SoE to publish Vanguard

[Oloh]

Originally Posted by Hachima

*crickets*


Post by Oloh eventually.

I shall not be annoying and post about the NDA. Folks know what the deal is there. I shall, however, post this Secret Infoz.

[Digits]

176 has been the magic number for the past few days whenever I'm on, and I do try my best to actually test the content and give feedback. There's alot of shit in the game that makes no sense, specifically the complete lack of direction at low levels, the terribly bugged animations and...god, lots else. The most amazing thing is the game somehow manages to be so complicated and so mind numbingly simple at the same time. I have 6 buttons to push in a fight, and combined theres something like 30 different effects I can push out as a ranger. Holy shit, that is the most pointless shit I've ever seen, and I don't even want to go into it.

The term 'placeholder' has never been used so liberally with a game. Placeholder animations, placeholder sounds, placeholder dungeons, placeholder content, placeholder hair ect ect ect. Here's an idea, why don't you actually finish one fucking aspect of the game before you submit it for testing? It just diminishes the experience otherwise, and it is fucking LUDICROUS how bad it is.

With that said, I STILL have faith in the game for some reason. If made concise the combat system has the potential to be pretty fun, and the non cookie cutter dungeons are pretty good. Of course there's something like 3? non CC dungeons.

[Nairbog]

The people who enjoy the game aren't going to break the NDA because they want to keep playing. You can say that's not true, or whatever, but I know there are alot more than 5 people in beta roaming around these boards. They've invited a shitload of people already and I'm sure nearly everyone on FOH boards applied. (and alot of VG players/fans joined these boards when they realized brad and crew post here) You'll notice that alot of the negative feedback we're seeing on these boards isn't too in depth, which leads me to believe they really haven't played the game long enough to see the more in-depth content. (not new information, NDA breakers have said the low level game is stale) I wouldn't be surprised if many of these people got shitty performance, didn't stick it out through the long leveling curve (also not new information, sigil has said they're going to have a longer leveling curve than what people are used to in WoW/EQ2) into the later levels where things get interesting.

Are there going to be plenty of legitimate concerns to be raised? Yes, obviously. The game has awhile till release, hell only one continent is out: it's the most brown, and the first one developed while they were still getting used to their world building tools and had a smaller team. The lack of variety in landscapes/dungeons is a little bit misleading since there will be atleast 3 times the content at release, but likely much more than that if you buy their "we develop things in layers" thing where the fun stuff comes last. I'd also like to point out that they have different teams for each continent, it's not like once Thestra is polished they're going to say, "well I guess it's time to get started on Qalia!" I'm sure I'm going to get labeled a vanboi or something for this post, but really I'm just presenting the other side here. Vanguard could very well suck at release, I just think it's a bit premature to label it a failure considering where its at in development. They have a huge, experienced team and I refuse to believe that everything they've produced thus far is crap, in fact I know it's not true. You don't even need inside information to know this, just take a look at the very old screens of New Targonor, which are breathtaking in my opinion, most impressive MMO city I've seen. Once the other two continents are released, it'll be interesting to see what the NDA breakers have to say, if anything, since they may change their mind and want to explore some kickass locales.

[Kuro]

didn't stick it out through the long leveling curve (also not new information, sigil has said they're going to have a longer leveling curve than what people are used to in WoW/EQ2) into the later levels where things get interesting.

I havn't played vanguard, but a longer leveling curve shouldn't mean bland low level content like NDA-breakers are talking about. Low level content needs to be engaging.

[Nairbog]

I agree. I don't think it should stay that way either, that just seems to have been a common theme among the NDA breakers, so I can only assume it to be true. I just hope Sigil will wake up to that and make the changes necessary to make even the low level game compelling.

[Froofy-D]

If someone is beta and cant find the will to login I'll be happy to take over / share your account.

[Designz]

There's Grobbee, who gave up, then there's Digits, a true beta tester pouring his heart out. The Vanguard negativity has gone up another notch!

Where's that beta tester with rave reviews?

[Nairbog]

Sigh... they want to stay in beta because they're super paranoid about getting kicked out for breaking the NDA. The thought of not having a good (free) game to play for another 6-9 months is generally enough to keep people who like the game's mouth shut.

[Lhon]

Originally Posted by Designz

Where's that beta tester with rave reviews?

Vanboi extraordinaire Reolien01 has been aggressively breaking the NDA to defend Vanguard with posts like this:

I bet you my life that Brad makes millions of dollars off of Vanguard while you sit in your room at your dead end job wishing your life had meaning.
...
I agree, the game is boring as shit in beta and the bugs stink. But, it is something you have to expect when in beta. The game isn't done so why the hell do you have to get your panties twisted when it isn't even close to being released.

The reason an NDA exists is because mindless sheep like you have to sit around and point out all the flaws and negativity in a game that isn't even halfway done.

[Hateyou]

Originally Posted by Kuro

I havn't played vanguard, but a longer leveling curve shouldn't mean bland low level content like NDA-breakers are talking about. Low level content needs to be engaging.

I agree. I talked a shitload of people in to trying FFXI and I had to fight them every step of the way until they got thier subjobs. Then I had to fight them until they got to 20ish+. After that was over they were enjoying it until WoW released, then they all moved.

WoW has it right for hooking new people. Shit is fun right off the bat, none of my friends even thought about quitting until they hit max and ran out of stuff to do.

[Maxxius]

Originally Posted by Laek

hmm what to say.

. . .

These aren't big things but they all add up quickly. I could go on with tons of little things but some are just bugs to expect in beta. I can't say strongly enough though that this game just feels wrong and that the design philosphy just seems to be out of touch. Its like something I should have tried in 2000 not 2006. Besides rethinking the whole game I don't see how they can save it. After putting a week into when I first got into beta and then a few more when the fileplanet relaese hit I just can't get myself to log on. It just makes me sad after all the hopes I had for this game.

Good but depressing post. Pretty much confirming that VG is not heading into the direction I was hoping for. As another said, at one time VG was #1 on my "can't wait to play it list." Now it is on my "eh might try it when it does eventually come out but will wait for reviews first" list.

I am tired of hearing the "It's Beta" defense. It's FOUR YEARS of development, NINE MONTHS of beta. That defense doesn't work anymore for me. It really sounds like the game needs a TOTAL revamp

[xilsharn]

lol guyz its just beta

[Istros]

It will be a very very interesting E3.

[chaos]

Originally Posted by Maxxius

I am tired of hearing the "It's Beta" defense. It's FOUR YEARS of development, NINE MONTHS of beta. That defense doesn't work anymore for me. It really sounds like the game needs a TOTAL revamp

QFT

Since when did beta = "LET'S REDESIGN THE ENTIRE GAME BECAUSE IT'S BORING AS FUCK!"?

And I agree, E3 should be interesting, I look forward to hearing more.

[simeon]

Ill give up my VG beta... for $50