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The Secret World Previews: Peeking into The Secret World
The embargo on Funcom's GDC 2010 demo of their upcoming MMORPG The Secret World has come and passed, and so today MMORPG.com's Jon Wood takes a look at what we learned about this game set in the real world with a few extra twists and turns.
By Jon Wood on March 23, 2010
Today is the day that they lift the veil on the press embargo placed on information about Funcom's highly anticipated upcoming MMORPG, The Secret World. The presentation, held at this year's Game Developers Conference not only showcased some actual gameplay footage, but also provided some valuable insight into how this game is designed overall.
Those following the game will be familiar with its premise, but for those who might not be too familiar, a brief recap is in order:
The Secret World is the next game from Age of Conan and Anarchy Online developers Funcom. The game is set in a world where secret societies, freaky human powers and evil horrors from the middle of the Earth are all very real things. Unlike its predecessor, The Secret World makes no use of levels of classes, instead attempting to provide players with a more real life-like experience that relies on the growth over time of skills and abilities.
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Recently, the developers released their first small clips of gameplay footage, skewed as though viewed through surveillance cameras. The images that they showed were of zombies, and told the story of the people of a Stephen King-esque town appropriately names Kingsmouth who disappeared one day in a fog and were returned later, as the living dead.
The game, as you can see by the new trailer available today, is visually quite impressive and we learned that Kingsmouth is going to be the first location that players visit after leaving their hub cities.
The goal of the developers here is to allow players to travel all over the world to different and varied locations, fighting the first of the creatures crawling to the surface of the Earth.
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"We want this to be a canvas," said Game Director Ragnar Tornquist, and as such, the game has to be maybe a little bit more believeable as a world because it's set in contemporary times.
Story
The developers on The Secret World are trying to bring their game's story to the forefront, using what was described to us as deeper NPC characters, each with their own stories. These NPCs are meant to give each situation a unique personality from government agents to the local sheriff.
Each location will also have its own unique and somewhat complex story that players will experience. In Kingsmouth, for example, players will learn that it isn't just zombies that are plaguing the town, but that the fog that took them blocks all means of escape, all the while other, more mysterious creatures are rising from the ocean.
"It's all about digging deeper," Tornquist told us. Every location will have a different feel, a different interlocking story with new NPCs.
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I've been interested in this game since it was first announced. I have to say it's looking good so far. If everything I'm reading holds true, it just may be something great.
Here's hoping!
Acidon
I am a great fan of Funcom's games (cough.. see avatar). I always buy them 1.5 years after release, and so far have found them to be the best MMOs released.
I do understand however that everyone who looks at this and gets fooled by the hype will be severely disappointed. :D
Be warned.
The concept of the 3 factions and story really did interest me, but what's failing to really pull me into a state of anticipation is that it seems to be developing into a heavy story-centric and pve-centric mmo with, what i might assume to be, a battleground instance for pvp. Aside from that, I get the impression that there will be no crafting, not that Im a huge crafter, but I guess it just supports the premise that this going to be a linear story-line, pve-centric, single-player style action mmo.
It'll be interesting to see how things shape up.
This looks like a lot of fun. What really stands out to me is the fact that the game areas have a distinct mood and a corresponding mystery to them.
One of my favorite zones in WoW was Darkshire. It had a special mood to it and a really cool story. I love zones like that, and TSW I think will have lots of them.
I can't wait for it, personally. I think it's cool that the "gear" is all optional and you can keep the look you want for your character. I also love that it's got alot of story involved in it, which is something more MMO's need to have!
Story is fine up until it limits your choices. For example - the story of LOTRO is essential, whereas the story of EVE is a backdrop. One reason why LOTRO is a themepark game and EVE is sandbox. Another way to put it is games give you a car to drive - if you can drive it anywhere, even off a cliff then it is sandbox, however if the car sits on tracks - no matter how many directions those tracks go - then you have themepark.
This looks sweet. Hopefully they learned From the AoC launch and keep the hardlined promises down to realistic levels. If the launch produces a game...even just a little better than what AoC is like today...then I'm there.
AoC isn't a bad game - I like it alot - now. I agree - I hope that they have learned from the launch of AoC when it was not good.
Im interested in this game, but im afraid it will have a release like the past two Funcom releases, terrible launch, then morph into a great game over a year or two.
"Im interested in this game, but im afraid it will have a release like the past two Funcom releases, terrible launch, then morph into a great game over a year or two. "
Then do not under any circumstances pre-order it. If you do pre-order it do not under any circumstances whine about the launch. If you do whine about the launch - expect to be laughed at. Just saying. lol.
Although I am skeptical because this is funcom we are talking about. It looks better and better though but still think I will hold off till WoD. If it comes out and none of the usual concerns arise about Funcom my mind might easily change though.
