Xsyon Status - No Bull

mgilbrtsn

Alright, this thread is designed to just clarify somethings about the game from my perspective.  This is  because there are so many threads with what I consider 'hyping' 'trolling' 'misinformed' and other things that I wanted to just provide some statements on what I believe to be the status of the game for those potential gamers out there.

 

** Truth in lending.  I am a fan of the game, and I think that everyone should give it a shot **

 

1)  History of the world part 1:  The devs developed the game..... and pre-launch was scheduled for the 15th of FEB (I think that was the date) and this is where the trouble comes in.  Basically, it failed miserably.  The main reason is that there was a large influx of clients downloading the game as the game went live.  This slowed the server to be unplayable.  It caused many things to become apparent that the devs needed to fix that hand't come out, because lag of this magnitide had never happended before.  Lag exploits, data save issues related to the extreme lag, and a host of other things. 

This is the backdrop of our story

 

2)  The Choice:  The devs had two main options.  Keep it up and deal with crashes, rollbacks, and the terrible game experience or push back pre-launch for a week or two so that they could get this sorted out.  This includes new servers, fixing code, and tweaking the hell out of the system.

 

3)  Door number 2:  They decided to push back the pre-launch for a week or two.  They were going to keep the old server up, and allow ppl to log on as testers, so that they could force crashes, do rollbacks, fix exploits, and in general fix things that we all read about in 'History of the World part 1).  In order to compensate the natives, they moved the pre-launch 2 weeks, back those couple of weeks so that there would still be a pre-launch (around 1 MAR) and push the actual release back to 15 MAR.  Thus providing 2 more weeks of pre-launch playing.

 

Now some random bullets based on what I have been reading.

 

*  The devs have been keeping us informed about this.  

*  It has most of the communities nerves frayed, and tempers are flaring a bit.  However, the bulk of the community is suffering through the delay like little troopers.

* Features.  Some its in there, some say its not:  Its best to read on the forums what is in at launch and not in at launch.  One of the reasons its call Xsyon Prelude as it is the first step in a much larger and complex game.  Base your decisions on what is in the game, and what you believe will actually be delivered.  (I think it all will .  I won't list the in features and out features here, cauz, I'm already maxing out on characters for this thread.

* Is it a PvP, PvE game.  Good question.  IMO its primarily a world building game.  Heavy on the crafting and building settlements, towns and the like.  However, it is FFA PvP, so there is a PvP component.  The PvP is currently nothing to write home about, but enough ppl enjoy ganking others, so it must be kind of fun.  99% of the content will come from players (include quests and such).  PvP will be expanded greatly in 6 - 9 months when tribal warfare is introduced (Remember what I said in the bullet above)

* Graphics.  Not the best in the world, but certainly not the worst.  Animation needs to be tweaked, sound needs some tweaking.  Overall, it needs a bit of work.  IMO it makes it up in gameplay.  The atmospherics can be worked on when the features are fixed.

* To buy or not to buy.  That is the question:  I break it down into three categories:

Buy now:  You will be in some pain as they finalize the last tweaks and fixes.  Probably (I said probably) last another day or two, then prelaunch should commense.  The benifit to this that you will be able to have your popcorn and sodEE ready for when pre-launch goes live and the great land grab begins (If you don't know what the land grab is, ask, and I will answer)

Wait to see how pre-launch starts:  This means you will wait 3- 7 days to see if pre-launch happens and make sure that it will take.  The benefit of this approach is that you stay out of the potential launch type issues, and you won't be caught up in this testing phase.  The problem with this is that you miss out on the land grab (If you don't know what the land grab is, ask, and I will answer)

Finally, wait until actual launch.  Wait until after the 15th of MAR or there abouts, let all of the hupla die down, and join then.  However, you will completely miss out on the land grab (If you... you know it by now)

 

Overall, my recommendation on the game:  As I stated in the beginning, I'm a fan and I recommend trying it out if you like sandbox type games.  If you can't tolerate testing, rollbacks, wipes, and the basic goings on of beta experiences, hold out for option 3.  This way you will have more honest feedback about its merits, and you skip most of the teething pain.  If your tolerance level is greater, go with option 1 or 2 depending on your tolerance threshhold.

 

SOZ this is so long, but some of the stuff being said just 'grinds my gears'.  If there are any questions, I will answer them as honestly as I can.