Unseen Studios

Hello, everybody.

There's been a lot going on behind the scenes recently that we'd like to fill you in on. I've probably mentioned about half of this to about half of you, but I'd like to give you a more comprehensive review of where we're at. Here goes.

• (1) What's going on in development?
  Well, as y'all know, we've had two significant updates recently, and are hard at work on a third.
  
  • First, the Bazaar, which seems to be working very well, and finally enables something of an economy to get going. The economy hasn't quite settled in yet, and there are a few more things to do, but it's in good enough shape to leave as-is until after Beta--all the important structures are in place.
  • Second, the PvP system which we've created in the last couple days. We have had a growing PvP problem in the game which we hadn't anticipated, but it brought our attention to the need to create a solid system that would allow (even encourage) PvP combat, and yet ensure that there were consequences for excessive PKing. We sat down on Monday and put a lot of thought into the problem, and it looks like our work is going to pay off: we have a working alignment system which looks like it's pretty close to how it's going to stay, and we even worked in a /ignore command. This being Alpha, there are a few small things that need to be fixed, and the balancing may well need a little tweaking (e.g., how much alignment per kill you lose, how quickly you gain it back), so give us your feedback over on the Alignment update post.
  • Third, the Item update is coming along well. This one has been difficult and slow, but we're taking our time so that we only have to do it once. The update will be a completely new item system. We've designed: a prop system much like Xenimus's; a system of determining item drop that is complex enough to produce interesting results and very customizable, but very simple to adjust for when we need to change it; a coherent and expansive item set, extending out well past the items we'll need for Beta. Right now we're finishing up with the item names and properties. This update will be released with the Mystery Update (number 3 below).
• (2) What's up next?
  We've got a handful of big updates that need to happen between now and Beta.
  
  • One, the Critical Bug update. Karl's taking a look at some of the bugs that have been persistent in Evidyon, notably the problems with Vista, the freeze-at-log-on bug, and the BSOD bug. Because one factor contributing to some of the bugs is the way in which the map is stored, he is reworking the map code as well. Although this should help kill the bugs and will allow us to do some very interesting things with the map that we can't do right now (e.g., transable building walls, fog, pits), it's a very big project that could take up a lot of time for a minimal result--after all the map works right now, just not as well as it could. Therefore, the solutions to these bugs will be developed in parallel with the tasks mentioned below and released as they are completed. At the very latest they will be completed along with the fourth item, the clean-up update.
  • Two, Quests. This is like the Alignment system: something we can't go into Beta without. We don't want to end up like Xenimus, with a hacked-together quest system that is boring and doesn't work half the time. We also promise to make the quests more interesting than "Go Kill 10 Bugs" (even if there are a few of those here and there ).
  • Three, Mystery Update! This one's gonna be good. It's another central part of the game like the Quests or Alignment, but it's not quite like any other game that we can think of that's out there. Since this feature is so unique, we don't want to give too many specifics until it's closer to being released. The new item set will be released at this point.
  • Four, Clean Up. We need to clean house, fix all those little irritating things that have been hanging around but never fixed, so that we can go into Beta with a clean game that runs smoothly. This will clean up the code, unify the GUI, fix most of the small bugs and issues, and include some development tools that will allow us to create content more easily so that we can put out a lot of good content quickly between this point and the commercial release. Any critical bugs still in the game will be fixed with this update.
  • Five, Balancing Week. We're planning a week or so of rapid-fire mini-updates in which we check our numbers over and over again so that we can go into Beta with something that players like. This will be the point at which we really look at the class, stat, and monster balances and try to get them as close as we can to perfect before Beta.
• (3) What's Beta going to be like?
  We're planning to release Beta at the end of July. This is just an estimate and may change, but we're confident we can finish everything we need to before then. So what will Beta include?
  