Funcom does not have the best reputation of game deliverance. But anyway, we'll see.
On the face of it, this is probably a type of mmorpg in which my character is leashed to a pre-scripted story that I am nothing more than a pawn within, along for the ride. Single-player, heavily scripted and static story in a pve world of tokens that i exchange for items.
Pretty art, character models, animations and strong engine, but what about the player-centric ecosystem game-play?
I love how you put that, and its my main skepticism behind games like AoC tutorial and the feeling I get from the upcoming SWTOR. They can't really put lasting choices into a pve story in an MMO, I mean how much can a single person change in an online game?
Of course, I have nothing against quests and the like, those 'breaks' between grinding are vital in satisfying my thirst for rewards.
Blizzard has come up with a pretty good system of allowing the world to be changed for only those that have changed it. I forget the name they use for the system phasing or whatnot. Either way there ARE ways to make it happen.
Funcom > Cryptic and SOE
I can't understand its bad reputation. What I will say is that I wish this game was more sandbox like but it seems like a definite step in the right direction.
I think I am going to be buying APB as my MMO of the near future, but I always keep a lookout for things like this.
I'm pulling for Funcom to do much better this time around with Ragnar Tournquist at the helm. I'm going to be keeping my expectations at a low until release.
Great writeup! I can't wait until the world premiere this thurs where we will find out more. I've been following this story closely, Funcom's been doing a good job of keeping us interested yet in suspense simultaneously.
What I do admire is the fact that you didn't compare this game to any other, yet.
Of what I have read from this and other websites all of the journalists that were in for the preview were impressed. The game is in its pre-alpha stage but is already shaping up to be one of Funcom's best ideas. One of the better ideas that it is implementing into TSW is the ability to wear common or fashionable clothes as a skin over the characters armor. This was a visual aesthetic introduced late in Anarchy Onlines cycle. It created a big stir. Especially when big bruisers decided they were going to put on little silver bikinis. LOL!
I wish I saved those screenshots of my old character. He was a martial artists that walked around in a yellow leapardskin suit. I would get all sorts of comments, but many people would shout "Yo Bruce" or make a "Game of Death"comment.
Ah, the old days.
Please guys remember this is Funcom. My advice is not pre-order the game and look at every comment made by developers and EE as half the truth.
Before you go praising the things you see... then also remember that exactly the same company and many of the same ppl showed you DX10 before AOC was released... but all know that the game still doesn't have a proper released DX10 version for all graphic cards.
Also remember this is the compnay that showed us Mounted combat in AOC before launch. Something that then wasn't worked on at all but was supposed to be a big new feature in the MMO genre.
Also remember all the hype about "massive" PVP combat with "hundereds of players". No... Im not making any of this up. I am telling it exactly like they told us.
Just remember this is Funcom. Many of us that are still under NDA from AOC are warning you about this company for a reason. Remember - this is a company that does NOT lift NDA of their game even after it is released.
This is not a troll - this is not ecessive negative talk. This is the truth - seen from a AOCtester.
Hmmmm. Looking very cool.
I really find the premise of the game world quite interesting. Love the idea of a "AAA" title game with no swords / elves or lasers / aliens. Reminds me of an H.P. Lovecraft(ian) type setting with perhaps a dash of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen thrown in.
Been following a bit for awhile, but the more info that comes to light the more enthused I become. And one can only hope Funcom has learned from their previous launch mistakes. But this is the real world, soooooo...
oh wow actually sounds an original mmorpg.
Absolutly nothing wrong with a healthy dose of skeptisism (especially in todays MMO development world). And I try to live by the motto "learn to question everything". So I concure. We shall all wait and see.
and never pre-order.
Sounds a bit boring and same old same old to me. Same game different skin. I tried both anarchy online and champions online and dont expect anything good for this one. Pre order at your own risk. Dont believe the hype and try to play the beta at some point in time to see if there really is a game worth playing in there.
I have a feeling you will be tightly held to storyline rails where you are led through a prefab story doing boring quest after boring quest untill you finish all of the content probably 1 to 2 months into the game with grand promises of additional content which end up being nothign more than the stories you allready played with different textures and models to replace the old ones. Of course this is how I think most MMO's seem to be currently so here is to proving me wrong :) .
Pre-ordering is fine if you have a high amount of patience and can deal with issues, if you can't, you're right.
I'll probably get shot for asking this, but wouldn't a horror/ lovecraft atmosphere be better suited for solo play than just about any other theme that an MMO could be based on? In a game like this I'd much prefer to solo, than group all the time. Horror stories IMO feel more like horror when you're dealt a feeling of isolation. Being in a group would ruin that IMO.
Malickie - it works in Left4dead - ggroup of 4 vs endless zombies.
I'm looking forward to this game almost as much as TOR.
