMES WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT DONATIONS ARE NOT A REQUIREMENT, AND WE DO NOT, IN ANY WAY, WISH YOU TO FEEL OBLIGATED TO DONATE TO THE LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAM, OR TO THE STREAMERS PAGES IF THEY HAVE DONATION BUTTONS.  DONATIONS ARE, AND WILL ALWAYS BE, ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF WHETHER OR NOT STREAMER IS DESERVING OF THE DONATION AND THAT THEY ARE AN ENGAGING STREAMER, AS WELL AS DIVERSE AND KNOW HOW TO KEEP A CROWD.
• Donations to the Loyalty Rewards Program:  The achievements are the first stage in the customer’s Loyalty Rewards Program.  Donations towards this not only unlock achievements, but they also guarantee you a permanent discount in all purchases, with monthly codes for discounts on books, and also enter you into monthly drawings for free books be they digital, or hard-copy.  DONATIONS ARE NOT MANDATORY, AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY ABOVE IN THE FORMER MENTION OF HOW TO UNLOCK AN ACHIEVEMENT.  PLEASE DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED OR AS THOUGH MEZTRAILOV FANTASY GAMES IS GOING TO CLOSE BECAUSE WE DO NOT GET DONATIONS FROM YOU.  YOU SIMPLY GET ACHIEVEMENTS FOR IT, AS WELL AS SOME PERKS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT WE WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE ABLE TO.  HOWEVER, AGAIN, DONATIONS ARE NOT IN ANY WAY, MANDATORY, OR REQUIRED, OR SHOULD THEY FEEL SHOVED DOWN YOUR THROAT.

 
 
 
-Achievement List-
Cha-Ching:  Made your First Donation=10 Achievement Points
Moneybags:  Made your Second Donation=20 Achievement Points
Pockets of Gold:  Made your Third Donation=30 Achievement Points
Unlimited Bank Account:  Made Four or More Donations, you must be loaded!=100 Achievement Points
Keeper of Literature:  Purchased your first book published by Meztrailov Fantasy Games=10 Achievement Points
Path of the Librarian:  Purchased your second book published by Meztrailov Fantasy Games.=20 Achievement Points
Lore Keeper:  Purchased your Third book published by Meztrailov Fantasy Games.=30 Achievement Points
Secret Achievement:  A secret and rare achievement….=Achievement Points???
Secret Achievement:  A secret and rare achievement….=Achievement Points???
Secret Achievement:  A secret and rare achievement….=Achievement Points???
Secret Achievement:  A secret and rare achievement….=Achievement Points???
Contract Signed:  Signed your First Publishing Contract=100 Achievement Points
Shout Out:  Worked as an Affiliate with MFG or it’s Affiliates=25 Achievement Points
Best in the Business:  Worked fantastically, and professionally with MFG Publishing.=25 Achievement Points
 
            Now that said, these are just a few of the achievements that we have listed along with their values.  We will be revealing the full list within the coming months, so please don’t judge too harshly on this short list.  There will be a rather large list of achievements, and how they are unlocked, similar to the trophies and achievements from XBOX Live’s Network, Playstation’s Online Network, Steam’s Online Network, so on, and so forth.  As stated previously, this list will only get bigger as we expand and grow further.  Again, just a few of the prizes for having the highest achievement point score include free books, discounted book codes, signed digital and hard copies of books, personal one on one interviews with authors and artists, as well as time with the Publishers and Streamers via online communication with their approval. 
            That said, this pretty much covers this update.  Until next time, we hope to hear more from you, in both regards of comments and of actual content readership and fanbase!  Also, please note that the website will also be getting an update featuring the Stream Pages and Links to the Streamers mentioned above, as well as the gaming clans that are sponsored by Meztrailov Fantasy Games, as well as Clans that actually play for Meztrailov Fantasy Games that are in the process of attempting to enter the pro-league of E-Sports.