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New ArcheAge Q&A translated on official site
Here at Massively, we've been obsessing over ArcheAge for many months (see our exclusive interview with lead dev Jake Song from last fall). The upcoming sandbox title from XL Games almost sounds too good to be true for virtual world enthusiasts due to its focus on non-combat activities (cultivating, crafting, and sailing, to name a few) as well as its territorial control and PvP aspects. While ArcheAge news is scarce in America and Europe, the game is undergoing extensive beta testing in its native Korea, and a recent developer Q&A has popped up on the title's official website. Though brief, the blurb contains a couple of nifty insights, chief among them the existence of 10 skill trees as well as confirmation of the game's seamless open-world design. You can check out the source article (in Korean) or the translation for more details.
The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. Guess what! Sandbox games are for roleplayers. I don't mean that in an off-putting or elitist way, but rather I mean to say that people who enjoy and seek out sandbox MMORPGs are roleplayers whether their testosterone levels allow them to self-identify that way or not. The corporate thieves, spies, and meta-gamers in EVE Online? They're roleplaying. The gankers and hyper-competitive PvPers in Darkfall? Yep, they're roleplaying too, even when their names are variations on Loves2spooge. The other day I was talking to one of my closest friends about MMORPGs, roleplaying, and PvP. The discussion rolled around to Darkfall, as most of my discussions these days do, and his ears perked up when I waxed on about the freedom, the skill system, and the huge world that invites you to go your own way and is remarkably unlike traditional themepark games in terms of immersive potential. Eventually I had to break the news that yes, Darkfall does feature FFA PvP, and if that wasn't bad enough, corpse looting. The horror!
G-Star 2010: From the show floor
With the booming popularity of Korean games in western culture, the G-Star convention in Busan, South Korea is quickly turning into an international event. We had an opportunity to attend the four-day convention to see the latest and greatest from Korean online gaming. Follow along after the jump as I describe my experiences on the first day of the convention, as well as take a look at what else you can expect as we go into days two, three and four.
Massively Exclusive: Jake Song talks ArcheAge
Last weekend we hinted at an XL Games interview during our coverage of the newest ArcheAge video. Today we're happy to bring you an exclusive chat with lead developer Jake Song. Song is the man behind the original Lineage, and he also worked at NCsoft on Tabula Rasa and a Lineage sequel that eventually became Aion. Several years ago he started his own development house, XL Games, and the studio's first project is a sprawling sandbox called ArcheAge, which is currently undergoing a closed beta test in the Korean market. Join us after the cut as Song talks about the game's unique skill system, castle sieges, multiplayer mounts (and mounted combat), and more.
ArcheAge fly-through video sighted in the wild
Waiting with bated breath for more information about the XL Games sandbox title called ArcheAge? We are too, and rest assured that we're working on the Jake Song-led dev team to try to get some answers regarding the mysterious Korean import. In the meantime, we're keeping our eyes peeled for new videos, whether they're snippets of closed beta footage or officially sanctioned trailers like the one we've found for you today. While the last video focused heavily on naval combat and player ships, today's three-minute opus is a bit more tranquil, featuring fly-through footage of some of the game's vast explorable areas. You'll see everything from mist-shrouded forests and mountainous highlands to Middle Eastern-flavored harbor towns and sprawling medieval-style villages. Check out the goods after the cut or on YouTube.
ArcheAge beta video highlights naval battles
ArcheAge is something of a mysterious title here in the west. We know it's being developed by XL Games, and is the brainchild of NCSoft veteran Jake Song (who also created Lineage). We've also heard tell of destructible architecture in the gameworld as well as the fact that the developers are powering the game with the CryENGINE 2 (a more advanced variant of the graphics powerplant behind Aion). Beyond that, we didn't know much else about ArcheAge before we stumbled on a new beta video recently posted to YouTube. The brief clip features some rather jaw-dropping footage of player ships and an in-game naval battle. While player ships have been done before (notably in Vanguard and Darkfall), you've never seen them like this. Aside from the impressive visuals, the video shows player characters in different crew positions (including the crow's nest) as well as recoiling cannons and a host of other interesting details. Stay with Massively for the latest ArcheAge news as it develops, and check out the footage after the jump.
ArcheAge closed beta announced
We'll forgive you if you haven't yet heard of ArcheAge, an in-development MMORPG from XLGames. You probably have heard of lead developer Jake Song, though, or at the very least, you've probably played one of his games. The native South Korean is the brains behind the original Lineage, and he worked with Richard Garriott on Tabula Rasa. Also while at NCsoft, Song lent his talents to the conceptualization and creation of an MMORPG called Lineage Forever, which subsequently morphed into Aion. These days, Song's XLGames is busily putting the CryENGINE 2 through its paces to bring you ArcheAge, and it is gearing up for the game's first closed beta test. The testing, scheduled for late July, looks to gather player feedback on some of the title's more unique features including destructible architecture. Unfortunately, you'll need to speak Korean (and probably know someone on the inside) to get an invite, but stay with Massively for more on this new game as it develops.