Yeah I guess you're right about that, so maybe small groups would work. It works in L4d because you're still overwhelmed. It gives you a feeling of being isolated and cut off. I just don't see running around with 8-10 people, giving such a feeling. I may be wrong though of course, that's just my preliminary opinion.
I agree that 8-10 is large but who knows how tuff and aggressive the mobs are? Maaybe 8-10 would have to flee for their lives.
Pardon me, if I don't get excited over this. This is Funcom we're talking about, folks.
I really want this game to kick ass. I am hesitant since it is FunCom, but hopefully they have learned something since messing up Age of Conan. It has all the trapping for a really fun game. I like the classless system. Just hope they deliever this time or I guess will have to wait for World of Darkness for a true gothic/horror game.
Hmmm. Something about the way he was describing the combat, and the 7 power tray, makes me think of Champions. I've been looking forward to this game, but now I am becoming more skeptical. Lately MMOs are being dumbed down to arcade game levels and I am worried this is just another flashy shoot-em up with little depth and a suffocating story that is completely irrelevant to, and uneffected by, player's interaction.
I would pre-order this just to support the coolest theme for a MMO ever!
"........people of a Stephen King-esque town appropriately names Kingsmouth"
Actually the town is Lovecraftian. Kingsport & Innsmouth, two towns created by HP Lovecraft(and set in New England area). Steven King has written several stories with a very Lovecraftian feel & in fact several that were based on the Cthulhu mythos, created by HP Lovecraft.
The web site for Kingsmouth has several references to the Cthulhu mythos as well.
Whats up with all the "do not preorder" etc etc
Yeah I know that FunCom hasn't released their both MMO*s in flawless shape..
But still those games they have relased are BOTH in the area of the best MMO's there is today...
Funcom knows what they are doing, even thou they have had a few mismanagment issues..
If I'm spending 40-50 dollars on this one by pre-ordering this game I KNOW i will get a great product "eventually"..But to be on the safeside as a player no one should actually pre-order any MMO, because I can hardly count ONE that has been without some sort of issues in the launch, be it over hyped, bugged, mismanaged or any other problem that can arise during a release of a new MMO..All games get's overhyped by it's creators..
For crying out loud people are pre-ordering Mortal online even, I would not do that , but I can still understand why they are doing it..They believe in the outcome "eventually" and It's only 50 dollars, that is a small price to check in on something you believe in..
I thought that too, but in the Gamereactor interview the Funcom guy mentioned Stephen King and Innsmouth as base for the name. Not that it matters much.
Here's a list of all the sites that revealed their experiences today that they've gathered on the GDC: see here
About the combat, and the fact that you can gather heaps of different skills but can only have 7 active skills on and 7 passive skills, it reminds me of Guild Wars. I don't think it's a dumbing down, I still consider the tactical PvP combat of GW one of the best for tis sort of games. Both GW and this TSW skillset reminds me of Magic the Gathering, where you had to build your deck from a large range of available cards.
There were other things that looked interesting, like the States in combat they mentioned, which looks like team combos. Here's some of the quotes of the other articles that revealed stuff:
Lead designer, Martin Bruusgaard referenced the comparison to a collectible card game when talking about this system of arranging powers. You can collect them throughout the game, and even well into the endgame. The active powers act in direct relation to combat, while the passive powers work to supplement those active powers. One example we were given was an active power with a knockback of three meters. When this is combined with a passive power that adds two more meters to any knockback, you have a five-meter knockback.
A caster-type character dealt a fire attack that set a group of zombies alight, while the healer-type character used an ability that dealt damage over time on one of those same zombies. If this damage-over-time ability kills an enemy that is on fire, it causes that enemy to explode for large damage. In this way, the two characters were able to maximize their effectiveness, but there's nothing stopping one character from having both the damage-over-time ability and the fire ability.
Quests aren't the only means of storytelling in The Secret World. Funcom are employing a rather interesting technique wherein players enter "mini dungeons", which are basically instanced dungeons designed for the solo player. These dungeons allow the designers to make intricate scripted events that push the story forward for the player, and allow for scripted battles that would become clumsy or overly easy in a group.
The world will be persistent, but there will also be instances in dungeons and mini dungeons. Many of the regular storyline quests will be completely solo-able, while the instances are more for your 4-man party. While the title as a whole isn't meant to be a psychologically frightening game, there are moments that are meant to scare.
"When you are out in the open world with hundreds of people it can't be psychologically scary," Bruusgaard said. "When you go into dungeons and four player instances we have a more scripted experience. We use sound and scripting to create a more frightening experience.
In The Secret World each location has what the game developers call its own "monster ecology" based on the mythology and lore of the area. It is a world, the developers tell me, heavily inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King and H.P Lovecraft. "Our game is a very fertile playground for telling a story. It's a vast open playground for going around and being able to pick up these little jigsaw pieces and put them together on this giant canvas and try to figure out what this story is really about."
