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The Secret World - Time Line Production
Keridwan
Member Posts: 118
The detail from this material was plagiarised from the Philosopher Praecautus on TSA forums. More general release here will establish the resource intensiveness and serious intent that has already been piled into the development of The Secret World.
The known production timeline for The Secret World
Pre-development
1997
Ragnar Tornquist has the original concept idea for the game that will become The Secret World.
Source Ragnar Tornquist’s blog
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=166
1999
The Longest Journey is wrapped up and Ragnar Tornquist is pitching ideas, including one that will eventually become The Secret World
Source Ragnar Tornquist’s blog
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=166
Pre-production
2002
Preproduction of the game that will become The Secret World began sometime in 2002, but the team were moved to Dreamfall in mid-2003
Source Ragnar Tornquist’s blog
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=335
2003
A playable demo of Cabal, which will one day become The Secret World was made ready for E3 ’03. This version was using a different engine to the current version of The Secret World
Source Ragnar Tornquist’s blog
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=335
The demo/movie was shown at E3 2003 and short description can be found here
http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/409/409639p3.html
and here
http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6028574.html?print=1
NB The demo was refered to as The Next Big Thing.
Later, in his blog Ragnar Tornquist confirms that The Next Big Thing = Cabal = The World Online = The Secret World.
NB2 We know the engine will have changed since this early demo, there may also have been gameplay/story changes as well.
2005
Funcom announces in the Quarter 3 2005 Financial Statement that Funcom has initiated development of a new MMO known as The World. The World will become The Secret World
Source Funcom Financial report to shareholders for the Third Quarter 2005
http://www.funcom.com/funcom/fronten...3 report.pdf
Funcom file the name The Secret World as a trademark on Nov 14 2005.
Source US Patent and Trademark Office
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield...tate=bmlqb.2.1
Full Production
2006
June 2006
www.darkdemonscrygaia.com is registered
www.darkdaysarecoming.com is registered
www.amaskedcryadoring.com is registered
www.agrimoddarcanesky.com is registered
www.anygodimarksacred.com is registered
www.adreamysickdragon.com is registered
Ragnar Tornquist first mentions The Secret World in his blog on June 10th
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=166
The third quarterly report for 2006 states that “The World Online was approved for entry into the first phase of full production”. The team is known to be composed of 20 people with Ragnar Tornquist heading the project.
Source Funcom financial report for the third quarter 2006
http://www.funcom.com/funcom/fronten...Q306report.pdf
The 2006 quarter 4 report states that the team working on The World Online has expanded to 33 people
November 2006 two screenshots of The World Online made using an early version of the graphics engine that will power TSW are leaked to wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TWOscreenshot01.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TWOscreenshot02.jpg
I do not know for sure how old these screenshots are. Ragnar Tornquist hints in his blog that they are from an old and early prototype of The Secret World.
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=294
2007
Funcom officially announces The Secret World (Formerly Cabal and The World (online)) as its next MMO. The size of the team working on The Secret World is 35 people.
Source Funcom financial report quarter 1 2007
ftp://ftp.funcom.com/media/Age_of_Co...0Q1-report.pdf
Feb 2007
UK gaming magazine Edge carries an a job advert for an unknown Funcom MMO
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Dreamfall2.jpg
The picture of the girl later turns out to be a related to The Secret World, as the same picture appears in a Funcom presentation in a section on TSW.
March 2007 Funcom is rumoured to be showing off a new MMO at the Game Developers Conference
Source Bluesnews
http://bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.p...threadid=75966
Source Ragnar Tornquist's blog
http://ragnartornquist.com/?cat=13
23 March 2007
Funcom's Annual Report for 2006 contains 1 new piece of concept art and 2 screenshots of The Secret World. The screenshots look far more advanced than the ones leaked to wikipedia.
http://www.funcom.com/funcom/fronten...ual_Report.pdf
Funcom also discuss how TSW production will ramp up as AoC approaches release. Funcom will transfer the AoC team to work on TSW until the team reaches full size in approximately 2008.
In addition to traditional markets (US + Europe) TSW will be targetting the Asian market, and the Beijing office will have a key role in develoment
May7-16, Funcom begins viral marketing strategy as initial advertisement for The Secret World.
The Cry Gaia website timeline for the marketing campaign
http://www.crygaia.com/portal/index....d=16&Itemid=38
May 11th Ragnar Tornquist discuss the launch of the viral marketing campaign for TSW
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=335
May 11th Funcom publish an official press release about The Secret World
http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/fro...TENT&item=1004
May 16 www.darkdaysarecoming.com is updated with The Timer that appears to be counting down to Dec 21 2012.
