Black Prophecy Introductory Q&A

What can you tell us about Black Prophecy?

Black Prophecy is a fast-paced 3D space MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) with state-of-the art graphics and thrilling real-time combat. In contrast to competing games, we are focussing on exciting PvE and PvP game content that players can experience without investing excessive amounts of time. Thus our target audience is definitely the casual gamer who wants to jump into the cockpit in his leisure time and take on the numerous challenges of the Black Prophecy universe, alone or together with his friends.

Like in our previous MMORPGs Neocron and Neocron 2 we are striving once more to offer a breathtaking atmosphere and have spared no expense or effort, even going so far as to engage a professional author to achieve this effect. Black Prophecy setting and story have been created by the award-winning sci-fi author Michael Marrak, who carries the player off into a complex and vibrant universe full of epic conflicts.

What challenges are faced by a company looking to release a new sci-fi based MMO?

First and foremost it is a challenge to differentiate clearly from the already published sci-fi titles such as Eve Online. It is not our aim to copycat a successful model, but to meet our own standards and to provide a special and unique game experience. Our previous MMORPGs Neocron and Neocron 2 drew heavily from this basic motivation to create something extraordinary.

From a technical point of view it has also been a huge challenge to develop a game like Black Prophecy from scratch. The real-time combat system, in particular, within a three dimensional space and in connection with a high performance network system requires a high degree of specific domain knowledge and experience.

From the designer point of view it has been very important to us to implement the universe created by Michael Marrak as visually coherent and atmospheric as possible. In comparison to other settings, the space scenario in of itself offers far less possibilities to craft a breathtaking game world. Thus it was quite a challenge to recruit talented designers and artists who were capable of creating highly sophisticated and atmospheric game environments.

Our human resource department definitely did a fantastic job in finding and recruiting the aforementioned specialists that met our high quality standards.

What business model do you plan to use for BP and why?

A final decision about the business model has not yet been made. We have been carefully evaluating all available models and will make the final decision based on the wishes of our publisher and our players.

Your website promises an innovative mission system. Can you let us know what kind of innovation we can expect to see?

Black Prophecy's mission system uses a sophisticated mechanism that provides a high degree of diversity by generating PvE and PvP missions using numerous randomly selected parameters. This includes solo missions, as well as cooperative missions where members of a player group can be assigned to specific mission targets. Regrettably, we are currently unable to go into details and will present more information on the mission system in due time.

How will advancement work in Black Prophecy?

Although the focus is on a fast-paced action oriented game experience, Black Prophecy will also have a role-play like character system. The player will start at zero and receive experience points by accomplishing missions. With increasing experience points the player levels up and obtains access to better versions of items, like ship modules, weapons and modifications.

Your website bills the game as a next generation action MMO. Can you tell us what makes this game next generation?

With the term next generation action MMO we are combining a number of approaches to offer a completely new game experience. Key features of this new game experience include the use of a state-of-the-art graphics engine and a fast and exciting real-time combat system that makes it possible for the player to enjoy an as intense as possible gaming experience.

Other features include the innovative mission system, the extensive and flexible modular system for ships and space stations, and a fast levelling curve, giving players access to all areas of the game with relatively little time invested.

Your website indicates that the game will have a focus on guilds (called clans), allowing them to own their own space stations. How will that work?

Once created, the clan will be able to purchase and own a space station to use as home base. Building upon the basic version, the station can be extended with a multiplicity of different modules, providing different services, to adjust the station to the clan needs and desires.

Will PvP play a large role in BP?

Player vs. Player combat will play a big role in the endgame content, while we are also making sure to involve players already at early stages of character development. Within a certain scope we will make it possible for low level players to experience exciting PvP combat together with high level players. For this purpose, special PvP missions will be available in which large player groups of different levels can engage each other.