The Shadowclan Dark Moot

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

I didn't see this game as a topic. It is listed rather highly on the hype-o-meter on MMORPG.COM. It is supposed to be a sandbox with some Shadowbane like elements. Here is a recent and rather well-done review of the closed beta:

http://archeagesource.com/topic/636-archeage-cbt4-review-and-extensive-game-info/

Grasknak · Joined: 21 Sep 2002 Posts: 2793

This was my favourite part:

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Here is a link to an article in the Jan/Feb 2012 Massive Gamer website:

http://imgur.com/a/CuOWC

One of the eight races is called Warborn, which as you can see are horned beings. Twisted Evil

http://archeage-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/144159.jpg

As the article notes:

- there will be three continents, two occupied by the main opposed factions and a third which is initially NPC only. All three continents can be settled and built upon by players, but it is expected the third continent will be where a lot of the action is since it will be wide open for settlement by anyone

- Aside from respawn points (and perhaps a few other small safe areas related to the NPC factions) you can attack anyone anywhere. The two initial mainland factions can PVP each other without hindrance, but PVP against your own faction member implicates the murder system. However they also plan to enable players to create their own factions to war against other factions. So the initial binary faction warfare of continent v. continent should eventually come to include many player-created factions warring on each other. And of course the usual criminal activity. Once you get a bad reputation, supposedly you can move to a pirate island with other criminals.

- players can build their own castles and villages and lay siege to them

- sea travel is open PVP; ships are crewed so that you want one person at the helm, others working the sails, others at the guns, etc. in order to get the most of out them

- as you can see from the vids, they have chat bubbles enabled already (yay!)

The man running the show, Jake Song, is apparently regarded as South Korea's Richard Garriott. He was lead developer behind Lineage. The game began development in 2006 and is currently in 4th stage closed beta. As noted, the big question is whether they will get a western publisher soon.

There are any number of YouTube vids showing gameplay, which is setting at ease the usual concerns about overpromising and vaporware. Here is the latest, a February 2012 posted siege demo, which reminds me of Shadowbane on steroids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs4VWg2PjpE[/img]

Some more things I have gleaned from the few English-speakers in beta that have given out information:

- game world is twice the size of Darkfall or Mortal Online and is still in beta; e.g. over thirty minutes to swim to third continent; game world about same size as current WOW world

- underwater adventuring is fully part of the game, so you have not only the surface landmass but you can adventure under lakes, rivers and of course seas

- you can fly using personal hang gliders

- the economy will be heavily weighted towards player control; items will decay and eventually wear down enough to be beyond repair; being a trader/merchant will be a hot field since almost everything beyond starter gear and quest drops must be player made; e.g. houses, ships, etc.

- due to emphasis on player economy, PKs target people dragging along carts filled with materials since materials are so valuable; PK of solo PVEers not as lucrative as PK'ing merchants trying to move valuable materials along; apparently you trade everything in-person (no just mailing stuff) although there will be a trade channel

Grasknak · Joined: 21 Sep 2002 Posts: 2793

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Another review of the close of Beta Phase IV:

http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/PsychoPigeon/012012/22723_ArcheAge-Closed-Beta-4-Impressions

I have to say I am getting excited about this game. Release is not imminent, but they sound like they mean business. If they do this right, it will be the first game in a while that has everything SC likes: open PVP, ownership of lands/buildings, rich fantasy setting, etc. Plus a crafting system that makes ownership of resources meaningful, has item decay to help keep markets fresh, rewards mining and farming, ship travel on wide open seas + piracy, etc. It is a top of the line company making it, hence less likely we will see the train wrecks that independent studio efforts turned into (e.g. Mortal Online, Dark Fall).

Gragarn · Joined: 17 May 2010 Posts: 1110

I'm just a little sad it doesn't seem any Western developers have become involved yet. It could mean we don't see a version of it for a while.

Gurbak · Joined: 20 Aug 2002 Posts: 3556

Wherein the lads get totally confused by a Korean MMO and have a dance party instead:

Yogscast Archeage Press Beta Coverage

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Here are some my favorite gameplay videos.

Here people are building a castle. I can't help it, I just think it is so cool to see everyone walking around with bundles of materials on their backs and working cooperatively to raise walls. This sort of cooperative activity is really great for socializing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGk8fucSMJg&feature=fvsr

And here farming...it looks like a farmer has tons of options as to either planting crops or animal husbandry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPOskJOoT0

And a cool time progression video - in case your thing is watching your crops grow, heh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yZSGdYcFIo&feature=fvsr

Gurbak · Joined: 20 Aug 2002 Posts: 3556

Is he milking those goats or giving them a prostate exam?

