Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Black Prophecy: Introductory Q&A
Stradden
Managing EditorMember CommonPosts: 6,696
Kirk Lenke, the CEO of Reakktor Media, takes a few moments to answer Jon Wood's general questions about the upcoming sci-fi MMO.
MMORPG.com:
What can you tell us about Black Prophecy?
Kirk Lenke:
Black Prophecy is a fast-paced 3D space MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) with state-of-the art graphics and thrilling real-time combat. In contrast to competing games, we are focussing on exciting PvE and PvP game content that players can experience without investing excessive amounts of time. Thus our target audience is definitely the casual gamer who wants to jump into the cockpit in his leisure time and take on the numerous challenges of the Black Prophecy universe, alone or together with his friends.
Like in our previous MMORPGs Neocron and Neocron 2 we are striving once more to offer a breathtaking atmosphere and have spared no expense or effort, even going so far as to engage a professional author to achieve this effect. Black Prophecy setting and story have been created by the award-winning sci-fi author Michael Marrak, who carries the player off into a complex and vibrant universe full of epic conflicts.
;)
Read the Introductory Q&A
Cheers,
Jon Wood
Managing Editor
MMORPG.com
Comments
The graphics are sertainly stunning!
I am just concerned about this so called dynamic mission system.
If it turns out to be just like EVE Online's or City of Heroes type of so called dynamic mission system, just with more fancy quest text... well then meh. BORING!
These so called dynamic mission systems is basically just lazyness and a cheap way to create infinitive content in a cheap and easy way. The big big downside of that is that it becomes boring really fast! Aka EVE Online aka City of Heroes.
Another dissapointment is that they go for the themepark aka leveling system route. Wich is a shame. But as they haven't really reveiled yet how this leveling system looks. If it's just like giving out Skill points you can spend freely. Then it would be okay I guess. But if you are forced into linear class type paths again.... meh.
But I keep an eye on how it all evolves nonetheless.
All MMO games need to create systems where you can team with players of all levels to experience the content. We really have to push game developers to allow for this. Alienating players based upon level has always been problematic, especially when you're trying to bring in casual gamers or gamers who like quick action and have limited time.
This game will rock.
I play all ghame
I have high hopes for this game regardless of the fact that Neocron sucked and Neocron 2 was even worse, lol. This looks like "win" to me, though.
So, 'state of the art graphics' and 'fast, real-time combat' is innovative now?
Fail.
The doll would surely say, "I do not want to be human!" although her master wants her to be even more.
Could be worse. Could be shit for graphics, terrible launch, mediocre gameplay gankfest straight from Greece ala Darkfail.
For the third time...can we please get a forum for this game?
Yes forum would be fine. I also hope they make official forum on their official site.
Hmm - dynamic quest generator sounds disturbingly alike to the Freelancer - go to point X and kill baddie Y for money.
The guild space stations sounds interesting - but I'm wondering if the space stations themselves can be PvP'ed - doesn't take a lot of imagination to see one powerful guild destroying all challengers and then restricting growth if you're not part of their gang.
I'll definitely keep an eye on it though
It sounds a bit like EvE with an experience point-based levelling system. How is it that different from EvE?
Back in EvE. Started with BatMUD. Main MMOs have been EvE and DAoC.
EVE isn't level based, but skill based.
I haven't seen anything yet about this game that would make it superior to EVE, but it is too early to draw any conclusions (not that it ever stopped anyone).
Give me a space MMO where you can actually fly your spaceship in a space, that has something more than only gates from sector to another.
the complete gameplay is different one, you have in black prophecy a direct control (joystick), it's more action based.
Like in our previous MMORPGs Neocron and Neocron 2
I Loved the unique gameplay of Neocron and played until it collapsed.
You guys have Great creative gameplay ideas, but you don't seem to be able to support them long term.
Here's hoping this mmog changes all that.
"Thus our target audience is definitely the casual gamer..."
"Like in our previous MMORPGs Neocron and Neocron 2..."
Oh good, I was afraid they might actually be producing something I would need to pay attention to. Dodged that bullet by a mile...
Bans a perma, but so are sigs in necro posts.
EAT ME MMORPG.com!
Like how clans can have space stations and can customize them and also the mention of PvP missions that sounds fun to maybe go and kill the other factions members
Come and checkout my website:
SpaceSimCentral.com - Your Space Sim Community Gaming Resource
Discuss EVE, JGE, BP, Infinity, Taikodom, FL, FS, HW, WC, X and more
Agreed. I still miss Neocron terribly. If this new game can capture the intensity and grit of that game, while avoiding some of the less...appetizing aspects, it could be a real winner.
Of course, there's STILL the billing and insolvency issues to be worked out...
I understand that fully. My facetious comment was pointed at the fact that this game has to be sure to make itself seem very different from EvE, because that will be its main competition.
