MMORPG.com has teamed up with the NDoors, the folks developing Atlantica Online to bring you this first developer journal from the game's Producer, Kim Tae Gon, discussing some of what he feels are the game's unique multiplayer elements.

When we were creating Atlantica Online, we really wanted to emphasize the multiplayer element of an MMORPG. We developed a unique system for combat with our turn-based gameplay, and combined that with the ability to control and manipulate multiple characters (mercenaries). But we wondered, what more we could do to complement these innovative features and further distinguish Atlantica from other MMORPGs? One of our solutions: expand the possibilities for player interaction.

Giving players a variety of ways to work together, as well as fight against each other, was very important to us as we developed Atlantica. We wanted to provide players different aspects of the game that they could get immersed in, rather than grinding their way from dungeon to dungeon. Our hope is that this will ultimately make the game more enjoyable, keeping players coming back for more to explore.

Check out the Atlantica Dev Journal.

First of all, i would like to congratulate you on a successful game. This so far is climbing my chart of most loved games to date. I am currently at level 52 and is so far enjoying everything in game.

For me, the multi-player part of the game is well planned and is very effective in promoting a good camaraderie in game. You will get to have regular teammates and most of the time you do it finishing quests instead of grinding.

The way this game promotes the questing side of it, makes a way to apply the RPG side even if others believe the story to be linear. But for me, the storyline of the game is just right given the effectiveness and impact on the way they added fantasy with reality .

The guild experience of this game gives a new if not familiar features that if analyzed further will prove that it is a strategy game all in all.

Same goes on the way you build your team and the way you battle with other players.

This game might not be perfect as of now but shines due to the reason that the devs knows what they want in their game and the way they respond to the effects of the features they integrate to their game.

More power to you guys!!!

I would like to say to the Atlantica Online developers that it is a job well done. I am currently in level 28, and so far, I am enjoying the game. From crafting, enchanting weapons and armors, storyline, everything.

And related to the article above, yeah, I guess they are achieving their goal which is to interact with coplayers. I already got a mentor which is way way beyond my level, and it is nice to see those kind of gamers help newbies like me. Also, I recently joined a guild and I am currently getting to know other guild members. It is way easier if you work out as a team, isn't it?

Again, I would like to congratulate you for giving us such a great game.

stamina has long been an issue - even before the game reached open beta. with the release of this developer's journal, i guess we can go play peacefully now.

here we also here of how the game promotes multiplayer battles than individual ones. for this, kudos to ndoors. not much games out there focus on the MM part, just the ORPG.

but yea, like all games in beta, it still has much to improve. hopefully, more articles like this on game developments are released.

I can't wait til the item mall opens and everyone realizes how dependent they will be on buying stuff.

One of the best things about the multiplayer system is that there are no disadvantages to partying. Even a remote party has an advantage over soloing, since you get bonus experience for that as well. I actually enjoy partying with other players, since I noticed that the community is pretty nice. Some things that need a little bit of work are guild interactivity and large scale pvp, but overall, NDOORS did a nice job with the multiplayer aspect of the game. Though it is possible to go through the game with minimal interaction, you really get the best experience through social interaction and partying.

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

I can't wait til the item mall opens and everyone realizes how dependent they will be on buying stuff.

Doomsayer till then end.  I can't wait till you find something more productive to do with your online time.

multiplayer is pretty much evident in the game.. the game in sense forces you to interact with the low levels and give you incentives for doing so.. there are lots of ways in which the game promotes social dynamism... theres no room playing solo in this game.. interactoin si the key in oprder to preogress in the game... i guess this is what makes AtO stand out... stamina limitations or will limits, in which some people say destroyed the game well in fact made the game more susceptible to interactive gameplay experience.. if you dont care for yuor fellow AtOer in the the virtual Atlantica world, you will never go far

Originally posted by Hazmal

Originally posted by RedwoodSap

I can't wait til the item mall opens and everyone realizes how dependent they will be on buying stuff.

 

Doomsayer till then end.  I can't wait till you find something more productive to do with your online time.

Always cracks me up when posters show such a distinct out of touch with reality mindset.  Well just for you edification, these games are in business to make money.  You can delude yourself all you want because it is beta now and there is no item shop, but you when they move into production release, the item shop will be very necessary, count on it.
 

I really like the Gameplay in the game, but I am not sure I can get over :

A) Lack of character customisation

B) The interface - I've grown accustomed to top notch interfaces like WoW, Lord of the Rings Online, City of Heroes, Age of Conan, Warhammer Online etc. and the Atlantica interface just doesn't feel....polished and finished to me.

