Mortal Online Newsletter 5 June 2009 Mortal Online Beta phases The closed Combat Beta is going as planned, we’ve been inviting players from the community each week since beta started. If you haven’t got an invitation yet please be patient, so far we are doing this in a relatively small scale. The test phases have been great for Mortal Online; we are getting a lot of good feedback on combat, movement, crafting, balancing, latency and stability. We are very happy with the stability of the server and the clients. Even though our movement prediction system is not yet in place we have also got very good test results from US players on our EU server. We didn’t expect US players to actually be able to compete in our real time combat system, but they have shown it’s very possible, so far. We’ve had some great testing sessions, and it’s been lots of fun for us to see what kind of crazy gears/weapons people come up with on the battleground. We’ve also had our a* kicked by some real skilful players. Here’s some screenshots from the beta Within the next few weeks we are going to switch to our release build, which is the next step in our testing phase. As this build contains the complete prediction system we will soon have some information about what kind of ping players will need to be able to compete at the same terms as the rest in our real time combat. Don’t forget to still sign up for the beta if you haven’t done so yet, it’s not too late to be part in the different beta phases. Mortal Online Release Plan – Shop Opening Soon PRE-ORDERS AND BETA For several weeks the Combat Beta has been up and running on our first server with very good results, and now we're excited to announce the release plan for Mortal Online. On June 29 we will open up our shop for pre-orders of the game, also giving you access to the Beta Phases. Our goal from the very beginning has been to develop Mortal Online with a close and honest connection to the community on our forums. With the Combat Beta showing good and stable performance we have reached the point where we feel it’s time to take the community interaction to the next level. It’s important for us as an independent company to know how many of you are committed to buy and try out the game, and we also want your feedback during the next crucial steps in development. All 10.000 users pre-ordering the game in any of the formats available will be given free access to the Beta Phases until the official launch of the game. Please note that the Beta Phases will run on a server in Europe only. It’s fully possible to access this server from all countries; however we can’t guarantee the speed and performance over long distances. During the coming Beta Phases, users with a pre-order will be able to follow and participate in the further development of the core features for release. They include, but are not limited, to: - The full Myrland continent - At least 9 races, male and female - Blood mix and character customization - Main features of the skill system - Full PvP, full loot - Full melee and ranged combat - Basic magic combat - Mounts and mounted combat - Basic GUI for the crafting system - Resource gathering - Basic Guild mechanics - Basic player housing - Basic NPC mobs and wildlife - Hidden/secret features We strongly feel that we want these features to have reached a “polished and proper” state before starting the monthly subscriptions, but as always when it comes to game development it’s hard to estimate how long this will actually take. That said we are aiming to reach this state (and start the monthly subscriptions) in Q4 2009, when all the core features above should be in place and thoroughly tested. BETA QUEUE AND GAME VERSIONS We have decided to make 10.000 copies of the game available on June 29. The Beta spots will be divided into blocks of 2.000. Every second week, starting July 6, we will accept a new block of 2.000 players into the Beta until we reach 10.000 accounts. This will be done on a first-come first-serve basis, meaning the earlier you book the earlier you’ll get in. There will be three different versions of the game in the shop: Digital Download Only Boxed Version Limited Edition (999 numbered copies) All versions give you free access to the Beta phases. Access to digital download is not limited to the Digital Download Only version. More info about the different versions will be made available in the shop before it opens. Mortal Online Races We are showing you a sneak peak of two playable races in Mortal Online. Ending notes That´s all we have to offer this time. Don’t forget to check the forums for upcoming releases and other fun stuff. We developers try to be active on the forums whenever possible, to read or answer your questions and comments.
I've been burned by too many mmo's that just start out so i'll have to let people with the money test it out first.
Paying for beta seems to be the new thing. Disguising it as "pre-order" and "soft-launch", lol, limited number of people can play for god knows how long. So only guilds who are lucky enough to click "Buy" faster than everyone else get to compete. Fuck all that. These mom-n-pop garage developers are giving full-loot pvp a reeeeeeal bad name. They have no clue about the real dynamics of what full-loot, open pvp means. Good luck competing with the lucky 10,000 people who get to play the game for months and months before the rest of us. I probably won't be playing this unless they create a new fresh server without transfers and without a limited playerbase... I honestly don't think any developer will get full-loot pvp right.
its not a soft launch. After beta everyone is wiped. Its more like what WAR did letting so many people in every 2 weeks or what not. Pre-ordering is kinda lame to test, but they presumably already did the combat tests so I am guessing its more of a stress test/feedback. So basically, everyone can still buy the game when it comes out in Q4, pre-ordering just gets you into the beta. Also, everyone's characters get wiped at the end of beta.
Right - at least we have some idea of how we're getting screwed this time! If Mortal turns out to be a pile too, I might just dabble in Aion instead. Koreans. Hehe.
I woulnd'y be able to play Aion simply because everyone is talking in Korean. MO may or may not be good, but I think its at least worth a shot so ill pre-order. There won't be anything else coming out soon anyways so it should keep me occupied for a few months.
I will also give it a shot like DFO. Tho I have a feeling it will fail in my eyes like DFO which is sad.. I want FULL loot and PVP!
yes you are right, full loot its too punishing for casual players. it creates awesome playtest , but for the WoW market, its like giving a child a cake to take it away after two minutes. discourages pug(nothing like entering a group and after 1 hour of play some one drops group and kills some one loots and leaves). discourage solo play. its harder to create progretion. because you cant use item as most other games uses. Lets hope blizzard new MMO its a full loot pvp game. so those carebares try that owesome expirience.
What's the appeal of full loot? Don't get me wrong, I like PvP, but that isn't one of the reasons for it...
Risk/Reward.. Todays PVP games are fun for awhile but there really is no point to them other than maybe controlling a certain area. In full loot there is an accomplishment of beating another player and taking his shit. If done right can keep the lame ass spawn rushing down to a minimum since you'd have no armor or anything.
full loot is the equivalent of gambling. There is a thrill that can be gained when you put it all on the line. It makes PvP mean something in the sense that you really don't want to die and you really wan't to kill this person. Rather than dying simply meaning a slight hit to your pride. So while one is "#*$! I died!* the other is "meh, I died"
It's gambling, pure and simple. Full loot also has the side effect of creating a passionate political climate within the game. Which 99% of the time leads to zerg vs. zerg. Unfortunately that's all these full loot games will ever end up being. Unbalanced gear-gambling zergfests.