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NeoSteam Previews: Play Session Preview
MMORPG.com contributor Tricia Bennon recently took part in a press only preview of Atlus Online's upcoming MMORPG, Neosteam. In this report, she discusses a number of the game's features.
By Tricia Bennon on May 18, 2009
Free to play games often get shunned by subscription players. Being one of the subscription "elite", I was a little apprehensive about checking out the free to play game, and Altus Online's first announced project, Neo Steam. Slated for a Summer 2009 release, Neo Steam brings steampunk fantasy to MMO gaming and creates an environment that, while familiar to veteran gamers, offers a unique appeal.
Set in a world where three distinct kingdoms vie for control over the valuable resource Neo Steam, players follow one of four career paths: the Mystic, the Warrior, the Scout and the Machinist. Entering the game as an elven warrior, I found myself surrounded by the landscape of the Kingdom of Elerd. Its blue backdrop was adorned with unique architecture and glowing reminders of its magical nature. I met up with the other members of my party and we set out to explore the area.
As we began our journey, I noticed that most of us were level 56 whereas our guide was 110, the maximum attainable level in the game. I asked what the experience penalties were for players of different levels in groups. As experience is granted based on the average level of the party, I was told that players would always gain experience no matter the level spread of the group members. While the maximum experience per kill would be granted to groups where players were closer in level, it was relieving to know that players could hunt with anyone without an overly harsh penalty.
;)
One aspect I found particularly well incorporated was the variety of different transportation modes available to the player. Direct connections to the main cities and quest areas were available via submarine, zeppelin, subway or steam balloon. Of particular interest was mention of a risky method of travel... the cannon!
In addition to the standard modes of transportation, players could obtain rideable mounts which were available at specific levels. If a player chose not to wait, they could purchase a mount for use at any level through the premium store.
One huge, and expected, feature of MMO gaming is the ability to have pets and minions to do your bidding. As a templar, one of the warrior class branches, I was able to call forth a summoned dragon to fight at my side. While I was unable to specifically target the summons to a mob, it would engage anything that I was battling or would defend me should an NPC preemptively attack my character. Summons would not permanently die and would be able to gain experience in order to level up. As they attained higher levels, summons would obtain additional attacks and spells making them stronger and more useful in battle.
In addition to a summoned companion, all players can own pets. Small at first, these namable support providers also gain experience, similar to the summons. While not directly involved in battle, they can offer buffs and provide your teleportation spell back to town. Once called, these pets will follow you around - but, like all pets, you must care for them. If you don't feed your companion, they become angry and will refuse to do your bidding.
;)
Deciding to continue our tour via mount, I called forth my Ivory Riding Pufu , one of many mounts available in-game, and we made our way to a player versus player zone - the capital city of the Republic of Rogwel. Each nation's capital city is open for attack by players, similar to the way players lay siege to major cities in Warhammer Online. As the inhabitants of the Republic of Rogwel crept to our main city, we slipped through their gates and overtook one of their NPC guards. As it took our group quite a while to kill just one of the city guards, it became apparent that attacking a fully defended city would be an opportunity to stage large scale combat between the separate nations.
With the PvP elements in-game, I was concerned that areas appropriate for lower level players would become stomping grounds for griefers. In order to restrict that behavior, NeoSteam put restrictions for access into certain zones. Imposed level caps on zones prevent players outside the appropriate level range from entering. In addition, if PvP game play isn't something you enjoy, players can spend most of their time exploring the PvE side of Neo Steam with minimal exposure to PvP. Players familiar with EVE Online or Pirates of the Burning Sea will be familiar with a system whereby players can choose to restrict their gameplay to PvE, but will experience the occasional push into PvP areas. While entering the PvP areas offer risk, there comes reward. PvP flagged areas will grant players the best experience and item drops especially at level 80+.
;)
In addition to staging capital city raids and participating in PvP combat in designated zone areas, players may also challenge one another to a "gladiator" fights in an arena. Two players enter; one player leaves. The winner of the fight remains in the arena to face the next player in line. The loser leaves the arena and can wait their turn to stage a rematch, or go about his way.