May 16 Funcom present 2007 Quarter 1 financial presentation
ftp://ftp.funcom.com/media/Age_of_Co...esentation.pdf
The presentation includes details of the viral marketing campaign, other details include
Over 100 key gaming people are informed of the launch
There are partnerships with key media
six online sites have been launched
May 21 Ragnar Tornquist heads to Beijing for meetings with the Chinese section of the The Secret World team
http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=339
June 2007
Funcom is advertising for people to work on The Secret World. Positions include
Gameplay programmer
Project Manager Art
3D programmer
Tools programmer
Location artist
Associate producer
Character artist
July 2007
The Q2 2007 report has the TSW team at 35 employees andx the game is in its first phase of full production, here. I would assume given the advertised positions that the team will be of an increased size by the next quaterly review.
October 2007
Some small snippets of info concerning TSW are mentioned on Ragnar's blog. The thread discussing them is here
A new piece of TSW concept art is accidentally leaked on Ragnar's blog. The thread discussing it is here
Funcom are advertising for
Senior Character Artist (Oslo)
Concept Artist (Beijing)
Environment Artist (Beijing)
Lead Graphics Artist (Beijing)
We are currently researching archives and activities to establish precisely what has been happening since Oct 2007.
__________________
Comments
Is it me, or does Funcom abuse these forums more than any other company?
Here's a 'secret' funcom.... you have now made two very crappy MMORPGs... why not go back to single player games?
Seriously though.. Funcom, please stop spamming these forums with 'new' information.
And really, you could have added one more line to your Timetable
Dec 08 - 7 Months after launch, AOC closes down 75% of their servers and eliminates most of the staff working on the game.
I really think you should stop hyping your games and start just making better games.
Mmmmm Bryan you are such a sexy beast when you get roused .... *paints her nails*
There is nothing wrong with their games actually, and they are FAR from crappy. They launch poorly, and then recover. Anarchy Online is an amazing game, with features and depth I have not seen since. Unfortunatly, because of when it was developed, it is a bit dated now, and is one hell of a grind fest.
AoC is also a great game, and is getting better all the time. Unfortunatly, it slit it's own writs, and it took too long to stop the bleeding.
Hey Keridwan, you're cute...=D
oh and is that you're real pic...and...you really a girl?...lol
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
I spent a long time trying to get ahold of The Longest Journey and once I finally did, I really really was happy with the effort put in to get it. What a game.
I get tendrils of likenesses between it and The Secret World and thats REALLY exciting, infact based on the little I've heard so far this new MMO is definately the one I'm most interested in.
And now, I just downloaded the Longest Journey off of XBox Live so I can play through it again.
Thanks Keri, I'll vote for you as ruler of the universe any day.
*laughing uncontrolably* Well it took me 4 years to subscribe to these forums, but hey it's done! Mhmmm, mhmm, mhmmm ...thoughts thoughts thoughts! TSW was and have been a most anticipated concept for like what 2004? ...at least for me when i heard about it . Then Funcom decided to create and launch AoC : their decision their profits and their loss i really don't care !
Despite all and as some mentioned the most anticipated gonna be "rough start" which seems to be Fc's legacy, I hope the game is horror - ish, or anything really thats not done to death.
Btw i couldnt find the other post with the video but is the reporter the guy that showed up in <some> AoC videos? ( not the x game director ). Well not feeding anyone's or mine hopes it can be a good game or a really failed one! We shall see let us not dream on! Or we really are dreaming and need a wake up call?
Signature!!!...
Welcome to the board-walk Patternizer. I know for sure you are very cool, but I do hope you don't have hair on your face
.... Enjoy, have fun and occassionally break into moments of ecstasy ... *kisses your cheek*
btw be careful people here can be really mean and nasty.
*smiles* Thank you for the welcome Keridwan , I do shave .Oh my god *laughs*
Let people be nasty , i am no saint either, anyhow got any good tips on the game or are they gonna keep it vague and mysterious till prior release ?
Signature!!!...
I heard a few rumours so please don't quote me, but there is a web site they have set up where there is a countdown time that is set at 2012. Cya Saint Patternizer
Oh I think you got that from the main forums, yes?
www.darkdemonscrygaia.com/showthread.php
Also, the main TSW page with the countdown:
www.darkdaysarecoming.com/
It is believed to countdown to 2012
I just hope they dont plan to release the game in 2012.. i cant wait that long. If thats the cas i think im gonna put my ass in the freezer and wait... but wait the end of the world is then!!! What to do?
Seriously, Funcom, take your time. Deliver us a great and polished game.