C) The Narrative for the quests just seems to be a bit off. I know they are translated, but still...it becomes distracting to the game's immersion.

D) Camera Angles during combat are not very good. They always zoom in to much, or find a very odd angle to show the special moves. I turn it off always.

Things I like:

A) Turn Based Combat! This is loads of fun! I wish there were more MMORPGs of this sort on the market. This alone is reason to play the game in my view. So far it has not gotten boring.

B) Auto Run to Quest Target - Lovely, never get lost looking for a quest!

C) lots of item drops - I like the loot, always wondering what's going to drop next.

D) Music - The music is interesting, nothing spectacular but it fits the mood of the game.

There’s an old saying that goes, “looks can be deceiving”. To be quite blunt about it, this saying applies to a lot of experiences that I have had in my life. Most recently, I experienced it once more when I played this online game named, Atlantica Online.

At first glance, the game seems like any MMORPG out in the market today; it has a creative story set in a fantastic game world, 3D-rendered graphics, different character classes to choose from, varied equipment to use, and a lot of enemies at the receiving end of one’s weapon. You create a character, choose an initial job, level up via fighting monsters, travel across vast lands, fight the big boss, collect the drops, yada-yada-yada. In short, the game appears to be another combat oriented, fantasy MMORPG. Or so I thought it was.

Upon playing the game, I was surprised to find out that the game is very much story oriented as opposed to being combat oriented. The story revolves around the lost city of Atlantis and how your character, a descendant of the early Atlanteans, is tasked with finding it. The quest for Atlantis takes you across several fictional and real locations around the world. To aid you in this difficult ordeal, you will be given the chance to initially add 4 more characters to your party.

That’s right, your party.

Instead of controlling only one character throughout the game, you control three more characters, with the chance of controlling more as you level up. Though the initial set of characters is composed of either melee or ranged fighters, you eventually come across spell casters and hybrid characters like monks and knights. Thus, character selection and party customization is unconventionally deep.

The large number of diverse characters that eventually get to join your party in the game inevitably affects how combat in-game is played out. Instead of merely hacking-and-slashing your way to the next level, battles take a turn for the strategic since the number of characters you control calls for a division of labor. You can’t survive long in the game relying on the brute strength of one character or the magical prowess of another because all character classes have their strengths and weaknesses. Also, stamina is a key issue in directing the actions of the characters because lower stamina levels lead to inaction even if commands are given. Here, dividing tasks among your different characters is key to efficiency and longevity. Thankfully, the battles only begin when you click on a monster that isn’t being fought by another party so there is no need to worry about rushing to the nearest healing spot when at critical health and other trouble caused by random encounters. The game’s turn-based, team-based battle system provides a great break from all the monotonous and stressful grinding and hacking and slashing that plagues many of the RPGs being played today.

Moving around in the game to go to quest destinations is made easier with the use of an auto-move function. You simply click the switch on the upper left hand corner and your character walks all the way to where you want to go. No need to worry about being going around in circles and getting lost.
 

Atlantica Online is a 3D Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing (MMORPG) game developed by NDOORS Corporation. The game is set in an alternate history Earth, with the game map consisting of large parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The game is based on the story of the mythical city of Atlantis.
With the advent of so many MMORPG games around with the same game play it would be hard for developers to set themselves apart, in the case of Atlantica Online they veered away from the normal game play of MMORPG’s and made the combat system a turned based one. Hmm, people who would hear turn based games would immediately think that the game itself is slow. However AO’s turn based combat system is fast dynamic, and rarely boring. Even leveling up is swift and steady, plus with their integrated auto-move to NPC’s and quests will keep you relaxed and not feel like the game is a chore that needs constant attention..
The best part for me with this game is, it’s pretty easy to understand and get the feel of the game. With the very in depth PvP and Guild options. Players can participate in PvP leagues to win fame and fortune or form powerful guilds to conquer and manage cities. And for the more detailed oriented, by repeatedly battling the same monsters players can unlock journal entries about them which displays their stats and loot drop tables. Since battles only occur when players voluntarily click on monsters on while wondering, players are generally free to explore the world and avoid getting into battles. Even at release, Atlantica Online is one of the largest and and in depth free MMORPGs on the market. Even if you hate turn based RPGs, give Atlantica Online a try. You won’t regret it.
 

If you played the game, the multiplayer part is indeed felt by the players. As a newbie in Atlantica Online, there are high leveled characters who are willing to guide you, and even after joining a guild, information is much more easier. This promotes camaraderie in every member of the guild. Also there are parties, guilds (as mentioned), and you can even team up to fight a very difficult boss alongside with a much experienced friend or guild member. This what separates Atlantica Online apart from other MMORPG with regards to the multiplayer aspect of a game.

