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A Tale in the Desert IV: Player Driven Server Launches Feb. 20
MikeB
Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555
A Tale in the Desert, an MMO by eGenesis that eschews the typical combat focus of MMOG's for a more social, economic and even legal theme, will be getting a new server on February 20th that further enhances players' ability to control the game world.
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A Tale in the Desert is set in Egypt, and the new server will allow for players to essentially build the world from scratch, completely determining the shape and direction it takes.
Visit the official A Tale in the Desert website for more information.
Comments
So is it a f2p server or what?
This is going to be pretty damn interesting to follow since it will very likely show how server communities for the same game can set off on different paths as a result of how the players interact within that community.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
No, there's a sub for the game - but if you ask me - the guy running it should take an example from what is probably considered his only competition on the same scale as this game; Wurm Online. It has an infinite free trial server but you can't get your skills over 20, and therefore can't built any of the really cool stuff. Plus there is higher decay on items and structures, and only paid servers have property deeds that can void it. ATitD needs people to take the first step, and that's getting really hard to do without free samples these days... and this is another game that is not best set to allow freebies on the main servers.
Writer / Musician / Game Designer
Now Playing: Skyrim, Wurm Online, Tropico 4
Waiting On: GW2, TSW, Archeage, The Rapture
There is actually 24 hours of free gameplay (that's actual gameplay, not from the time you sign up), which is quite a lot of time.
I've never played ATitD, largely because the idea of my fun and enjoyment of a game being driven soley by other players whims and arbitrary rules never appealed to me (i.e., you can't advance your character unless long-time players wish you to, etc.).
The game sounds very interesting, and I imagine those folks that get some sort of kicks from drama generated by anonymous folks on the internet would be in heaven. But knowing how people behave on the internet (i.e., turn into the worst versions of themselves), I couldn't imagine a more unpleasant environment.
And now the game is going to go into complete control of the players?
It reminds me of communism a bit: it sounds like a great idea until you actually try to put it into practice.
Phelim - you should try the game because I think you have a misunderstanding of what it's actually like.
Played this game a year... enjoyed it very much... I'm not sure exactly what this new server is all about.
eGenesis is launching a new server that will allow players to completely control the timing of the telling. New and old players alike will be able to converge upon Egypt where nothing is built and everything is open for the taking. What makes this server truly unique is that every test will already be coded into the game and the speed of this telling will only be limited by the players themselves.
Not to sure exactly what that quote means.
@momodig:
It's all simple really. ATitD since its creation has always been delayed for one reason or another, that players could not control. It's always been controlled by the developers: coding, bugs, graphics all played a role in the tales delay - Don't get me started on VoK problems. It's been my view that most of this is done by volunters as founder of eGensis 'Teppy' Andrew seems to not pay anyone but himself - I can be wrong, but that seems to be a constant theme in this game.
Because of this delay, tales go on way to long, but it seems that Teppy is unable to get passed this barrier of his to continue the game past what he enjoys. Speaking to players via the microphone 'ENN' he made it clear that this bias was present, "And I'll just come right out and say it - I've always enjoyed the first part the best."
There is no denying it, tales go on for far too long, and it may be that we finally get to see what players are able to do without developer delays, ATitD 4b (tale 4 shard two) will provide a great insight into the game, not only in terms of will tale 4a finish correctly, but to see who (if anyone) comes back to play this new shard in Feb. Players have never had the ability to control the pace of the game... will it run too fast and everyone is done before T4a finishes or will it fizzle out?
One thing that I would strongly advise Rosethornii (Rosethorn in ATitD is the creator of this 'Shard' idea) is that when themes are created they need to be followed thru. The idea of "the Pharaoh is dead", "two brothers rival for control", "Story" was what got a lot of players seeing hope. Continue that hope, by having these characters be actual players in game. Have them really struggle for the throne, even if neither of them will get it.
