Camelot Unchained

[Nessaj]

For the Dark Age of Camelot fans:

(click to show/hide)

http://citystateentertainment.com/camelotunchained/

February 6, 2013

Over the years I’ve gotten a ton of “Please make another MMORPG!” (sometimes accompanied by “A good one this time!!!!”) or “Please make a DAoC 2” requests as well as lots of other interesting requests that seem quite anatomically impossible. However, after the “challenging” years of 2005-2009, I needed time, circumstances and stars to align before I was ready to make the decision to jump back into the MMORPG pool. When Mythic Entertainment set out on Dark Age of Camelot just about everybody in the industry said we would fail. That leading our little team against such major companies as Sony, Microsoft and Electronic Arts, who had their own (or were backing) MMORPGs, was nothing short of insanity. After all, even with a strong vision and a young and hungry team, we were told we had no chance of success. Well, despite the odds, only 2.5M in total development funding, 18 month cycle, and a tiny team (about a dozen full-time developers when we started), we created one of the best MMORPGs of all time, Dark Age of Camelot. As I’ve said many times elsewhere, I’m eternally grateful to that team because without their dedication, effort and creativity Dark Age would have been just another idea I got while taking a shower. However, in the immortal words of the great philosopher Timon, “You’ve got to put your past behind you.” :)

That being said, I needed another great idea before I was willing to even consider making another MMORPG. While I’ve covered some of the steps I’ve taken down the MMORPG path elsewhere, it’s worth talking about this core concept a bit more. There was/is no greater champion for using these European myths and legends than me. I still love them as much as I did back in 1999 when I had to convince the Mythic team that it was the right idea for an MMORPG (and don’t get me started on how hard that was and that paled in comparison to trying to convince potential publishers and distributors). BTW, my favorite quote from those years is still how one European executive for a rather major multi-media company said to me “I don’t know why you think European players would be interested in playing a game based on Camelot.” Now, how could we use some of the same public domain myths and legends in a different and unique way? Well, quite a while ago a friend of mine and I were discussing what kind of games could succeed in Asia. He gave me some tips and I filed those away for future use. Many months later I remembered one of those tips, the one that had been especially important to me throughout my career, use dragons! One of my first online games was, of course, Dragon’s Gate and I still wear the same dragon charm that I have worn for over 20 years. Putting dragons into a game is hardly new. However, what if our world’s dragons were a mere reflection of what these beings are in their own reality? In addition, what if in their dimension their technology is what we call magic? Then, what if a cataclysmic event pierced the walls (Veil) and the power from that dimension flooded our world – a world with no magic, wizards, and dragons? Moreover, what if that power brought these legends and stories, dreams and nightmares, to life all at once? How would the world be changed? Would it even survive? This shattered world is the backdrop for what comes next.

This is my vision for a new IP based on some of the greatest tales the Western world has ever known. A world where Arthur and his knights are not mere legends, but are alive and fighting to build Camelot; where Nuada has gathered the newly emergent Tuatha Dé Danann as they take their first steps out of the ether and where Sigurd is leading his mighty Viking warriors into glorious battle. This is not my former concept re-skinned, not simply Dark Age of Camelot 2 with a new name. If you are looking for a bold new vision for these legends, just as Dark Age of Camelot was a new vision back in 1999, look no further. If the idea of a Tri-Realm™, RvR-focused game where there is no PvE grinding, no gear grinding, no “instanced-based PvP/RvR” but with a entirely player-owned and crafted economy and where your choices matter, all set within a truly open and persistent world appeals to you, then I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity. And most importantly, if the words “server pride” and “realm pride” hold a special place in your heart; then I welcome you to my vision, our world and one day, with your help, a place where you are not merely reliving the legends of Camelot, Vikings and the Tuatha Dé Danann but forging them yourselves.

-Mark

P.S. I still hate gold farmers, paid power-levelers and hacked clients. I may have mellowed a bit but I haven’t changed THAT MUCH! :)

Also, if you are interested in seeing this vision come to life, please sign up for our newsletter! We’re trying to use it to both gauge initial interest in the game but also to communicate with our future players so pretty please with a Viking on top?

Kickstarter in a few weeks.

[TheAppleSauceMan]

Oh boy...... I know quite a few veterans who are going to pee themselves with excitement over this.....

