How the release will look outside of our bubble.

[Superbitsandbob]

Players have little patience for MMO releases, and I think we should be careful about stating that MMO's, including this one, are always a work in progress as a reason for the release. This could be a real PR nightmare.

This is not a game ready for release in its current state even by the standards of how MMO's are always evolving. It will be releasing without content above 30 and many of the systems are still unfinished/untested.

Releasing now is fine, for finances or whatever the reason is, but I think we would be better served publicly by being a bit more honest. Rightly or not, we need to try to see around our own passions for something because when players and press realise that there is no content above 30 for example, it may not be pretty if we are saying "MMO's are never finished" or words to that effect as an excuse.

The game needs to release on the right foot and how the release is communicated to players will be crucial.

 

[Elloa]

I really do like you @Superbitsandbob

 

[Superbitsandbob]

Oh you'll make me blush. I just want the game to do well irrespective of where it is.

 

[Chylok]

I agree 100%.

I fell in love with Embers during the open beta weekend and made the purchase after only five hours in; however, I have a serious concern regarding player/group load on certain "necessary" locations within the game (CV1 and Exile Camp.. the Camp specifically). I've not seen any sort of channel testing. Is there a contingency plan for the scenario where Ember's gets a very large influx of players?

I personally can not wait for launch, as they are always a massive celebration for us testers too. I wish the team all the best and a respectful /salute.

 

[Xavure]

I also agree and to be honest the first feeling I had when I saw the announcement was "OMG it's nowhere near ready....and I felt bad."
On the other hands I'm also happy that I will be able to play everyday, but I'm stressed that all the effort you guys put in won't last......

Anyway this is a very bold move and we'll see how it pays out.

 

[KnightFalz]

Is it bold, or just brazen? It will be an interesting reality check to observe as it unfolds.

 

[gpontadam]

I only stumbled on the game and as an EQ enjoyer (big up to P99!) I think I'd like it a lot. Watching multiple videos from the beta only reassured me that I would enjoy the gameplay.

However I'm still on the fence because of the very unfinished artwork. I think it would be immersion breaking after the feeling of novelty wears out. The UI, the in-game font and certain assets just scream Unity (if you are not sure what i mean, compare screenshots from EA and Last Epoch, another Unity game). I think the art style supposed to feel grounded and realistic (which is probably a really hard direction compared to cartoony or pixelart styles) but the way the game feels and looks in beta footage is... incohesive?

Anyways, I don't mean to bash the game, just wanted to ask this: did the studio discuss what they are planning to add and update on the game after release, and if so was the artwork mentioned?

I will likely buy the game but it would make my decision a lot easier if I knew that the art is still work in progress. I hope not having cosmetic shop and such means that the artists will keep working the core game elements instead of rainbow colored mounts

 

[Elloa]

The art is a work in progress indeed. We do have 2 3D artists and they work hard on armors and creatures at the moment.
In all honnesty, you will probably see the Unity store buildings and lanterns for a while.

 

[archy]

It is interesting to hear that there is no content above level 30. The launch promo states "Adventure content designed for solo players, small groups, and full 6-person groups for levels 1-50". Are they quickly adding in the extra half (+) of content in the next two weeks? Or will this be a case of false advertisement? Should we be prepared to see refund requests?

 

[Elloa]

It is interesting to hear that there is no content above level 30. The launch promo states "Adventure content designed for solo players, small groups, and full 6-person groups for levels 1-50". Are they quickly adding in the extra half (+) of content in the next two weeks? Or will this be a case of false advertisement? Should we be prepared to see refund requests?

There is already content beyond lvl 30 in game. And more content will be added at release.
Some of that content has never been seen by players, which is something we wanted to do: keep things fresh and exciting even for our tester community. So there will be some surprise.

 

[ChronoGuru]

The art is a work in progress indeed. We do have 2 3D artists and they work hard on armors and creatures at the moment.
In all honnesty, you will probably see the Unity store buildings and lanterns for a while.

I have to agree with the other poster a bit. I'm eyeballing this game hard, but a lot of the base Unity store assets are concerning me a bit.

If you've ever played "Shroud of the Avatar" (disaster that it was), you'll recognize a lot of similarities. Just seeing the font choice for overhead NPC/Enemy bars is triggering not so great feelings, since "Shroud" used the exact same font (or one VERY similar). I know that's probably more a me problem, but it is difficult to disassociate that immediate negative feeling cognitively.

Ember:


Shroud:


That being said, a lot of the core concepts seem great so far so I'm hopeful.

 

[Aphis]

The fonts are quite different!

I am a fan of serif.

 

[KnightFalz]

II know that's probably more a me problem, but it is difficult to disassociate that immediate negative feeling cognitively.

The game is quite dissimilar to SotA so you'll likely find negative feelings based on it won't endure.

 

[RazorBrains]

Q: How the release will look outside of our bubble?

A: Unfinished, boring, slow, unfun, laggy, lack of Qol/wasting peoples time on unproductive things, subpar weapons/armors, unfun skills.

Prediction:
These are the top things I believe people will be saying.
I also believe there will be a contingent on these boards to praise this game for its old school feeling, but most of these people will not be here in 3 months.
Additionally in 3 months this game will have lost over 90% of its initial player base.

I know for the games sake a lot of people are hoping I am wrong.
We will see if this comes to pass or not.

 

[Superbitsandbob]

It is interesting to hear that there is no content above level 30. The launch promo states "Adventure content designed for solo players, small groups, and full 6-person groups for levels 1-50". Are they quickly adding in the extra half (+) of content in the next two weeks? Or will this be a case of false advertisement? Should we be prepared to see refund requests?

This is a big concern. With players so fed up with how MMO releases are handled, even if the content is coming soon, anything missing will be picked up on. Will something like Alchemy be in. I guess some of this stuff could be for release but how much testing has it had?

 

[Kaeolin]

This is a big concern. With players so fed up with how MMO releases are handled, even if the content is coming soon, anything missing will be picked up on. Will something like Alchemy be in. I guess some of this stuff could be for release but how much testing has it had?

Alchemy is in and has been in. Provisioner can make potions. Been in for months so it's been thoroughly tested.

 

[Superbitsandbob]

Alchemy is in and has been in. Provisioner can make potions. Been in for months so it's been thoroughly tested.

So the low level fantasy magic system Alchemy (ember use) is the potion making under provisioner? OK was expecting it to be its own system looking at how it is described.

 

[Dalton]

So the low level fantasy magic system Alchemy (ember use) is the potion making under provisioner? OK was expecting it to be its own system looking at how it is described.

Alchemy is a completely different thing than potion making. It’s a system we have not been shown yet.
There is content above 30, it’s just not fully complete.

 

[Superbitsandbob]

Alchemy is a completely different thing than potion making. It’s a system we have not been shown yet.
There is content above 30, it’s just not fully complete.

That makes much more sense on the Alchemy front.

In the context of a new MMO release I think the issue for players will not be the fact that the content is coming, more that it is advertised in the launch and not there. You also have to consider that this content has not been tested on a live service with more players? So in effect we will be testing it. I don't care myself, it's more about how it looks to new players.

 

[Kaeolin]

Alchemy is a completely different thing than potion making. It’s a system we have not been shown yet.
There is content above 30, it’s just not fully complete.

In most every game I played Alchemy was a potion maker. I understand that it's the transformation of any materials.

I'd expect all content advertised to be there when you are able to use it. Dalton, nor any of us, have any idea of what's been held back. We've tested what we've been given to test.