Arche Age

[Threash]

This has probably been covered already in the thread but can someone please tell me if pvp is the actual goal of this game? I don't want to get excited about another game that shut offs pvpers in their own little playgrounds detached from the rest of the game.

[Draegan]

From what I remember reading it's a full blown Sandbox type of game.  And from what little I've seen it's full open world PVP, not instancing.

[Falconeer]

I remember reading somewhere, a long time ago, that it was specifically inspired by Ultima Online. This is the game Jake Song was hoping to make when he partnered with Garriot back in the days.
Then again, this interview from 2011 is kind of vague.. "Half-open"?

Some Western fans have asked for PvP servers, and many of our commenters are very interested in ArcheAge but are turned off by the fact that it has open PvP. Most sandbox games default to free-for-all PvP these days, leaving these sandbox PvE fans with nowhere to play. Are there any plans for dedicated PvP servers or will it be left up to the players to avoid FFA areas on all shards?

I know that some players like PvP and some don't. ArcheAge features a half-open PvP system. If a player kills another player of the same faction, he/she will get penalty points. If a player's penalty points (blood prints that appear after killing a player work as evidence of a crime which leads to penalty points) reach a certain level, he/she will be summoned to court, will receive a trial, and might be imprisoned. Though ArcheAge is half-open PvP, it is not the main fun feature. It will be developed as a game that PvE-lovers could enjoy too, while also enjoying the PvP system.

It is also worth mentioning that there was an official English page back in 2011, but it has been deleted. They do NOT have a publisher for the Western market yet.

[Lucas]

The savior of sandbox MMOs cometh....Well, no, not really, yet.

But meanwhile, you can get a taste of it with the english preview site that opened, like, RIGHT NOW (might take a bit to load)  

http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en

[Ghambit]

A bit?  For a second I thought I was DLing the client, not loading a webpage.

[Nonentity]

So... does this mean they have an American publishing partner yet?

[Draegan]

I'm guessing they are preparing to announce one?

[palmer_eldritch]

Activities highlighted on the webpage include trying to break the record for getting the most people on to a single rowboat at once. I'm Looking forward to this game a lot.

[palmer_eldritch]

I have no idea if this is actually linked to the PvP system but it seems that if you are branded a criminal you can end up in prison. Then you can organise a prison breakout.

Or, you can organise a soccer game with your fellow prisoners.

[Falconeer]

If Age of Wulin/Wushu found both a North American and an European partner (and you can end up in jail, or break out of, too), I can't see how could this one not get a deal soon. My theory is that they are refusing to sell the license cheap, like other Asian PvP oriented games have been doing by giving it to "minor" companies like gPotato in Europe or EnMasse in North America. So they are waiting (and fishing for) a big major to give them a call.

[Lucas]

Next stop.... Soviet Russia!!! 

http://archeagesource.com/topic/1340-hello-archeage-from-mailru/

[Lucas]

aaaand...bombshell !!

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

Press release:

[Mrbloodworth]

Oh snap.

[Falconeer]

Finally.

[Lantyssa]

Damnit!  Hartsman left before he could get us all beta invites.

Really though, glad to see Trion get it.  Even if they're only the publisher and translation, I was wondering what they could do with a sandbox.

[WayAbvPar]

Damn it. Now I have to start paying attention to this again.

[Nonentity]

Oh man, I was already sold, now I'm potentially actually excited.

Fuck. FUCK.

[Lucas]

Some interesting quotes in this article (bold is mine) :

http://archeage-online.com/post/1718109677

For Trion, the deal is a big coup, said Lars Buttler, the chief executive of Redwood City, Calif.-based Trion, in an interview with GamesBeat. He described ArcheAge as having an “incredible amount of polish.” Trion aims to launch the game later this year in North America, Europe, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand.

Uh oh...:

Trion will translate the title and make changes to suit Western audiences.

Don't put any more theme park shit in my sandbox cereals, thanks (and, after all, Archage is often referred as a "sandpark").

Official website:
http://www.archeagegame.com/en/

[Draegan]

Changes would be things like UI elements and experience curves and other quality of life stuff.  I doubt they have the ability to alter the game that much.

[Lucas]

Changes would be things like UI elements and experience curves and other quality of life stuff.  I doubt they have the ability to alter the game that much.

Agreed :). Plus, I think that the F2P conversion of TERA, SWTOR and TSW (and the launch of GW2) put a final nail on the coffin on the  "subscription only" model as a viable starting strategy for any MMOG, at least above the $10 price range. Guess they might take a more "hybrid" approach right from the start (same with ESO).

