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Originally posted by Baggs

[ Lead Production Designer, Ragnar Tornquist ]

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This alone makes this game win :)

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Originally posted by Baggs
Wake me up if it runs flawlessly on most computers like AION

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You were not in the chinese closed/open beta phases then, I assume? :)

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Originally posted by Baggs and also has as much content as AION does.

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Going by the pure fact that its developed by Ragnar Tornquist,I see no problem in content.

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Originally posted by Baggs
I used to hate Ncsoft's new "baby" but their newest patches (1.5.0.1+) made me change my mind completely on it.

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I'll take Funcom-occasionally-we-release-too-soon over NCSoft-we-don't-know-what-is-europe any time.

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Originally posted by Elsabolts
Track record says there will be alot of Hype and disapointment to follow.

Jihad works both ways

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R.Tornquist's track record says that he delivers :P

So TSW will deliver too.

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Originally posted by Greater_Force
Why is this game in the "Real Life" genre? It is a fantasy game based in a modern world. The people who manage the list should learn how to classify things =)
It does look like a classic horror game though, so I'm not sure what to expect.

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Thats because you don't have cities filled with monsters and other things.

The main catch of the setting used in TSW is that the "fantasy" side is truly SECRET - you don't get a mission and go killing stuff around. No.

In a sense, I feel that the world lore works in similar fashion on how the two worlds worked in The Longest Journey game or how the universe was set up Lovecraft's works or how Chicago is set up in Dresden Files book series - you have a completely normal Earth with nightclubs, flats, groceries, etc....and then you have the...more darker...more complex....more evil...more supernatural side to all that which just lurks around in the setting, hiding in plain sight.

So yes, Contemporary Fantasy would work good too, however as stated by R.Tornquist, the game will have a lot of "real world" gameplay elements, so Real Life fits too.

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Originally posted by toddze
I havnt looked up who this guy is that is doing TSW? You guys list some games hes done? I am assuming, I havnt heard of or played any of them. I am assuming they are not MMO's. Does this guy have any MMO experience? If not well its already looking bad, because an MMO is a whole different beast.

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Lore/Story Writer/Creative Director of:
Anarchy Online(Ok we all know it had a bad launch, but its also one of the most unique mmos ever created, not to mention that it pioneered a lot of new ideas and guess whose ideas those were?)

Producer/Writer/Director of :
The Longest Journey(world-wide critical acclaim for this)
Dreamfall(also known as Dreamfall: Chapter I)(a sequel to TLJ, also a critically acclaimed, got GoTY title for the WIN it caused)

So we have critically acclaimed man at the helm of TSW. A Man who could observe two funcom MMORPG launches from bystander's POV(and even right out said in one of interviews that AoC "only had content for one month" and that it suffered from "early launch" and that "instancing killed it").

A man who is also responsible for every WIN part of AO.(Gaute being responsible for every FAIL part of AO).

His track record so far shows only great games, so, so far, saying that his next game will be shit would equal saying that the next game by Tim Schafer will be shit.

EDIT:
Not to mention that R.Tornquist was "crafting" the concept for this mmo since 1999

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Originally posted by Syno23

 
Smart move, for me, I suppose I'll buy the game when it comes out and give funcom a second chance. I'm just deeply interested in the storyline, it has really intrigued me a lot. I just hope that The Secret World will last me for at least a few months before I quit.
It was like that for Age of Conan, a really fun game for about a month, then you just...quit.

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R.Tornquist already talked about the AoC fail because of content(even outright stating that Aoc had content....but only for month), so I doubt he will do the very same mistake

Oh and people talking about track record: 2 out of 2 Ragnar's games have received world-wide critical praise and can easily be labeled as "being the best thing to come out in years", so yes, I am hyped and I see nor reason on why should I not be, considering so far Ragnar Tornquist delivered every time he was working on something. I just can't see on how could it be different this time.

Seriously, we have a man at the helm who could observe two launch-fails of Funcom from bystander's pov.Id say the chances for this game having a better launch are quite high.

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Originally posted by Syno23
I'm not sure if Funcom will gain support for this game after the failure of Age of Conan. Although, they are making a bit of revenue from the game.

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AoC was not a failure...

AoC was just that - UNFINISHED GAME.

Now once they managed to actually get rid of dick whose name starts with G, the game has already improved a lot.

And its not "just a bit of revenue". Current financial reports state that income from AoC is growing, including the number of active subscriptions.

