Dino Storm Quality of Life update ideas! ( #BRING THIS GAME TO LIFE AGAIN )

[ASTROTHUNDER]

Hello , DS has been a childhood experience for me and why I got into dinosaurs and mmoRPGs , I enjoyed DS alot and had an account that I lost , and I made a new one now to relive the nostalgia .

I wanted to display some of the ideas that I think would help players get a better experience out of this beautiful game and also bring new players in :

• PLAYER COUNT TO SERVERS

The idea is simple but helps players get a better look at what they're joining into , I always wondered how many players are active at "X" time of the day and if I am not alone with only the NPC's to talk with. For example , when you join a server or region , you should be able to see a counter below the region name " EUROPE_1 " that displays " 300 / 1000 players active ( ex ) " and when you enter the game there should at least be a counter that displays how many are active " x amount of players are online right now " ( THIS WILL MAKE THE GAME FEEL MORE ALIVE FOR SOME PEOPLE EVEN IF IT DOES NOT SEEM IMPORTANT )

• OFFICIAL DISCORD SERVER

I know , this is not an update to the game itself , but it would help people talk and find each other much more easier , the server would help the community communicate easier , make friends easier , team up easier . We of course have the forum , but it does not help that much , you got to make an account , find the correct thread to post into, and maybe only get responses from veterans or well known members , not from actual people that want to engage with each other and make friends. (I FIND THIS TO BE A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THE IN-GAME CHATS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS DEAD , AND WHENEVER YOU TRY TO TALK YOU GET 0 RESPONSES AND YOU CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO PLAY WITH ).

• BRING BACK THE OLD PHASES

I am surely not the only one that hates this , I do not understand why would the developer team would think , putting the phase from level 20 up to level 50 , it just creates such a big GAP especially for new players and people like me who come back to this game , I remember when I was a child , I only enjoyed the game because of how nice and scary and big the dinosaurs would look when you level them up , that kept me active and made me grind trough the levels to see my dino get bigger . The idea that would fix this , for new and coming back players , would be , ADD NEW PHASES in between level 20-30-40 , or BRING BACK THE OLD LEVEL PHASING, IT WAS SUPERIOR.

• WEEKLY OR MONTHLY EVENTS

I don't think I am the only one to mention this , but we should have some type of events that would add something to the game , like a BOSS fight with alot of HP , or some special missions that only occur during the events , that give you skins , equipment , gear , rewards and only players that attend the events should get rewarded with the special items.

• BALANCE THE GRIND

It should not be that HARD to get to level 55 , so my idea on this , is to either give more XP per quest done , or give players a reason to grind . I am a coming back player , but I do not find anything fun to getting to level 55 , players are not active , the level phasing has changed and its now even harder to enjoy the dinosaurs changing, quests are TOO repetitive and you get bored by level 20 and have no reason to do them, some quests are better to do with friends, BUT there is no one around to help , EVER . The developer team , should definitely add NEW quests to the game , maybe add some more levels to the game so you get the old players and veterans back into it and add A NEW PHASE.

• PRESTIGE SYSTEM

Core Idea

• Once a player reaches a fame cap (or a certain fame rank like Sheriff), they can “Prestige”.
• Prestige resets some progression (like fame rank or fame points) but rewards the player with permanent bonuses, cosmetics, or new challenges.

Possible Prestige Rewards

1. Permanent Buffs
   • +1% health for your dino per prestige
   • Slightly faster mining/gold transport
   • Small fame gain multiplier
2. Cosmetics & Status
   • Unique sheriff badges, glowing saddles, hats, or armor skins
   • Prestige numbers displayed near the player name (“Sheriff [Prestige 3]”)
   • Exclusive titles (“Legend of Dinoville”, “Frontier Veteran”)
3. Unlocks
   • Access to prestige-only daily/weekly quests with higher rewards
   • Special mounts/dinos that require prestige level X
   • Prestige-only PvP arena or ranking ladder

Safeguards & Balance

• Prestige shouldn’t reset gear/items, only fame rank and progression tied to it. (Otherwise people would quit.)
• Scaling rewards so it doesn’t get overpowered: prestige 1 = small buff, prestige 10 = noticeable, but not game-breaking.
• Cosmetics > Power emphasis → so new players don’t feel hopeless against Prestige 10 veterans.

Why This Works for Dino Storm

• Endgame loop: Right now, the game stalls when players max out fame. Prestige adds infinite replay.
• Social flex: Players love showing off ranks and unique cosmetics.
• Community health: Encourages veterans to keep playing instead of quitting once maxed.
• Retention tool: New players see veterans still active, which makes the world feel more alive.

