Hello...
Important things have been said... ^^
We had several challenges in the development process of our server...
RO isn't competitive anymore, if compared with those new games. However, RO still has it's appeal and lots and lots of fans.
So I had a dilema in my hands: Give up on all or try to make the game more interesting for old and new players. To start I've listed what players like in the new games, like WoW, AION, Final Fantasy and RIFT...
With it in mind, I started to work in our server model...
To start we must be honest, RO can't beat those new games in Graphics Criteria. RO was made to be a 2D game running in a 3D ambient. The new games were all made pure 3D. However, there's no doubt that's because of the 2D, RO is still appealing.
How to improve the graphics was the first challenge...
RO can't support a Full HD graphic and can't avoid the simple system.
The solution I found here, was apply a filter in ALL ambient graphics. So, if you play ANY RO, official or not and then play EXPERIENCE - Chronicles of Ragnarök you will feel and see the huge difference in our graphics. Our graphics have more details and vivid colors than ANY other RO server.
It was a massive work...
Sadly, due of client limitations, all we could do was apply a HD filter on it.
However, the characters and items won't receive those filters... Why???
Well, the sprites in RO are more than 20,000... On our team today there's ONLY 2 people working on graphics. If we do start to work in sprites, we won't be able to release the server in this year, and maybe not even next... XD
So we just skiped the sprites...
Someone in our team suggest that we could work on characters only. I said no, because, if the Character receive the HD filter, he will become amazing, with vivid colors and high details, however, when the character starts to use a headgear, the contrast will be so big that will make the characters look ugly. So the sprites will have to wait untill we get a bigger team... ^^
The second challenger was about sounds and music...
Well, our server in past already had the best musics of any other server. This time we went above and beyond. Now, all OST received a better compression (making our client smaller), but also received a 3D enhancement. So we do really emphatize to all players to play with sound. The experience in a 3D system will be great!!!
The third challenge was about something critical and totally fail in RO... HISTORY!!!
RO is a game that has a history and background, however this history doesn't immerse the player in it. Everything happens even if the player don't follow it.
New players want a history that they can follow. Like it happens in AION, RIFT and FF XIV.
The solution here was very fun. All I had to do was, use the original RO history as background like it wants to be, but create a whole new history happenning right now and inserting the player on it.
If the player want to follow the history he will be able to. Our plans are to make the history progressive until the player finishs the game. NEVER a MMORPG said to a player, "Go on, finish the game!!!"
Well, we did. Most of MMORPG keep giving to players a never end history, and players may get tired of it. In RO, the player must to find their objective, with most of time isn't history related, but, get a card, or make some gear +20, or make God Items. Well, in EXPERIENCE - Chronicles of Ragnarök, you will be able to do all of it. And you will have a plus... A History!!!
Also, follow the history or not will be up to your wish... ^_^
The history won't be all ready in game, it will come with patchs... Patchs may come every month or every 3 months. It will depend.
The fourth challenge was about quests...
Those who have played AION and RIFT know, it's all about quests!!!
So, ok...
The history will run in a main quest.
But, we'll add some side-quests. Some side-quests will run stand alone, others will be related to the main quest.
Also, players will have daily challengers, like monster hunts.
There's the Treasure Hunters quests and now the new group quests from the Paradise Group.
So, a way to level up faster is making quests.
Quests, quests, quests... Quests for level, quests for history and quests for GEARS!!!
The fifth challenge was about other systems...
In WoW, players can do different things, like fight each other, mining, etc..
So, we'll have it too.
We'll have a special mining system like the one in WoW, so players can start mining and various maps and level the mining skills, and get minerals from it. And with minerals comes money! ;-)
Fight all the way!!!
OMG, did you saw how many Filipinos we have on Facebook??? Filipinos love RO!!! And more than that, they LOVE TO FIGHT!!! Hehehe...
So, yes, they will find fun in EXPERIENCE - Chronicles of Ragnarök... We'll offer 3 different type of War of Emperium, A special PK system, where players can make it active and fight to other PK lovers, and the best part is, the ones who don't like PK won't have to worry about being killed while mining for example.
Also the Battleground, we'll offer 2 different type of Battlegrounds!!!
Not enough??? Ok...
Capture the Flag with minimap marks about positions of flags.
Eye of the Storm based on World of Warcraft. This combine Domination and Capture the flag systems.
TeamDeathMatch
Tierra Boosnia (Alterac Valley Style). Control the Neutral Base flag to damage the Enemy Team's Guardians (MVPs).
Stone Control (Multiple Capture the Flag style) Hold the Stone in your base to increase Score points per time, with a total of 6 stones.
Tierra Tiple Infierno (Triple TeamDeathMatch)
Ranking Reset each Week.
Special Aura for Top 10 Battlegrounds Users of the Week (Regular and Ranked Matchs)
Team Leader system with Guild Skill usage.
Idle announce and kick options.
Aaannnddd finally... Weekly PVP event... Like a MiniWoE, one small map, teams of 3 players Max....
Don't like to PVP???
There's no problems... ^_^
We'll offer a house system, like in other RO servers. You will be able to rent your house and do "things" there... XD [Nyx Note: What the heck? "Things" that sounds suspicious ):]
Like games???
We have games inside the game!!! O.o
Game Rooms with Emperium Breaker, Barricade and Guardian Stone simulations, Memory, Audio Memory and Simon Says games.
OUCH!!!
Hehehe...
There's more!
Players like to chat...
And in the survey we made after the Alpha Test, we discovered that most of players don't socialize when playing. However, the fun of a MMO is the social part. We want you guys making friends, talking and being active. Who knows??? Maybe some of you guys may even know each other I.R.L and who knows??? A marriage may come from it, uh??? Don't forget to invite me to be the Best Man!!! ;-) [Nyx Note: Only if you pay for your airfare and hotel!]
Anyway, thinking on it, we create a World of Warcraft style channel system, with channel creation and others commands like IRC.
Finally, a great challenge!
SECURITY!!!
Oh, yes...
We are concerned about security. We know how hard is to gain a good item and all.
So, we create an Account Bounded Item creation.
Also, we added to the server security:
Item Unique Serials: Each equipment get an unique ID in data base.
Password protected item outputs: Users can set a password to protect their characters and avoid to trade/drop/refine items.
Anti Maya-Purple Hack security
Oh my...
Anyway...
I think that stuff should be in my blog.
But, I was here and all, so... Yeah... XD
p.s: Some features may be unavailable without previous notice... XD
See ya...