So anyway, the bottom point is:
- Funcom released Anarchy Online awkwardly. Then it latter on became into a total WIN and only got ruined after the team transferred to AoC. AO pioneered a lot of new ideas for MMO genre, almost all of them crafted by Ragnar Tornquist.
- Funcom released the best game ever created - The Longest Journey. Its author was Ragnar Tornquist.
- Funcom released second best game ever created - Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. Its author was Ragnar Tornquist.
- Funcom prematurely released Age of Connan, which was brilliant game till you actually run out of content or face the horrible bugs. Subscriptions fell down. Gaute got fired. Game began to improve a lot. Subscriptions are growing. R.Tornquist had no involvement with this game.
- Funcom is going to release The Secret World with Ragnar Tornquist at helm.

So far all the games involving R.Tornquist have been complete and utter WIN.. I don't really see on just why should TSW be different, nor why should people rate the company because of one incompetent team.

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Originally posted by toddze
Funcom, you need to give Erling Ellingsen a raise. He is doing a hell of a job fooling these people AGAIN. Even so soon after AoC launched, he can still do it. 

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The only peson who needs to get a raise is Ragnar Tornquist.

AFter delivering the WIN of Longest Journey and the WIN of Dreamfall chapters, he is going to deliver the WIN in mmo form - The Secret World(after all this man was behind many innovations in Anarchy Online, so its assuring that TSW won't fail).

Even better yet, Funcom should just focus all the budged available into Ragnar's projects.

If anything I see AoC as a quick cash grab plan in order to finance their next big project, TSW.

Of course Aoc is getting fixed and currently became into an awesome game, but I never saw AoC as the focus of Funcom's marketing. It was just there, as a cash grab, as a test of engine for tsw, etc. It was there, while TSW was secretly being created ever since 2002.

So yes, I am quite sure that TSW, with Ragnar Tornquist at helm, will be the best mmorpg ever released.

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Originally posted by Benjola
Well, since some of you feel strongly about this issue, have you tried NCsoft sites and forums as well as contacting them directly?
Don`t waste your energy on this forum too much I doubt it will make any difference other then let you vent some.

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Yes. Thats how the issue got out of the bag after all.

however so far - no intelligent response. Most of those who try to contact, get the same answer posted int he first post in this thread.

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Originally posted by Spaceweed10
Listen, you people complaining are missing one very important issue here.  There is a reason why eastern European countries can't play on the central European servers - latency.
You many think that you all have perfect connections to these servers - you don't.  I had the misfortune to play with the Russians <who I find despicable, but just my opinion based on personal experiences> in Age of Conan.  Everytime I came into contact with them during PvP, they lagged my game out, and trying to hit them was a near impossibility.  They caught onto this fact very quickly, and made very good use of it.  This wasn't isolated to just me, I was involved in some very heated debates about it on the AoC forums.
This is predominantly a PvP game, and I certainly don't want to be facing hordes of Russian players causing latency problems to a server they are too far away from.
I'm very pleased NCSoft have taken this stance.  The boundary line has to be drawn somewhere, so it's just tough luck on those that would rather be playing elsewhere.  Thank your lucky stars you have the game available to you, and stop QQ for God's sake.

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here's a map of europe:
http://www.geographicguide.net/europe/maps-europe/maps/europe-political.jpg

By your Logic Finland should be in Russian license too and Spain should get an African-localised server?

Not to mention that it IS the other way around -

baltic states get GOOD latency towards europe(my personal ping to Copenhagen - 45ms, to Ireland(where NCSOFT servers are) 59ms) and BAD towards Russia(my personal ping to Moscow - 450ms).

You whine about few russian players.

now imagine getting thrown into server where 90% of population "lag you out"

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Originally posted by tryklon
One would assume that you guys could speak russian after 50 years of occupation =P

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We are really stubborn people, I guess.

Not to mention:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_smuggler < we invented it xD

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Originally posted by Benjola 
Your post started reasonable but still failed when you decided to put politics in it.
My point is that if you follow this logic of "I dont feel/want/feelcomfortable playing with this or that group and there for you should provide me with server with people I DO want to play with" this means we end up playing single player game heh.
I don`t like playing with players younger then 21. I can only have fun playing with mature people.
Should NCsoft make 21+ servers to accomodate players like me?

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The question there is not about "omg I feel soo bad when together with these players"

Its about playability itself.

Can you read chinese? Would you play a game entirelly in chinese?
Would you even DARE to go and play in the servers hosted for the country which uses non-stop propaganda against your nation?
Would you play in the servers where most of population consists of those who think that "Stalin is the greatest national hero" and that "USA, Baltic States and Georgia are the biggest enemies of motherland"?

The simple answer is no.

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Originally posted by Benjola
There are english that can`t stand germans, split EU servers maybe? heh
Germans and English at least have something in common with each other.

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The only thing in common between Russian Federation and Baltic States is that CCCP for 50 years tried to erase the baltic states from the map forever.