The game is bassed on "Pharaoh rules and controls Egypt in a utopia. A unknown person comes to Egypt and challenges the Pharaoh, by saying, "I doubt you are in a utopia, and I shall prove it, complete my tests and you shall prove yourself". Tale 4 saw no Pharaoh (he had died), two sons came two Egypt, Sami and Wahim. At first their role in the Pharaoh/Stranger wasn't very clear. All to soon the characters are dropped off the face of the earth, Pharaoh (Sami) stops his role playing, and Wahim (Stranger) takes on his role as the evil person. The whole idea in my view was good, till the role play stopped. It left a void in the game that meant RP was now reduced to what players where allowed to do. Both in terms of PRE (Player Run Events - using the offical RP system - controlled by Dev's/GMs) and non-RP systems.
Players are leaving in a massive storm, low player numbers saw Teppy asking his developers what can help the game get more players, allow them to stay and in the end "Rosethornii" (here at MMORPG) or "Rosethron" (in ATitD); I believe, suggested the idea of shards - not only that, but that the shards should be fully "installed" games that can be played from start to finish.
Having been thinking about this move since they asked players about this sometime ago, I think it may prove to be a money-maker. But as one user said, their "free" content should be increased to that in a way that Wurm Online is. Thou in my stupid attmept at that game, I had to leave simply because of the game play mechanics.
It will be interesting to see what happens... I am trying to stop myself from playing ATitd4b.... I'm not sure if I can ... tollerate it.
So if the tales will complete faster on the new server -- does anything about the characters carry over?
I find it hard playing a game, then it ending and having to restart from scratch... I played the game a year ago and I produced coal, that's all I did and I enjoyed it greatly... I don't like the riddles/projects and such though for gaining new skills... i wish i could just avoid that part, it'd be perfect for me.
Very interesting idea, my only concern is that the population is already really low, what if it will be divided between 2 servers ?
@momodig:
That depends on one thing. Your subscription and how much is left. If you buy a one year sub to ATitD Tale 4b, and the game takes nine months to complete you have three months with ATitD Tale 5b. If you pay month-by-month, you will still be able to play provided you keep paying the month-by-month (FYI, there are more options between one month and one year. I could be wrong but I think its, one, three, six and one year subs - no discounts and ATM (and in my view) no real insentive to buy a year sub).
@Sinella:
This is unlikely. The main reason is to play on T4a you have to have a sub, to play on T4b you have to have a different sub. So for example, one month on T4a, will only allow you to play T4a, not T4b. This is true if Teppy is still continuing with this model of pay. As I am not currently active in game anymore, it may be that this idea changed (hopefully).
If it does happen, then that's players control. It will be them controlling how T4b works, and if that's how they want it to work, then power to them... the question then should be, can developers keep them going?
[edit=1]My personal idea would be to have the ability of one full shard, and half-shard on another. EG: One month is one month on one shard, six months would get six months on one shard, three months on a second.
Because this is likely to be more about money than anything else however, this wont happen in my view[/edit]
Hmm i didnt mean a monetary issue...i meant that there are ( im only guessing) like 800 players in the game, if they start a new server lets say 400 of them will start to play on the new one. 400 isnt a big number...that means the game will be kind of empty out of the peak times.
That's correct, the only thing that is stopping this behaviour is simply the money aspect of it.
However if that doesn't stop players from doing so, it will be interesting to see what does and doesn't happen.
I played this game back in Tale 1, and a bit of 2... I had a blast, and met some great people. I'll need to go have me a look see at this new idea.
austa
zWolf -out.
Thank you,
zWolf -out.
I've recently been really enjoying time spent in WURM. I think I will have to give this game a shot. Do you think it would be fun for a first-timer to start on this new server, or do I really need to get the hang of things on an existing one first?
Just One MMOre
This might sound dumb,but what is the purpose of the game?Is this a total no content game,players just go around raising and lowering land?
I know players cannot create content,so there has to be content designed by the developer and a story or purpose to playing.
Is everything pre rendered modules?what exactly or how exactly do players create the world?I am assuming players just look for places to build a house or town,and that is about the extent of player driven game?
I tired to get a grasp by reading articles ,but it seems a little vague and not really much fun imo.
This is what i have grasped from reading...
There will be 7 challenges,right away that sounds linear and not player driven,but anyhoot.All the players in the game must work together,so i figure countless hours of harvesting rock to build something?Again this sounds all linear,nothing more than a very small single player game.