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

A March 20 news item reporting on the end of Closed Beta 4 and upcoming Closed Beta 5. I sense this article was translated with some sort of automatic program, so its not the Queen's English. But it makes basic sense:

http://www.thisisgame.com/en/2012/03/20/archeage-cbt4-reports-and-cbt5

Here is an echo of old UO:

"There was an item called the bomb of liquor barrel for fun, but it was deleted because some pirate users threw it into where a wedding ceremony was held and killed all users who were attended."

I think a very small number of Westerners have been able to get into the closed beta. It would be great if we had a Shadowclan member who was Korean (or anyone who spoke Korean who could try to make an exception) who could get into this and come back with their sense of whether this is the real thing.

Buurzlug · Joined: 07 Oct 2011 Posts: 461

Gorg'da'guud is an old Korean woman?

Hin · Joined: 20 Aug 2002 Posts: 5125 Character Skills: Pie

Buurzlug · Joined: 07 Oct 2011 Posts: 461

See, i told ya.

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Here is a new video for Archeage:

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/new-archeage-video-makes-western-audiences-sad/

Still no news on a western publisher - hence the title of the linked article.

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

An Internet Sherlock Holmes seems to have found a clue for a NA/EU publisher for Archeage - NC Soft.

See for yourself at:

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/572/view/forums/thread/347462/page/1

Good news if true?

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

After some post-E3 quiet, more helpful information on Archeage on Massively. Check out this article which has links to the YouTube videos showing the various game systems:

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/some-assembly-required-six-essential-archeage-videos/

Massively also has posted an article that Archeage is conducting a survey of Western players to help them shape the game when it releases in the West:

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/archeage-seeks-info-on-western-demographics-with-survey/

Clan that want to take the Facebook survey can find it here:

https://www.facebook.com/archeage/posts/464103320266644

As the articles note, it is not a matter of if, but when, this mega-sandbox releases in the west. Twisted Evil

As far as the survey, I would think we want Clan to participate in as great numbers as possible.

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Closed Beta Test Phase 5 invites are going out. The game is also getting a Mature rating from the Korean Government:

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/archeage-sends-invites-for-next-closed-beta-also-gets-mature-ra/

Surely the ranks of Shadowclan must have included a Korean person at some time!?

Buurzlug · Joined: 07 Oct 2011 Posts: 461

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Some more news on the Archeage front. The open beta for China will start in May 2013. Still no word on a western publisher.

In the meantime, a ton of information has come out on housing and castles. See:

http://archeagesource.com/topic/1128-archeage-houses-and-castles-guide/page__pid__18486#entry18486

Anything on the southern continent can disappear if game-AI managed taxes aren't paid, but can't be destroyed by people or sieges. Anything on the northern PVP continent can be destroyed in sieges and taxes are set by whichever Expedition (their word for guild) controls that build-able area.

As always, exciting stuff. I really hope they are getting closer to announcing a western publisher.

Gan'Tungi · Joined: 23 Aug 2002 Posts: 1993

Seeing as how I'm located in China, I'll keep an eye on this for you Gobblemoss!

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

They just released some more information including game guide videos:

http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/12/archeage-game-client-download-begins-with-full-cinematic-trailer/

Any Shadowclan who can participate in the beta and report back, please do so!

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Jake Song confirms they are already working on a western version. With Korean OBT starting January 2, I wonder whether that means we might even see this game come out in the west next year:

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/jake-song-were-working-on-the-english-version-of-archeage/

I have to think that, with SOE working to get a sandbox Everquest Next out, there is incentive for Archeage to move first.

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

Looks like the US publisher will be Trion Worlds

http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/trion-to-publish-archeage-in-the-west/

Since the game is already coming out in Korea, I can't imagine it won't release in the US later this year. Then again, I am not sure how long localization takes.

Gobblemoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 980

An interesting thread on the property control system in Archeage:

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/572/view/forums/thread/375923/page/1

Apparently, on release there is a scramble to claim the open housing spots in the "protected" lands (the two starting continents) which will allow a player a great advantage in having a house and farm. By third week land is all taken and you instead have these stand-offs at places where people have not paid their taxes. The land is about to go up for grabs and people fight each other to claim it!

Now, on the unprotected third continent, your buildings and farms are always vulnerable. Only the most organized guilds will be able to flourish.

Sounds interesting....it really sets up the third continent to be a harsh land...

Of course, the pirates will live off their ships!