  • New content: A new (or significantly updated) map with plenty to do; new quests; new NPCs; new monsters; new artwork; new classes; new spells and abilities; new races; more levels; more items. Evidyon will be a completely playable game.
  • Better server. We're a little tight for cash right now, but we'll be upgrading to a far better server for Beta so all these damned problems go away.
  • New website. Awesome website with a big DOWNLOAD button. This brings us to:
  • Public. Invite everybody! We expect to have many more players in Beta, and will be busy inviting everybody we can to come and check out the game. Alpha is boring and small; Beta will be a hella lot of fun and big.
  • Character wipe. We had thought we could get away with not wiping characters at Beta, but we've realized that we're going to have to. Here's why: when we got down to design this big item update we've been working on we realized just how much of a mess the game is right now. It's sloppy, nothing makes sense with anything else, there's no design to the game. Everything that's in-game right now was just created at the last minute to test whatever code Karl had turned out for that particular update, and none of it is fit for a public game. So a good majority of the work that we'll be doing before Beta is designing the game as a whole, and the game we have at Beta will only bear a surface resemblance to the mess we have now. It wouldn't make much sense, then, to start everybody out 25 levels in. 25 Beta-levels aren't even going to be comparable to 25 Alpha-levels. It will be much better if everybody starts out at the bottom and can experience the new game from the ground up, especially since we're going public with Beta and want everybody to come in at the same level.
  • As a thank-you to all you Alpha testers active at the time we release Beta, we'll be giving each of you a special item for Beta: a Ring of the Ancients, which will give you +1 to every attribute and never drop on death (although in all other respects it will behave like any other item--i.e., you'll be able to drop it manually, sacrifice it for geonite, sell it in the bazaar, trade it, store it, &c.). Also, we'll be designing a high-level Shrine of the Ancients which will have tombstones with one character name from each active Alpha tester. So y'all will still have your glory and honor, and a pretty easy time leveling back up quickly between your experience playing Evidyon and the Ring of the Ancients.
• (4) And then what?
  Once we release Beta, Evidyon will be very near to being ready for commercial release. First we'll go back and clean up any lingering issues from Alpha, but most of what we'll be doing during Beta is just designing more and more content and adding it to the game and advertising so that more and more players join. We'll also (of course) be fixing any last bugs that pop up, and paying close attention to all those balancing issues so that we have a kick-bum game ready when we decide to go commercial. Once we have enough in the game that we feel we're justified in charging money for it, we'll release Commercial. Much like going into Beta, Commercial will include a significant content update, with more levels, maps, monsters, &c.; unlike going into Beta, there will be neither a character wipe nor an item wipe, so anything you accomplish in Beta will persist into Commercial release.
  

Hope that answers any questions y'all might have had about where we're at right now, and gets you as excited for the next few months as we are. This is going to be great--we're almost there and it's just going to get better and better.

Best,
Joe M.

Ring of the Ancients

Can't we have hat of the ancients or sword?
so we can parade our superiority around with our shiny item nobody else has..

Awesome!

Can we see what the new website will look like?

That's up to Karl--he's the one with the files.

Xplicit, don't be so quick to expect all these things to be tangible just yet. There will be plenty of time between now and the Beta release for Karl and Joe to give us previews and make changes based on our feedback.

Joe, this information you've provided makes the game sounds very promising, and I have no doubt that the finished project will rival Xenimus easily. I'm very excited about the things already in motion and can't wait to see the end result.

I can see where wanting to have a sword or piece of armor no one else has would be nice to flaunt around in front of new characters but a ring would have a greater overall use.

Since we'll get the item from the start, if it were a weapon or armor, it won't be super powerful, and we'd only use it as low level characters until we got something better. Rather, if its a ring, we can always use it and reap the benefits while still having the strongest armor and weapons, or even as a great backup ring to complete a mixed set of 6.

Edited

Tseiga wrote:Xplicit, don't be so quick to expect all these things to be tangible just yet. There will be plenty of time between now and the Beta release for Karl and Joe to give us previews and make changes based on our feedback.

Joe, this information you've provided makes the game sounds very promising, and I have no doubt that the finished project will rival Xenimus easily. I'm very excited about the things already in motion and can't wait to see the end result.

Don't be so quick to write 2 paragraphs that make no sense..

Firstly i think Karls and Joes ability to make rings and name them has already been proven with the rings (with names) they have already added to the game.

Secondly you seem to underestimate just how far the game has gone. it has barely any content, hardly any players and lots of bugs which means it already rivals Xenimus.

Also i only commented on the the ring so "all these things" is jumping the gun a bit.