[Freland]

Dark Age of Camelot prolonged my university time at least a year  This seems to be focussing even more on PvP or RvR (realm vs realm) as they called it.
Sounds good.

[Vibe]

This seems to be focussing even more on PvP or RvR (realm vs realm) as they called it.

Not "even more", it's fully focusing on RvR and PvP.

I wanted to post about this but I was thinking Nessaj is going to do it anyway


Here's more info from his comments on Massively.com (original questions not included because CBA):

MarkJacobs
2 days ago

Folks,

   It’s been a great day but it’s time to call it and grab some of our favorite food (chicken wings!) with the team. Thank you for your support, questions, and occasional rotten fruit. If you are interested in our game and if you haven’t signed up for our newsletter, please do. We want to use that as an initial gauge for support of our Kickstarter. Here’s the last batch of Q&A from yours truly tonight.


@stinsvarning [MJ- You had lots of great points, here are my answers]

>>>>  Roles/Classes FTW in this game. Lots of wide open spaces, establishing Realm Pride is hugely important, RR & RAs not as important (but for different reasons, I think you’ll understand what I mean in a couple of weeks and like it) and as to having a multi-faceted game, I couldn’t agree more.

@jimr9999us I would love for an audience specific mmorpg to make it happen on Kickstater and Jacobs is starting his attempt off by hitting all of the right buttons...

but what an immense challenge! Can you make something people will want to play for less than $15mil? I'll be watching the goal carefully.

>>>> Thanks. I think so, tell will tell of course. After all, Dark Age of Camelot only cost 2.5M. J

@Jeremy8 Mark ya don't have to copy DAOC completely, but Copy the mechanics of the game at least...Interrupting on Casters for example..Casters were insanely deadly in DAOC, however they at least had to know how to properly kite and prekite so they wouldn't die..None of this standing in place instant casting spells, or running while instant casting spells. Its silly and needs to die already.

Also, No stealthing in combat, DAOC system was good, You had one chance to land your PA, and if ya you didn't, you had an uphill fight. People have been trying to change that system for years, and have made it remarkably worse (See Thieves in GW2)

>>>> No copying allowed in this classroom, don’t want teacher to rap me on the knuckles with a ruler. J As far as insta-casting & bunny hop & cast, I agree. Combat has to be meaningful, a bit difficult and requires more than button-mashing for this game to succeed. That’s one of the many advantages of going small. Hey, maybe we need a new catch phrase? Go small or go FTP! J

@dugfromtheearth Daoc elements + no EA = this project has a chance, and isnt instantly doomed from the start.

>>>> Glad you think we are off to a good start. As to EA, I really don’t hate them and as I’ve said, WAR’s failure to be everything it could have been should not be laid on their shoulders alone. I refuse to play that card because it is both untrue and weasely. We all made mistakes, I’m willing to admit mine and move on to better things.

@eddie.rend Mr. Jacobs, all I want are two things...Vikings and berserkers. Thank you.

>>>>You’re easy to please, I like that!


@Blueneko [As per above, lots of good points. My summary is:]

>>>>  Housing (key feature), Crafting (key feature), Open World (key feature),  Dungeons (under discussion), CC (under lots and lots of discussion).

@henrymontana1978 Mark, my only concern is that further down the line once beta begins, that certain players will strongly plead their case for adding PvE to the game. And doing that would take dev time/resources away from what really matters, RvR! I really hope you stick to your guns about the no PvE.

>>>> Then you have no concerns. This is an RvR-focused game. One of the reasons I didn’t look for publisher funding is so I didn’t have to worry about caving in to the Golden Rule. J

@ PaganRites I'm hitting that Kickstarter Day 1. TAKE MAH MONNIES!  Mark, if you can infuse Camelot Unchained with the spirit that DAoC had, I'm going to be a big backer of this game.

>>>> I look forward to winning your patronage.

@LordAbraham @AmberACurtis Stealthers, 8v8, CC, etc.

>>>> All things that we are going to consider very, very carefully and talk with our backers about. I don’t pretend to know everything and I really want to get lots of feedback from people before making some decisions. It’s not that I’m afraid to (obviously) but I do want to gather some feedback from our backers.

@trumanlee4 Mark, I just want to take the time to say thank you! Your games, your ideas, are the reason I play MMO's.

