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New Short Interview with Product Manager
AmazingAvery
Age of Conan AdvocateMember UncommonPosts: 7,188
Over a Play.tm short insightfull interview for those interested: link> http://play.tm/story/15992
Axe-swinging MMO Age of Conan is due out this year, and with a beta in full swing we thought it was time for a few words with Erling Ellingsen, Product Manager of Funcom's rather special-looking new online opus.
How does Conan's new combat system work and why is it better than what's gone before?
Combat in massive online games have typically been almost turn-based and very much non-reactionary. You run up to something, you target it, and you click an icon that makes your character automatically hit at your enemy for you. Already at the targeting part you realize that massive online games is not at all about having fun in an action-oriented environment. We wanted to change that for Age of Conan, and we wanted to bring in dynamic, action-oriented combat. You don't really target anything here, you just run up to whatever you want to kill and you start hitting it. And when you hit it, you need to actually swing your weapon manually, you need to block incoming blows, and you need to change the direction in which you hit according to how your opponent reacts. It's fun, it's exhilarating... it's real action!
Comments
This pretty much is what I have seen in that video you posted. How on earth is it fun, exhilarating and a real action??? You are just hiting left button if there is an icon on the left, or the right button if there is an icon on the right. That might be exhilarating to a 3yo maybe, or not even.
This pretty much is what I have seen in that video you posted. How on earth is it fun, exhilarating and a real action??? You are just hiting left button if there is an icon on the left, or the right button if there is an icon on the right. That might be exhilarating to a 3yo maybe, or not even.
I think he means that in that you also:
1) Have to be in range with the current weapon you are using (Longsword and polearm have different strike ranges)
2) You can string together up to 5 combos for varying effects, with some combos needing a particular side attacked
3) You can attempt to dodge your opponents strikes by moving around or jumping back out of a strike's range
Now, I mean, sure, you can just stand there in one spot and swing all day if you like, moving only to make sure your weapon is in range. You can also move around and try to strike for different sides to get different combos off, and try to string some of them together for different effects as well. Just all depends on how you want to play it I guess. The AI will also try to adjust to your strikes, so if you start spamming the same attack it "should" get diminishing returns each time.
Meh, some will like it, others want. that's nothing new. Hope you find something you like b/c it doesn't look like AoC is what you want. Best of luck!
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
What I don't want is someone thinking we are all stupid and will believe that pushing buttons is "fun, exhilarating and real action". That's bullshit.
From a business prespective, if I was trying to market my product, I would use descriptors that would entice also.. it may not be true, but if it sells... It may be exhilarating for some..
You want combat without buttons. Sure, okey. Just how should we play this on a PC ? Unless there are cybersuits we need to push a button to tell the PC to do something. Speech recognition is just another form of button pushing. And man, would we be tired after a 3 hours raid in a cybersuit
Exhausting...
I rest my case.. exhilarating it is!
You want combat without buttons. Sure, okey. Just how should we play this on a PC ? Unless there are cybersuits we need to push a button to tell the PC to do something. Speech recognition is just another form of button pushing. And man, would we be tired after a 3 hours raid in a cybersuit
Exhausting...
Might help solve that whole obesity issue the US has right now lol. Cybersuit ftw! Just raid a few times in that thing and you'll end up look and being as buff as conan himself
If pushing buttons isn't fun, then why do you game? Serious question. Gaming, in general, boils down to pushing/clicking buttons. I know if I didn't find it fun, well, I wouldn't do it. I know that I have found playing some games exhilirating in the past, so I see no reason this can't be. Real Action? Well, lol, I was in the Army for 8 years. I've seen real action. I know this isn't going to simulate anything I've done in life. But relative to other games in this genre, it may be more "real action" oriented. More interactive at least. Time will tell.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
lol...nice interview
If pushing buttons isn't fun, then why do you game? Serious question. Gaming, in general, boils down to pushing/clicking buttons. I know if I didn't find it fun, well, I wouldn't do it. I know that I have found playing some games exhilirating in the past, so I see no reason this can't be. Real Action? Well, lol, I was in the Army for 8 years. I've seen real action. I know this isn't going to simulate anything I've done in life. But relative to other games in this genre, it may be more "real action" oriented. More interactive at least. Time will tell.
One thing is pushing buttons with some thought in it. But what I saw in that video that AmazingAvery posted in this forum is to push right if the icon representing the enemy shield is on the left, and push left button if the icon is on the right. Exhilarating? wow yes. How can you guys defend that crap?
If pushing buttons isn't fun, then why do you game? Serious question. Gaming, in general, boils down to pushing/clicking buttons. I know if I didn't find it fun, well, I wouldn't do it. I know that I have found playing some games exhilirating in the past, so I see no reason this can't be. Real Action? Well, lol, I was in the Army for 8 years. I've seen real action. I know this isn't going to simulate anything I've done in life. But relative to other games in this genre, it may be more "real action" oriented. More interactive at least. Time will tell.
