WildStar Online

[Morreion]

Rumor: WildStar coming to Steam as a free-to-play title in August [Updated] (MOP)

A supposedly anonymous source working for Wildstar says:

As has oft been discussed around here, Wildstar is going to be changing its business model in August (tentatively of course, patch stuff etc) to a Hybridized Free to Play model. Now thankfully it is not going Pay to Win, I suppose you could call it “Freemium” in a way as a lot of the stuff that the paid accounts will get is buffs to experience/rep/renown etc gain and character slots and the like, no direct power buffs or anything like that. MTX (Microtransactions) will be included moving forward as well and you will hear more about that very soon.

Steam release should be by the end of this year or January at the absolute latest. It should definitely be before the China release. The China release is slower because we have to change every asset that has bones or blood or teeth or eyeballs and all of that stuff that they are not fond of. Some whole zones, specifically those with the Strain, have to be overhauled.

[Morreion]

Wildstar Shutting Down This Year







WildStar and Carbine are shutting down (MOP)

“Today, we are closing Carbine Studios and will begin the process of winding WildStar down to ultimately shutter the game. WildStar players who have spent money within the game will be refunded purchases from July 1, 2018 until the payment system is shut off. We are also in the process of identifying the teams that will be doing the work to bring WildStar to a close. These decisions are very difficult to make and we are in the midst of shifting as many of our teammates as possible into other roles within the organization.”

NCsoft’s picked a date for WildStar’s sunset: November 28 (MOP)

“It’s never easy to say goodbye to something, especially something that has meant so much for so many—but the WildStar game service will close on November 28, 2018,” the company says, noting that purchases made since July 1st will be refunded, while WildStar CREDD currency still unused will be converted into NCoin for use in (some) of NCsoft’s other western titles.

A eulogy for WildStar – a marvelous MMORPG and avoidable tragedy (MOP)

Again, I don’t want to recount a rant I already made, but the simple reality is that WildStar launched in service to two different masters. It had one game that was a creative sandpark experience with tons to do, paths to explore, and lots of fun stuff to use to make your character and your space your own. It had another game that was just straight-up garbage that was the fever dream of every endgame vanilla World of Warcraft raider who decided that Molten Core didn’t go far enough.

That at least explains why the game suffered early on; as people got to the level cap, they found nothing but a bleak abyss that was made for basically no one attracted to the game’s sandpark nature. But that was launch. There was time to win back the crowd, plenty of time. Things could have been done right away to minimize those aspects.

Instead, they doubled down. It baffled me when the developers started talking about adding more raids when the top-end players were already upset that no one seemed to be playing the existing ones. This is the sort of thing that the aforementioned WoW has only gotten away with because it has a large enough population to paper over the issue.

Perfect Ten: My favorite WildStar memories (MOP)

3. Alice in Wonderland

Early on in what I think was over on the Dominion side, I came across a little cave with an entrance that was far too small to enter. However, by noshing on a suspicious item, I found myself shrinking and entering into a cheeky little homage to Alice in Wonderland. Complete with caterpillar and hookah. I think I got a little piece of housing decor from it, too.

6. Low gee fun

While a bulk of WildStar took place on the planet of Nexus, not all of it did. There were shiphands and scenarios that took you off-world, and at least one zone — Farside — was set entirely on an orbiting moon. While Farside wasn’t the most visually impressive area, the fact that it featured low gravity made it one of the most fun to traverse. Suddenly, characters could jump twice as high as before, and with double-jumping and hoverboards, it was possible to get some serious air time. It was so much fun, you guys.

9. Getting lost in housing…

I would estimate that about 45% of the time I spent in WildStar took place entirely on my personal floating island. From the start, I adored this MMO’s housing system and the sheer convenience and options that it gave to all of us. We had cool stuff to do outside, cool stuff to do inside, instant teleport from anywhere in the world… the works. I did the architect crafting system to be able to churn out all sorts of decor. I tracked down specific challenges that paid out in neat decor. I reveled in creating cozy and crazy spaces, and every so often had ambitious plans to build wonders like huge mazes and a replica of the Mystery Shack from Gravity Falls. Oh! And there was that cool Halloween house that I bought a while back from the store, that was awesome!

[Regolyth]

Again, I don’t want to recount a rant I already made, but the simple reality is that WildStar launched in service to two different masters. It had one game that was a creative sandpark experience with tons to do, paths to explore, and lots of fun stuff to use to make your character and your space your own. It had another game that was just straight-up garbage that was the fever dream of every endgame vanilla World of Warcraft raider who decided that Molten Core didn’t go far enough.

That at least explains why the game suffered early on; as people got to the level cap, they found nothing but a bleak abyss that was made for basically no one attracted to the game’s sandpark nature. But that was launch. There was time to win back the crowd, plenty of time. Things could have been done right away to minimize those aspects.

Instead, they doubled down. It baffled me when the developers started talking about adding more raids when the top-end players were already upset that no one seemed to be playing the existing ones. This is the sort of thing that the aforementioned WoW has only gotten away with because it has a large enough population to paper over the issue.

This seems to sum up a lot of games, in my opinion.

[Morreion]

Oct 9, 2018 11:00:48 GMT -5 Regolyth said:

This seems to sum up a lot of games, in my opinion.

Agreed. Players blow through expensive labor-intensive created content much much faster than it can be created (maybe procedurally generated content one day will change that). Just make a sandbox with lots of interesting things to do and you're done.

[Regolyth]

Oct 10, 2018 6:23:03 GMT -5 Morreion said:

... maybe procedurally generated content one day will change that).

They could take a page from Diablo and do that. All the land, dungeons and items (except for a few unique encounters and items) are all completely, randomly generated. I've always liked that about Diablo.

[Morreion]

Oct 10, 2018 8:21:48 GMT -5 Regolyth said:

Oct 10, 2018 6:23:03 GMT -5 Morreion said:

... maybe procedurally generated content one day will change that).

They could take a page from Diablo and do that. All the land, dungeons and items (except for a few unique encounters and items) are all completely, randomly generated. I've always liked that about Diablo.

Back in 2001, Anarchy Online had procedurally-generated missions- essentially randomnly-created dungeons with NPC mobs. I liked that system just fine.

anarchyonline.wikia.com/wiki/Missions