>>>> No, thank you for your kind words and being a customer. I appreciate both and I hope that CU and I don’t disappoint you.

@skyydragonn Dear Mark,After the huge fiasco of unfufilled promisesa nd trite gameplay that was WAR I ahve one question for you. How am I supposed to trust your word this time around?

>>>> Please don’t then, no worries and certainly, no offense taken on my part. I’m truly sorry if aspects of Dark Age of Camelot & Warhammer Online were not the games you hoped they would be, whether due to my actions as lead designer or other people’s work. Wait till the game comes out and then decide if it meets your needs. I hope, over the next few weeks, to convince you that since we are independent and not seeking publisher funding and are a quite different team than the WAR team, that things will be different this time but it’s up to you of course. Thank you for your interest in my past games and I hope that you’ll be interested in our new game when it is released.

Thanks again to Massively for the coverage and and all the folks here for your comments.

Mark

MarkJacobs
4 hours ago

@jazzychef I have and will consider it but (big giant but actually) I really want to focus on just one master this time and really do it well. We will have things to do when you don't feel like RvRing with friends and foes but it won't be for leveling your character(s). Here's my thinking on players getting bored, though:

1) We are gearing/selling this game to/for RvR players.

2) We are gearing every system for RvR players.

3) We are focusing all our efforts on RvR players

4) We are going P2P so we don't have to worry about cash shops, non-RvR players trying the game.

5) Without PvE and (4), my team and I will have more time to focus on <drum roll please> RvR.

 If the players are bored, we screwed up.

That about sums it up. Thanks for your kind words and I hope, future support.

MarkJacobs
4 hours ago

@TROWA @andrew.macconnell Over the next few weeks I'll be detailing our sub system. I think you'll like what you see. I'll say this much, I'm not looking for a BTP + Cash Shop game. You'll understand more when I talk about it in detail. FYI, even in our iPad game March on Oz, I haven't put in a cash shop for the $3.99 app.

After I talk about the options in detail, if you still think that it's fail, please let me know why, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

MarkJacobs
4 hours ago

@ShelMarieTX Thank you! Housing is really, really important to me as it was a feature I had to fight for during the Dark Age of Camelot days. Hopefully you'll like where we want to go with it. And yes, displaying your achievements in your house is one of those "must-do" features but we still need to figure out a way to get the bloodstains off the floor when parents come to visit right?

Thanks again for your interest and hopefully, future support.

[Freland]

The kickstarter is up http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13861848/camelot-unchained?ref=live
They want 2 million and have raised 970k with 23 days to go.

[Freland]

At the moment the kickstarter lost some steam as usual in the middle of a campaign (at 1.15 million at the moment).
They have been doing a lot of updates recently about their game engine showing they shoudl be capable of rendering hundreds of different game character at the same time.

[Vibe]

Doesn't look like it's going to reach 2 mil.

[Banok]

they have nothing to show, its all just words and promises.

didnt they make alot of simular noise for WAR which ended up quite shite. same guy right?

so its pretty cheeky to ask for 2 mil, if you fund this you are totally gambling your money imo.

if they don't get funded they will have to come back and try again with something to show, a good thing.

[Nessaj]

Well the art department surely sucks anyway, I really don't want to donate to see a bunch of anime characters being called vikings..

[Freland]

42 hours to go in their kickstarter and they might make it. They are currently at $1,75 million.

[Gnjus]

Anyone still following this ? Any signs of success ?

[Radament]

Anyone still following this ? Any signs of success ?

gnjus , you are supposed to do Baal runs with your friends atm....with a LEGIT copy of Diablo 2 + LOD !!!

joking...no...yes ...ok this mmo is interesting but ...no news = pre alpha for me.

[Gnjus]

gnjus , you are supposed to do Baal runs with your friends atm....with a LEGIT copy of Diablo 2 + LOD !!!

Damnation, almost forgot that I downloaded a torrent of D2 complete while my home connection was not working for a week, now that it's back I can test it out. 


PS: cca 50 new mummies discovered in the Valley of the Kings, time for Act 2:

http://www.livescience.com/45186-mummies-unearthed-egypts-valley-of-the-kings.html

[Asheram]

There's a new website up. http://camelotunchained.com/v3/

[SeQuel]

I've been keeping my eye on this game.