Beta Journal #4: Stress Test Recap 22-Nov-2005
The Stress Test Event is over and was a complete success…everyone at Turbine is thoroughly stressed!
Seriously, despite some downtimes the stress test went even better than expected. For this week’s Beta Journal, we thought we’d share a bunch of quotes from the Stress Test Event and Beta players.
Overall Impressions
“Hear Hear...3 Cheers!!! My overall first impression of the game is positive. First impressions go a long way... and you guys have nothing to worry about...hell of a job. I can see this game satisfying my need for a complex, no hand-holding or dumbed-down RPG... and it's an MMO!!! I can see this replacing all the wanna-be MMOs I play out there that reward people with a lot of time on their hands, rather than questing or hanging out for the fun of it. AWESOME JOB!!! I will be a paying and playing customer.”
“I just love the game so far. Great graphics, great design, great mood...It really feels like DnD. I like the beginning quest...content-wise/quest-wise, I feel like I'm playing an MMO version of Baldur's Gate II, and that, for me, is a compliment, since I think BGII was the best Dungeons and Dragons based computer game. Great job Turbine. Great job.”
“I can climb wheeee
”
“All I can say is
Jumping!
Swimming!
Breaking Barrels!
I know these are simple and usually found in hack and slash games, but almost all MMORPGs nix at least one of those. It is so little to ask to have those things and I'm glad they're all in. Plus the fact that you can improve your skill in swimming/jumping, great idea. That makes rogues (if they so choose) literally all agile little nimble things bouncing around all over, which is how it should be. The switches/levers/etc. are awesome too. These things alone set DDO apart from all MMORPGs really. Always wanted to play a Gothic/Zelda-esque type MMORPG and finally it looks like I may have one. The interaction is 'key'. Can't forget the pulling yourself up ledges either. That is definitely a first.”
“I have finally reached an age where I can say ‘Back in the day....’ and really mean it. So long ago, I played both board and console/PC versions of AD&D, and many parts of this game live up to expectations. It is with both joy and wonder that I come across...
‘You notice in the distance a door that seems strange’
‘You sense a danger in your path..’
Or other such comments. These were the bread and butter of every DM across North America for decades and to have them placed in-game shows that Turbine is heading in the right direction. All in all, having a blast so far!”
“For those D&D freaks, like myself, it is all you could ever ask for.”
“Turbine’s customer relations seems to be top notch. They're doing a great job keeping us updated!”
Combat
“The combat ROCKS
So nice to get away from the auto attack and push buttons now and then to use skills as you stand there and fight for 3 minutes like a mindless robot.”
“I must say after playing many other MMOs over the years, its extremely refreshing to play one that requires more than clicking attack and waiting for the fight to end. Being able to time it correctly and block an enemy attack is cool, adds a whole new depth to the game.”
“I'm so used to just auto-attacking from other games, I wondered why those mobs were so tough at first...until I remembered the block key. I really like it”
“The combat system outside of using auto-attack is tricky to get used to at first. But once you do suddenly it all falls into place. Blocking attacks, tumbling backwards then attacking, moving. Its just a tricky system when you first play. Give it time and you'll love it.”
“Being intimately familiar with the AD&D for the last 20 years, I can appreciate the difficulty in integrating the system into a solid 3d immersive experience that isn't a tedious turn-based yawn-fest. The combat has an "auto attack" feature just like all other notable MMOs, but the combat isn't as simple as "walk up to monster, taunt and press T button." Movement actually plays a part. You are encouraged to not stay still, to actively block, to actively tumble/slide, and to interact with the world in a much richer way than is my experience in previous MMO's. I am certain this dynamic combat system can only be improved upon and, for me, sets DDO immediately apart.”
“Nicely done, lets you set it on auto-fight or you can take an active roll in every movement, block and strike. Great mixture of the two, this is a keeper.”
Visuals
“The game looks great. Graphically appealing, fantastic customization, and of course the friendly and familiar character creation.”
“I loved the choices you can make while customizing your character.”
“The graphics are good, very good looking.”
“The game looks astounding.”
“I'd just like to add.. absolutely exceptional job performance-wise. I have a system that meets (but doesn't exceed) all the recommended reqs for the high-res client, except for my processor only being a 2.4ghz P4. I was able to put the gfx quality setting on High then turn up a few other options here and there, and still got a silky smooth framerate. Not to mention that it looked great. This drastically exceeds the performance vs gfx quality I've had with FFXI, SWG, EQ2, and WoW. Amazing job with that. Oh, and I actually like the sounds for when I'm typing. In all other games with something like that it's been really annoying and one of the first things I turned off in the options, but for DDO I'm thinking I'll actually keep it.”
“The game has been running smooth, extremely low latency for me. The graphics and gameplay are 10 times better than I was expecting from following on the forums. Screenshots and videos don’t do it any justice. Haven’t hit any real problems yet, so your full time Beta testers are doing a great job too. My first impression is DDO is an excellent representation of D&D real time online.
”
Quests
“Well, I have to say something fantastic here. It really does feel as though the DM is with you the whole way! Brilliant Turbine, you've created something wonderful. Lots of atmosphere and wonderful things going on
”
“The best thing is the pop up description that feels as if a DM is there saying it. And you start getting that feeling of, "Oh no. What do I do?" that you used to get playing pnp with a good DM.”
“DDO offers everything in instances to let the player or player's group do a quest that you actually have to think to progress, rather than go and beat through a mass of the same kind of monster. There is actually a plan to each instance, that the devs put a lot of work into refining and building and event-triggering.”
“I am very impressed on how DDO is not like any other MMO I have played before. There are different tactics that you can use now. Things like using traps to your advantage. I was traveling with a wizard and I am a bard. We had no one to protect us...so we just found traps. I then froze them [the kobolds] in the traps and they shattered. Also, I like how you get your own individual dungeon and how xp isn’t from grinding anymore. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!”
“I've never been a fan of instanced content because it’s usually bland and boring. But I'm having fun here and wouldn't mind paying a monthly fee (even now) to play DDO. D&D has always been about personalized adventures. You experience them with a small group of friends. That is what Turbine is trying to capture and I'm liking it.”
One final quote
(that all of us at Turbine really liked)
“My four year old loves DDO! No, he isn't actually able to play the game but he watched me do the Sigmund's Basement quests and then reorganized our living room into a replica of the basement! A plastic chair was the door to the basement, a toy was the ladder and an Elmo chair was the chest at the end with a block underneath as the "mark" inside. I was allowed to play the role of Kobold and received numerous taps from a plastic sword before expiring!
P.S. I like the game too, though it doesn't inspire me to rearrange our furniture.”
Sign up for the Beta .
23/11/2005, 19h19
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