And yeah, a good dose of skepticism is always good, but there can also be a thing like overskepticism or cynicism. I don't expect TSW to make 'all my dreams come true' , but I'll give Funcom the benefit of the doubt that they - or the new management - have learnt from the mistakes of the AoC launch. Nothing can be really said about it right now, we'll see in the months before launch. Besides, AoC these days isn't bad at all. It hasn't fulfilled all the promises that it had before launch, but as a MMO it is a good, solid one.
I'm confused...
I thought the game was about conflict between the Illuminati, Dragon, and Templars. Now I'm hearing that the game is about zombie bashing, where the conflict between the 3 factions is really only over a little area called Hollowed Earth? I'm not sure what to think about this, but I'm disappointed.
The combat and skills system sounds alright. The fast-paced combat sounds like it could be alright, but also sounds like it could be too much for gamers who are getting older if you know what I mean. The skill system sounds like Guild Wars skill system. That was interesting, but it'll take a lot of testing to flesh it out really well.
The way they talk about everyone starting out in the same town, is the opposite of what I've been lead to believe up until now. I've always thought that the 3 factions would all be starting off in their own areas. Illuminati in North America, Templars in Europe, and Dragon in Asia. Now it sounds like we'll all start in the same area, and then go from one location to the next as the story progresses. Maybe it's more like AoC, where you all share the same starting area, and then break off into 3 different areas.
I have hopes for this game. It's already turning out differently than they originally lead on to believe, so I'll have to do the only thing I can do at this point...wait and see.
Hows the old saying go
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me...
I would never give this company another dollar
I think the Hollow Earth, the underground PvP zone, is more like the Abyss in Aion, a huge zone where the 3 factions (the Abyss was like a a1/4 of the whole territory in Aion) are in a constant war over resources and strongholds. At least, that's the impression I got from earlier interviews and articles.
And @Iceice, *shrug* sure, that's everyone's right, I guess. To each their own choice and MMO
Thanks. And dare I say it; heavily instanced, possibly. Funcom should ring-up Cryptic to see how that's working out for them. It certainly isnt a draw of AoC, but Funcom is probably at the extent of which instancing should be used in that game anyway.
So, again. This is all pretty, blah, blah, blah, but as someone else mentioned, one of my draws was about a game that seemed to have a hook about taking part in and serving up conflict between the Illuminati, Dragon, and Templars; player-driven. A game that doesn't skimp on mmorpg breadth and depth staples for a well-balanced pvevp ecosystem. That opposed to a pve-centric Left 4 Dead.
I'm so happy that there are finally some new and interesting games on the horizon.
SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, and Secret World all are shaping up to be freakin awesome games. I'm so happy we are getting some cool goodies in the MMO market FINALLY.
I was actually starting to get concerned about the game. Just that, well its been a long time since its been announced and they havnt said much at all about the game.
however, they have been having fun with this. Giving the community these little puzzles every now and then in hopes to learn more about the game.
I still have a token from "passing the gauntlet" back in April of 2009 and I have no clue as to what its for..
so puzzeling
This game could actually be quite interesting . Its so different from the others . I really hope it does well and isn't a repeat of AoC . Good luck to it .
Let's be honest here, more than a few of us are waiting to really see if Funcom has learned any lessons about launching games because let's face it, the last two launches they had crippled two games that most with experience would agree having been handled better at launch would hold a much higher regard in the community. I still don't trust FC enough to try anything they make at launch but I hope for those willing to go down that road again luck and FC as well.
I was saying don't pre-order based on what happens in the industry at large not just Funcom. Today a pre-order seems to me to be paying for the privelege of a final beta test. I will let others pay for that and when it is bug free I will buy it and play it.
Comments like this, and many others in this thread, should be a real cautionary tale for MMO developers. AoC has come along in leaps and bounds since it's release but because Funcom stuffed the release people will never give the game another chance and it tarnishes their reputation on upcoming, unrelated products.
I know how people can feel this way. I feel the same way about Mythic. I couldn't care less if Mythic announced they were making a steampunk sandbox MMO - I would still not give that company one more cent of my money.
I am eagerly awaiting The Secret World - I honestly can't see much else on the MMO horizon that interests me much at all. I just hope they can do the idea justice and provide us with a launch that contains everything they promised. I know it won't be all that smooth, as launches never are and I can quite happily put up with some glitches and crashes but promised content and features MUST be present.
Exactly my perspective, Saint.
I'm a big fan of Ragnar Tornquist (Longest Journey and Dreamfall both being excellent games, among my all-time favs... and I enjoy his story work for AO as well), so given the setting - and given it's something he started thinking about back in, what.. the late 90s I think? - I expect great things in terms of setting, characters and story.
