By Garrett Fuller
As we sat down with Design Manager Paul Barnett and Associate Producer Josh Drescher at the start of our trip to EA Mythic studio we learned a lot about where Warhammer Online is in beta, where it is going towards production, and where it came from early on. The great thing about Josh and Paul is while we got the overview from them we also got a lot of great pieces of information about the game itself.
To give you a quick preview of what we here at Ten Ton Hammer will have over the next few days here is a list of topics coming: Careers Article, Items and Trophies, Crafting, Tome of Knowledge Preview, Guild Tools, Capital Cities, Realm vs Realm Keep and Sieges, and Realm vs Realm City Sieges. We will also have video sessions with the team covering almost all of these topics.
The game is currently still in closed beta for those lucky enough to be playing. The team continues to work on balancing and polishing all aspects of the game. Both Josh and Paul were quick to say that just because something looks wonderful on paper, you never know what players will do with the idea when implemented. It is this philosophy that is now driving Warhammer Online. The team is taking beta feedback very seriously and continues to listen to players. One of the examples of this is the changes the team made to Realm vs Realm. They have implemented more open world RvR and put keep sieges into the game. Do not worry well have a whole article on it as our coverage continues.
border="0" width="200">
As a teaser the keep sieges grow as you go up in tiers. Larger fortifications become available to attack and defend. There is a lot of siege equipment being implemented that follows along with the Warhammer history. We heard the words bolt thrower, cannons, and orcapults. The other thing the team is currently working on is the experience curve in the game.
This can be a touchy subject for everyone, but the overall feel we got from Josh and Paul is that they want players to enjoy fighting each other. While climbing the tiers will take time, they do not want leveling to get in the way of players enjoyment of the game, especially in regards to Realm vs Realm.
The team also touched on the targeted beta model and why it is so important. Basically, opening portions of beta allows them to fix and update other portions of the game. By opening one zone and closing another they can test and make updates throughout their entire beta cycle. This also means that metrics and surveys in the beta are critical. When a portion of the beta is taken down, they are instantly checking the data to see what needs work.
We got an insight into the type of MMOG that Paul plays. He loves to explore the little corners of the world. Those of you who often take a wrong turn and fall off a cliff are usually rewarded with a death and a frustrating ordeal to resurrect. This will not be the case in Warhammer. Paul is continuously working on putting Easter eggs in the game where no one would go. He constantly said how someone will find this, they always do. They are already seeing this in beta.
border="0" width="200">
Now, knowing Paul his rewards may not be the common ones you are used to, but they will certainly be entertaining. Without giving too much away, falling off a cliff you may discover one of the Plungers of the World! Push the plunger and good luck. At least you have some fun to look forward to when making your mistake. Josh agreed that it is the little things in the game that make it fun.
In closing the session, Paul had a few things to say about game play. It is critical to Josh and he that game play is fun and memorable in Warhammer. Pauls wants fans to say, I played that, what a game! This is an important point that the entire W.A.R. team is pushing. Paul explained that, Tech is as deep as plastic. Game play is forever! That is the philosophy behind the RvR crazed world that we hope to see in Warhammer Online.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Ten Ton Hammer's visit to the EA Mythic Studio and be sure to stop by our forums to let us know what you think!
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Warhammer 40,000: Storm of Vengeance Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Game Page.
