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Q&A with Sean Hong

Alexander Chopra Posted:
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Interviews 0

MMORPG.com Exclusive: Shot Online Q&A

I recently had a chance to sit down with Sean Hong and from OnNet, the developers of a current MMORPG currently in beta testing, "Shot Online". I also asked a few questions from MMORPG.com members to talk to Sean about. The interview appears below:

MMORPG.com: What exactly is Shot Online for those who don't already know?
Sean Hong:

Shot Online is at first glance a golfing sim. When you take a closer look into the full aspects of what the game has to offer you will understand that it is more then that, it is a MMORPG. At the moment we are still introducing some of the main features of the game that will eventually be some of the main foundations that we can work with on a RPG level.

MMORPG.com: This leads me to my next question, what new features do you plan to implement that might give this game more of a RPG feel?
Sean Hong:

Right now we are in the process of implementing things such as a guild system. We hope this could help players feel as if they are really playing golf, and not just playing a game. Many MMORPG's at this time have ither a clan or guild system that they use and we are looking into having ranked guilds or even having tournyments between them for a prize.

MMORPG.com:
[Kiamde]
How large is Shot Online, in terms of developers and players.
Sean Hong:

Shot Online has 6 programmers, 6 graphic-desginers, 2 planners (for events that happen every month in which people compete for the best score on a 18 hole score card) and 1 Project Manager. We have over 30,000 registered and active accounts playing Shot Online. We average around 2,500-3,000 players on our servers at any given time. Once we release our game out of the beta stages, we plan to release a major update that will require more developers, and thus we will expand.

MMORPG.com: How long does the average person play Shot Online for each day?
Sean Hong:

The average number of hours our community plays per day is just over two hours. We belive that this will drasticly increase as we implement more and more content, such as courses, the previously mentioned guild system, etc. We belive that once you try Shot Online for the first time you are instantly hooked!

MMORPG.com: It sounds to me that playing Shot Online would take up alot of your time? How would the casual gamers have a chance in this atmosphere?
Sean Hong:

Alot of the people who play Shot Online do play for extended periods of time, but even the casual gamer who plays for even 10-15 minutes can have a great time even playing one or two holes of golf. Again, we are currently in the beta stages, and it costs nothing currently to play our game so there is no commitmnt that you need to get your moneys worth.

MMORPG.com: When you do release your game into the final stages, do you plan on having a monthly subscription fee to all members who play Shot Online?
Sean Hong:

There has been much debate over this topic. We currenly just don't know. We are leaning towards having a system in which you would need to pay just for purchase of special items such as a platnium club (Which does not exist, just an example), and the rest of the game is free, and purchase of these items are not nescessary but will enhance your gaming experience. Yet again, we still haven't made our final decsision, but this is the direction that we are leaning in at this moment.

MMORPG.com: Could you give a basic idea of what the new Shot Online Masters do?
Sean Hong:

Of course, the Shot Online Masters are hand selected after they apply at our website which is open for more applicants every month as our community grows. The Masters basicly make the game more entertaining, as most of them give lessons as well as help players with problems, they are comparable to a GM in any other MMORPG but that accually does play the game. (All Shot Online Masters are over the level of 21, and have a vast experience of the game).

MMORPG.com: Is there anything to do outside of the golf playing aspect of the game?
Sean Hong:

Oh yes! There are many diffrent shops for customization, you can create a look that is unique to yourself, along with diffrent shops to customize your play on the course, such as diffrent types of clubs, and balls that you can use.

MMORPG.com: Thank you for taking the time off your busy schedual to talk to MMORPG.com, do you have any closing remarks that you would like to make?
Sean Hong:

Thank you too Alex. I would just like to say Shot Online is much much more then just a golfing sim, you will relize after playing a few rounds of golf. You can visit our webpage at shot-online.com and sign up for a free beta account, and get playing ASAP!

MMORPG.com would like to thank Sean Hong of OnNet for taking the time to answer our questions. It is a pleasure to see people try new things in this genre, and Shot Online is doing just that!

We also invite you to let us know what you think in this comment thread and on the game's hype meter!