Now... as far as how it all wraps up as a *game*... Well we'll see how that pans out. I love the setting, though, to be sure.
The whole "secret world" concept - of the idea that there are these creatures, and societies and goings-on in general all around us that we're blind to... has always intrigued me. Stuff like the Montauk Project and such is fascinating to me - even if only as really involved science fiction.
So... yeah... if nothing else, it'll be a feast for my imagination in particular.
"Finally, on top of the game's three player factions (Illuminati, Templars and Dragon), there will also be a number of NPC factions, which promises to make unravelling the game's story that much more interesting"
This part sounds win.
After experiencing the severe limitations to games where there are only TWO factions (ala Warhammer), it will be refreshing to have a third element that will be an ally at times and a foe at other times. Let the fair weather players flip-flop all they want but with three sides, when one gets too strong the other two WILL gang up on it.
But.. the... Illuminati???
Oy vey.
It's about time more information was released... even if it's piecemeal *shakes fist*. I look forward to FunCom's newest offer to the MMO genre.
How anyone can get excited about anything put out by failcom is beyond me. You have to be a glutton for punishment.
This game will be just another pay for alpha testing it. When will people learn. You have to wait a least a year on any of their products for it to be a half decent game.
I never played AoC or AO, but I cannot look down on the company that made The Longest Journey. Im sorry but I just wont.
=P
PS - the new reply box on mmorpg.com is horrible. It forces me to reload the page multiple times.
I get the feeling that Funcom isn't a monolithic company as far as games. It's like each game has it's own studio in Funcom, and those are the people who make or break the game. I'm putting my trust in Ragnar & co, as they were the people who produced The Longest Journey - a game I now wish I'd played back when it first came out.
They also seem like people who understand what is engaging about games, and that counts for a huge amount with me. I tried AOC and found it lacking bigtime, esp. in the feel of the very starting gameplay. I walked off the beach to head to town and immediately saw the worst thing I could have seen - dumb two-legged bundles of XP and loot just walking around waiting for me to go kill them. Bye bye excitement and adventure, hello treadmill :(
At least this sounds like it'll take you into the story and your actions will have some meaning. Add in horror-style monsters, cool powers and three factions, and it could be a good time.
I agree, I can barely post anymore. I just thought it was me. I have no idea what they did with this site but it's horrible.
also, i have to agree the longest journey is a good game.
This along with SW:TOR make up my two most anticipated MMO's. In fact this one is more intriquing for me than SW even.
@_@
Some people can get excited because they use good sense. Some people are excited because it is a new genre to hit mmos. Some people are not dumbarses and are capable of following the development of a game. Some don't fall for the hype..no matter what claims are made...and are smart enough to wait for the opportunity to try a game for free.(buddy pass or trial anyone?) or can evaluate the forums and weed out the truth..the same way they can sift through the piles of hype that is the modern marketing machine. I have hope for all games...I also have faith in people. So when I say "some people" this and "some people" that..I really believe ALL people have the ability to do as I have described...but choose rather to bitch about what, is ultimately, the result of executing their free will.
If it is still early in the games life cycle or the free try isnt too exciting....then we can wait to try it later. ..after more polish or move on. " Failcom" didn't kidnap anyone and force them to buy AO or AoC. They just didn't deliver on what was advertised. Even UPS fails to deliver sometimes. I'm not going to hold an eternal grudge against Funcom just because they pissed off many people (or even myself). I never liked AO and still don't as of 1 year ago. AoC, on the other hand, has become a very good game imo. I hated it at launch...guess what?..I stopped playing. It got pretty damned good...and guess what? I play it now and enjoy it immensely.. SImple as that . If Secret World sucks at beta or launch...I'll stop playing. If it gets better...I'll give it a go. See the pattern? The chance that it could be a good game at launch or eventually and also given the world in which it takes place..well,,,that excites me. I always have time for a tasty game....even if it takes a while to ripen. Meanwhile..there are plenty of other mmos from which to nibble.
No. Just believing that if companies or development teams make a mistake, they're not damned forever to make exactly the same mistakes over and over again, just as well as that if companies provided brilliant or innovative games in the past, they won't always stay the same forever and ever. The course companies make can change with new management - that's the very reason they change the product manager or game director with many MMO's - and development teams change as well with old talent leaving and new talent joining.
But if people want to carry out a personal grudge because all the 'harm' companies did with former games and launches, that's their privilege. If that means people won't ever play a game anymore from this or that company, fine.
Me, while at the same time keeping in mind of the companies' former successes and failures, I'll judge their upcoming games - like a TSW - by the information and videos provided, and not merely by their failures in the past.
And @Barcrow: yep, I agree :-) enough upcoming MMO's to nibble on for shorter or longer time, TSW, SW ToR, FF XIV, TERA, World of Darkness, GW2. Nomnomnom.