I just hope they dont plan to release the game in 2012.. i cant wait that long. If thats the cas i think im gonna put my ass in the freezer and wait... but wait the end of the world is then!!! What to do?
Seriously, Funcom, take your time. Deliver us a great and polished game.
I am thinking of buying out a plot on mars and wait ... Also i am already saving $$ for a new Uber pc of doominess! yay!
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First thread in a long time on these forums, which I actually loved to read...
Thanks.
I just hope they dont plan to release the game in 2012.. i cant wait that long. If thats the cas i think im gonna put my ass in the freezer and wait... but wait the end of the world is then!!! What to do?
Seriously, Funcom, take your time. Deliver us a great and polished game.
I know lol... I see that 2012, and think "Please tell me that's the year in game-time.. not real world... Pretty please..."
That said, another great post, Keridwan.
Funny reading some of the other things that were going on during some of the earlier news bits, like how FFXI was yet to be released in the States.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
Heheh.. Yep, the whole "hidden world" element of Arcadia (well, from a Stark perspective) in Longest Journey does sorta ring similar. I just re-ordered TLJ. Must have lost my other copy during my last move :-/. Been wanting ti play through it again, so... went ahead and ordered a new one. Playing through Dreamfall again in the meantime :-p.
TSW has escalated to my most anticipated MMO (was Aion... but since that will be out long before TSW anyway...).
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Do you always sugarcoat your reality? Do you think gamer chick is politically incorrect? Perhaps when you decide to relax and have fun in life, you will care less about what other people say. Taking offense to something as silly as this makes me wonder if you grew up with a silver spoon. Than again, your mention of wine and chocolate only reinforces my theory.
P.S. Pants, Pants, Pants, Pants... oh did I say Pants?
*still chuckling* Really ...amazing!
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Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Seriously, if you're that easily offended by something so petty, you really need to get out more.
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Seriously, if you're that easily offended by something so petty, you really need to get out more.
I think it's you that needs to get out more. As you can't even notice the sheer beauty of sarcasm in her posts.
Maybe you understand it in your L337 language: She just WTFPWNED him.
Cheers
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Seriously, if you're that easily offended by something so petty, you really need to get out more.
I think it's you that needs to get out more. As you can't even notice the sheer beauty of sarcasm in her posts.
Maybe you understand it in your L337 language: She just WTFPWNED him.
Cheers
Bump!
Signature!!!...
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Seriously, if you're that easily offended by something so petty, you really need to get out more.
I think it's you that needs to get out more. As you can't even notice the sheer beauty of sarcasm in her posts.
Maybe you understand it in your L337 language: She just WTFPWNED him.
Cheers
Sorry Guillermo197 but she will not date you. Good effort tho.
Btw is the Master of PR E Ellingsen involved with TSW?
Very interesting read Keridwan.
Do you happen to have links to the newer screenshots from the quarterly reports? The link doesn't work for me.
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Seriously, if you're that easily offended by something so petty, you really need to get out more.
I think it's you that needs to get out more. As you can't even notice the sheer beauty of sarcasm in her posts.
Maybe you understand it in your L337 language: She just WTFPWNED him.
Cheers
Sorry Guillermo197 but she will not date you. Good effort tho.
Btw is the Master of PR E Ellingsen involved with TSW?
What sorry? I have no interest in dating her. I already have a girlfriend and I am very happy with her.
I know that the concept of having a girlfriend is hard to take in for a lot of you guys.
But some people around here actualy do have a girlfriend.
Good effort tho.
Good for you Conan. No doubt she absolutely adores being referred to as a "gamer chick" when you introduce her
to friends and family, wine and dine her on chocolate Merlot and petite fois.
Seriously, if you're that easily offended by something so petty, you really need to get out more.
I think it's you that needs to get out more. As you can't even notice the sheer beauty of sarcasm in her posts.
Maybe you understand it in your L337 language: She just WTFPWNED him.
Cheers
Sorry Guillermo197 but she will not date you. Good effort tho.
Btw is the Master of PR E Ellingsen involved with TSW?
What sorry? I have no interest in dating her. I already have a girlfriend and I am very happy with her.
I know that the concept of having a girlfriend is hard to take in for a lot of you guys.
But some people around here actualy do have a girlfriend.
Good effort tho.
Revealing yourself as an experienced lover wont get u a date with her either!
Now, anyone knows if the Amazing PR Genius Ellingsen is working on TSW?
Erling did do a review talking about TSW back in 08 for an EU site but I'm not sure if he's going to be "spearheading" the PR for TSW or not. Honestly, I hope he isn't, but we'll have to see.
As for links check the link to the main forum in my earlier post in this thread as they are working in original timeline post. You can also try the sticky thread at the top of the forum for game info.