One thing is pushing buttons with some thought in it. But what I saw in that video that AmazingAvery posted in this forum is to push right if the icon representing the enemy shield is on the left, and push left button if the icon is on the right. Exhilarating? wow yes. How can you guys defend that crap?
I wouldn't go so far as to call it crap. Like it or not, fun or not, it's for each individual gamer to decide for themselves. The one thing that can't be disputed is the fact that at least Funcom is trying to bring new ideas into MMO gaming. The other big MMO companies that have the money/resources to try to do the same at current are not. They are only further polishing the same old same.I applaud them for daring to try something different, and should it work well, they will get a well-deserved success. I also won't argue that some folks in these companies get a little excited. That Paul guy for WAR is an example. But hey, they have to. They are trying to make a sale. Strangely I can understand that Paul guy b/c I worked for GW and I know the "Loud boisterous assault on the customer" approach that is preached to retail employees.
For me, the most important part is the guy is excited about his work. I mean, I'd be worried if the guy said "Yeah, we have combat...it's ok". I don't see his words as an assualt on my, or any reasonable gamer's intelligence (note, that is not a dig at you; but you've seen the ones I'm referring to, the ones screaming OMGz!!! NO!!!!Nerf!!!!!). Just an impassioned speech about his product.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
I agree with you, it's great they are trying something different. I wasn't refering to the combat system, but to how this guy is trying to sell it. He could say "It's really fun" "it adds more to the combat"... whatever. Well even then.. the combat system looks very simple and lame, for what I have seen in that video.
A lot of things look simple and lame until you actually try them.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
This is one of those phrases that look very deep and meaningful, but... well ok I'll give you that. But I'm sure if this game wasn't Age of Connan, people wouldn't be so "exhilarated" about clicking left and right.
You are probably right about that.
The AoC combat breaks down into hitting q123e to execute your combos where other games have you hitting 12345 to execute your skills.
I completely agree that both systems are pretty much the same. But it seems entertaining enough to me & far enough from the norm to be refreshing, without being so ground breaking that people don't want to use it.
I would much rather see a developer that says he loves his game's combat & thinks that it is great; than a developer that says his combat is just like every other MMO game & boring as hell. He doesn't even know why he stays with the company, etc.
The second one is not encouraging at all.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
That would be really fun and a great marketing idea
. Hyperactive speakers in podcasts are starting to get old to me.
If pushing buttons isn't fun, then why do you game? Serious question. Gaming, in general, boils down to pushing/clicking buttons. I know if I didn't find it fun, well, I wouldn't do it. I know that I have found playing some games exhilirating in the past, so I see no reason this can't be. Real Action? Well, lol, I was in the Army for 8 years. I've seen real action. I know this isn't going to simulate anything I've done in life. But relative to other games in this genre, it may be more "real action" oriented. More interactive at least. Time will tell.
Good point. But the turth is that its only fun to your point of view. most mmos players are not used to a system where you have to be so hands on. Alot of things get done for you. There is a syetm of strategy that is built from that type of style. If thats the style you like then it might not be easy to adapt to AOC's style. Aoc button pressing style is u press buttons for every move you make. Ths brings along a new type of strtegy. If you like that, then this game is for you.
all games mash buttons, so i dont know why this guy is trying to make it seem liek im just mashing buttons. cause the truth is, u have mashed less buttons in all other mmos. What the buttons you mash represent is where the strategy comes in. You dont just mash anybutton and watch fatatlities and over runs of your enemies. It doesnt work that way. Instead of pressing one button to do a special, you have to press numerous buttons to make the special develope. You push your defenses to different sides to better protect yourself, instead of the old way where all sides were protected by one value. This does add more to combat, you cant argue that. But if its not your style, then its not your style. Dont diss it just because its not your style.
Pretty good read, Great find Avery!
Both WAR and AoC people are going to promote their product with superlatives. And they should since that is part of marketing.
It is up to the consumer to make up his mind and vote with his wallet.
~ Ancient Membership ~
Promoting your game before it is released is great. It generates buzz and interest in your product. Nothing wrong with that.
When the game(s) is released people will make their own judgments if it is fun for them or not. There's no amount of marketing that's going to change that.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
Both WAR and AoC people are going to promote their product with superlatives. And they should since that is part of marketing.
It is up to the consumer to make up his mind and vote with his wallet.
I much prefer the video that AmazingAvery has just posted. Two serius guys talking about the game in normal terms. If the interview put me off, these guys got me wondering about if my system can run the game. Specially when one of them explains the combat system, where instead of BS he describes what you can do:www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/165050