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A Tale in the Desert News - Q&A with Andrew Tepper
Posted by Dana Massey on May 01, 2006 | 12 comments in our forums
Andrew Tepper drops in to answer our questions for our latest Q&A. This interview focuses on the third installment of his social-Egyptian MMORPG. Unlike most games, A Tale in the Desert begins anew with fresh challenges once the players solve the goals of the previous tale. Recently, A Tale II came to an end, sending this game back into beta.
;) MMORPG.com: What would you say are the major distinguishing features between ATITD3 and ATITD2?
Andrew Tepper: In ATITD 1 and 2, we had a very good retention rate – 50% - through the point when a player becomes a Citizen. Typically that is 5 or 6 hours. And the game was very good about letting you know a good first goal – the path to Citizenship was laid out as a checklist that could be accomplished in any order. Once a player became a citizen, the game branched enormously, and provided no “snack-sized” goals. Only the most self-directed, focused players did well in that post-citizenship phase, and that was a huge flaw in the game design. In ATITD 3, we've introduced the concept of Levels. All the main goals (the Tests) post-citizenship have checklists associated with them. Complete a checklist, and you have completed “Principles of (the Test)”, and advance by one level. So for example, the Test of the Obelisk challenges you to build the tallest Obelisk in your region. Principles of the Obelisk requires you to build a 14 cubit-high Obelisk. While Tests sometimes have goals like “the biggest”, “the most highly rated”, or “the most complete”, Principles all have fixed goals. |
You can read the Q&A here.
Yes I know the whole argument about playability vs. graphics, but until the game gets a way overdue graphical upgrade, I know a number of us former ATITD fans will be sitting this one out.
yes and no. Do not forget that the engine is platform independant, so there are a lot of things that hold it down in that sense. It is possible to do everything platform independant just like you see in windows based games, but it is also a lot harder since you dont have the "easy way out" with all the pre-created windows based libraries.
The graphics might not be all that good, but other than the AAA games you see coming out soon, neither are the current games.
I haven't played ATITD yet, but now that III is coming out, I might give it a try. A fresh new world adds to my fun
Ah the old OpenGL vs DirectX debate... There are plenty of OpenGL games that look absolutely fantastic - that being said, circa 1999 graphics = a no deal in my book.
Nonetheless, Tepper certainly deserves kudos for the amount of work he has put into his product.
Unlike other MMOs the game gives you a reason to be in a guild though. If you hate clicking the grass button (yes, there is a grass button) the crazy guy that plays 18 hours a day can collect it for you. There are also offline chores you can set up so if you go away for a while your character will collect stuff.
One serious problem I had with a guild way back when I played ATITD2 was the fact that so many people were SERIOUS BUSINESS WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING EXACTLY AS I SAY SHUT UP!!!! and yet refused to allow people who have proven their worth because they are not in a clique that costs :10bux: to join.
It did however lack a bit of "game" perse, action, dynamism.
If they can speed the game pace a bit more, I think I'll be sold.
Looking forward to it!
Im a tale 2 vet and currently in tale 3 beta but hehehe as most have said the graphics are not good at best but the immersion and the always having something to do and the community is by far the best ive ever had the pleasure to play with .. it is in beta guys dl the client and give it a whirl and dont be afraid to ask questions .. imho if you want to play a game that where what you do really counts then play this one ..
apophus
7 lakes reagion
-Z
eGenesis creators of A Tale in the Desert
The concept of a community working towards a common goal is very cool, but my problem was that there was a reset. Most people play mmorpgs and pay for them because they know their characters and whatever they gain in the game wont just dissapear, and that's what this game kinda lacks.
will ATiTD3 be geared to better serve the loner? ever think of bringing 1 back and making it a single player game with interactive NPC's?