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Group play and other details for The Secret World

Lifebane — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:25:02 +0000

Joel Bylos, lead content designer over at Funcom, recently spoke to the folks over at Electric Playground about Funcom’s promising new MMORPG title The Secret World currently under development. Joel spoke about group play within The Secret World and is quoted as saying that “We really feel that an MMO is a shared experience, right? It’s very important that people work together to solve these problems. That’s the greatest sort of feeling of achievement: when you work together with other people to overcome something.”

Single groups will be limited to up to 5 players, raids will be up to 10 players. You can form Cabals for larger and long-term social interaction. Cabals in this game are simply guilds with a fancy title that fits the conspiracy/mystery theme which this game is built around. Of particular interest was news regarding the historic Holy Trinity of MMORPGs where every group MUST have a healer, a tank and a DPS character to succeed. The rest of the group is often not even required or at least nowhere near as important as the big three. Funcom is taking The Secret World in a different direction in this respect. Joel actually states that you can get away with a group full of only tanks for example and still successfully complete group content thanks to available self-heal abilities. This is a big step away from the traditional and popular MMORPGs currently on the market and will please many a player.

Joel also mentioned having “puzzles” built into the game that will require cooperation of players to complete. It sounds interesting but the details were vague to say the least.

The Secret World to have in-game store

Lifebane — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:28:20 +0000

At the recent Funcom Quarterly Financial Presentation the business model for The Secret world was reviewed. There will be the traditional paid subscription model that MMORPG players worldwide are accustomed to but there will also be micro-transactions available to allow players to buy in-game items or benefits for their characters/;account but with real world money. The exact prices are not yet revealed since that part is still in discussion internally at Funcom.

Oliver ‘Tarib’ Kunz, the Senior Community Manager for The Secret World, had the following comments regarding the micro-transaction store:

We are very excited about introducing an in-game store already from launch. Being able to integrate the store into the actual design of the game pre-launch gives us opportunities you do not normally get when introducing a store after you have launched a game.We will be revealing more information about the store at a later date, but what we can say for now is that it will focus mostly on convenience item and character customization items such as clothing – of which The Secret World will offer a ton of variety! As developers we are being very careful in making sure that items purchased through the store does not give players any unfair advantage against those who do not use the in-game store.

Character power in The Secret World will be determined by how well you play the game, not how much money you are willing to put into it. Funcom already has considerable experience with in-game stores such as these and we have previously implemented these systems without damaging game balance in our other games, and as such we are confident the same will be true for The Secret World.

The above statement is reassuring since the implication here is that the available in-game store items will be basically cosmetic and not class/power defining. This goes a long way in appeasing the concerns that players may have about being forced to spend more money on a game that they are already paying to pay. Other MMORPG’s have adopted the use of game stores so this is nothing new but as with every recent MMORPG that has gone this route, there is a very mixed reception to the news of the game stores existence.

Funcom reveals subscription model for The Secret World

Lifebane — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:39:29 +0000

A bit of anticipated news was made available for The Secret World. During Funcom’s quarterly financial presentation they revealed that The Secret World will be using a business model similar to Champions Online, a hybrid subscription plan and in-game items for sale in their game store.

“We are very excited about introducing an in-game store already from launch. Being able to integrate the store into the actual design of the game pre-launch gives us opportunities you do not normally get when introducing a store after you have launched a game.

…it will focus mostly on convenience item and character customization items such as clothing – of which The Secret World will offer a ton of variety! As developers we are being very careful in making sure that items purchased through the store does not give players any unfair advantage against those who do not use the in-game store.”

I mentioned the reference to Champions Online since it is the model that most closely matches the proposed business model based on my own experiences, vast as they be. You can effectively play the game and progress in that MMO but to get the cooler looking flight abilities, form-changing cosmetic items and yes even some powerful items you will feel strongly inclined to go toss a few extra real world dollars at the Funcom to get that nifty “Glowing Butter knife of Doom”.

Don’t judge them too harshly though, this is more often than not the norm with the MMORPGS that have been popping up lately and even old favorites have been retooling their business model to include these “stores”.

