10/21/2008    |    Devlog    |    fraxl    |    Discuss

While DesignCo and ConCo are working furiously to make the new avatar combat system super fun, I’m busy gathering players to help us test it. This isn’t new—playtests have been an important part of our development cycle since long before launch. Putting developers in the same room as someone playing their game is a humbling experience for us, but it’s also the best and most direct way we have to get feedback. We get so used to thinking of the game from the inside out that it’s invaluable to check that view against what you all see from the outside in.

Keeping with this idea, we’ve already started doing AvCom playtests here at the Lab to test out the big changes Isildur talked about in his Devlog last week. Right now the playtests are very limited in scope, as the system is still pretty rough around the edges. We’ll keep doing them, however, and we’ll need to bring in more local folks to give us their insight. If you live in the Seattle area and want to participate, please fill out this form. If you do come in for a playtest, you’ll get your choice of some sweet prizes as a thank you.

Whenever we recruit for on-site playtests, I hear from lots of you who aren’t lucky enough to live in our fair city. Well, geography doesn’t have to stop you from participating this time! As Misha mentioned in her devlog, we’re moving heaven and Earth to set up a special testing server so that people all over the world can help us make the new system great. We expect to have all the pieces in place by the end of this month, at which point we’ll be able to let in the first round of testers for a closed AvCom beta. Sound interesting? I bet it does…

If you would like to participate in AvCom beta testing from the comfort of your own home, there are a few things you will need to know. Please click this link to learn more about what we’ll be doing and what we’ll be asking of you, then decide if you’d like to get involved. If you are chosen, you’ll get to play lots of Avatar Combat missions and give us your feedback on them. You’ll also be asked about the new swashbuckling skills you choose and how the system feels overall. As a thank you, remote playtesters will be eligible for special prizes in addition to getting a sneak peek at the new content.

Of course, we know that not everyone wants to spend their valuable time testing an unpolished system. For that reason, we’re working hard to make sure that all players will have what they need to make the change as painless as possible when it goes live. You’ll hear about this stuff in more detail in the future, but here are some of the things we plan to do to make this a smooth transition for everybody:

First, you’ll be getting even more of these devlogs as time goes by from all the teams at FLS. In addition to explaining the vision and implementation process, they’re intended to keep the lines of communication open between all of you and all of us. We’re looking forward to the discussion and excitement they start!

You’ll also be getting guides to the new system, both written by us and by playtesters in the community. The guides will help you get comfortable with the new system and help you plan strategies long before you’re faced with actual enemies. We’re also putting together some gameplay videos, so you can see the new system in action.

When the time finally comes to push the new changes to the live servers, you’ll know about it. The patch notes will explain the changes as usual, but you’ll also see special announcements in your launcher. If you miss those, you’ll still see a splash screen the first time you log-in, outlining the changes in broad strokes and giving you an idea of what to do next. We want to be sure that everyone knows just whats going on.

In the game itself, we’ll have updated tutorials so new players can learn AvCom from scratch. There will also be practice missions for all levels combined with cheaper skill respecs, so existing players can try out different skill combinations. The Content team is also making some new AvCom daily missions with cool avatar outfitting rewards for high-level players.

So, that’s how you can help us with testing AvCom and how we plan to help you get acclimated to the new system. It will be a big change for everyone, but with your help, we’re confident it will be a great addition to Pirates of the Burning Sea!

10/21/2008    |    Devlog    |    fraxl    |    Discuss