If it's just xp-based levelling, it won't be enough. Joystick controls ok, that's starting to become a bit different, but if its main idea is similar to EvE's, then that will be a problem for attracting new players. Though EvE is doing better than ever before, it's still a niche game. Appealing to a niche of the niche would make it hard for this game to succeed. All in my opinion of course.
Back in EvE. Started with BatMUD. Main MMOs have been EvE and DAoC.
I might start by saying ,i for one do not believe that EVE is a successful model to judge a sci fi game by.It seems to be on the front here,that this game is a copy of EVE,witch is a fail in my books.How can you have a space exploration game and not be able to explore anything.As in EVE how can you make a massive MMO universe and again not be able to explore anything?
Basically as in EVE the whole game takes place in your tiny ship or a space station,not much actual play space as far as i am concerned.I would not call moving around in an empty space playing,i could create a game world like that in a matte of one day,by making a huge box ,put in some static planets/stars,pfft pretty boring.
I just wish these space games would get it right.I know it is a massive undertaking to create content on each and every planet,but if this is the genre you are going to go after,then you need to step up,EVE fails BIG time,in delivering the proper content and this game i fear will as well.Creating a database to include ship items or improvements is again a very lacklustre way of including content and takes very little effort to implement.Sure i know everyone wants that fancy ship and have lots of stuff to add to it,but that should just be the VERY basic structure of the game,that would not be the content as far as i am concerned.
I could be wrong,but i also feel the PVE content wil lbe nothing more than the missions,witch is warp or fly here/there and return,again lacklustre game play and pretty boring.
You want to impress the MAJORITY of the public ???here is how>>>>EXPLORATION CONTENT.Without it ,you might as well be making a cheap console game.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
Guess we will just have to wait and see what this game will provide for us players.
Funny, I was going through an old box of games the other day and I pulled out Starflight, an early 80's space game. It had spaceflight and planets and you could actually get out and explore them. Of course graphics were a far cry from today's standards, but the game came on a 360k diskette.
There is no reason why planet exploration has to be excluded, just that developers don't want to be bothered. We will eventually find one who will.
Interesting sounding, think ill look at it now and then. It kinda sounds like an EVE and X3 Terran Confict combo.
Playing: Not much actively.
Games played: to many to list, been playing MMO's since 2001
--------------------------
From your post I think I felt pretty much the same as you did from reading that article. The main issue which really puts me off is the fact that the developers have yet again gone for a level based system. When are they going to learn that levels only serve to seperate players from each other and cause ganking issues in PvP games. Who knows maybe the levels wont make such a big difference as we have become used to in these games but I really have my doubts. Mind you the article says that they are finding ways of allowing low levels to fight with high levels but by what degree remains to be seen. I just have a feeling that this game could well turn out to be a wasted opportunity and instead just turn into a themepark story driven mmo like all the rest.
The random mission generator idea might work or it might not. It generally has been pretty dull in previous mmos but then again most story driven mmos with all of their static set quests which never change are also really dull as well. In fact most mmos these days are boring as hell full stop. If the dynamic missions in Black Prophecy actually allow you to have an effect on the gameworld then they could be good but we will have to wait and see I guess.
Mind you the graphics do look very nice indeed and the fact that they are focusing heavily on atmosphere sounds great. Its also going to be a faster paced action game (yay no point and click crap) which could be another good selling point.
This game is following the traditional, yet stale, MMO model. Luckily, BP's saving grace is that the graphics are awesome and it's a sci-fi MMO, which the genre has little coverage. Even the old MMO model can be fun when nothing looks familiar.
It's not that I don't agree with you, it's just that I don't think you're the target audience here. You don't sound like a casual gamer, because casual gamers aren't bothered with those things, because you don't "grind" missions like hardcore players do. Casual players are more concerned with an enjoyable play experience for the hour or so they are on each day. A game that promises a great story in a different setting than we're used to will do exactly that, even if it is the same old MMO model we're used to in fantasy games.
I think this game will bore the hell out of most hardcore players, but I really haven't met a casual player that was bothered with the mission system if it had some good text attached to it.
I'm a casual player and I play WAR. WAR is a perfect game for casual players that enjoy PvP. I log in for about 15min-1 hour and I may PvP the whole time, or get some influence from PQ's, but none of it bores me, because I don't play long enough for it to bore me. When WAR first came out, I played it hardcore and I bored really fast of it. This tought me that casual players really do experience games differently than the hardcore. There are exceptions, but anything you do for a long period of time gets boring fast. That's because humans enjoy variety by their very nature. Casual players get variety through doing other things in real life, while hardcore gamers get their variety with a deeper more involved game, or by playing several shallower games.
I agree with you. This is something I've always loved about old SWG and CoX games. It really stiffles the "hate the noob" mentality and keeps the game fresh at all levels for many more years than a game without the mechanic does.