An Interview With Stephen Nichols
Staff Writer Donna Desborough asks questions of Stephen Nichols about the upcoming NCSoft title, Dungeon Runners. Nichols is the Producer and Lead Programmer for the game.
Interviews By Donna Desborough on February 05, 2007
An Interview With Stephen Nichols
Staff Writer Donna Desborough asks questions of Stephen Nichols about the upcoming NCSoft title, Dungeon Runners. Nichols is the Producer and Lead Programmer for the game.
| MMORPG.com: | How is the Premium Service going to work? And how much will it cost? |
| Stephen Nichols: | The basic game is free to download and play, and for $4.99/month you get access to members-only features. At present, those features are: access to weapons, armor and magical items above “blue” quality, more powerful stacking potions (take up less inventory space), login queue priority and access to an in-game bank to store loot. Right now, you can pay for membership with a credit card and very soon, you’ll be able to use an NCsoft game time card. We’re also looking into other ways to pay. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will there be future expansions, maybe larger dungeons to explore or new towns? Will they cost or be free? |
| Stephen Nichols: | Dungeon Runners will be continually developed. There’s no plan for charging players to access new content. However, some areas may be very difficult for free players to make progress in without the members-only gear. We will definitely add more dungeons to explore. More towns? Perhaps… just not for a while. |
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| MMORPG.com: | How do you see the game developing? Will there be PvP or special servers for Pvp? |
| Stephen Nichols: | Our development plan is flexible. We aim to develop the game based on customer feedback. We do have a lot of ideas in mind and PvP is a feature that’s definitely on the way. However, there won’t be any open areas for “ganking” as you often find in many PvP-oriented games. Indeed, PvP will be limited to arranged team arena matches and other mini-games. Beyond PvP, we will continue to add more skills, loot, quests, monsters and other content on a very regular basis.
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| MMORPG.com: | What do you have to say about the similarities people are drawing between Dungeon Runners and other successful 'dungeon bash' games? |
| Stephen Nichols: | Dungeon Runners is a game about running dungeons! So, it’s only natural that it shares some similarities with other dungeon running games. However, players will find that there are several aspects that set us apart from other dungeon crawlers: the game is free, regularly updated and very easy to play for short sessions. As you will see, Dungeon Runners doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s just plain easy fun! |
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| MMORPG.com: | Will you be developing a detailed background to expand the story of Dungeon Runners? |
| Stephen Nichols: | Storyline isn’t a huge part of Dungeon Runners because at this point it is mostly about bashing monsters and collecting loot. Although, there are definitely story elements that unfold in the quest lines that you complete as you play. But, it’s not something that we’re clubbing players on the head with.
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| MMORPG.com: | Will there be more classes and more detailed character development? |
| Stephen Nichols: | We’re moving toward a classless system if compared to traditional RPG standards. Our March/April update will contain this change. Essentially, you’ll be able to create your own class through the skills that you equip and the items that you use. We want players to be able to change their play style without having to re-roll a character from scratch. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will there be the ability to create guilds and permanent groupings? |
| Stephen Nichols: | Yes, a guild system is in the works, although it won’t be available for several months. |
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| MMORPG.com: | What future features do you see for Dungeon Runners? For example: guilds, crafting, shops. |
| Stephen Nichols: | Here’s a short “wish list” of features we would like to add: integrated voice chat, improved LFG systems, item linking in chat, cross-server grouping and teleporting, a guild system, player housing and item customization systems. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will there be live events and holiday events? Will there regular GM run events? |
| Stephen Nichols: | In-game events aren’t going to be a focus for Dungeon Runners unless the customers call for them. We’ll have to see how things unfold. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will multi-character accounts be able to get a discount if they are premium accounts? |
| Stephen Nichols: | We will definitely provide a way for players to have multiple characters on a single account in the near future. As for a bulk pricing solution…we’ll have to see if there’s demand for that. |
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This looks like such a huge WOW rip off, it would be a waste of life just downloading the client. But a different subscription plan into the genre could be a good thing, though.
if anyone plays this game and reads this, i will play this game till my eyes bug out with you and farm gold(or whatever currency) for you if you refer me so I can get in on the beta and play!
Christracks@christracks.com
PLEASE PLEASE
Mmorpg.com should state a policy regarding invite/cd-key begging, looking in the DR-forum just about every topic has posts that beg for invites (along with a billion threads whose only purpose is for "invites").
5$ per character and month sounds real greedy, I thought FFXI was bad with 1$ extra per character but I guess there will always be someone that is one step worse.
OK People, U have to Look at the Big Picture here, I Have Been playing the Game a few days Now & have to Say It Does Remind me Allot Of Diablo2 "Hehe Even the Music Remind Me of" Not So much WoW, But that said I See that Its a Good Thing.. After all Diablo1 & 2 Was Both Very Good Games for there time " I played D2 Alone for Over a year" And Since Blizzard Still After All these Years, Have Any Plans on making a D3. I say Its Open Game to Make a Good Diablo2 Clone thats in 3D format.. So Is it Bad Idea? No...
If You Read what there trying to Do in DR"s Is Make a Easy To Learn Hack and Slash game without Being All that Complex. Just Kill Grab the Loot And move on.. ATM i dont See Any Trading Options But Im sure they are going to Add it in The NPC"s Say some Funny Comments that u would not Hear in Other Games. And The stats Of the Weapons them selfs Are in a Way Comic. I for one Get a Kick of How they Rate the Attack Speeds of the Weapons.. Gram mom i Assume Means Slowww. And Freaky fast! Means Ummm Fast?? lol there Theres speeds between As well..
What I'm trying to Say is.. With So Many MMO's Trying to make Games Super Complexx Games that Make u Play none Stop For Hours And have to Read Websites none Stop Just to Learn the Basic's of the Game and what Items there Are u can use and get latter on. DR"S Is A Layed Back game that u just pick up and play, learn as you go. And Have fun... It may Not be for Everyone, But I can see were Ncsoft is going with it
Take it for What its worth, Stop trying to Compare it to More Complex games
ATM i rate it As its
Graphic's 6/10
Sound Sound 5/10
Control 7/10
Fun 8/10
With the Protention to be Better in the Future
OK Its for for Everyone to start with the insults on me now.. That I Wont be replying to..
I completely agree. The simplicity is one of the things I've praised about this game too. It's really alot of fun when you just take it at face value. Sometimes you don't need complex.
This game is by far NOT a WoW clone. If anything this is essentially Diablo Online. I got in the beta a while back and i have to say it is just a simple dungeon crawling, beat up some monsters for loot game. You even have red & blue potions just like in Diablo 2.
Plus it's FREE to play, the $5 is a premium service fee if you want more bank slots, better quality loots etc. It isn't even like Guild Wars that you have to initially buy the game or anything. Absolutely 100% free unless you get the premium service, which is optional.
Simplistic, no frills and free.
I've been in the beta for about 5 weeks now.
It's very Diablo 2-ish. Very simple and straighforward.
One cool thing is that the dev team actually *listens to their players* on the forums and in-game and makes revisions to the game based on their feedback.
I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys Diablo 2/ Dungeon Siege type games but yearns for a slightly more MMO version of these titles.
If you want a beta invite, PM me. I might have a few.
Just gave two people beta invitations. I have one invite left. If you are interested in the DR beta, send me a PM.
Any ideal when this is going to be released? I don't know in the beta so i'm sitting on the sidelines atm.
I for one, will most likely buy the pay for game account. when you get right down to it. 5 bucks a month is nothing. I spend more on lottery tickets :P Here i might actually win something.
I just wish they'd post a wee bit more information on their game :P
-B-