Sandbox Interactive ran an AMA for its in-development indie MMO Albion Online on Reddit last night, covering everything from the game’s business model to how players in far-flung locations fare on its global server. Here are the highlights!
- There are no plans for a freebie weekend or trial as a result of fairness to founders and botting issues — as well as performance issues. “The game is extremely well populated as it is, and we’d be worried that free trial could slow down the servers.”
- Likewise, SI will be sticking to its original plan to reward founders with early access, though players have expressed concern over the potential for an ArcheAge-like land-grab.
- In response to players bringing up pay-to-win and the game’s $30 buy-in, SI explained the game’s business model is based on EVE Online’s and that while players can essentially gain an advantage by buying and then exchanging real-money currency for in-game currency, it won’t afford players a guaranteed win. As for the currency exchange, it should be possible to play the market.
- The devs say they have a self-balancing system to deal with equipment inflation, part of which revolves around gear being looted and destroyed when you die.
- It is possible to be a dedicated farmer/cook in the game, though crop timers are set to daily.
- Solo “lone wolf” PvP is possible in the game, “but it is easily one of the activities with the highest skill cap.”
- Fishing is eventually coming to the game. Other sea-faring content is still a maybe.
- Like EVE, Albion will stick to one single global server. “We chose our servers’ location in such a way that America, Europe and Russia get a good ping. The game’s combat is not as fast paced as League of Legends or Dota, so you can easily play it well with pings as high as 150. 95% of our players are below that. We even have a lot of Australians play Albion Online, even though their pings are usually the highest.”
- Following the initial rush, the studio expects players to engage in the economy, guild warfare, PvE content, character development (“It is pretty much impossible to max out”) and multiple PvP types.
- Player character models are not due for a revamp ahead of launch.
More on Reddit, just in time for the Galahad patch to drop today.
Source: AMA
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