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Free Realms: Guilds Added: Exclusive Interview
Dana
Member Posts: 2,415
Tonight, fans of Free Realms are about to get their most requested feature: guilds. Free Realms Systems Lead Luke Sigmund spoke to MMORPG.com about the update and a bit more in this new article, penned by Sanya Weathers, who recently reviewed the game for us.
Since the review, SOE has put in zone chat, and today they started their media blitz to promote their adding guild functionality.
Why?
Sigmund told me, “We put guilds in because we know that’s what players want. We’re diligent about reading feedback and responding to that to create a really fun experience. And everyone knows that playing with your friends is the most fun thing.” He should have some idea as to what fun it – he was a raid designer in EQ2, and before that, he was the guy behind all the live events (things like the holiday goodies, etc) for several years.
;)
Read more here.
Dana Massey
Formerly of MMORPG.com
Currently Lead Designer for Bit Trap Studios
Comments
Great news .. we can make guilds now
. I can't wait untill they release the other maps >.<
Now, if SoE can take the positive lessons learned from Freerealms and apply it to a more mature title, they might actually be able to turn around their reputation. A lot of good stuff here in this simple, yet fun, little game.
One thing that all MMORPG developers should look to here is Inhouse Usability Labs. Professional playtesters, who are used to monotonous, bug hunting play drills are good for quality control, but useless for determining what will work and what won't work with the gaming public.
Closed betas can produce feedback, but it can become a lot of noise and often a faction that wins out in arguing a major point does not represent the view point that the larger player base would chose.
Being able to watch and study people playing directly has huge advantages. The labs and staff don't represent a huge monetary investment and test participants can be had cheap or for free.
Want to know more about GW2 and why there is so much buzz? Start here: Guild Wars 2 Mass Info for the Uninitiated
they are taking lesson from FreeRealms and applying it to a more mature game...The Agency. They've been watching the pricing model to see how well recieved it is, for starters.
Trust me, they are definately looking at FreeRealms as a golden goose
Woot! Guilds!
beau
Listen to the Spouse Aggro podcast at spouseaggro.com. Twitter: spouseaggro
As one of the older adults (38) who play this game, I too welcome the creation of guilds. It should allow a bit more grouping and "raids" for the harder monsters and dungeons (snarled vines in Briarwood comes to mind). After suffering for 4 months in WAR with balance issues galore, this is a much needed relaxing and fun game to play. Have been loving it since I signed up.
I don't much bother with guilds in "adult" MMOs, so I can't say I was missing them in Free Realms. Housing, though, that's a whole different issue.
One of the things I actually liked most about Free Realms was that it was pretty much a single-player game using the tropes of MMO gameplay. That, however, isn't going to stop me starting my own guild as soon as I hit 15th (which as a Pet Trainer is probably going to take, what, an hour?).
I 'm curious to see what content-related (as opposed to utility) function guilds will have. I've yet to run into any content that isn't balanced for solo play, although I've seen it referred to, as in this thread. Seems that to have any content tuned to a group, let alone a Raid, would go entirely counter to the ethos of the game.
Yey guilds... i hope i get into a good one. also i wish they will add guild exlusive quests.
Basically clicking away text windows ruins every MMO, try to have fun instead of rushing things. Without story and lore all there is left is a bunch of mechanics.
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Most games benefit from usability/playtesting with non-professional gamers. One of the most interesting challenges, I find, when working with developers and publishers is to ensure that game play is intuitive and fun for "core" gamers (gamers familiar with the genre) but is also accessible and friendly for "new-to-genre" gamers who might be interested in the IP, trying a different kind of game, or playing with friends and family members who are already playing.
Nothing replaces just shutting up and watching players struggle with your game in terms of identifying and fixing impediments to fun and then validating that the experience, at its core, is fun.
I never get board of watching
Game Designer, Producer & User Experience Consultant
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What we really should be asking ourselves here is......when....and if when then possibly...then. If then is indeed the answer....then you must ask.....why then as opposed to now....and if not now....then when?
It's better to lurk in forums and be thought a fool...than to endlessly "Quote" and remove all doubts.
I signed up for this game so my kids could play it. I have also played it and I find it to be fun but no one talks to anyone in this game. I just do not see the point in adding guilds into a game where no one talks to anyone. I have yet to see any one talking in this game and I have had a sub to it since the game was released.
How mind boggling. Hit 20 with my Blacksmith and 17 with my miner, guilds are not in yet. Probably next patch. Game is really fun, plenty of minigames to take your mind off any type of "grind" (for the fighter classes). Love that you can switch between classes on the fly.
Im sorry but if you al find this game fun it tells alot about how you failed at the the more succesfull MMO's out there, its a kids game, half done, and most of it a nice try of a copy of you know who... An MMO is succesfull when it reaches more than 5 million, other than that its still crap.
Yes...Well God forbid anyone enjoy something meant for kids. I guess everyone who 'failed' at the 'more successful' MMOs is a kid. Or...just maybe, a parent. Or even! Someone who wants to try something different. Ah, but what would I know, I mean, I've only played WoW, GW, CoX, Cabal, and a bunch of other MMOs. But I am glad an expert on the success and failure of MMO gaming can point us all in the right direction.
you have no idea what you are talking about dude .
First of all this is unlike any mmo out there, it really isnt an mmo only in the combat forms- its just an interactive minigame hub with mmo features thrown in.. i like the simplicity of it and it seems soe is using this simplicity as a building block for there upcoming mmos..(dconline ui) For the age demographic it is hands down the best looking and best playing game out there and considering the population of that age demographic, i only see this game succeeding in the future.. Guilds... this is more of a single player game imo no need for guilds but good for increasing the social community i guess..
Listen here I am a parent of two little girls who happen to love this game and I find it fun to play the game with them. When I play games by myself I play Eve Online, Lord of the Rings Online and a couple other MMO's. I played Everquest for 8 years. You have no clue what your talking about so it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think your stupid then to open it and remove all doubt.