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Originally posted by Benjola
So this is not a case of denying you the "freedom" to choose the large group you`ll play with but it`s more about NCsoft not taking silly prejudices of the Europeans  in consideration when they were making business decisions on this issue.

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Yes this is the case of denying freedom of choice. Hobson's Choice/Morton's Fork is not a choice.

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Originally posted by Benjola
Only issue I see with not being able to play with other nations is the time zones.

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The only issue?

What about not being able to:
1. Play together with culturally close nations.
2. Play together with friendly players.
3. Understand the language.

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Originally posted by Benjola
So if the croatian,baltic or turk dude passes on AION because for whatever reason he cant stand playing with a particular group

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Oh right, here comes the "turn the other cheek", right?

"croatian,baltic or turk dude passes on AION" because:
1. he can't understand the client language.
2. The majority of players is hostile towards the "dude" because of his nationality.
3. He can't communicate with other players due to language barrier.

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Originally posted by Benjola
, he `ll be missing on a huge fun in an amazing game because of his own silly prejudices, not because of NCsoft.

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Can't say anything to this part, but to note that it sounds...ignorant.

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Originally posted by Anthrrax
Mind you I have not read every post in the thread so I have no idea if this has allready been suggested, but can the before mentioned players just enroll on the EU servers, like some have done on the korean/chinese servers?
The lag issuse will be pretty much non existent since the EU servers wont be further away than they would if the situation was non existant. I can see how this sucks for you, but arent there a fairly simple solution?

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No. Country-based IP bans. English-speaking players are FORCED to play in RUSSIAN server.

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Originally posted by Benjola
I can`t believe that NCsoft would be so stupid to make the quest dialogs and the UI text in russian only while including Turkey on the same server for example.

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1. All your posts = jumping to assumptions.
2. Nowhere does it state that "Turkey" will belong to the same Innova Group license.
3. Yes Innova Group license covers RUSSIAN Federation. The Entire game client will be in RUSSIAN language, just like US/EU servers are in English, JP in Japanese and etc.

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Originally posted by Benjola
That would make no sense and it would be appearent the first day that they need some translations heh.

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"Targeted age group in all of these countries DOES NOT speak Russian language > They are put into the RUSSIAN localisation license..."

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Originally posted by Benjola
I`m sure game companies have their reasons for segregating them though (server stress and maybe desire for somewhat equaly spread player base around the servers perhaps?)
I don`t like it, but this issue is not going to prevent me from playing and enjoying the game.

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Putting people who do NOT speak russian into russian-speaking community and russian-localised-servers is beyond ANYTHING connected to "reason".

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Originally posted by Benjola
Some of the posters seem to consider droping the game all together because they feel "forced" to play with rusians though.

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Yes there are people like that. Some are just morons, however what you fail to see is that the situation between the forementioned countries posters live in and Russian Federation IS intense.

Official public poll by Russian press:
"Top 5 enemies of Russia"
Winners: USA, Lithuania, Georgia, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine.

"forced" to play with Russians IS a fearful thought when you belong to these nations.

However main problem, as stated remains in language.

Russian-speaking community + russian-localisation = language barrier.

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Originally posted by bloodaxes
Man could you please change back your thread title or something more real your title makes many think ALL europe is banned from aion EU till they come in thread and read that it's only 2/3 places now whole europe...

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The thread title is correct. Nowhere in it does it say that "NcSoft banned ALL EU countries".

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Originally posted by tryklon
Im sure that NCSoft has a reason to do this, probably the distribution contracts for the russian federation cover those countrys, I understand its bad for those people to be stuck with the russian client but its the way it works

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But the question still remains. WHY should countries that have nothing to do with Russia and are part of Europe, be grouped with Russian Federation?

Frankly, it makes no sense.

Lithuania and Baltic Countries ARE official part of Europe.

Baltic Countries escaped from the claws of CCCP twenty years ago. All Baltic countries have already been official part of EU for more than 5 years. Its about time they are actually treated as such.

Why should Lithuania, where ONLY 8% of population speak Russian as native language(and only 5% are Russians), be grouped with Russian Federation?

Why should "distribution contracts" group these countries with Russia?

Most of people in 18-30 age group do not speak English, so the main age category for the mmorpg is already lost due to the simple fact that the targeted age market in this country does NOT understand the language.

Not to mention quite a high tensions existing between Russian people and the Baltic States.(The national poll of "national enemies" created by Russian "Press" lists all Baltic countries in the top ~5 of the list). With such *cough* emotions *cough* being propagated, I would find it hard for any Lithuanian, who would pass the language barrier, to play there.