The Secret World PVP details from GamesCom

Lifebane — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:12:39 +0000

Funcom’s released details of how PVP will function in their upcoming MMO title The Secret World. Their new MMO will not only have a large and visually stunning game world full of mysteries, quests, and dungeon style content. It will also have the potential for huge PVP gameplay as well with open world PVP where members of the 3 factions can battle it out. This type of large-scale PVP might remind you seasoned MMO junkies out there of Age of Conan (Also made by Funcom) or Warhammer Online.

Their open world PVP is called warzone which will revolve around real world locations surrounded by much myth and legend. Example battlegrounds such as Stonehenge, El Dorado, Cimbala, and it focuses on endgame players. Warzone will be persistent and have various capture points that give a faction buffs.

“They (warzones) are not instanced and they are always active. On each server, that warzone is persistent and possibly filled up. As for how many we have, we’ve announced the one we have here – it’s a city in China. We don’t have a name for it just yet, and we’re not ready to reveal how many there are in the final product just yet.”

Funcom announces Launch date and Beta info

Lifebane — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:55:05 +0000

Funcom made an appearance at EA’s press conference ahead of Gamescom today and revealed some new details about their upcoming MMO The Secret World.

Part of their discussion was that they had finally decided on a probable launch date which will be tentatively in April of 2012. The other bit of info which was received with more than a little but of fanfare was that they had put in place the method to sign up for beta and that on the first day of PAX Prime on August 26th the beta application process would begin! To signup for the beta, you have to do the which society are you quiz on their site and once completed and you have selected your society preference you will be asked to enter your email and name. that is it, beta app will be submitted.

Enjoy!

The Secret World: New In-Game Video Released

Lifebane — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:45:15 +0000

Funcom released a new video featuring all in-game footage. They also updated their screen shots section over on their site with some new shots as well. The game looks to be shaping up well graphically and it should be an interesting addition to the MMO market when it releases due to its non-mainstream theme which will appeal to the average gamer as well as bring in new gamers one would imagine just based on the nature of the game.

The Secret World is one game that we will be keeping an eye on as it continues to develop.

The Secret World Delayed by “some months”

Lifebane — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:56:30 +0000

Funcom has been going through a roller coaster of revenue figures this past year ending with the most recent 3rd quarter financial statements reporting a 69% year over year revenue loss for that quarter. Amid budget cuts and employee layoffs of around 20% it is of no surprise that Funcom admitted to development schedules being impacted. In particular they mentioned that The Secret World, their in development MMO which they hope to rebound with, will be delayed “some months”. This is humorous as well as disappointing to the fans already lining up in anticipation of this future release. The humor here is that they’ve never given any real “live” date for that title so how exactly would it be delayed “some months”?

Hopefully they will take the time to get The Secret World right in order to avoid the traumatic experience that was Age of Conan.

Funcom’s Promo email for The Secret World

Lifebane — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:53:45 +0000

The folks ove rat Funcom sent out an email to their MMO database members recently promoting The Secret World. The email briefly introduces you to their upcoming MMO title and offers you the chance to take a quick quiz to see which of their secret societies you would be most inclined to belong to: the Illuminati, the Dragon or the Templars. Oh yeah, the good news is that if you complete their little quiz it will automatically enter you in for a chance to win beta access once it is available.

Below is a copy of the email:

“Hello,

Did you know that Funcom is currently developing a brand new massively multiplayer online role-playing game called The Secret World?

Featuring a unique modern-day setting, The Secret World allows you to explore real world locations such as New York, London, Seoul, New England and Egypt as you battle evil together with thousands of others from all around the globe. Wield shotguns and black magic as you develop your character in a game that has neither levels nor classes.

Funcom is now giving everyone a chance to win access to future beta tests of The Secret World. All you have to do is visit darkdaysarecoming.com to Take the Initiation Test and find out what secret society within the game you are best
suited for.

If you then choose to sign up to become a member of a secret society within ‘The Secret World’ gamer community, you will be eligible to win access to the beta test. So what are you waiting for? Take the test – and tell your friends!

