[PC/360] The Secret World MMOG Announced: I'm Pumped

[Blackjack]

Popular rumor has SWTOR at September at the earliest, so a few months could mean either late April early May (Wasn't AoC a May title too?) which is plenty of time to sucker in players before TOR  

I think this might appeal to a different audience too.

SWTOR community reps have posted as recently as last week that they are targeting April release, and I saw a developer interview in December where they claimed the same thing.  There's an EA earnings conference call this afternoon, so we may get a bit more info on both games.

Personally I would be very surprised if The Secret World came out before The Old Republic.

The SWTOR rep has been blue in the face reiterating that there is no release date info for SWTOR beyond 2011 (April seems impossible, December seems cynical, I guess Fall  ). People keep misconstruing "after March" as an April release date. And EA's financials presentation apparently managed to make "April or any time later in 2011" come across as "April 2011!"  

I was looking forward to this, SWTOR and Tera. I don't have the stamina to play several MMOs at the same time. This year should be interesting if all three of those come out this year (Tera's dev is also only giving "2011" as a release date at this point). I would assume there will be some jockeying, and I don't see all 3 games coming out at the same time, or even the same month.

I am curious if Secret World will use something like AoC's combo system. I enjoyed that, just felt it eventually got overcomplicated as you got higher in levels. Which they later pulled back on, but I think there's still some better, funner way to implement it. I think the combo system would've been awesome with SW light sabers, though clearly Bioware didn't agree. 

[CeeKay]

a few changes are coming to the game.

[PR_GMR]

a few changes are coming to the game.

Hehehe. Love the slam to WoW.

[rshetts2]

Fear My Illuminati Night ELF!!!!!!!

[CeeKay]

the console version is on the backburner.

"I've been very vocal in saying that when - I guess also if - we have a console version of The Secret World, it's not going to be exactly the same game. I don't think that fits. I don't think console gamers sitting on the couch in front of a big TV want to play the exactly same game as they would on their PC with a mouse and keyboard. That doesn't compute - that doesn't work.

I think it's safe to say cross platform play is out.

[Blackjack]

the console version is on the backburner.

"I've been very vocal in saying that when - I guess also if - we have a console version of The Secret World, it's not going to be exactly the same game. I don't think that fits. I don't think console gamers sitting on the couch in front of a big TV want to play the exactly same game as they would on their PC with a mouse and keyboard. That doesn't compute - that doesn't work.

I coulda told them that in 2007 and saved them a lot of time. Speaking of which, can you believe this thread is almost 4 years old?

[Razgon]

Seriously guys...this is how you make a teaser trailer...

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/04/08/secret-world-trailer/#more-56482

I laughed at quite a lot of it, but man.... that is damn cool

oh and...

Spoiler for Hiden:

The Bees are returning? LOL! :-D

[Roguetad]

oh and...

Spoiler for Hiden:

The Bees are returning? LOL! :-D

I know, the end is of their world is nigh....as the prophecy states.  "For when they return on buzzing wings, striped in yellow and black, armegeddon follows."  

[CeeKay]

Monster reveal.

[ydejin]

Monster reveal.

They've shown him before.  Although this looked to be in-game footage, whereas the last time it was clearly pre-rendered cinematic material.

[Blackjack]

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=postmessage&boardid=1&threadid=124592

During the EA at Gamescom 2011 Press Conference Funcom's Ragnar Tørnquist announced that signups to beta test their conspiracy-themed MMORPG The Secret World will begin next week on August 26th.

The Blue's link is to a video and who really wants to watch a press conference video? So I tried not to be subtle about the real news. 

[PR_GMR]

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=postmessage&boardid=1&threadid=124592

During the EA at Gamescom 2011 Press Conference Funcom's Ragnar Tørnquist announced that signups to beta test their conspiracy-themed MMORPG The Secret World will begin next week on August 26th.

The Blue's link is to a video and who really wants to watch a press conference video? So I tried not to be subtle about the real news. 

Woot!!!! I signed up at their site a long time ago. They said they would contact those early signees for the Beta. Niiiiiiceee!

[Razgon]

Now its time to sign up for all funcom games, to show how loyal you are...its the only way to be sure!

[Misguided]

I haven't been following this, but I've been watching footage today and am really blown away by what I've seen. I'm not crazy about the Guild Wars style skill setup, but I love the premise of the game. It looks simply beautiful. I'm totally digging the investigative elements to it.

I can't believe I'm saying it, but I want to play this.

[Destructor]

I'm totally looking forward to this. And smart move, Funcom, pushing the release into next year, past the Holiday 2011 Hell.

[PR_GMR]

Signed up for the beta (again) this morning! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Razgon]

Signed up for the beta (again) this morning! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I don't think you did, actually, since beta signups isn't until the 26th :-)

[PR_GMR]

Signed up for the beta (again) this morning! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I don't think you did, actually, since beta signups isn't until the 26th :-)

Ah,yes. I just signed up for the 'Notify me when (the beta) it starts'. 

[Misguided]

I tried to sign up for the email list, but when I clicked the link in the email it just took me back to the personality test, rather than gave any sort of confirmation. Hopefully things go better with the actual signup process.

[Razgon]

Since the beta signup is today, with a big 4 hour timer over there, the thread on their forums has exploded, with 2-3 pages 10 seconds so far.

Especially since the forum mod is handing out beta keys in the thread by making riddles and other stuff - quite fun

http://www.darkdemonscrygaia.com/showthread.php?t=20412&page=124

[CeeKay]

Tempted, but I can only handle one MMO beta right now.

