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Embrace your maniacal side with Age of Wushu's Jianghu system
How do you know where you stand in relation to your fellow players? You may call some of them your friends, but words are wind. Thanks to Age of Wushu's Jianghu system, however, you'll soon be able to neatly track your relationship with others. You can partake in several relationship types, such as being Close Friends, Acquaintances, or Blood Enemies. Friendship is measured by Intimacy, which can be earned by teaming up and giving gifts and decreased by killing or kidnapping. Players can choose to add others to their Enemy List after being killed or kidnapped, and things just go downhill from there. But wait, there's more! Along with defining your relationship status, you will also be able to act in such a way as to earn the tag of Heroic, Maniacal, Evil, or Sinister. Players with a higher Chivalry than Guild rating will be named Heroic, while players with a higher Guilt than Chivalry rating will fall to the dark side.
Age of Wushu explains battle arrays
If you're going to be taking part in group combat in Age of Wushu, you need to know about battle arrays. Despite the name, these are not organizations of various battles that serve as an index of information. Rather, they're a type of buffing formation that players can enter to improve a group's overall effectiveness in conflicts. A new article on the official site goes into detail about how battle arrays work and what players can do to maximize their effectiveness. Arrays vary in strength and scope, with the simplest array requiring only three players to execute. There are six arrays in the game without any school requirements and several more in individual schools, allowing for a variety of group-wide buffs that provide several effects in combat. And if one of the people in the array happens to be a skilled Weiqi player, arrays only get better. To get a clearer picture of these group-based buffs, dive into the full article.
Age of Wushu to launch on April 10th
If the launch delay of Age of Wushu caused you to sad-emoticon all over the internet, then it's time to break out the colon-and-capital-D keys: Snail Games announced that it is releasing the martial arts MMO on April 10th in North America. Content Generation Lead Tyler Rawlins says that the extra beta testing has done a world of good for the game: "The beta has been a great way to connect with the player community and introduce a real world of Wushu to the Western audience. We received and incorporated an abundance of player feedback during beta and can now announce an official launch date for Age of Wushu." Age of Wushu was originally slated for a February 1st release in North America. It currently boasts over 10 million player registrations in China alone. You can watch the high-flying launch announcement after the jump.
Age of Wushu elaborates on crime and punishment
While it is true that Age of Wushu has an open PvP world, that doesn't mean that players can wantonly sashay about inflicting mass murder upon others without consequence. And as beta has progressed, Snail Games has refined AoW's crime and punishment system. The color of names denoting wanted players has changed; names will first change from white to orange after players add to their infamy by performing murderous deeds. Name colors will then escalate to red and finally to purple if the killing continues. Other players can still place bounties on murderers at the orange level, and either NPC police or player constables (there can be up to 1000 per server) can collect on them. Depending on the severity of an offender's actions, different options are available once jailed. The lowest tiers -- orange and red -- can wait out the sentence, pay a hefty bribe to wipe their slate clean, or place wagers on a dice game to try and win their way out. Of course, they can also attempt a jailbreak with friends. The worst offenders (purple) are slated for death row and will be publicly beheaded if they can't afford the bribe or manage to escape. [Source: Snail Games press release]
Video demonstrates random encounters in Age of Wushu
Just as life itself is full of surprises, so, too, is life in Age of Wushu. Along with the expected, such as combat, questing, and crafting, Snail Games has also tossed in some of the unexpected by way of random encounters. While carrying on with their planned adventures, players in AoW may be surprised by various vignettes including fighting, solving puzzles, or just talking with NPCs. Although players may stumble upon these encounters, they can also seek them out and try to discover their initial triggers. Want to see one unfold? The following video, which hails from an earlier AoW test version according to Snail, shows the progression of one of these random encounters that ultimately leads to acquiring a new skill. [Source: Snail Games press release]
Age of Wushu gets a UI and localization overhaul
North American players and fans of Age of Wushu are in for a treat. In response to player feedback from the closed betas, the development team has been working on a major overhaul of the game's localization and UI. The localization and UI changes are among the updates that kept the game from its original February launch date, but Snail Games is placing more emphasis on a smooth experience at launch than pushing the game out the door as quickly as possible. These updates are in their final testing stages and will make their way into the ongoing beta soon. [Source: Snail Games press release]
Age of Wushu delays launch to 'spring 2013'
Time to put on your lemon faces, folks, because this news is going to make you pucker up: Snail Games has announced that Age of Wushu is delaying its launch. The release, which was originally scheduled for February 1st, has now been moved to a more nebulous "spring 2013." The studio says that the delay is the result of testing: "Based on player feedback and data from the second closed beta, we have decided to revise the launch timing to spring 2013. This will allow us to better address community feedback and continue to update the game. When a more precise update on the release timing is available, we will share that information."