The game in it self can be tagged as an MMORPG under tactical category  based on how the game overall promotes critical thinking and planning of character and mercenary development, move and battle tactics planning and familiarization for quicker response for different scenarios, a never the same experience in every battle, be it for PvP or even for PvE.

The features that this game has really promote its multiplayer side. An example of such is the nation building which even bigger than the guild creation. The way a party helps out in your character level up and questing (given that this game also promotes questing over grinding), the way the players with higher level having the capability to assists and mentor lower level players and other such which i believe has been discussed by other posters.

With this, i believe this game will integrate more features in the futire that will further push this game into a whole new level of gaming.

What I love about this game is the plot itself, it easy very educational and fictional. I'm a big fan of fictional stories and history, that is the main reason why I tried it out, and now it seems I can't help to stop playing the game. The plot of the game will keep you interested at all, it also gives you some ideas on how thus the civilizations before live their lives. It will also test your patience, so for those short attentioned span humans can try this game to test their patience lol. So keep up the good work for the management and don't hesitate to surprise us players.

the multiplayer part is actually emphasized in many aspects of the game:

partying

guilds

nations

mentorship

so yea, i pretty much agree with everything that's writtten in the article.

Originally posted by yakultlove

the multiplayer part is actually emphasized in many aspects of the game:

partying

guilds

nations

mentorship

 

so yea, i pretty much agree with everything that's writtten in the article.

It is designed mainly to focus on the MMO part of the game... as you can see partying is more of an advantage in levelling up rather than a hindrance in leveling... it is easy to get exp in party rather than doing it alone... level gap is not a hindrance in the party..

guilds are designed to create their own community in their preferences...

mentorship is one feature by the atlantica to help the newbies adjust to the environment in atlantica..

it is a win win scenario for everyone.. so people are being encourage to help other people... overall atlantica done a great job creating a good gaming community...

This is what shoulld be imitated by others. I mean MMORPG should emphasize the MMO part. I was skeptic at first when playing this game because I have no friends playing this game. But when I started playing, I got to meet new friends in the virtual world that are happy to assist newbies like me. Also, you get to talk with their experiences as well as ask some things you don't understand with the game, and they are happy to answer you. Also, a lot of people are inviting me to their guild, even though I already a member of another guild. This just shows how Atlantica Online is very successful in this area.

I agree with you... I mean that's why it is called a mmorpg, it is desgined to interact with others and to create an online community while enjoying the touch of a rpg type of game... Atlantica has so much to offer, You can enjoy the game just merely participating in it's side events and side quest... good job ndoors by giving us this quality game!!!

The setting on how the battle system works in Atlantica online is quite a unique one, you will not be bored to death just to finish the turn of your enemy. It even give more emphasis on the mmorpg goal of interaction with other players aswell because of its mentorship feature you have to really talk to someone whom you might don't know and then in the end you'll end up as good friends. This is what I love in this game, it can give you a friend unknowingly since you'll really need to interact with your apprentice as a mentor. Keep up the good work and continue to keep the game rockin.

Multiplayer here is pretty fun and chaotic. What better way to fight than 27 guys going up against an equal amount of monsters? I'd like to see even larger parties if possible... but then again, it might be hell on computers with lower system requirements. I can personally say, at level 70, that partying is the way to go, since it gives a lot more experience as opposed to normal grinding, where you have to time hits to give certain characters experience,

Originally posted by Slappan

Multiplayer here is pretty fun and chaotic. What better way to fight than 27 guys going up against an equal amount of monsters? I'd like to see even larger parties if possible... but then again, it might be hell on computers with lower system requirements. I can personally say, at level 70, that partying is the way to go, since it gives a lot more experience as opposed to normal grinding, where you have to time hits to give certain characters experience,

more than 27 mosters, think about going against 27 other character PLAYERS! this could wholly revolutionize the multiplayer genre as it involves 6 players all trying to outstrategize each other in a wonderfull mess of turn based strategy battle system

I have to agree with you guys, this game is so great. The creator was so creative when he created Atlantica online. He has a lot of knowledge about the civilizations that exist before. That is why I like this game because of that it is really educational.

6 players with 9 mercs it, that's Chaos at its best. ^-^

The best part of it is when an enemy is outnumbered. lol

I'm at 71, and have been partying for leveling and questing ever since the early 50's. Even though it's possible to level up solo, it's boring and you have to choose which mercs to go for the kill. Multiplayer partying gives the advantage of spread out experience, which guarantees your mercs will be at the same level or close.