Clifton Chu Interview

MMORPG.com:

For anyone who's not familiar with Forsaken World, now in Open Beta, what can you tell us about the game and what players can come to expect from the latest in PWE's library of games?

Clifton Chu:

Forsaken World is Perfect World Entertainment’s latest fantasy MMORPG and has been our most anticipated game to date. It’s our first game built from the ground up with the western audience in mind and players can look forward to a darker, fantasy driven game with Dwarves that are more steam punk than drunk, Vampires that don’t sparkle and Stonemen, living, breathing forces of nature.

MMORPG.com:

There's a great emphasis on Forsaken World's art style. How important is it to establish a striking visual style for a new game just starting out?

Clifton Chu:

Forsaken World does have a very distinct art style and we wanted to showcase that this was a western game right out of the gate. Our concept artists took elements from around the world to create Forsaken World and you’ll see a lot of European design elements with the characters as well as in the architecture.

MMORPG.com:

Tell us about the gameplay of Forsaken World? How is it similar or dissimilar from other MMOs and other PWE games out there?

Clifton Chu:

When we developed Forsaken World, we took the best gameplay elements from all of our games, so in that respect; players might see similar elements in Forsaken World. On the other hand, we also created new gameplay elements for Forsaken World as well as new features that were requested by our players including the floating guild bases and in-game auction house.

MMORPG.com:

The game presents a relatively unique take with its race/class system. What can you tell us about the decisions that informed some choices, for example, including Vampire as a playable class for the Kindred race?

Clifton Chu:

So for some classes such as the Vampire, it really only made sense to make this exclusive to the Kindred race given the story’s background. Another example is the Marksman and Protector, which are exclusive and only class available for the Dwarves and Stonemen. We wanted to make the classes as unique as the races, so even though an Elf and Human can be Warriors, some of their skills will be different.

MMORPG.com:

Tell us about the talent trees. Each ability within the trees has between usually 2 and 5 ranks that can be selected. Will these abilities, particularly the ones received at low-level, still be useful at high levels because of this?

Clifton Chu:

Many of the low level skills help build your character up to the higher level. Some will be replaced by higher level skills, while other will help you in the background passively. With the expandable skill bar, there will be plenty of room to shortcut all of your skills and it all really depends on your situation.

MMORPG.com:

Tell us about the achievement system in the game. Through obtaining these achievements, what benefits can the players expect to see?

Clifton Chu:

The achievement system gives players another goal in the game to work towards. Most can be done by just playing the game regularly, while some are more challenging. Completing different achievements and obtaining Trophies will reward you with more XP, special items, and even a new mount.

MMORPG.com:

The fashion system in the game seems to be getting a lot of attention. What can players expect from that?

Clifton Chu:

In Forsaken World we take great pride in our fashion and the attention to detail that goes into each set. They also fit a variety of tastes ranging from the King of Rock ‘n Roll, or a gown fit for a queen, there is something for everyone. Players can also mix and match different fashion sets to create an even more unique look.

MMORPG.com:

Now that Open Beta is well underway, what can we expect to see moving forward for Forsaken World?

Clifton Chu:

We look forward to continue supporting Forsaken World and our players by listening to their feedback and releasing new content in future updates and expansions. We have hinted here and there about a PvP Arena system and the introduction of the in-game marriage system just to name a few. Much of the content that we develop is based on player feedback, so definitely be active on the forum boards if you have a suggestion.