I don't think having 1 extra stat point for each stat will help in any way when your level 1 - 25 anyway so we may aswell have something we can show off.

an don't double post

XpLiCiT wrote:I don't think having 1 extra stat point for each stat will help in any way when your level 1 - 25 anyway so we may aswell have something we can show off.

an don't double post

Hmm something to show off with, what if Alpha testers all got a big black cape witha big red A (A for alpha, like alpha and omega?) and it gave us a little dmg and a little health? that would be showing off and looking cool, besides we would be the only ones wearing a cape in the game EVER id say that was SPECIAL

Ill vote for cape if its blows about like im standing on a winding building or infront of a fan..or if i just farted.

Karl promised me fairys..does anyone know whats happening with the fairys?

did u just make that lol?

Also, we'll be designing a high-level Shrine of the Ancients which will have tombstones with one character name from each active Alpha tester. So y'all will still have your glory and honor

lovely

Tseiga wrote:Since we'll get the item from the start, if it were a weapon or armor, it won't be super powerful, and we'd only use it as low level characters until we got something better. Rather, if its a ring, we can always use it and reap the benefits while still having the strongest armor and weapons, or even as a great backup ring to complete a mixed set of 6.

That's what we were thinking.

XpLiCiT wrote:Secondly you seem to underestimate just how far the game has gone. it has barely any content, hardly any players and lots of bugs which means it already rivals Xenimus.

lol.

Joe M. wrote:

Tseiga wrote:Since we'll get the item from the start, if it were a weapon or armor, it won't be super powerful, and we'd only use it as low level characters until we got something better. Rather, if its a ring, we can always use it and reap the benefits while still having the strongest armor and weapons, or even as a great backup ring to complete a mixed set of 6.

That's what we were thinking.

Yeah, but nobody would know you were Alpha, and you couldnt show off. besides a ring sounds so boring does it not and the alpha members would be the only ones wearing cape which is why they would reap benefits? i vote le cape.

but i guess its easier with a ring, nvm then no one will know your an alpha.

I like the idea, but it's a little complicated, and I don't think anybody cares about who tested the game during the alpha stage..

If anything.. Just make a bunch of Boss Enemies and name them after some of the Alpha's if you think a simple alpha tester deserves such a thing.. lol

I think if you want a statue made from you character in game, you should pay for it.. Hell Karl could use the money for something allot more useful then some stupid statues that >nobody< is going to even pay attention to, or care about.

edited

I take huge offence to the fact you included joseph in ur quest and not me.

we will fall out.

tho i do like the idea of in 3 years time when theres loads of good models and gears and flashy weapons to having our alpha ghosts in a shrine with our leopard skin suits on

edited

so there will be a rapey in there saying the wrong thing and offending everyone with my disgusting sense of humour

Awesome, and according to Joseph it seems the character wipe is why the games activity has gone down. Is this true people, cuz it will sucks. I mean, cmon, you know you like fucking around killing Joseph. Thats worth it in itself. Haha.

But i cant wait till August. Tshall be awesome.

sandalhat wrote:Awesome, and according to Joseph it seems the character wipe is why the games activity has gone down. Is this true people, cuz it will sucks. I mean, cmon, you know you like fucking around killing Joseph. Thats worth it in itself. Haha.

But i cant wait till August. Tshall be awesome.

im not playing cause my gf said i couldnt when shes around, atm im currently living at her house so that means 0 game time but ill be on today while she's at work, if i aint watching my series.

marzuku wrote:
im not playing cause my gf said i couldnt when shes around, atm im currently living at her house so that means 0 game time but ill be on today while she's at work, if i aint watching my series.

lol. tell her its your job

Rabit561 wrote:I think if you want a statue made from you character in game, you should pay for it.. Hell Karl could use the money for something allot more useful then some stupid statues that >nobody< is going to even pay attention to, or care about.

This is true. I'd rather Karl use the money to advance the game further rather than use it on statues with no real purpose. I know it's out of appreciation for the testers but if its between that and update material then I can do without the glory.

XpLiCiT wrote:Don't be so quick to write 2 paragraphs that make no sense..

Ouch..more like one split up paragraph that is highly debatable..now that I can live with. I never intended to bring Joe or Karl's abilities into question. I know they can make rings. All I was saying is that these ideas can always be altered if the majority is in favor of something else when the topic is debated, which is exactly what we're doing.

You wouldn't receive "glory" either way.

xen01 wrote:You wouldn't receive "glory" either way.

i do think that if you had an alpha tester cape it would be like xencon helmet, people would ask "Whats that cape and where did you get it?"
you would say something like "i was in the alpha testing group when this game was being created, its a reward for helping out with bugs & w/e