I also figure the guy running the game,is playing some Pharaoh's son?the new Pharaoh?What exactly does he do?Does he have like an army than tries to stop the players from completing their tasks?I just can't get the whole shibam with this game.
To me it sounds like a MYST sort of game,solve some puzzles and when there all solved game over,then part V begins?
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
Have you ever played WURM? It is a lot of survival, and maybe to an extent what people would call "extreme" crafting. I can go into WURM and just "pop" no objectives no rules, no quests, no nothing. I can find some land and terraform it. In WURM, for example, I would open an inventory window that would have tools. There is a vast amount I can do to altar the world around me. I can dig, build hundreds of things, level a mountain if I want and spend the time. I can fish, grow crops, and many more things.
Let's say I find a nice little grotto by the water. I can open iventory, choose shovel and perform many things with just this one tool. I can flatten some earth, dig it, pack it, pile it up. I can clear a plot to later build a house. Now for my house. I need wood, use axe from my inv. and cut down some trees, now I chop those trees up, then use a saw to cut into planks. I think need to build a forge that I make from stone that I get with my axe pick from digging deep enough to hit rock. I can make the forge, then mine iron to heat up in the forge to make nails, then use the nails and the planks to build any shape or size building I want. I can put windows in some of the walls, a door in one. I then need to build it all.
The game is tremendous fun. I have been spending weeks just hauling dirt to dump into the water at the shore. to build a single file lane of dirt out into the water, that I will later build floor boards on. This will essentially give me a dock, then I can build a small boat, and a shack to store food in that I catch when I fish....after I build a fishing rod.
I've never played a tale in the desert, but I hear it is a similar game only with an egyptian theme. So if players are in total control, it will be like a sims game only you make every last little nail, and shape every little mound of dirt how you want. WURM has a PVP server, and animals you fight, but I here ATIND has no PVP at all, it's all building. Sounds fun.
Just One MMOre
@giantsquid:
I think it depends. If you want a taste of the whole game, my suggestion is to start on the old sever get a feel for the game around four days before Tale 4b launch (that way you can use the 24 hour trial on the old sever). Then on the launch of the new server you have the free 24 hour period, an idea of what you need to do (in terms of start game), and hopefully have created a network of small players that you can work with to keep going, know what they are doing and WHY to do it, and hopefully have fun on shard b.
Doing it this way in my view is the smart thing, compared to simply starting shard b on launch. Start-tale is different from mid-tale, which is different from end-tale. Experience in both is what I would call a good goal for this game, even if you only pop in and out at your lessure.
This game requires friends, without whom your time in the game is simply giving money to Teppy (owner) without much social contact, that to me is a shame.
@Wizardry:
The game is so huge that to answer it in a comment is just silly. The game sees Egyptians living in paradise. All is well in Egypt, there are no problems, no issuses. The gods are happy, the people are happy and the Pharaoh is alive and well.
The tale starts with the Stranger appearing in Egypt. Tale four saw the Pharaoh die at the start of the game, and his two sons come to Egypt to support its mother land. The Pharaoh cannot take the throne because his brother doesn't concent, he has been in the grounds of the Stranger and is doing his bidding.
Egpyt has no Pharaoh, and unlike what I would love to happen, this really sees no conflict for players nor benefits for players... this to me means a flawed story, and the ending of the story sees one brother accending even when the games lore denies this happening, and no consent was ever given... Bad role play, bad idea, bad application. Hopefully Teppy will give control of these characters to Players to Role Play these in game and see a REAL live RP happening. This would be ace.
The game can be lost, it (if I am correct) has been lost twice, won once and is still pending tale four. Win or lose doesn't mean a good or bad outcome for the next tale, thou Tale 3 did see a plague in game... did our losing have a bearing on this... I don't believe it did.
In honest truth, the game is way to big to be described in a small comment... experience the game for 24 hours and see for yourself.
Well how could i begin?I would not have the foggiest idea what to do after i login.I would just stand there like a lost tourist lol.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
Wow, this is the first time I've seen something like this in a game. Will definitely be looking out for it in the near future. Though I dare say I'd rather wait to see what people say about this new development before subbing.
Main characters:
Jinn Gone Quiet (Guild Wars)
Princess Pudding (Guild Wars)