With regards to gear, players can receive items and mounts through questing or they can visit the premium shop where items such as potions or mounts can be purchased with crowns. Priced around $1 USD for 700 crowns, items average between $2 and $20 dollars, depending on the usefulness or "cool factor" of the item.
Neo Steam offers a good amount of content, numerous options to accommodate different play styles, structured options for small scale and large scale PvP combat, flexible options for acquiring in game items, and just enough steam punk flavor to make this game not only interesting but fun. I'm definitely looking to see more from Altus Online.
To Quote...."With regards to gear, players can receive items and mounts through questing or they can visit the premium shop where items such as potions or mounts can be purchased with crowns. Priced around $1 USD for 700 crowns, items average between $2 and $20 dollars, depending on the usefulness or "cool factor" of the item."
well It SEEMS here that they stand to make more money a month on any given account then hmm lets take the number ONE game WoW who only charges what is it im sorry I forgot. IS it 14.99?? Anyways point being if you play WOW right you get the best EPIC armor you can handle in a very short period of time. Lets say if you play on a AVERAGE bassis at lvl 80 it should take you about 2 WEEKS to round that out it be about 6.99 for epic gear. some of the better players like myself can do it in about 4 DAYS so hmm that rounds to about 3.99 for a COMPLETE set of epic gear now if I had to pay for things in THIS F2P game it would be way more then 14.99 Im sorry but I STILL dont see the point in this or any F2P games.
"Anyways point being if you play WOW right..."
" if you play on a AVERAGE bassis at lvl 80 it should take you about 2 WEEKS to..."
Play right? And what is the "AVERAGE bassis" one plays for those two weeks?
It sounds like you're saying that a hardcore raid grinder can put in 10-15 hours a week and eventually get what they need. You have to look at it from the other side of things, too. A person may not find repeating dungeons ad nauseum to be enjoyable, so spending 20 dollars to get the same or similar benefits as 20-30 hours of tedium makes a lot more sense to some people.
About 15 percent of the playerbase in a F2P MMO monetizes the game. The rest of the player base spends nothing or next to nothing on it. For many, you simply can't beat FREE.
Your argument assumes that the items must be purchased through the cash shop, but that doesn't appear to jibe with what you quoted. What you quoted seems to say that people have a choice of either working through the process of obtaining the gear on their own, in which case they can get them at a much lower price ($0) than you've calculated, or alternatively paying and saving the time and effort. You may or may not think that having that choice is valuable or worthwhile, but it's hard to argue that being able to get the items for free is a bad thing.
With regard to the cash shop pricing, it probably takes into account the additional business risk the company takes on by not having a guaranteed stream of revenue. No one is forced to make a microtransaction, even though most of the anti-F2P arguments seem to imply that people are either forced or coerced by a perception of inability to "compete."
I have made this point before, and I will make it as often as I have to. Item shops on PvE games are fine and dandy. If X has more money than Y, and wants to buy that epic sword, fine. Only Y's e-peen is possibly bruised cause he has to spend time to get the same item. HOWEV ER, in PvP games, a cash shop is inherently unfair. Buying your way to direct victory over another is just cheating. And this is a general statement of my feelings, not a direct attack on THIS game.
I dunno what's the big deal, according to this article, the only thing that's sold on the item mall is mounts, potions, and possibly cosmetic items. Stuff that either speeds up your progress, or gives you a different look. It won't make you more uber in PvP, just get you to higher tiers of content faster. It's too bad Tricia didn't comment on how grindy the game is. Or if there are a lot of interesting quests to do.
Dont know what there is to understand.
A game has to make money to be made, that's the bottom line. With F2P games, they can be as expensive or as unexpensive as you wish.
With most f2ps, the best armor is always quested armor, however really good armor (and other items) are usually available in the store for purchase. So it is very much like wow in that regards.
The difference between an f2p and a monthly pay game is not in game play (runes of magic IMO has the best game play of any mmo I've played) its in economics. With a f2p, they know that many will play free and never spend a dime. But the goal is that a few , between 20 to 40 percent, invest in the game and spend a lot of money to upgrade their character.
For the player an f2p is not just free, but its free from obligation. I have had the best time with runes because i don't feel like i have to play because i paid money this month.