• GRAPHICAL & PERFORMANCE UPDATE

Look , I understand the developer team is not at the rockstar level of budget and production , but I think this would be something CRUCIAL for the longevity of this game , I have a beastly gaming rig , but i only get 30 fps in Dino Storm , first of all , I think the game needs an optimization update , new graphical settings to bring it to 2025 standards , the least the company can do is make our game run at whatever FPS the display is at , I think alot of players would enjoy playing the game in a smooth 60-120-144-240 fps than the standard of what we have locked now . We should be able to tweak and play with more settings , we should HAVE more settings , SEPARATE GAMEPLAY TAB THAT LETS YOU CHANGE HUD OPTIONS , FOV AND MANY MORE , SEPARATE AUDIO TAB , SEPARATE ACCESSIBILTY SETTINGS FOR THE COLOR BLIND PEOPLE OR EXTRAS , SEPARATE GRAPHICS SETTINGS THAT LETS YOU PLAY WITH VSYNC FPS , ASPECT RATIO , DISPLAY RESOLUTION AND MUCH MORE IF YOU OVERHAUL THE GRAPHICS. I know , alot of people that play this game do not own the best PC ever , most people I have met have laptops , but this update would definitely bring more new players in.

• LAUNCHER CHANGES & OVERHAUL

The launcher to this game is painfully inefficient , I cannot even open it even after installing all the java updates it requires , I always launch it from the browser , look at other game launchers for example , the Minecraft launcher is so simple and you can basically run everything from there , you can select the version , you can select the game ,it is modern looking and minimalistic , it displays all the updates and changelogs that the developers do. I did not even know the cyber dinos we re into the game , a player told me in game , checking the official site and the forum is inefficient , it should ALL be in one place , dont make players check 100 threads to make sure the game changed or devs talked. Forum& Updates & Changes & Official site could all be in one up to date launcher , let players play any game from Splitscreen Studios by just selecting into the launcher menu , let players change servers and regions only from the launcher ,let players see updates and changelogs and patch notes from THE launcher , let the official site and forum merge in with the launcher , so when you just click a button, you can just see what is the latest activity and also JOIN the game.

• DAILY & WEEKLY QUESTS

This change would keep the game fresh , daily and weekly quests should consist of a separate tab other than the campaign tab , and the quests should be different from the ones you get on an NPC , for example in the DAILY section :

DEFEAT "X" amount of dinos in "X" map
HELP another player on a quest
Delivering missions
Deal X amount of damage with a gun
Use different weapons or dinos for X specific quest or battle

WEEKLY SECTION :

WIN "X" AMOUNT OF PVP FIGHTS IN "Y" MAP ( GOLDFIELDS , DINO VILLE ETC )

DEFEAT 1 BOSS FIGHT ( boss dino should be added )

COMPLETE 7 DAILY QUESTS for WEEKLY reward

• TRADING SYSTEM

I think this is something that the game needs alot , players should be able to give items to each other in exchange for anything else , the auction house feels stale and old , a trading system and a global market would make the game feel more fresh and alive.

• Trade Window: Players open a secure 1:1 trade window (like in many MMOs).
• Drag & Drop Items: Each player puts items into the window.
• Confirmation Step: Both sides must click “Confirm”, then “Finalize”.
• Anti-Scam Safeguards: Highlight any imbalance (e.g., “This trade heavily favors Player X”).
• Community bonds: New players can get help from veterans
• Clan dynamics: Easier to share resources within clans, rather than relying only on auction house.
• Player engagement: Direct trades create social trust and memories
• Level restrictions: e.g., no trading between accounts under level 15-20 , to prevent bot spam.
• Trade logs: All trades are logged on server-side for dispute resolution.
• Cooldowns: A daily trade limit on rare items could stop real-money trading abuse.

• FRIENDLY NPC's THAT HELP ON CAMPAIGN QUESTS

Core Idea

• NPC allies that join you temporarily for certain quests or as unlockable companions.
• They could ride dinos, shoot laser guns, and even help tank/aggro enemies.
• Not meant to replace real players, but to bridge the gap when servers feel quiet or you’re playing solo.

• Quest-Specific Helpers
  • Example: Sheriff gives you a mission to take down a notorious outlaw → you’re joined by a deputy NPC on a raptor.
  • Once quest ends, NPC leaves.
  • This adds story flavor and makes big fights less frustrating for solos.
• Hireable Mercenaries
  • In Dinoville, you can spend gold to “hire” an NPC for 30 minutes.
  • They scale slightly below your level (so they’re helpful but not overpowered).
  • Could be themed as “Frontier Rangers” or “Sheriff’s Deputies.”
• Permanent Companion Unlocks
• Prestige or high-fame reward: unlock a personal deputy NPC or a small dinosaur pet that fights beside you.
• They level up slowly with you, but have limited abilities (maybe only 1 weapon type).
• Could come with cosmetic customizations (badge, hat, skin for dino).

