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Bounty Bay Online: Introductory Q&A
Today, we have added a new game to our Game List. Bounty Bay Online, a version of the already released Voyage Century, is different from its counterpart in a number of significant ways. In this Q&A, Managing Editor Jon Wood speaks with Markus Melching, the head of Yusho GmBH (the game's co-publisher) to talk about BBO and how it differs from Voyage Century.
MMORPG.com: |
What kind of game is Bounty Bay Online? |
Markus Melching: |
BBO is an MMORPG set in the 15th century. BBO allows the player to discover the world as it was known at that time on land and on high seas. The game offers a mixture of action packed sea-battles, land-fighting, exploration possibilities, crafting and economic simulation. |
MMORPG.com: |
With a number of nautically-themed MMORPGs either already on the market or in late stages of development, what, in your opinion, is the appeal of the genre? |
Markus Melching: |
The largest difference to other MMORPGs on the market is that you will not see any dwarves, elves or other fantasy related characters in the game. The setting is more related to a historical background. This does not mean that there aren't any mythical creatures in the game, but those are rather rarely used in special quests. The other huge difference is the possibility to explore the high seas and fight in sea battles against other NPC captains or players. This adds a large depth and variety to the game. |
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MMORPG.com: |
How will players be paying for your game? |
Markus Melching: |
We are offering a subscription based payment model. You will be able to pay with credit cards, bank transfer (in Europe) and domestic cards. |
MMORPG.com: |
Some people have noticed that BBO looks a lot like a game called Voyage Century. Why is that? |
Markus Melching: |
Bounty Bay Online is the official licensed version of Voyage Century for the European market. The game was developed by Snail Game in China and is already available in more than 7 countries all around the world. |
MMORPG.com: |
Can you tell us the differences between Bounty Bay Online and Voyage Century? |
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Markus Melching: |
The Voyage Century you are referring to is operated in the United States and only available in English. Bounty Bay Online is operated for Europe and is currently available in English and German. The French version will go into Closed Beta soon. In comparison to a game that uses an item mall, all players will have a level playing field. No one will be favoured or handicapped because he is willing to spend more or less money each month. This will make the player community work much better because they all have the same chances. Because of the payment model, our customers can expect a high level of customer support 7 days a week. Beside that there are some differences directly in the game... Fun Items: BBO: There are no "Fun-Items" in BBO. Items such as giant rubber hammers and water guns are simply out of place and do not belong in a game that is set in a historical background. VCO: You can buy those items for real money in the VCO Item Mall. Pet Bait: BBO: Pet bait that you need to tame pets, is available through special quests created by Yusho. VCO: You have to buy it for real money in the VCO Item Mall. Unlearning Skills / Reallocate Skillpoints / Upgrade Bank Vault: BBO: Those options are available to each player once a month. VCO: You have to buy "points" for real money that can be spent ingame to use those options. Tickets for Resource Areas: BBO: Tickets for resource areas are available through special quests created by Yusho. VCO: You have to buy them for real money in the VCO Item Mall. Prison: BBO:
VCO: If your character gets arrested you can play a mastermind-like game to reduce the time you have to spend in prison. Land Fighting: BBO:
VCO: You can fight on land to gain experience and level your character in land fighting skills. |
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One can only wonder how many people are going to pay for a game that can also be played for free. Sure bounty bay offers a few little extras...but I can't really say its enough to justify the monthly fee. and aside from that, its not really a pay to play quality MMO title to begin with in my opinion.
I wonder if they're doing this to directly compete with Pirates of the Burning Sea. I guess pirate MMORPGs are all the rage.
I played VCO for a few months - It is a fun game before the grinding takes over and you are forced to purchase stuff on the item mall. My main concern with a pay to play version would be if it has the same horrible translations errors that VCO has. In VCO most quests are very hard to accomplish - no quest log to speak of , mistranslations and the game will let you accept quests out of order - with no means of quitting the quests you accept.
SO if you pick a quest you have no chance in hell of completing any time soon - you are still stuck with it. Then if you open another quest line for a quest nearer your own capabilities that uses the same NPC as the other quest you took. the npc will ignore your new quest,,, very frustrating.
Plus much to much of the game is played unattended - find a farming spot - turn on auto attack check back every couple of hours to raise weapon skills . (Or mining, or tImbering) Very, very lame.
very lame attempt at trying to steal potbs thunder.
Sorry to say but this game is a direct clone of PotBS,they stole the UI and some other features.
I tried Voyage Century, and having played many MMO's found it's tutorial very lacking and much if it is far from intuitive. My overall feeling while playing was, "what the heck am I supposed to be doing?" Needless to say I didn't last long. Having to pay to play for this high level of frustration just seems like cruel and unusual punishment.
and PotBS is a clone of Uncharted Waters :P
Bounty Bay was released in 2004 in China. PotBS isn't even out yet?
I like how in that interview the question is asked about how the game sets itself apart from other NAUTICAL themed games and they mention the ability to sail the high seas(obviously disregarding the nautical part of the question) :> Truth being the game stands out in no way so they didn't really answer the question asked. Anyone notice that ?
err, no.
Voyage Century is good for a free game, you'd have to be pretty dumb to pay for it though.
I'm sorry, I just can't get over that one.
My thoughts exactly.
Why would anyone pay to play this game? I have to question the hoard of developers throughing all these junk games at us in hopes that they will find a hit. I can't even begin to list all the problems this game has. At least the free version did not cost money.
Believe me this game has no relation to Potbs, I have tested both and Potbs is so far beyond this game in content and playability it is not even funny. Potbs will be worth the monthly fee, I can hardly say that for bounty bay.
MADE IN CHINA = CAVEAT EMPTOR
Now we all know Bounty Bay Online is Voyage Century Online but the biggest thing that gets on my nerves is when loading up Bounty Bay Online is.. it says Welcome to Voyage Century Online , in the Helper box.. u would think they would of at least changed this.
Looks like they still got the jail system. I'm not paying 15 bucks a month to sit in prison for playing the game. Voyage century would send pirates to prison for like a month real time. If they removed the prison system and replaced it with something else this game would definitely be worth playing.