The Art of Wushu: The right martial arts school for you
Normally at Massively, we start off a column by linking to relevant community sites and information resources for a game. Things are a bit different with Age of Wushu, however. Aside from the main community site and the wiki currently under construction, there isn't much information about the game available in English. Running biweekly, The Art of Wushu will help you navigate the sprawling Wushu sandbox. This week, we'll be looking at the various martial arts schools in the game and which schools to select in order to fit your preferred playstyle. While we can't go over each school's intricacies in depth, we'll do our best to give you a brief primer on what you can expect as a member of a particular school.
Age of Wushu CEO talks localization, cash shop, and more
Massively weighed in with its multi-headed opinion on Age of Wushu's public beta a couple of weeks back. We also had an opportunity to forward some questions along to the sandbox title's dev team, and we're happy to report that Snail CEO Shi Hai took the time to answer them. Head past the cut to hear what he has to say about localization issues, a customizable user interface, possible Western cash shop changes, and more.
New Age of Wushu trailer highlights game's eight schools
One of the first major decisions a player comes to in the free-to-play martial arts sandbox Age of Wushu is which of the eight different schools to join. Have a penchant for panhandling? Perhaps you'd prefer the Beggars. Maybe the muses inspire you; then Scholars would be the best bet. Or if you prefer poisons, you'd fit in with the Tangmen. If none of those tickle your fancy, you can belong to the Wudang, Royal Guards, Wanderer's Valley, Emei, or Shaolin. Still undecided? Snail Games has released a trailer of the schools, giving players get a glimpse of each one. Take a peek after the cut.
Age of Wushu early access beta extended
Age of Wushu fans, Snail has some good news for you. Originally the company planned to power down its servers on January 9th at the end of the game's second closed beta test. According to a new forum post, though, this is no longer the case. Snail's fantastical version of Ming Dynasty China will continue "until further notice." The beta test is essentially functioning as an early access period for pre-order customers since all game progress will carry over to the martial arts MMO's official launch. Age of Wushu was originally scheduled to launch on February 1st in North America.
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature?
Non-combat features don't get a lot of love in popular MMOs these days, but there have nonetheless been some interesting experiments in this department over the years. From RIFT's housing to Star Wars Galaxies' Entertainers to Lord of the Rings Online's music system, several genre titles have strayed from the straight and narrow of violence and character progression. Upcoming titles like Age of Wushu and ArcheAge are adding new wrinkles as well, so for today's Daily Grind we'd like to hear your thoughts on non-combat MMO features. Specifically, which one is your favorite? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Upcoming Age of Wushu wedding system detailed
Looking for something to do in Age of Wushu besides kung fu fighting, crafting, or PvP? You could always get married. MMO Culture has a brief look at the wedding system that just made its way onto the game's Taiwan server. The marriage mechanics include a proposal, some sort of engagement process, a dowry, and a wedding banquet. Apparently there's also an NPC who handles proposals and functions as the Ming Dynasty equivalent of a singles website. It's worth noting that Shaolin players can only propose after they've obtained the Secular Disciple title. Thus far there's no word on when the marriage system will show up on Age of Wushu's western servers.
The Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2013
Oh, I had a great Perfect Ten prepped as the first list of the year, but my meanie-face editor slammed on the veto button and told me, point-blank, that I was going to be counting down the best MMO prospects for the year. Then she drove a lawnmower through a Nordstroms while huffing paint thinner and throwing empty cans at the security personnel. Even so, her idea is probably more interesting than what I had. Let me give you a few notes on today's list because I sense that I'm going to tick more of you off than normal here. My goal was to sift through the possible releases for 2013 and pick the 10 most promising, both in "will it actually launch this year?" and in its potential for success. The combination makes it a tough call because some of these will undoubtedly be delayed to 2014 or beyond and some of these we still don't know as much as we'd like about them. But who cares? Let's have some fun and kick this year off right. Here are my picks for new MMOs to watch in 2013.
