Genius.

I was reading this interview with Jake Song, one of the bigwigs with ArcheAge online.  And I was struck by two things in this response (they are highighted):

I think Closed Beta Tests are to figure out what players would like to play and to check if the game is being developed in the right way. Through ArcheAge’s 3rd Closed Beta Test, players gave feedback that the gameplay environment in the early levels is not satisfying. I think this is because we developed the end content of the game first. For out next Closed Beta Test, we will improve the early level game environment, include more characters, animation, and also the siege warfare system.

 

First of all, its refreshing that a developer thinks that the audience plays a hand in the development cycle.  I could name more than one MMO company that openly opposes this idea.  Now for the biggie…

Yeah, you read that right.  And now that I’m thinking about it, I’d bet dollars to donuts that’s exactly how Rift did it too.  That is some sharp thinking on their part.  Put the bulk of your development hours into the end game, and then go back and finish up the early stuff.  After all, players will spend less time in the early levels anyway, right?  And they don’t need to be as good, because the “honeymoon” phase doesn’t really wear off until mid-game usually. Especially when you have some interesting ideas and solid graphics, as ArcheAge (and Rift I might add) have.

I also wonder in development cycles about dungeons and group content.  Certainly that is part of endgame as well, but these are also part of cornerstone content as one levels too.  One of WoW’s strengths is the sheer number of dungeons/group content available (I haven’t counted lately, but probably 20+).  Rift launched with only 10, but others are being added, and there is the dynamic group content of the Rifts themselves, along with the World and Region events.  What will ArcheAge, as a sandbox MMO, launch with?  Any?  Some?  My guess is that if they focused on end game first, that we will see a decent number of dungeons/group content on launch.

By the way, compare those numbers with SWTOR – a whopping 4 total, with no indication that additional ones will be in by launch.

In any case, kudos for a backward thinking dev team over at XL Games.  A good sign of things to come, hopefully.

Step Right Up US Publishers!

So let’s make this semi-official.  HarbingerZero’s most anticipated game of 2012 is…ArcheAge Online.  Unless TOR is still not out.

Sorry, that was a cheap shot.  Actually…no, no I’m not sorry.

Like any interested player, I started looking around for a Beta Sign Up (turns out you need a Korean SSN to get one) and a release date (Q1, 2012).  But I also discovered that the release date is only for Korea.  Because no publisher for North America has been secured yet.   That’s…insane.  Either XL Games needs to get the ball going on this, or there are a lot of shortsighted publishers here in North America.  Given the Beta Test feedback and the amount of buzz this game is generating, I can’t imagine it not being released here.

"We've capped! What next?" "North America?" "Sounds good...let the invasion begin!"

Still, I understand that there will probably be considerable cost involved.  Who would want to step up and publish?  Clearly Trion is out of the mix (FYI, I am playing Rift like a madman right now).   EA is no position financially to take this on.  Sony would probably pass because they would like to keep things in house, though they have stepped out in the past (Pirates of the Burning Sea, for example).   I can’t see Turbine diving in, but perhaps having a sandbox MMO alongside their linear story-driven LotRO  offering would be a solid combination.   Though as it stands right now they are out of the subscription model altogether, and while nothing has been announced yet, its hard to imagine ArcheAge *not* being a sub model, at least initially.

Well, here ends the speculation, and begins the encouragement.  Both for XL Games to let us over here in NA get our hands on this game, and for movers and shakers here to make it happen.