Originally posted by Nevulus

First let me say your review is well worded, and your previous entry on ship warfare was well documented with the corresponding photos. I have enjoyed them all.

 

I have a few questions:

1) This recent entry details alot of the changes made to the game. As an experienced MMO player, does it concern you knowing a game under development for 8-9 years can fall victim to so many obvious fatal game flaws?

 

2) Do you think the fact that DF set the bar SO LOW at release is one of the reasons your guild still has "one foot in", as oppose to WAR which boasted so much hype at launch?

 

3) Will the addition of a NA server hurt or help the game overall? And if they do offer a second server do you think allowing transfers from the original server will cause more harm then good?

 

4) Do you think most of the DF population does not use "unattended macroing" or use 3rd party autoloot progs?

 

1)  As far as I know, the game has not been in development for 8-9 years, it is probably in the neighborhood of 5 by my understanding, but I may be wrong.  None of the flaws I have with the game are ones that I would personally perceive as "fatal".  This is a sandbox game, and there are a lot of different aspects of the game that seem to be continually examined.   I think a longer beta would have helped remove some flaws, but the devs seem to responding quickly to what the players want.   See the addition of city gates as an example.

2)  The hype factor has no bearing on my or my guilds interest.   The fact is that my guild feels like they have been playing the same game over and over again since WoW in 2004, just with a different name on the box.   For many of them, this is the first non theme park game they have played, since many got into the genre far after games like Asheron's Call hit their peak.   To us, it is a breath of fresh air to not have to stress over leveling to be able to hang out with our friends.   A new guy to the game can join up with our veterans out of the gate and participate instead of having to do 100 fed ex quests to level up.  You depiction of setting the bar "SO LOW" sounds like some random troll dribble.

3)  NA server will be nice if they can fill it.  Obviously nobody can say for sure how big the demand is or will be.   Transfers is another issue all together.   Some people want a wipe because they think it will level the playing field.  I think I am leaning more towards the camp that says there will never be a level playing field, so wiping will only force people to have to regrind skills up and force people to macro more to try to get back to where they were in certain skills.

4)  I'm sure a lot of the population uses macros, 3rd party looting not as much.   3rd party program to loot are detectable and bannable, and some come bundled in the same software as some of the hack did, the same hacks they got over 200 people banned from the game for using.   It's a personal choice,  I don't macro or autoclick, but that's just me.   3rd party looting is a good way to ruin realtionships with your friends and guildies, because the loot you are grabbing is loot you are taking away from your friends who probably helped you get th ekill.  Remember this is a group oriented game.

Originally posted by Paragus1

As far as I know, the game has not been in development for 8-9 years, it is probably in the neighborhood of 5 by my understanding, but I may be wrong. 

 

You depiction of setting the bar "SO LOW" sounds like some random troll dribble.

Thank you for taking the time to answer a couple of questions to help shed some light and seperate fact from rumor to some of the genuine mmo players looking foward to try DF. I asked these questions for that exact purpose, same reason I direct people interested in DF to your blog instead of some random forum full of fanboys/trolls.

As far as being indevelopment I am going by the offidial DF forum concept sketches which started appearing in 2001 and screenshots of the environment modules which started to appear in jan-feb 2002 which woudl mean they were in development in 2001 as well. Since its 2009 I assumed 7-8 years by my calculations, later I was corrected by someone in-game that I was incorrect and it is more like 9 years. If they had screenshots, code developed, and concept art drawn by 2001 that indeed does make the game in development for 8 years.

As for my depiction of the bar being set so low, it stems from various other posts which state facts from features promised and not delivered, so I reiterated them on various posts:

www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/2813151#2813151

With so many features promised and missing, many would agree that if more then 75% of the promised features are missing, then the bar would have been set low. I did not mean it in anyway to attack the gamethat i enjoy, but apparently you took it as an attack and decided to call my words troll dribble. I find that offensive, highly offensive, and expected a more objective view as I take pride in providing facts from fiction and never would have thought of labeling your blogs as "fanboy dribble".

It wouldn't be the first time the DF community has let me down. I won't bother you with anymore questions or any sign of a civilized forum to discuss this game.

 Again a nice article. Thanks.

Originally posted by Paragus1

 

1)  As far as I know, the game has not been in development for 8-9 years, it is probably in the neighborhood of 5 by my understanding, but I may be wrong.

In early August 2001, Razorwax announced the development of Darkfall and launched its official website.

Paragus that was a great review. The good and bad were intoduced. I will continue to wait until adventuine straightnes a few things out b4 I think about playing. This review did help alot.

The community could learn a thing or two from you. Especially Tasos. Keep it up.

Originally posted by Krayzjoel

Paragus that was a great review. The good and bad were intoduced. I will continue to wait until adventuine straightnes a few things out b4 I think about playing. This review did help alot.

The community could learn a thing or two from you. Especially Tasos. Keep it up.

Thanks and don't worry, he is one of my readers.  There is suppsoed to be a big patch next week, so just keep an eye out for patch notes and make a decision when you think things have progressed far enough that you feel ready.