Amazon is also considering a “battle pass-like” program, according to Lawrence. However, these changes in the shop will be tested in advance to ensure that they offer high value and do not significantly influence gameplay.
MMORPG Ashes of Creation delays the alpha – ESO and WoW are to blame
The Creative Director of Ashes of Creation, Steven Sharif, expressed his strong displeasure on Discord about the upcoming MMO New World from Amazon. Now he has apologized for the “unprofessional” remark.
This is what the director said: In a post on Discord, the Creative Director of Ashes of Creation commented on the MMO New World and its in-game shop. It was revealed through a leak that the shop would contain possible Pay2Win elements in the form of boosting items for experience and crafting.
He did not hold back his frustration about the shop:
I thought it was really funny how it was said that they would add “Quality of Life” items like LeVEl BOOsTs AnD TRadE SkilL BOoSTs, but nothing that would affect the competitive aspects of the game… ?!?!? Why are you doing this, Amazon? I was flattered that they drew inspiration from some of my designs, but honestly, who made this decision? I just want something new in the genre, damn it.
Notably, the director used the “Mocking Spongebob Meme.” The meme image is usually accompanied by text that quotes something previously said, alternating between lowercase and uppercase letters.
This writing style has become self-sustaining on the internet and is now used even without the accompanying image. It is generally understood to be mocking or offensive.
This was the apology: Although some fans of Ashes of Creation agreed with the director and celebrated his comment, he later backtracked and apologized. In a reddit thread, he wrote the following (via reddit):
I admit that my comment was unprofessional and I will strive to be less temperamental when responding to things that are very important to me. Sometimes it’s difficult when you’ve been looking forward to their MMO and everything it brings to the MMO genre. […]
Furthermore, Sharif admits that his MMO is not free from faults. He mentions, for example, that there was trouble with the pre-order system of Ashes of Creation, which he had to explain to the players personally. In the end, Sharif emphasizes that it is important for the company to be direct and open in its communication about monetization.
This is what Amazon says: Meanwhile, Amazon has responded to the leak and published a statement. Studio Director Rich Lawrence emphasized that the shop will only contain cosmetic items at launch. These include skins, colors, and special items for guilds.
Our goal with all items of any kind is that they do not provide benefits that would cause a poor balance in the game. We understand that this is a matter of interpretation for players. Therefore we ask for your patience while we test in alpha and listen to your feedback.
Amazon is also considering a “battle pass-like” program, according to Lawrence. However, these changes in the shop will be tested in advance to ensure that they offer high value and do not significantly influence gameplay.
MMORPG Ashes of Creation delays the alpha – ESO and WoW are to blame