(I agree with the other posters, this mmorpg.com Post box is one of the clumsiest around :( )
..wow I'm amazed to see you moaning about FC (any chance eh?) . Suprised you didn't bring up some AoC hate here too.
/sarcasm off.
...Wow im amazed to see you brought something creative, constructive, intelligent, and contributing.( any chance eh?) Surprised you didnt bring up some trolling here too.
/Scarcasm off.
are you sure your not late for a witch burning somewhere? If you need help holding your torch you might want to look elsewhere.
omg Toq I agree with your ps this is horrid I dont know what mmorpg.com did but this is lame I couldnt even edit down this to just answer this ps part its so bad I hope they fix this soon
I think that like every MMO funcom has released wait a year after launch and you will find yourself playing a gem. They never disapoint on the bare bones of game structure and graphics, but sufficient content takes a while to turn up.
I dont understand what your saying are you saying they dont have the capability and professionalism to see past mistakes and better them?
I totally agree with Scot .
Look at anarchy online it took several Game directors (* cough! Gaute * cough , Sillirion,
Means to meet players satisfaction ( mostly with a huge pull of on item grind, and the end of pseudo fantasy SL esque orientation DB - Xan ).
Look at AOC cataclysmic launch, huge lies on content and again ( hopefully gamers are not harmfull any other software company would have been class actioned for that ) : Game directors dance exit * cough Gaute *cough enter Sillirion,
the overall vision of AOC is great but some of the core mechanics realisation was horrible ... until 9 months ago.
Two Mmo release with a lot of expectation, lot of hype two failure ... and two resurrection lol
Anarchy online, Aoc , have one of the best story line i've ever seen in a mmo.
AOC music, art, animation are superb.
I think any Funcom game is like wine, the older they get, the greater their taste.
Even if in some people mouth AO is vinegar .
PS : there's still hope look at what they did with the shrines of Bori initially they weren't scheduled to launch before the expansion now they are shifted in prime, and further testing and polish is going on for the expansion.
With that move they adressed the player base number one expectation : new pvp content and they took extra time to get a smooth expansion release.
I don't know what you are complaining about. As rule of thumb you should never pre order any MMORPG ..period. Or you will most probably end up being frustrated and disappointed. FUNCOM has made two awesome MMO, AO and AOC. So if you got fooled its your own fault.
Something get better with time so people who have no patience will always cry and complain. Nothing new.
I had lost all hope on funcom after the AoC fiasco, but seeing that they are bringing back the skill system over class, is a small ray of hope of good things.
Didn't like that the report says the game is easily solo oriented with only big bosses requiring a group, that defies the purpose of being a MMO, but to each it's own.
Now the PvP sounds something like DAoC, only in a closed area away from the PvE so it sounds like there won't be griefing, could be wrong tho, the question would be, will it be faction vs faction or guild vs guild?
This is pretty sound advice, albeit sadly so.
imho yea the hype machine they are putting behind this "the we will show you something at gdc then gdc comes and no we will only show the press" then let them force feed you 10-12 days later doesnt sit well with me but the premise of the game is refreshing and it is a different development team, I dont know how funcom works they develop and publish their own stuff not like ncsoft or ea or soe that just publish other stuff that was developed by totally different names, people dont like ncsoft or ea or soe either so go figure. AND MMORPG.COM I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU DID TO YOUR FORMATING BUT IT SUX BIG TIME AND BAD YOU WOULD HAVE EVERY KNOWN SECRETARY AND TYPIST QUIT YOUR EMPLOYMENT IF YOU LET THIS CRAP SLIDE
I'm not sure if that's what he's saying but it's exactly what I'm saying.
Funcom released AO and it was horribly broken and unfinished.
Funcom released AoC and it was horribly broken and unfinished.
Why would this time be any different? You think that they will learn from their own mistakes the third time? You have way too much faith in them.
It is FUNCOM...aka failcom, fraudcom, no-funcom...etc.
I find the visuals nice, the skill system intriguing and the story/world fascinating...and I will believe FC can deliver on ANY of it about a month after I can play it.
FC are the grand masters of hype, spin and vanishing content. Due to their track record of failure and failed promises there is simply no way this game gets the benefit of the doubt.
If they can PROVE to me that they have solved their chronic network issues, horrible instancing and that the game looks half as pretty and runs on a real computer out in the real world (and not some custom demo box attached to the server); then I'll look at buying it.
and yes, I'll say it: Funcom has NEVER had the professional cohones learn from past mistakes because their rabid fans have never made them own to their errors.
"Story is fine up until it limits your choices. For example - the story of LOTRO is essential, whereas the story of EVE is a backdrop. One reason why LOTRO is a themepark game and EVE is sandbox. Another way to put it is games give you a car to drive - if you can drive it anywhere, even off a cliff then it is sandbox, however if the car sits on tracks - no matter how many directions those tracks go - then you have themepark."