Leaderboard: Age of Wushu vs. ArcheAge vs. EQNext
Are sandbox games making a comeback in the MMO space? That remains to be seen, but there are a handful of major titles in development that self-identify as either sandboxes or sandparks, and all of them will be playable to one degree or another in 2013. First up is Age of Wushu, currently in a public beta and scheduled to officially debut in February. Next up is ArcheAge, which, while still in limbo for the western market, will certainly launch in Korea and probably China in 2013. Finally we have EverQuest Next, which SOE has said will be playable at its annual SOE Live event in the fall. Assuming you're a sandbox fan, which of these three titles do you see yourself playing the most? Vote after the break! Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!
The Daily Grind: What makes an MMO a sandbox?
Age of Wushu has been generating a lot of discussion in the Massively community as of late, and while the game isn't everyone's cup of tea, most everyone seems to have an opinion on it. Crazily enough, we've even heard from some folks who don't consider the martial arts title a sandbox, despite the fact that its developers call it one and despite the fact that it boasts many sandbox-style features. That brings us to today's Daily Grind question. What makes an MMO a sandbox in your view? Are there certain must-have features? Conversely, what prevents an MMO from being a sandbox? Let us know in the comments! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Age of Wushu is probably the greatest sandbox you'll never play
MMOs are old hat at this point. I don't want to say they're boring, because then what are we all doing here? There's a certain sameness, though, and we know exactly what to expect, when and where to expect it, and in most cases we're firmly entrenched in a particular gameplay comfort zone. Imagine my surprise, then, when I sat down to play Age of Wushu last week and found something utterly unlike most of the genre in every way that matters. It's difficult to compare the sprawling martial arts saga to other titles, but if you're looking for AoW's closest MMO relative, it would have to be EVE Online.
Leaderboard: Good guys vs. bad guys in open PvP
Age of Wushu has an abundance of interesting MMO mechanics, chief among them a PK penalty system that puts players in virtual jail if they're caught murdering their fellows. The mechanic is a crucial part of the game's PvP system, and as Massively columnist Patrick Mackey explained in his beta preview, it's a novel approach for preventing an open PvP world from devolving into a gank-fest. The system also allows for player alignment to actually mean something beyond a number on a character sheet or a statement in a bio, and in Age of Wushu you really can be a bad guy or a good guy and use your powers to affect your fellow gamers. That brings us to today's Leaderboard question. Assuming you play open PvP games, or games with meaningful alignment systems, how do you generally present yourself? Do you play the good guy? The bad guy? Do you stay neutral if the option exists? Vote after the cut! Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!
Snail addresses Age of Wushu brouhaha, Elite mounts to stay
Yesterday we reported on a significant brouhaha in the Age of Wushu pre-release community. Snail Games has since posted a lengthy message on its forums in response. There were two major points of contention from a customer perspective. First was the removal of a permanent mount from AoW Elite packages. "We will be giving all Elite package members the permanent mount that we promised," the company says. "In fact, it should be sent to all Elite package accounts by the time you read this." The other major issue stemmed from the fact that Elite edition customers didn't know that their pre-order bonus items were only good for the first character on the account. Snail says that, as of now at least, that restriction will remain due to technical issues. Age of Wushu was never made for players to have more than one character or for players to delete the character they decided to make. We had brought it up before and did not (at the time) see the need in specifying that if you get the items on a character and delete that character, those items are gone. VIP status does stay but any items gained during the character's life or anything done with that character does not carry over. Many of you see this as an easy fix. However, the goods that were included in the packages are tangible items and not account-bound. Because of this, there is no easy fix. We are currently discussing what can be done, if anything. [Thanks to Adam for the tip!]
The Daily Grind: Can you overlook a bad UI?
So I've been playing Age of Wushu pretty heavily despite its not-ready-for-prime-time translation and its hackneyed interface. To be fair, it is still beta, and the martial arts sandbox isn't officially slated to launch in America until February. That said, character progression is carrying over and I'm paying for a VIP account, so I view it as more of a pre-release thing than a beta thing, personally. And I've heard a lot of players complaining about the UI. It's complicated, you can't move it around or customize it, and it's generally the antithesis of the streamlined interfaces we've seen in polished themeparks over the past few years. All of that hasn't put a damper on the novel game mechanics, though, and in spite of the fact that I wish the game would get a full UI makeover, I'll probably be playing it well past launch. What about you, Christmas Eve crew? Is a bad UI a dealbreaker when it comes to your MMO enjoyment, or can you overlook it as long as the rest of the game is good? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
