The MMO with sandbox elements ArcheAge has completed the first of a series of beta events. Do the first hours reflect the depth of the game, or does a quest-heavy start possibly deter many players?
Bill Murphy from mmorpg.com addresses the delicate questions of game design in ArcheAge in a column. He fears that ArcheAge drives away numerous players by appearing, at first glance, as a “standard MMO”. One is sent from quest to quest through the first thirty levels, exposing players to the standard gameplay that can also be found in World of Warcraft or pretty much any other MMO. As a result, the game fails to highlight its own strengths in the first hours: how deeply intertwined crafting is with gameplay, sailing, land ownership, piracy, and the open world.
Those who persevere through the first thirty hours or are already aware of the game’s inner values are certainly in line to become future customers. However, those approaching the game without much information and just following the “natural” quest progression could quickly lose interest and dismiss it as “just another MMO”.
Pick up players where they stand, or throw them straight into the deep end?
My MMO thinks: Certainly a delicate problem that ArcheAge faces here. Those who spent 135 euros for alpha access have thoroughly engaged with the game beforehand and know what to expect. However, those who become beta players through a giveaway and more or less stumble into their luck might experience what Murphy described.
However, the design with the theme park focus is also understandable. It makes sense that Trion Worlds wants to receive players “on safe ground”, where they stand, and thus feeds them with familiar content. This gives players a goal and does not overwhelm them with too much unfamiliarity. Many MMO players who have never heard of sandbox and open-world (from where would they?) could feel lost in an MMO without quests and a red thread. Scott Hartsman spoke in our interview about ArcheAge as a “sandbox” with theme park elements as an introduction. The decision has thus been made consciously, even if it may lack refinement.
It will be interesting to see whether the European ArcheAge will manage to balance these elements. It is essential to find a middle ground between two poles. Otherwise, players will log out and not log back in. Either because they are disoriented and overwhelmed or bored and tired of the same quests.