Eve has many "rails" as well. Concord, no high sec capitals, no chance to develop your own ships, the system is entirely fed by the NPC gods.
"The first is that the game is designed to be solo-friendly"
Hahahaha. Great, ANOTHER fucking WoW clone. This game will be another mediocre MMo, just like AoC or any other MMoRPG released in the last few years. Hard to believe these guys are the people who made Anarchy Online.
Sorry but not everyone believes in forced grouping. Players are allowed to solo, the only grouping and raiding should be at the end game. Also WOW is not solo friendly and has plenty of group quests. Do you even know what you are typing?
lol the witch hunters have arrived honestly i could care less what you think I see what they made Aoc and embrace the path that TSW is going so if it burns your ass im sry for your 3 year old grudge all i can say is get up move on if your grudge was that bad you wouldnt be hear crying foul or if it was and you are I am sad for you that you wasted so much time being mad and sulked for 3 years probably posting crap like this thinking your gonna get a reward maybe its time for you to move on with your life like all the wow flamers maybe you all can start a support group
I agree. Heck in UO your skill was often rated on what you could do Solo...
This game wasnt even on my radar really but after the latest press releases I decided to take a look into it and so far it seems like something I will try and could enjoy.
Here's the thing though. They're right.
Funcom has now had a reputation for A) having terrible starts and B) not listening to its playerbase.
AO's first problem was a launch so horrific it inspires legends. I can safely say no matter how bad your worst MMO launch was, AO's was worse. Then it suffered from a lack of direction. First it was a futuristic, open-pvp game. Then it was a series of capture the waypoint battles. Then it was a psuedo-fantasy game (Shadowlands). Then they started adding PVE raiding and player made cities. I don't even know what it is now.
AoC...Was going to be revolutionary. Then they scrapped/merged half the classes, butchered parts of the lore, purposefully toned down the "M" rating by removing adult elements steadily from each patch, scaled down the original ambitious combat engine to something resembling DDR, BUTCHERED crafting...and all of that was before launch. The launch itself was laggy and horrible, and it was several months before FC would even admit to the massive memory leaks that were plaguing it. The world past a fairly low level (30ish) felt empty and unfinished, and much of the content promised on the retail box just wasn't there. They've come leaps and bounds in improving it, but the hamhanded way they handled things as well as the utter lack of communication with the playerbase caused a lot of people to lose faith and leave.
Now TSW....looks incredible. And much of what they've promised here and elsewhere looks promising. But it's not the first time FC has told us they'd do one thing then done another. I'm waiting to see myself how the "sign back up for AoC and get a garaunteed spot in the TSW beta" thing goes.
Nothing that inspires me to want to buy it really.
Sounds a bit casual and throw away on the gameplay front.
But - anything that is not traditional 'fantasy' RPG deserves at least some moral support even though this particular game isn't appealing to me at the moment.
They will have to do alot more to attract a large fanbase, their could be more information not yet released but by the looks and sounds of it, seems a bit weak.
An announcement of a cash shop would put a nail in the coffin of my interest, for now I will wait and see.
The problem is all of us hardcore veterans have to accept that these companies aren't making games for us anymore. Games like AO, while awesome (eventually) only ever had 10-50k subs and the new 'themepark' inspired experiences sell millions and keep hundreds of thousands - no comaprison for a business.
Tiny studios like Icarus and the like (Fallen Earth) are our best bet for niche titles, but we have to stop expecting niche studios to have high production values just as much as we have to stop expecting major developrs to try for anything other than mainstream!
Personally TSW looks interesting but to me, like The Old Republic, all I see is great single player elements from a heavy story driven director and little that actually shows me much that it will be fun beyond the first 20-40 hours. I will probably buy it for those 20-40 hours and never subscribe
Well I guess I'm one of those rare few who are drawn in by an engaging story which is one of the reasons I DID Play WoW for so long and Played TR for a long while as well.
I like having a Point A to Point C storyline and that those in charge of the story can Stick to it w/o making it like the movie Natural Born Killers where Point A happend in the middle and Point Q R S happend at the start with Point B happening at the end. I don't play WoW anymore because they nixed the guys who were originally in charge of the Art Direction and Story Direction (if you don't believe me go look for them they're at work on another project now which is nothing to do with Blizzard)
I play to grab TSW and play it til it gets as old as the myths associated with the secret societies in the game.
Witchhunters? I'm not sure what you're rambling on about but I believe that you're just confused. I'm just stating facts. I purchased two of Funcom's MMOs when they just launched and both offered me nothing but grief. I will not be buying another Funcom MMO at launch and will wait a few months to see how it develops.
Funcom hasn't learned from the mistakes they made with AO, what makes you think that they will learn from the mistakes they've made with AoC? If you want to jump in without first testing the water, that's your business. As per their track record, I choose to wait and will be telling my friends to do the same.