You can read more about The Secret World at
www.darkdaysarecoming.com

As a member of The Secret World community you are also eligible to win access to the beta test for the game. All members participate in the drawing. Winners will be announced at a later date. Chances of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law.”

The Deal with The Secret World

Lifebane — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:21:27 +0000

The folks over at Zam.com have a great summary on what is currently known about Funcom‘s next big release, The Secret World. Below is an excerpt from the Zam article but you can read the full article here.

“Still in the heated stages of alpha development, The Secret World is capturing the attention of gamers around the world. Widely publicized and fueled by clever viral marketing campaigns, the upcoming Urban Fantasy/Horror MMO is finally starting to reveal some of its secrets, thanks to recent gaming conventions like Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) and Games Developers Conference (GDC). Six months ago, all we had were a handful of rumors and some outdated, leaked screenshots. Coupled with a few cryptic website domains and a mysterious alternate reality game (ARG), The Secret World’s developers had the gaming community right where they wanted it: tightly-wound and frothing at the mouth for anything that might explain what this new MMO is all about…”

“But what makes this upcoming MMO so noteworthy? If you’re just “tuning in,” so to speak, you’re probably wondering why this particular title has garnered so much attention. The ARG and early “leaked” media hinted at a game world that blurred the usual, defining boundaries of past and present MMOs. Instead of choosing between tried-and-true genres like fantasy, sci-fi or horror, The Secret World looks to be an amalgam of them all, and it takes place in our modern world.”

Below is the most recent teaser trailer for this in development mmo.

Funcom has announced multi-title deal with Geomerics

Lifebane — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:39:36 +0000

Funcom announced that they have signed a multi-title deal with Geomerics to use their Enlighten technology in their mature and bloody MMO, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures as well as their upcoming new MMO The Secret World.

Many attendees at the Gamescon had the chance to check out a few demos of the new-look of Age of Conan. Initial feedback has been positive and those fortunate previewers at the conference were suitably impressed. The Enlighten technology will be used in the upcoming Age of Conan expansion, Rise of the Godslayer and in the much anticipated new MMO, The Secret World, which is set in the modern-day world, but with a slight twist… in this modern -day world creatures from myth and legend exist!

“Working with Geomerics has been a pleasure for us. Their technology is unique in the industry and with their help and support we have been able to integrate it into our tools and pipeline. It’s truly exciting to use Enlighten and keep on pushing the envelope of graphical immersion in MMO-gaming by creating heart-pounding and stunningly realistic experiences for our gamers.” Said Funcom’s CTO, Rui Caisas. He continued “Enlighten is now part of our core proprietary engine Dreamworld, and we look forward to further utilizing its possibilities with our next title “The Secret World”.

New info on Funcom’s The Secret World

Lifebane — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:33:51 +0000

Funcom reveals the secret societies of ‘The Secret World’

– Win beta access by taking the initiation test to find out in which you belong –
– New gameplay details, artworks and cinematic trailer revealed today –
– More exclusive details on ‘The Secret World’ to be revealed at PAX 2009 –

Durham, USA – September 3^rd, 2009 – Funcom today revealed new details on its upcoming modern-day, real world massively multiplayer online game ’The Secret World’. As a teaser for more reveals to come out of the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle this week, Funcom unveiled three secret societies – the Illuminati, the Dragon and the Templars – all of which will be central to gameplay and the storyline in ‘The Secret World’.

Gamers everywhere can also visit the official website at www.darkdaysarecoming.com and complete a unique personality test that will reveal to them what secret society they are most suited to join. Completion of the test will not only allow them to become an initiate of that secret society and thus an important member of the official ‘The Secret World’ community, it also gives them the chance to win exclusive future beta access to the game. Initiates will also be kept up-to-date on the development of ‘The Secret World’.

“The secret societies are integral to ‘The Secret World‘,” says Producer and Director Ragnar Tørnquist. “Players must eventually pick a side in the conflict. By revealing the three societies – and at the same time keeping some exciting new features under wraps – we provide players with the opportunity to dig deeper into the conspiracies and urban legends, and to learn more about these famous secret societies, before making their final decision when the game launches.”

