Shadowbane Releases New Asian-Specific MMO Fork

Thanks to Waterthread.org for its messageboard thread pointing to major new Asian-specific features for UbiSoft's PC MMO title Shadowbane, following Asian publisher En-Tranz's decision to create a separate version of the game to better meet "the needs of the Asia-Pacific players." This unique split, with 2 development teams working on different version of the same MMO, has led to Asian-specific changes such as "a 'WASD' control scheme (no more mouse clicking movement)", a new experience curve ("players can now reach level 20 much more easily but as players reach the higher levels, it gets much more difficult"), and a general "newbie experience overhaul." Update: 03/01 19:07 GMT by S : In related news, UbiSoft has just announced the purchase of Wolfpack Studios, creators of ShadowBane.

Comments

After reading the article

[foidulus]

You really have to wonder what specifically is for the asian market? Maybe it's just that asians are more accepting of MMO's than the general public, so they can slim down the newbie station? Or is it that they tend to have greater tolerance for random monsters so they jack up the monster count. Or they love very cartoony looks so they overhaul some of the outfits? Or is it that they love collecting very rare items so the price skyrockets? A lot of it sounds like catering to hardcore gamers versus the hobbyist public than anything specifically asian, but maybe thats just my take on it.
Maybe someone more familiar with the asian gaming market can tell me what cultural aspects make this stuff more appealing. I guess as a regular dumb American I just see a lot of these features as a way to take up more time that could be spent doing something else, like FPing on /.

Re:After reading the article

[Anonymous Coward]

Or maybe the asian market is just more accepting of really shitty MMOs. I gave SB a long time to "get working" and it never did. After many months, I just gave up even though I'd already paid for a year long subscription at $120. The ideas were interesting but it was just so technicall inferior and needed a lot of work. And the gameplay got EXTREMELY boring.

changing because they failed

[Filiks]

Shadowbane was supposed to have been user created warfare against other humans. I haven't played since summer, but the game hadn't yet accomplished that.

The changes sound as though they're making the higher levels difficult to reach so the game becomes more like Everquest. Since the warfare didn't work like it was supposed to, change the focus to player vs. monsters. If the PVP had worked, leveling quickly would still be appreciated as the real fun I had was against other humans. Getting most players to similar levels makes for a more even battlefield.

Keyboard Movement Needed in US Version

[Anonymous Coward]

It's one of the main reasons I quit the game in the first place. I refuse to play any mouse click to move games.. ala WISH, Shadowbane, and others

Re:Just what it needs

[L7_]

I think thats what the North America/UbiSoft fork is doing.

If you read the first news story on the Watershead site it is an interview with Ubiq who seems to be some sort of lead SB Ubi admin. In the article, http://www.waterthread.org/news/107724070845526.ht ml he talks about whats needed in shadowbane.

I think he has a pretty good grip on it, but i guess like everything, the devil is in the details (and implementation!).

His list:

1) Increase overall client stability, and performance of both the client and the server.
2) Make it easier to rebuild after a lost war.
3) Ensure that a siege event is about the right duration.
4) Make trebuchets and other siege equipment more important to sieging.
5) Make walls more effective and cooler.
6) Reduce tree camping.
7) Spread people out.
8) Improve guards.
9) Improve accountability.
10) Get rid of Player Stacking.
11) Improve city management.
12) Improve the siege atmosphere.