Balance Considerations

• NPC allies should be supportive, not replacements:
  • Less damage than a real player.
  • Can revive/help tank, but not solo bosses.
• Cooldowns or limits (e.g., only 1 companion active at a time).
• Stronger helpers could cost gold or fame points to hire, ensuring balance with progression.

Why This Would Be Great for Dino Storm

• Solo players won’t feel punished in a game with small playerbase.
• Makes harder quests less grindy and more cinematic (imagine rolling with 2 deputies and their dinos against a T-Rex boss).
• Fits the Wild West vibe — sheriffs, deputies, mercenaries riding into battle with you.
• Could even be expanded into co-op events (NPC posse fights alongside player posse vs outlaw gang).

THESE IDEAS WERE THE MAIN UPDATES THAT I THINK DINO STORM NEEDS IN ORDER FOR THE PLAYER BASE TO COME BACK OR TO BECOME BIGGER OVER TIME , I DO NOT THINK THAT THESE IDEAS REQUIRE A LARGE BUDGET , ONLY A BIT OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ALOT OF DETERMINATION , WHICH IM SURE SPLITSCREEN STUDIOS HAVE , OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY DUMPED THE GAME AND CLOSED THE SERVERS.


THERE ARE SOME MORE SMALL & BIG IDEAS I WANT TO QUICKLY MENTION ( SORRY IF IM BEING REPETITIVE )


World & Immersion

• Dynamic World Events: Random outlaw raids on Dinoville, migrating dino herds, or meteor showers spawning rare resources.
• Day/Night Cycle with Small Effects: At night, bandits get stronger but dinos are calmer; by day, mining yields slightly more. Adds atmosphere.
• Interactive Dinoville: Minigames like shooting ranges, saloon poker, or a Sheriff’s Bounty Board.

Dino Systems

• Dino Variety Expansion: Skins, subspecies (e.g., armored Triceratops), or rare wild dinos you can tame.
• Dino Training: Teach dinos passive skills (faster sprint, thicker hide, better carrying capacity).
• Dino Bond System: The more you care for your dino, the more loyal and stronger it becomes. Could unlock cosmetic gear like saddles, banners, or armor plating.

Combat & Progression

• Skill Customization: Simple talent trees for weapons/dinos (e.g., choose between higher crits or better defense).
• Elite/Boss Variants: Rare “alpha” versions of dinos or outlaws that require teamwork and drop special loot.
• Prestige Quests : Unique “legendary” missions available only to Prestige players, with special cosmetic rewards.

Social & Clans

• Clan Bases: Let clans build small camps/outposts with defenses, banners, or NPC guards.
• Clan Missions: Shared objectives (e.g., “Deliver 500 gold as a clan this week” → rewards clan fame).
• Clan Wars Lite: Weekly contests over territory control, with rotating maps so things don’t stagnate.

Player Engagement

• Daily/Weekly Quest Board with random rotating missions.
• Sheriff Elections 2.0: More active participation — players could campaign with posters, speeches in town, or bonus quests to support a candidate.
• Seasonal Events: Halloween outlaw invasion, Winter dino migration, Frontier Festival with unique skins.

QoL & Modernization

• Improved UI/Map Markers: Clearer quest objectives, resource icons, and player pings.
• Player Housing / Camps: Small tents or huts you can decorate and respawn at — cosmetic but motivating.
• Cross-Platform Options: Even a lightweight mobile companion app (chat, auctions, clan management) would modernize it.
• Direct Player Trade : Fill that missing social interaction piece.

Some final words , I will admit , I used an AI for some of the ideas here , but its for a greater cause .

Important to note : I am not a veteran , I never got past level 25 or got into a high ranking clan in the game , I am just a casual gamer and enjoyer of Dino Storm , so if any misconceptions appear , please just correct me with a reply , I am not perfect , I just want this game to be alive again , and be better. It has so much potential , It would be such a shame if the developers closed the servers or leave it to die.


Please leave any reaction to this , it does not matter if its a like or a dislike , maybe if we as a community get the attetion of Splitscreen , they will make something happen , for a good change.

 

[OyNx]

That's incredible ideas that need a lot of work, it will get back the game but they seem to be less interested with it.