The players made the choice that the only islands that mattered were blue ones.

It wasn't just one random guy deciding that either, it was a large majority of the population.

So there must be something they like about the blue islands

Also the new plants help a bit with the dullness, which I agree on compared to green/yellow islands.

My main "grief" with the islands is that they're apparently supposed to represent different climates, respectively blue = tundra, yellow = desert, green = temperate. HOWEVER! The vegetation is exactly the same across the board.

I think it would have been much more unique and fun if they split the new plants and added unique climate plants only found on green islands, only on blue islands, only on yellow islands, etc. Would have added a bit more "wow, exploration" factor to roaming, cause obviously people living in a green island wouldn't see the tundra-plants of blue islands until they actually explored blue islands.

Would be fun if they added real effects not just visaul to the weathers?

Fog on the blue islands effects idk… armour resistances globally ( alpha and beta )
Fog on green island could have the hue changed and.. err... lower cap recharge rates lol

Bad weather.. good weather :>

Is a strange alien planet after all ;p Plus it might screw around with gang tatics lol

sorry, guys, but do not mistake this as a request topic for enviromental effects - wrong forum section for that

im mostly about the "dull", "depressing" and "contrast-less" presentation of the game world and the effect it has on a long term player like me...

I'd like to see distinct differences between each island with beta island being more extreme/rough.
Novastrov does this well when you have building turned up to maximum as the bleak terrain (Ignore the suddenly colourful plants) contrasts nicely with the spires and plateaus. However sadly this is not the same for the other beta islands apart from they feel a lot more empty.

Alpha 2 islands are much better as each has the same theme as their brother island but again the plants don't match at all.

I preferred it when plants would grow in different types of terrain rather than EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE.

I know the new blog says how hard it is to implement these kinda of changes but each plant should have a "Minimum height" and a "Maximum height" at which it can grow as well a preferred climate.

I don't expect this to be easy but visually it will make a huge differences as right now it's messy and the new plants do not fit in where they currently are.

I expect to see a total revamp of textures and colours on the Shader 3.0 patch.

Number 1, Engage!

I planted some new flora all over one island to help brighten up the place, but someone kept digging them up ... plant pots would be nice outside our garages.

I more meant if you're doing a Graphical patch the engine guy can do the engine and the artists can rework the colours and the server dudes can rewrite the server to allow different plants on different islands at different heights..

Just like Gargaj said.. Use all your assets and change all areas to meet the same expectation. or something like that.