For this pre-show reveal Funcom has teamed up with Gamespot (US), CVG (UK), Buffed (DE), JeuxVideo (FR), Meristation (ES), Multiplayer (IT), Boomtown (DK) and FZ (SE) – all of which today features exclusive information on the secret societies. By visiting those sites you can also check out all-new artworks as well as a new cinematic trailer for ‘The Secret World’ – the follow up trailer to the hugely successful cinematic released in April this year which has been viewed by more than one million gamers around the world. More in-depth information on the secret societies and gameplay associated with them, as well as the first ever in-game screenshots of the game, will be revealed exclusively to press during media-only presentations at the Penny Arcade Expo. The game’s official website will also see several updates over the next days that reflects the new content and information coming out of the show.

Funcom is also present on the showfloor during the show. Here gamers can learn more about ‘The Secret World’, take the initiation test, and even win exclusive ‘The Secret World’ merchandise. ‘Rise of the Godslayer’, the first expansion pack for the 2008 best-selling new MMO ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ will also be featured on the showfloor and gamers can even try out a playable demo.

‘The Secret World’ is Funcom’s third MMO and features a unique modern-day setting. Players will be able to discover real world locations such as New York, London and Seoul as they battle the forces of evil together with thousands of players from around the world. ‘The Secret World’ uses no classes or levels, thus giving the player complete freedom of choice when creating and developing his or her alter-ego.

For more information on ‘The Secret World’ please visit www.darkdaysarecoming.com

What is The Secret World

Lifebane — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:42:46 +0000

Imagine if every myth, conspiracy theory and urban legend was true. Imagine if your worst nightmare came to life. Imagine a world where vampires hunt for mortal blood in dingy London nightclubs, where werewolves lurk in the sewers beneath Seoul, and where the undead prey on the living in the shadows of New York City. This is the premise for «The Secret World», Funcom’s upcoming massively multiplayer online game set in the modern day real world.

•Urban environments – Throw yourself into the bustling urban environments of New York, London and Seoul. Shop for clothes, weapons and accessories. Stop by the local nightclub to socialize with your friends before heading out into the darkness that is slowly encroaching on the city streets.

•Real-world locations – Discover real-world locations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and America. From New England to Egypt, explore vast lands full of detail and story as you unravel the myths, legends and conspiracies of the world through a unique, story-driven gameplay experience.

•Freeform gameplay – Experience a game that has no classes or levels. Truly freeform character customization allows you to create the alter-ego you want to play, and gameplay that goes beyond the usually rigid MMO structure allows you to play the game the way you want to play it.

•Hundreds of powers – Wield fiery katana, gold-plated pistols, and deadly automatic rifles. Learn martial arts, black magic and voodoo. Choose from hundreds of powers to create a character completely customized to your liking.

•Action-packed combat – Lose yourself in the most intense real-time action-packed combat system ever. Aim, strafe, shoot – movement is key as bullets fly past you and explosions threaten to tear you apart. Swords or firearms, magic and melee, each offering a similarly intense, reactive combat experience.

•Secret societies – Join the Illuminati, the Templars or the Dragon – the three secret societies that pull the strings of our world. Work your way to the top, earn titles and rewards, and play a key role in the battle for world domination.

•Player-made organisations – Create or join player-made organisations called cabals. Create your own headquarters, and decorate and furnish it to your liking. All cabals are ranked against each other, and a cabal’s success will bring fame, fortune and power to its members.

•Track your progress – Earn points for everything you do – from combat and exploration, to trade skills and PvP – in order to rank high on both local and global scoreboards, gain titles and worldwide acclaim, and help make your secret society the most powerful and influential of them all.

•Intense player vs. player combat – Take part in ferocious, non-stop player vs. player action in the Battle for Hollow Earth. Fight to control anima, a priceless resource deep within the bowels of our world that will bring unprecedented power to whichever cabal that collects it

•Next-generation graphics – Featuring the latest in cutting-edge graphics technology, explore beautifully realized real-world locations that will truly set the standard for next-generation massively multiplayer online games. Prepare for an audiovisual experience unlike anything seen before.