RPG Vault: Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Status Interview - Part 2

AmazingAvery

In a follow up to previously posted: www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/226237/RPG-Vault-Age-of-Conan-Hyborian-Adventures-Status-Interview-Part-1.html

Link to part 2: pc.ign.com/articles/960/960021p1.html

Snippet:

Jonric: Why haven't you offered a free trial to attract new players? And what about getting those who left to try the game again? Is this a lost cause?

Craig Morrison: Free trial marketing will be coming soon. We wanted to address the key areas of concern from launch before we began a major campaign of this type. Now that we've started to see a positive trend in players' reactions, we're nearing the point where we feel we'll get better results from such a program. Likewise, we'll be doing re-evaluation offers for previous subscribers. It's certainly not a lost cause. I wouldn't have taken this position and be pushing the team to deliver new game updates if I didn't think we had a good chance of success.

 

Jonric: Will the revamp affect all the classes, and to what extent are you expecting criticism for changing the play experience of certain ones by, for example, nerfing them?

Craig Morrison: The changes will affect all classes one way or another. There are even new spells and abilities for certain ones, as well as feats and abilities that have been added or amended. We will release more information on the specifics as the version is deployed to the public test server.

In terms of reaction, I'm sure there will be good and bad. There always is when it comes to matters relating to class balance and items since they represent an area many players probably care about the most. One important point though is that we don't intend to alter anyone's play experience significantly. There will, of course, be inherent modifications through the system changes, but by and large, we aren't doing any dramatic shifting of class roles or ability sets.

We have also set out to avoid making the revisions feel like they nerf anything; that certainly isn't the intention. This is more of an overhaul and oil change after we add some new, better components to the engine.

 

Jonric: What's the status of the DirectX 10 version? Why has it taken so long, and when will it be available? And what has happened to the console adaptation?

Craig Morrison: The DirectX 10 version has been on our public test servers for a few months now, being put through its paces. I'm really looking forward to players getting to experience the visual improvements this technology allows. It really brings an even greater splendor to the gameworld. We're now pretty close to what we'd consider suitable for wider release, but haven't set a firm date yet, outside of the fact we're planning it to be available prior to the next major update.

Given the level of quality and performance we wanted to offer, the DX10 version has taken us somewhat longer than we anticipated to find the right balance, and to be able to present something we think will increase the value of the title.

As we've said before, there's a team working on the Xbox 360 version internally. It's still something that's in the works, but we don't have any firm release plans yet.

---

 

Read the rest at the link above!

Looks like a bit of depth to the revamp of the RPG system touching on lots of mechanics in the game for the next patch (1.05)

courtsdad

Without even going into the details of the interview, he is so much better than those that came before him that it baffles me why he wasn't up front sooner. Even if he is lying through his teeth he says it in such a way that it doesnt feel like someone standing there with a smile on your face just lying until the cows come home.

Time will tell if the changes help ( I think they will improve the game for those that enjoy the core of it) but I guess time will tell if it draws back the numbers they want to hit.

TheBouncer

Too bad they didn't make Craig the Game Director 3 years ago. That could have saved Age of Conan.

No matter how well Craig does his job now most of those 700k players who quit are never coming back. History has shown you don't get a second chance in the world of MMO's.

Funcom will either shut down servers or keep the game alive with a skeleton crew and 50-100k subs. It's a real shame for a game that on paper had so much potential.

openedge1

That is a good article. Craig is pretty precise in his statements. I wish he had been in charge from the start.

The revamp sounds pretty cool. I am always interested in seeing what changes happen, especially for my favorite class...DT.

Woot.

Thanks Avery

Sevenwind

Originally posted by openedge1


That is a good article. Craig is pretty precise in his statements. I wish he had been in charge from the start.
The revamp sounds pretty cool. I am always interested in seeing what changes happen, especially for my favorite class...DT.
Woot.
Thanks Avery

 

Ok openedge I deleted my necro to roll a DT just to see what all the fuss is about. What Feat line did you spec in since you play on PvE server as well? 

Sorry for getting off-topic, thanks for the link Avery.

openedge1

Originally posted by Sevenwind

Originally posted by openedge1


That is a good article. Craig is pretty precise in his statements. I wish he had been in charge from the start.
The revamp sounds pretty cool. I am always interested in seeing what changes happen, especially for my favorite class...DT.
Woot.
Thanks Avery

 

Ok openedge I deleted my necro to roll a DT just to see what all the fuss is about. What Feat line did you spec in since you play on PvE server as well? 

Sorry for getting off-topic, thanks for the link Avery.

Check this link

Desecration line (actually have a couple extra in there, but it shows the patch I am following)

http://aoc.yg.com/feat-planner?class=31&tpl=700-15,747-12,748-15,753-15,749-11,713-15,719-13,737-15,730-14,738-12,702-11,731-13,4001-25,4003-23,4012-23,4015-21,4000-25,4016-23,4013-21,4014-21

Basically I went the "Every hit does some sort of health drain" for my attacks. It takes me a bit longer to kill something or someone, but I can go total white damage if I run out of stamina, or need to heal...Basically almost every hit is pushing my health back up. I was able to take on 2-3 mobs 2-3 levels higher than me and survive. 

Basically DT's use to suck, but now they are worth something, and are a good solo class also. I took the Goads to help in groups, so I can take some hits...as the more I am hit, the more I heal myself AND others.

(Now back on topic...thanks Avery)

 

Cheers

 

Gargola

  SO far the presence of Silirrion has been as people who knew him from AO expected, things feel and work much better.

 

  We actually see FC reps directly talking about the problems the game had and those that still exist, without putting it as if just a few people confronted it, along with all the improvements and additions to the game.

 

  Best of lucks to Sil (Craig) and FC, they have been putting a lot of work and effort to put the game in the rigth path and the effort is starting pay off.

Unfinished

Morrison is a nice guy that works for a sh!t company.