It makes no-sense no matter how - territory-wise or language-wise you look at it.

No matter how you look at it, NCSOFT did a huge politically-incorrect decision, a decision which goes against anything that you could pass off as common sense.

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Originally posted by hobo9766

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Originally posted by jacobuj
I seriously hope Funcom has learned their lesson from AoC.

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Lol ROFL LMAO not in a million years my friend.

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They did, and the guy who was leading the FAILtrain of AoC is no longer in the company.

It seems that everyone is forgetting one simple fact - Funcom did create masterpiece games, that being The Longest Journey. And with that team working on Secret World, I just don't see how that could fail.

Let's see:

Ragnar Tornquist > Gaute
Gaute = Failcom
Ragnar Tornquist =/= Failcom/AoC/AO

Gaute =/= Ragnar Tornquist
Failcom =/= Funcom
Secret World =/= AoC/AO

Secret World = Ragnar Tornquist
Ragnar Tornquist = WIN
H.P.Lovecraft = EPIC
Secret World = Ragnar Tornquist + H.P.Lovecraft
Secret World = EPIC WIN

Yes, thats all. Seriously, the game development team is entirelly different from AoC and AO...but I guess some people are too dumb to realise that same company has more than one different team behind the various games, thus quality standards can't be set by two FAIL mmos they created.

Not to mention that Ragnar Tornquist = WIN.

I mean seriously, how the mind which created the Longest Journey could fail? -_-

For me the biggest blunder of mmorpg marketing will always be TOR.

Seriously, anouncing KOTOR mmorpg and then sarcastically stating that "they won't be making KOTOR III because TOR will be III, IV and all parts you would ever need"....

That made sure that I won't be playing TOR anytime soon.

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Originally posted by Saerain
Although it is plenty violent, I've been under the impression that Funcom's The Secret World will be our adventure/mystery/puzzle MMO.

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^QFT.

Secret World seems like it will really be something new(no level system, etc, gameplay based on solving mysteries and etc) fitting "Mystery MMO" genre.

Having high hopes for this one. Hopefully other companies will follow and this will develop into its own genre, just as MMORTS had.

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Originally posted by TarotMage
Stephen King is all well and good but for a horror MMO I really think the works of H.P. Lovecraft would go further. Lovecraft's "Cthulhu Mythos" is filled with so many places, dimensions and monsters there would be expansion packs for years to come. The only downside is that in most of Lovecraft's stories, the main character either dies or goes insane - which just won't do in a MMO!

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Lovecraft universe got its mmorpg game already.
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/05/secret_world_poster_500.jpg

The only thing coming to my mind right now is Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

Overall Lore scale of DF could become into a great mmorpg with some detective elements in quests even. The contrast between Chicago/Earth and Nevernever would make it into one of the most unique mmorpg of all times.

I remember when I finished reading the "Summer Knight" (fourth book of DF book series) a year ago, I always imagined the "ending battle" working perfectly as massive player campaign in some mmorpg game.

If I was the head of some game developer company and wanted to create a mmorpg from which a lot of profit could be brought, my first choice would be Dresden Files.

Went with option of "playing it, but NEVER using the current cash shop".

I can only hope that the prices will change - if not I will just jump into the upcoming EU version

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Originally posted by juicyjuice1
Malaysian version is perfectly fine. ONE HALF the cost to buy cash shop items, and let me tell you something...PWI has Twice as much Lag as PW MY-EN.  European version remains to be seen, but PWI is total fail because of the pricing scheme they have set, they are overpricing their cash shop items right through the roof.

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For one "fine" does not equal good. Yes MY was fine if you could stay online for more than 20 mins. It was fine if you could understand what you need to do, disregarding all the horrible engrish translations. Oh and not to mention "support". The most stupid answer I got from then, when I asked about "unable to connect" error was "check if you have internet access.". Latter questions got no answers and I even got an email stating that "if account with email ____@___.__ will continue "bullying" support system, it will thereby, be banned". Thats not support. Not to mention never-working registration system.

Yes cash shop prices is the main problem of INT, but I am sure that they will still change. They seem to try out various pricing models.

MY had a decent prices, but whats the point of good prices if you can't actually use the items in game?

INT so far did NOT lag me out of the game.

The things I remember about MY are 20 second lag to cast the skill, DCs when flying somewhere and horrible ping. Later on, Fighting something in MY would mean praying for DC to NOT happen and PVP is an almost insta-DC

The things I remember about INT so far. Almost instantaneous casting and nearly no lag. Ping is hundreds of times better too(I am not joking when I am saying hundreds...it is, literally)

As far as I am concerned, if INT gets pricing right, it will be best out of all the versions, unless EU will have even better ping, lol.