With the Elysium expansion, Perfect World International sees yet another huge feature added with housing, a much-requested community feature. We took the opportunity to chat with PWI Product Manager Cindy Wang about the Elysium expansion and what it means for players.
MMORPG: After 10 years, why did you decide to add housing to the game?
Cindy Wang: We are very proud of the fact that PWI has so many loyal players. We still have players that have been with us since the day we launched. When we started planning for Elysium, we decided that we wanted the game to include housing because we wanted to give our players a special home they could call their own in our world. We wanted a system that could accommodate all of the different types of players that make up PWI and give them the freedom to design their own land. The Homestead System gives players a special place to relax with their friends during downtime. It’s meant to be a way for us to say “Welcome Home” to our community.
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MMORPG: Give us an idea of the types of features players can expect from the housing system.
CW: The Homestead System is highly customizable. Players can design these structures any way they’d like. They can add a mountain, a lake, a floating garden, etc. Anything they can imagine, they can build with the Homestead System. Also, this system provides an interactive platform for our players. You can make trades with other players, post contract jobs, send out gifts and participate in many other activities.
MMORPG: Is the system designed only for high level players?
CW: We do have a level requirement to use this system. Players need to reach Level 90 to participate. However, leveling isn’t very difficult PWI. (LOL It’s actually much easier to reach Level 90 than ever before)
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MMORPG: What sorts of rewards will players receive for completing Uncharted Paradise?
CW: Uncharted Paradise is the only dungeon where players can collect materials for the newly added Level 17 Weapon, which is the most powerful weapon in the game. Players can also earn some pretty great rewards after completing challenges and defeating Guardians in Uncharted Paradise.
MMORPG: During the weekly cross-server PvP events, is it a “survival of the fittest” type of event or is it a server dominance type?
CW: First off, we’re really excited about our cross-server PvP events. However, we’ve decided that we’d like to dedicate some more time to setting these battles up to ensure it meets our standards and the expectations of our community. When we are ready to launch, we will be pitting players from different servers against each other in one-on-one battles. So yes, “survival of the fittest” describes it best.
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MMORPG: How many players can participate in these tournaments?
CW: These battles will be open to all players, regardless of level or server.
MMORPG: Are there any plans for taking monthly winners and pitting them against one another?
CW: No plans for monthly tournaments yet, but the winners of each weekly battle will have access to the best PvP gear and items in the game.
MMORPG: Tell us about the new gear and weapons.
CW: In Elysium, players can acquire free materials to create a Level 17 Weapon through our Homestead System. They can use these materials to build the most powerful weapon in the game by combining them with items earned from daily Homestead quests and loot from Uncharted Paradise. Players can also upgrade their Rank 9 Limitless set to a Rank 9 Boundless set. This new set looks even more incredible and has better stats. All of these items were added to prepare players for the new challenges that await them.
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MMORPG: Anything else you’d like to add?
CW: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our players. Thank you for being there all of these years to support us. We hope you continue to have a wonderful journey through PWI!