[Misguided]

Got to chat with Martin Bruusgaard briefly at PAX after watching a demonstration. Pretty cool.

[USMC Kato]

Tempted, but I can only handle one MMO beta right now.

 

[Razgon]

There's some rather serious ARG's and metagaming going on right now over at the forums.

The countdown to bety applying was botched as you may know, and it seems it may actually be on purpose.

Right now, this guy (http://twitter.com/#!/thedarkplaces) who has spawned several interesting facts about the factions in the game has asked the community to select an ambassador who then gets to ask 10 questions, IF he passes a test.

The test though, is unknown, and now with 4 hours to go, still hasn't been passed.

Here is a quick but rather cool rundown of whats happened since the beta application test was failed. (http://crygaia.net/wiki/Council_of_Venice_systems_malfunction)

Hidden emails, clues on how to find secret messages inside other things, or on the internet, searching of ancient history - all this has been required this time and in the past to understand and complete the metagaming, or ARG as its called (Not that I know what that means).

If this is the kind of things they are talking about having ingame as well (As a separate thing to pursue if one wishes) then its pretty damn cool, actually.

[Razgon]

Beta registration is open now

http://secretwar.thesecretworld.com/

requires facebook, so I made a fake one.

[Misguided]

requires facebook, so I made a fake one.

Just like you Illuminati scum.

[Barrakketh]

I will be fighting the Secret War as a Templar. 

[Wargus]

There is no f'ing way in hell I'm opening up my facebook account to a video game so it can do everything it said it wanted to do in order to get into beta.  

[rshetts2]

I created a new FB account to register, took a few minutes, no big deal.

[Misguided]

There is no f'ing way in hell I'm opening up my facebook account to a video game so it can do everything it said it wanted to do in order to get into beta.  

Eh. I used my real one, but denied access to post on my wall and set it so it can only share with me.

[Punisher]

I will be fighting the Secret War as a Templar.  

Where's the secret part? Is this true? Is this to throw us off the truth? Did you know we would know it's to throw us off and it's really for real? Are you really just skipping the secret war and playing Knights of the Old Republic?
This secret war stuff is confusing....

Anyway, if possible, I'll play the Secret War as.... The Beyonder! I win!

[Razgon]

I am a masonite templar, thus the templar order in the game shall be my chosen faction of course.

Be aware though, there is a 4th.

[Barrakketh]

I will be fighting the Secret War as a Templar.  

Where's the secret part? Is this true? Is this to throw us off the truth? Did you know we would know it's to throw us off and it's really for real? Are you really just skipping the secret war and playing Knights of the Old Republic?
This secret war stuff is confusing....

Anyway, if possible, I'll play the Secret War as.... The Beyonder! I win!

Everything is True.

And clearly, I can not chose the goblet next to you...

[Razgon]

A no-facebook registration is now available https://register.funcom.com/tsw_beta/

[rshetts2]

oh sure now they do that after I registered my new facebook account under the name Ydnar

[Blackjack]

Hmmm, I guess they're going after the Korean market? 

For one week it's all about the Dragon! The Dragon is perhaps the most mysterious of the three in-game secret societies; based in Seoul, the focus of the Dragon is to orchestrate change through chaos. Throughout the week we will release new information, screenshots, artworks and a video. We will also do an exclusive Q&A session on facebook at the end of the week, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled at the official website.

[Blackjack]

I really haven't paid any attention to what's supposed to be different about this. I don't know how long the site has had this info, but even just as a reminder, here be...

The Secret World (trailer's there too)
http://www.funcom.com/games/tsw

Imagine if your worst nightmare came to life. Imagine a world where vampires hunt for mortal blood in dingy London nightclubs, where werewolves lurk in the sewers beneath Seoul, and where the undead prey on the living in the shadows of New York City. This is the premise for The Secret World, Funcom's upcoming massively multiplayer online game set in the modern day real world. Enter an online world where every conspiracy theory, myth and urban legend is true. Enter The Secret World.​

[Game Features]
Freeform Gameplay
Experience a game that has no classes or levels. In-depth and continuous character customization allows you to create the alter-ego that you want to play, and gameplay that goes beyond the usually rigid MMO structure allows you to play the game the way you want to play it.

Secret Societies
Join the Illuminati, the Templars or the Dragon - the three secret societies that pull the strings of our world. Work your way to the top, earn titles and rewards, and play a key role in the battle for world domination as you engage in furious player vs. player battles throughout the world. [While it doesn't seem to be PVP-only, it seems to be a major focus, fwiw-bj]

Real, Modern-Day World
Throw yourself into the bustling urban environments of New York, London and Seoul. Stop by the local nightclub or drop by your secret society headquarters. Explore a vast world of real locations, from Egypt to New England, and unravel one of the greatest stories ever told in an online game.

​Fantastic Weapons and Powers
​Wield fiery katanas, gold-plated pistols, and deadly automatic rifles. Learn martial arts, black magic, and even voodoo. Choose from hundreds of unique powers that you can bring into battle. Unlock the powers that you want for your character, without having to conform to class restrictions.

[Blackjack]

Week of the Templars, so new stuff daily at official site:
http://www.thesecretworld.com/?utm_id=897
*Believe there's a Templar-focused Q&A on their Facebook site on Friday.

[CeeKay]

Hands on from RPS.

[CeeKay]

a whole mess of previews including the RPS one posted above.