[Jherad]

Damn it. Now I have to start paying attention to this again.

Yes this. I had totally written this off as a 'won't happen here and even if it did, Korean grindfest' type deal.

Now Trion. 

[Draegan]

Changes would be things like UI elements and experience curves and other quality of life stuff.  I doubt they have the ability to alter the game that much.

Agreed :). Plus, I think that the F2P conversion of TERA, SWTOR and TSW (and the launch of GW2) put a final nail on the coffin on the  "subscription only" model as a viable starting strategy for any MMOG, at least above the $10 price range. Guess they might take a more "hybrid" approach right from the start (same with ESO).

This is more of a success for Trion because they are selling their Red Door program to a major game release.  I think the only other outside game that is using this platform is Wargames(?), which I don't know anything about.

[Nonentity]

Changes would be things like UI elements and experience curves and other quality of life stuff.  I doubt they have the ability to alter the game that much.

Agreed :). Plus, I think that the F2P conversion of TERA, SWTOR and TSW (and the launch of GW2) put a final nail on the coffin on the  "subscription only" model as a viable starting strategy for any MMOG, at least above the $10 price range. Guess they might take a more "hybrid" approach right from the start (same with ESO).

This is more of a success for Trion because they are selling their Red Door program to a major game release.  I think the only other outside game that is using this platform is Wargames(?), which I don't know anything about.

It's called Warface, and it's bad. Or so I hear.

One thing to note, though, is that ArcheAge is currently NOT free to play in Korea. They have hourly/monthly options.

Also, I may have bought a Korean account from some back alley dealer so I can try this out.

[Mrbloodworth]

Don't you need a Korean SS number?

[Lantyssa]

Thus the back alley.

[Draegan]

I don't think you need that anymore.  Thought I read about it somewhere.

[Nonentity]

I don't think you need that anymore.  Thought I read about it somewhere.

Yeah, you don't need a Korean SSN to make an account anymore, but they do all sorts of verification via text message and IP checks and other things to verify the account is being created in Korea. Also, there is a mandatory security check every 30 days to make sure the account is still owned by a Korean.

They don't want filthy foreigners playing their games.

[Severian]

I think that the F2P conversion of TERA, SWTOR and TSW (and the launch of GW2) put a final nail on the coffin on the  "subscription only" model as a viable starting strategy for any MMOG, at least above the $10 price range. Guess they might take a more "hybrid" approach right from the start (same with ESO).

Red Door is a full-scale publishing and development solution enabling unprecedented flexibility and control for game monetization teams.

If that means anything at all. I wish I  was on a Game Monetization Team. It sounds... monetizing!

[Lucas]

I think that the F2P conversion of TERA, SWTOR and TSW (and the launch of GW2) put a final nail on the coffin on the  "subscription only" model as a viable starting strategy for any MMOG, at least above the $10 price range. Guess they might take a more "hybrid" approach right from the start (same with ESO).

Red Door is a full-scale publishing and development solution enabling unprecedented flexibility and control for game monetization teams.

If that means anything at all. I wish I  was on a Game Monetization Team. It sounds... monetizing!

 

[Falconeer]

Making a Korean account isn't that hard these days. Understanding enough Korean to enjoy the game is a different story though. Or is there an English patch already somewhere?

[Nonentity]

Making a Korean account isn't that hard these days. Understanding enough Korean to enjoy the game is a different story though. Or is there an English patch already somewhere?

There was a string patch that was done for the Open Beta for basic tooltip support, button labels, and things like that. It hasn't been updated for retail, though.

There are enough resources online to Mr. Magoo your way through a lot of it, though.

[blackwulf]

Hmmm.. Korean import, translated and published in the US - this has never happened before!  I bet it will be fantastic!

Well, I have to admit - on paper it sounds pretty cool and sandboxy.  I had high hopes for Lineage 2 back in the day that didn't pan out, though.  Also, Tera.  Also every other Korean game that came here and failed to live up to the hype...

I know Wizardry Online is Japanese and not Korean - but it sounded cool on paper.  It, uh, was everything but cool when I got a chance to play it.

Maybe this import will surprise me...

[UnSub]

Lots of Eastern MMOs being translated / converted this year. MMO studios are seeing it as easier to buy the rights and convert an existing title than create a new one of their own.

[Lucas]

Need the Korean client ?  

http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en

(yep, official source; available at the time I'm writing this).

[Falconeer]

What am I missing? Is this just a link to the Korean client download? What's the point without an account?