Obviously you have not been following the game since 2007 because the game has always been about a PvE concept of saving the world from the rising darkness. The factions have been mentionned just recently and ingame they band together to fight the darkness, because this is what the frakking game is about.
The game is not called The Secret World because it sounds cool, the factions are secret as well and the only place where the factions PvP is in an instance place called Agartha where the main open PvE world is not affected, in order to keep their fights secret.
Here is another one who has never followed the game and has popped recently. No, the game has never been about the conflicts between the factions, get over it. The game is mainly PvE and about the factions fighting the rising darkness (showed in the videos and concept arts of monsters), this is what the game has been for 3 years, that hasn't changed at all.
I repeat it again:
"Here is another one who has never followed the game and has popped recently. No, the game has never been about the conflicts between the factions, get over it. The game is mainly PvE and about the factions fighting the rising darkness (showed in the videos and concept arts of monsters), this is what the game has been for 3 years, that hasn't changed at all."
No, MMos in the early 2000s had as much if not more subs than now(not counting WoW and F2P MMos). EQ had like 600k, FFXI had 500k(and still has around that), SWG had 300k, DaoC had 250k all around the same time. FFXI still has more subs most new MMos, including AoC and WAR. It's all about marketing and advertising. WoW was made by a popular company, used a popular IP and had a ton of advertising. New games have way more advertising than before, and gaming in general is is more popular now. Now devs just copy WoW because it's so sucessful, but it isn't because WoW is a great game, it's because most people only know about WoW. Vanguard was hyped as a hardcore game(imo it isn't though) and it was popular at start(until everyone quit because of the bad launch).
Old style hardcore MMos do have a big market, unfortunately there hasn't been one released since 2003 so people won't know it. If people got a chance to play WoW for 1 month and an AO type MMo, I really think people would pick the AO style MMo.
If this game looks like a WoW clone to anyone then I honestly fear for your sanity.
We also have no idea if PvP between factions will be allowed in the open world or if it will be restricted to the Hollow Earth zones. We know the Hollow Earth zones will be PvP but we don't definitively know that all other zones will be PvE only. There are hints that at certain times players from different factions can come together to fight a common enemy, but these comments have been made quite off-the-cuff and no real information is known.
After all we have 2 more years of information to be released to look forward to.
Im still interested in TSW, but im beginning to worry that they will treat the PvP system like they have in AoC. The border Kingdoms were horribly boring places unless a siege was happening so I really hope they do something to encourage PvP all over the world instead of one or two zones.
Looks cool...
Oh wait,its made by Funcom..
Last time they promised me a fine steak dinner,but I never did get it...
Maybe ill wait a year or 5 before trying this one out.I dont like paying monthly for beta's.
You do realize AoC right now is under new leadership and a new team of people who have proven you can literally take a game on the brink of destruction and make it into what it should have been.
Oh I realize that..
and I also realize that Anarchy Online is still rittled with bugs.
Given Funcom's track record,theyve earned the right to be looked at dubiously.
but Kudos to them for righting the ship well after it left the harbor. (AoC)
The lack of content I expect from SW is no different from the lack of content I expect when any MMO is launched. FC have a reputation for turning things round, they did it with AO and are doing it with AoC. You can’t learn from your mistakes when the funding runs out and you need to release the game. You can learn to fill out the game after launch, which FC has learnt to do. Many MMO’s do not get the new content they need or do not address the key issues causing them problems, Vanguard and Aion being examples of this respectively.
It looks like a "shooter" game with lots of "instances"-
Funcoms track record says let the buyer beware, they make alot of promises and deliver an incomplete game and ignor any constructive comments or ban them on there forums.
What, What no bad games or promises made here !
I think the PvP will be more like DAoC or the Abyss in Aion, they seem to make a big deal about the large underground world zone where there'll be a continuous fight for resources and territory for your faction. The thing I wonder about is if there'll be PvP and PvE servers, and if so, what added PvP the PvP servers will have.
Something I plucked from the official TSW forums, a nice overview of the revealed info this week (article sources between brackets):
World environment
Gameplay
Combat
Quests / storytelling
Miscellaneous
If everything turns out well in this game and they stick to that list like white on rice I may have found a more permanent place to spend my $ and Time than just aimlessly wandering through the piles of crap everywhere.
Mark my words, " You will be greatly disapointed " Funcoms track record is dismal.
Always room for improvement lol
I can't wait all hype that Funcom & MMORPG.COm is going to push towards funboys collective asses and release of this masterpiece when former funboys, who bought exclusive premium preorder lifetime membership before game was even released, starts whining in forums. Also you just can't forgot messages like "how to get your money back" and "this game is not dying" messages. MMORPG.COM community at best!